25 Aug 2022 - Glacier National Park Red Bus Tour

 25 Aug

Woke this morning to more fog and overcast.  We reported to St Mary Lodge parking lot and waited to board our Red Bus Tour. 

These coaches were built back in the 1936-1939 timeframe by White Motor Coach Company from Cleveland Ohio.  They were refurbished in the 1980's and converted to propane fuel operation.  They are licensed to the Federal Government and operated by contractors.  We booked this tour back in January and through the majority of the tourist season they run full daily.  The moral of the story is, if you are coming here or any of the major tourist locations, get your reservations made early.  

Even with our proactive reservations it was still a bit of a cluster as there are many Red Bus Tour coaches and each are assigned to different tours.  By the time we got that sorted out, others had boarded our bus and we were stuck with a seat that had little leg room.  Waa, waa, I know, but it was frustrating and uncomfortable for someone with longer legs.  So the trip from the lodge to Logan's Pass, our turn-around point,  I had my knees in my chest, literally.  Compound that with crappy visibility and the first part of the trip was less than desirable.  But all is well and we made it to Logan's Pass.  A few pictures.

Devastation from the 2015 fire

Some snow visible

Lots and lots of clouds!

Soon we arrived at Logan's Pass which is the turn-around point for the tour.  Normally this is a scenic, awe-inspiring view but all the mountains were obscured today.  Just the way it goes..

A walk up to the Logan's Pass visitor center

Shuttle stop at Logan's Pass

Usually you can walk past the visitor center and down a short trail to a viewing area , but today there was nothing to see.  

Trail to pea soup

We reboarded the Red Bus and headed back down towards the entrance.  Before we departed we asked a young family if they would like our seats so they could sit together, and they were very appreciative.  So was I!!  We moved to the back of the Red Bus with much more leg room for me.  

The further down we went, the better the visibility was.  The sun started coming out, finally!  

Because we stayed at Logan's Pass much less time than normal due to the limited vis,  we were able to stop longer on the way back.  One of the stops was Sun Point.  Here we ventured out on a short hike on the Sun Point Nature Trail.   This trail led to a point that we saw from our boat trip yesterday, the former location of Sun Point Chalets.  Built in 1911 by the . Great Northern Railway,   the chalets offered a great view and a bit of luxury for adventurous travelers.  Now all that remains is a piece of one of the foundations.  

The hike

The views at the point

The point

One remaining foundation piece.

Incredible rock formations and colors

Later this evening we drove to the KOA Campground nearby and met up with another Alliance owner, Peter Macdonald and his spouse Anne.  They have an Alliance 340 RL and are traveling the United States  all the way from Maine!  We had a great time talking with them and their friends from England, Frank and Sally.  

Tomorrow we head back up to Logan Pass and then hope to hike to Saint Mary Falls.