Trail of Cedars to Avalanche Lake Trail

While we were staying at the campground our wifi was spotty at best. We spent a lot of time up in the pool area just to get a signal. When I did that and was on the Friends of Glacier National Park Facebook page I would see people posting all of their wildlife spottings. I was happy for them but getting kind of bummed that so far all we had seen were ground squirrels and chipmunks. The day before a guy walked past us on the Grinnell trail and let us know that we had gone right past a bear who was in the bushes about 20 feet from the trail. Ugh. When we were on the GTTSR we stopped at Logan's pass and there was a crowd looking up the mountain. They told us there were big horn sheep up there. They even let us use all their equipment to see them . . . but they were just specks. I wanted more.

On day 6 we waited on the rain to end but by 2pm decided to just go with our plan to hike Trail of the Cedars and the Avalanche Lake Trail. On the way I expressed my frustration at not seeing wildlife and told the kids we were going to pray about it. They did their typical teen scoffing at me. I prayed out loud something like, "God if it's Your will, help us to see some wildlife . . . a moose, a bear, a goat . . . anything. We just want to be delighted by you." And again, the kids laughed. "Yeah right Mom, that's gonna work."

We started our hike in the rain which was fitting as it is the most eastern rainforest in the United States. It was beautiful walking through the thick forest with a creek running right next to it. I had my eyes open, waiting for God to show up. When we got to the lake it was that aqua blue water and the skies had cleared to the same color. There was a father and son who had jumped in the lake and Abby looked at me and said, "you didn't tell us we could swim here." Well, it's glacier water, I didn't realize that would interest you. The girls immediately ran to the pit toilet and changed into their swimsuits. Caleb decided to go in in his shorts.

While they were in the water the people who were watching the kids swim started to murmur and point over towards the very opposite side of the lake. I immediately perked up and ran over to the crowd. I asked what was going on and a guy handed me his camera and showed me that there was a bear swimming in the lake. Note to self, bring the binoculars next time. I saw the bear through the camera but, with my naked eye, it was a speck and it didn't count.

As the kids got out of the water we watched the speck of a bear climb onto a beach (still at the other end of the lake). There were people standing there and, as the bear moved, they started yelling "bear!" Yes, there is a bear, thank you. Then they started shouting, "Coming down the trail. Bear coming down the trail!" The crowd on our beach had mixed reactions. Some got very scared and upset and left (down the trail that the bear was on . . . ) while the others moved in closer to each other. I looked at the kids and said, "we're staying right here and we're gonna see this bear." In a matter of seconds the bear went about a half mile and right past us on the trail. He then took a right and popped his head onto the beach where we were, said "Hi there" and turned around and continued down the trail. Everyone on the beach was in a flurry and I just stood clapping. "Nice one God, thank you, that was delightful."

By this time, the crowd on the beach, having been through an exciting adventure together, began to talk and get to know each other. We all left at the same time and, at one point Caleb said, "ok, we have to stop talking about the bear." But no one could. When we got to the picnic area where we ate our dinner the kids admitted that Mom asked God for a bear and, sure enough, He sent one down the trail to see us.

I believe God loves it when we ask Him to delight us. I was a little worried that I put Him on the spot by praying out loud but He was not intimidated by my boldness. He was happy to show up.