Day 11 of Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation to the West Coast.
When Lupe set out on her 2012 Dingo Vacation, SPHP had hoped she might make it as far as the west coast to see the Pacific Ocean. It hadn’t been certain, though. An alternate plan had been to just go as far as Glacier National Park in Montana. Lupe woke up on Day 11 of her 2012 Dingo Vacation at the Sprague Creek campground along Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, having arrived the previous day.
The prior day’s events had changed everything, however. SPHP had finally realized that U.S. National Parks are not dog friendly. Glacier National Park was full of great trails to spectacular mountains, lakes, streams, and even a few remaining glaciers, but regulations prohibited Lupe from going on any of the trails. Dogs weren’t permitted, even on a leash.
So, Lupe was going to leave. Before she did, she was going to see the Trail of the Cedars nature trail. The evening before, a ranger up at Logan Pass had told SPHP that the Trail of the Cedars nature trail was the only trail in Glacier National Park where dogs were allowed.
Except they weren’t. When Lupe, Lanis and SPHP arrived at the start of the Trail of the Cedars, there were no pets signs – just like everywhere else. The ranger had been wrong. Lupe wasn’t even allowed here. Nearby, on the opposite side of Going-to-the-Sun Road, there was an observation deck with a view of McDonald Creek. The rushing creek was very clear and pretty. The observation deck was as far as Lupe got to explore in Glacier National Park.
And that was it for Lupe in Glacier National Park. Since she couldn’t do much of anything here, it was time to start heading farther W! Due to the park regulations, it was settled – Lupe was going to see the Pacific Ocean!
Lupe, Lanis and SPHP were soon heading W out of Glacier National Park. In Kalispell, Lanis stopped at a gas station. SPHP gassed up the Element. Lanis spent a frantic 20 minutes looking for his cell phone, only to discover that SPHP had been sitting on it. Next was a stop (one of many on Lupe’s 2012 Dingo Vacation) at the local McDonald’s. From the Dollar Menu, Lanis got a giant soft drink, Lupe got a chocolate sundae, and SPHP got a caramel sundae.
As usual, SPHP spoon fed Lupe her chocolate sundae, as Lanis drove W out of Kalispell on Hwy 2. Lupe always had to devour them rather quickly, since the chocolate sundaes tended to melt fast in the summer heat. Fortunately, Lupe was consistently willing to apply herself to the task at paw. The sundaes never really had a chance.
Once both sundaes were gone, SPHP checked the road atlas. In the Cabinet Mountains of NW Montana, there was a lake shown S of the town of Libby. The lake was back in the Kootenai National Forest along a gravel loop road W of Hwy 2. The lake wasn’t a very big one, but it still looked like it might be interesting. There was a campground shown, too. Maybe Lupe could have some fun there?
Six miles in on the gravel loop road, there was a side road going to the Lake Creek campground. A mile off the main loop, the side road ended at a rather nice level campground with a big open area. There was no lake, but there was a stream. This was the rather confusingly named Lake Creek. Lake Creek looked like it sometimes had a lot of water in it. There was some water in it now, too, but most of the creek bed was dry.
Lupe, Lanis and SPHP had lunch at the Lake Creek campground, and did a little exploring along Lake Creek. Even though there wasn’t any lake, this campground was pretty nice. It felt quiet and remote. Only two spots were taken. For a little while, Lanis and SPHP debated whether or not to skip looking for the lake and just stay here. Lupe was busy sniffing around. She seemed happy enough at Lake Creek.
In the end, Lanis and SPHP decided to move on and continue looking for the lake. By now, signs had revealed that the lake Lupe was looking for was Howard Lake. The main loop road went on and on. A black bear ran across the road, and quickly disappeared into the forest again. It was an exciting moment! This was the first bear Lupe had seen on her 2012 Dingo Vacation, despite all the warning signs about bears back in the Beartooths, Yellowstone and Glacier.
After some confusion and needless backtracking, Lanis and SPHP finally found Howard Lake. By now it was late enough to camp, so a site was selected. Lupe’s tiny house was set up again. Howard Lake was only 33 acres in size. It seemed to be a favorite of the locals. It was a fishing lake, and there were a number of small boats with people fishing in them.
Although only one picture still survives from Lupe’s time at Howard Lake, she did have a number of adventures there. She cooled off swimming and wading at the small beach. She went with Lanis and SPHP following a wide trail (which apparently used to be the old road) through a tall cedar forest on the W side of the lake. Lupe was thrilled to find that the cedar forest was full of squirrels.
Later, while Lanis spent some time resting in Lupe’s tiny house after all the driving he’d been doing, Lupe and SPHP went and explored part way along a mysterious trail that climbed into the forest W of the lake. A sign said this was Great Northern Mountain Trail No. 117, but neither Lupe nor SPHP knew where it went.
The trail gained elevation, and then leveled out. Up here there were quite a few dead trees in the forest. Some had fallen across the trail. Lupe and SPHP worked their way around them. Some higher mountains came into view to the N. The trail turned and went into a dense part of the forest. By now, the sun was starting to get low. The cedar forest became darker, denser and progressively more mysterious. Lupe and SPHP met no one.
Finally, Great Northern Mountain Trail No. 117 came to a junction. There was a sign, but nothing on the sign meant anything to SPHP. Lupe and SPHP took the left branch of the trail for a little way, but it was going to be dark soon. SPHP hadn’t brought a flashlight. It was time for Lupe to turn back. On the return trip, she had fun barking at squirrels. By the time Lupe arrived back at Howard Lake, it was already pretty dark.
As soon as Lupe reached the campground, a big German Shepherd spotted her. Lupe snarled at him and fled. The German Shepherd gave chase. Lupe raced in circles between the trees, frequently zig-zagging and doubling back desperate to escape. She is very fast for her size, but the German Shepherd was young, huge, and had much longer legs. Lupe was too agile for the German Shepherd to catch her, but he was keeping up a hot pursuit, and frequently getting very close.
SPHP called to Lupe. She came running. SPHP picked her up and carried her to the safety of the Honda Element. When the German Shepherd finally realized the game was over, it went away. Lupe could come out of the Element again. Lanis and SPHP were cooking beef stew. Carolina Dogs love beef stew!
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