Sperry Chalet and Sperry Glacier, Glacier National Park

Enjoy the pictures first and then the description

Feather Woman Falls

Sperry Glacier

Meg and I enjoyed an exceptional two day stay at the Sperry Chalet, nestled in a glacial cirque, 6.7 miles and 3200 feet above Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. Here is 

a description from the Chalet's website:
"Sperry Chalet was built in 1913 by James J. and son Louis Hill of the Great Northern Railway, the prime developer of Glacier National Park. Listed as an Historic Landmark, these rustic buildings, built of native rock, have survived their rugged environment relatively unchanged for over 90 years.

"Opened in 1914 the main buildings consist of a two story hotel building and a kitchen/dining room building. A maintenance building and a new restroom building are located between hotel and dining room buildings. Other than a modernized kitchen and the new composting restroom facility, the interiors and exteriors are much as they were built. It is a short 400 foot stroll between the dining room and the hotel building. The private guest rooms are without lights, heat or water. Flashlights are used at night as no candles or fueled lights are allowed. The dining room has a wood stove and propane lights for your comfort."

The stay was like putting on a completely different persona. Far from the crowds, we relaxed in the quiet and gentle breezes (and noisy, active mosquitoes :)  Waterfalls plummeted off in the distance, sharp peaks created a shangri-la environment, and we enjoyed letting the responsibilities of home slip away.

We reveled in the most spectacular day hike we have made in all our years of hiking and backpacking.  The four and half mile trail to the Sperry Glacier rose through six levels of colorful rock and water. The geologic forces that shaped these levels of metamorphic rock and mudstone invited the eye to admire both the symmetry and the discontinuity of the layers, as well as the water that flowed from all heights and angles. 

Rejoicing in others

"In the KIngdom of God, there is no competition or rivalry.  The Son of God shares His chosen-ness with us.  In the Kingdom of God, each person is precious and unique, and each person has been given eyes to see the chosen-ness of others and rejoice in it." Henri Nouwen

Sichuan Province, China

Bird Woman Falls, Glacier National Park

The always present Presence

I realize with prayer that I truly do may myself available to the presence of God, to His holiness.  This awareness, at least briefly, lifts  me beyond thoughts and words and actions. it is a delightful place to be, knowing also that God delights in each of us, His children.

Looking into the Imnaha river canyon, near Buckhorn Springs, OR

Saddle Creek, Hells Canyon

Hells Canyon vistas

Needless to say, the views into the massive Snake River canyon, and the side canyons, lift one up beyond one's tiny self.  If only we had wings to fly, to soar, to see deeply into the intricacies of these canyons, filled with flowers, grasses, trees, and wildlife.

looking over Freeze Saddle, the main trail into Hells Canyon

Scarlet gilia

lupine and the Seven Devils

Camping in Hells Canyon

Meg and I try to make an annual trip into Hells Canyon every year around the Fourth of July, when the wildflowers are at their fullest.  Hells Canyon, reputed to be the deepest in the US, is formed by the Snake river, and separates Oregon from Idaho. A narrow dirt road leads out of the small "town" of Imnaha and travels steeply toward the fire lookout at Hat Point. This is the only road into this magnificent country.

The views from our campsite would be worth a thousand dollars a night were this a five star resort.  Our campsite is more simple, but it is all we need to enjoy the tranquility of this magnificent scenery.

Meg, morning devotions

There is no end to prayer

"There is no end to prayer. It echoes on forever in your soul. Long after the visible demonstration has been made and forgotten, the prayer that produced it continues to work for your spiritual advancement, for the creative power of a God thought is unlimited and eternal."  Emmett Fox

"In prayer, we need to speak whatever truth is in us: pain and grief, fear and disappointment, yearning and desire, questions and doubts, hope and faith, failure and weakness, praise and thanks, despair and sorrow, anger, and yes, even hatred."  Marjorie J. Thompson

I enjoy envisioning my prayers as spreading far, far beyond my mere ego mortality. They certainly are more "treasures in heaven" than anything else I try to do by myself here on earth.

Hells Canyon, Seven Devils Mts, OR

ells Canyon, Seven Devils Mts, OR

Sharing love

Sharing love is so much easier than we mortals make it.  

"Miss not a single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly work or word; always doing the smaller right and doing it all for love." 
        St The′rese' of Lisieux

Zumwalt Prairie

The Cat,s Back and the Wallowa Mts

Wrap around sunset: a Fourth of July preview

Sunday evening, Meg and I were blessed to be in a location where we could observe the best sunset we have seen, outside of the Bay of Plenty, North Island, N  (how is that for name dropping :) The sky surrounding the Grande Ronde Valley was a wrap around of developing color in full 360 degree grandeur.  Frankly, it surpassed anything we can expect on the Fourth of July.

Mt Emily Recreation Area

Mt Harris, Grande Ronde Valley