After our drive yesterday we checked into Many Glacier Hotel, our splurge for the trip. We check out tomorrow the last day of the season. We like traveling during shoulder season. No family vans filled with kids to share their daily 3:00 PM implosion (time for a nap) of fits and screams for that last piece of whatever. The trade-off staying in a hotel and checking out the day they close is the empty larder. Last night I had my sights set on Sautéed Cutthroat Trout in brown butter, lemon, capers, and parsley. They were out and no more was coming in. I thought about asking if they could just go to the lake and catch one, but park rules are catch and release. Today we ate defensively, hitting the “Swiss Lounge” at 3:30 to beat the crowd and get ahead of the shrinking menu. Indeed, the bound menu was no longer available. Instead, a quickly copied white sheet of paper that could have borne the title, “This is what we have left.” While eating I heard our waiter tell a table, “We only have decaf left.” Good thing I raided a housekeeping cart early this morning. But hey, do we any right to complain with this view off our balcony?

Checking in last night we went through our routine pleading for a view. Sandra, the kind desk clerk, finally called us on it with a smile, “This is the only room left, do you want it or not?” In fact, it couldn’t be better. Wayne is waving from our balcony.

There’s a temptation to hop in the car and drive to every site in the guidebook but today we decided to be still, present, and enjoy this wonderful place. Not wanting to be totally sedentary, the Swiftcurrent Lake Loop Trail beckoned us for a walk.

The bridge to cross over the mouth of the lake was being demoed today so instead, we took Sandra’s advice and walked on to Lake Josephine. The trail was a treasure and included views back to our hotel.

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Just around a corner, midway up Lake Josephine, Grinnell glacier appeared right in front of us. The perfect place for a bit of lunch.

The glacier is the eight largest left. In 1966 it filled 252 acres, today just 139. You can see the waterfalls and cascades coming down the side of the mountain from meltwater (sorry for the digital zoom).

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All told, it was a respectable, four mile walk. Perhaps it was due to the pending close but no matter how much Wayne pleaded a push-chair was not to be had.

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Sunset tonight started pretty routine but some clouds rolled in and BAM! things got serious.

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Night, Campers. Tomorrow, back to our little chalet to regroup for the flight home on Wednesday.