Time Event Range Remaining 9:27 am Departed Moose Creek 322 Even though I ordered my NPS Annual Pass from USGS on July 13, it did not arrive at my home in time for our departure, so the Rangers let us in after I showed them the receipt. We went right to the nearest Visitors Center so my children could pick up their Junior Ranger books to begin their activities. It was already known the Visitors Center would be closed, but we used the restrooms and consulted with the Park Rangers there.

We loaded back into the car and prepared to head out to (what I think is) the same lake that I remember visiting when I was 11: Avalanche Lake. It's a popular hike that isn't too difficult and doesn't climb too high in altitude, which is why I think it's the one my parents' chose. We were warned in advance that the parking might be full. As it turns out we got lucky, finding a very nice parking spot soon after the first turn left into the off-street parking area. We were well situated right next to McDonald Creek. I decided to guide my family through Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail first because that was a nice way to get my family into the mood and get to know what this Park was like. Beautiful trees and creeks and small waterfalls and moss-covered rocks welcomed us. This was the beginning of a very beautiful hike. The trail followed Avalanche Creek up along the valley, and we marveled at the waterfalls and valley walls and trees as we went.

Yeah, that looks like the kind of beauty I remember. Even though it was a bit backlit, the view was stunning, and the illumination at this moment gave everything a nice glow. We were among 50+ hikers mostly admiring the view and taking pictures. A few more adventurous ones were wading out into the lake or venturing around the lake's edge. We spent a good 40 minutes here, and I'm glad we did because it was time well spent and, as we were about to discover, precious.

Because the next thing other people saw first was the juvenile grizzly bear on the left side of the lake. Because of the pandemic, this and many other National Parks were completely closed to visitors. In the absence of hundreds of humans visiting these trails, wildlife began to reclaim these areas, leading to territorial conflict upon the return of human visitors. (The Instagramers who wrote "Nature is healing" didn't see that coming.)

I took some good video of this grizzly bear using my 4K camera. My sense was that it was "playful", like a dog or cat, but in the body of a grizzly bear that could still make some powerful or dangerous moves. The bear began at about 10 o'clock around the lake, where 6 o'clock is where the trail meets the lake, but was moving counterclockwise unusually fast. The bear chased two hikers off, who abandoned their day packs, and the grizzly bear just sniffed at the packs and moved on, which tells me the bear wasn't interested in our food. The bear steadily moved counterclockwise, and my wife got a little more fearful and said we should head back, so we did.

We and other hikers reported this fast-moving grizzly bear to Park Rangers patrolling the hike. I showed one my 4K video, and she radioed other Rangers to move in.

As my family returned to the trailhead, I saw multiple rangers, including one carrying a rifle, probably with tranquilizer darts, purposefully climb up the trail. I heard later that the grizzly bear continued to the beach and scared off the hikers, cutting off trail access, and trapping the hikers on the right side of the lake for a while. The problem was not just the bear but also the way humans might react upon spotting the bear.

We were very glad we got to Avalanche Lake when we did because that was the only chance on the entire trip. We learned the next day that within hours of our visit, the trail to Avalanche Lake was cleared of and closed to visitors for three days on account of this grizzly bear sighting. While the Park Rangers were taking care of the bear, we returned to the car and relaxed and settled down for lunch. Remember that nearly all dine-in services in the Park was closed, so we made the most of it. The car carried our own portable chairs, so we set them up next to McDonald Creek, a short walk from where I parked the car, and had a most pleasant lunch in a beautiful location with the sound and sights of creek water running through a lush green forest. No waiting for a waiter to take our order, go back to a kitchen, and bring our food before we pay the bill. We had it all. Who knew that enjoying lunch this way might be a fringe benefit of a pandemic?

Where was the photo taken? Right here, in Glacier National Park last August, and today I found the spot. As soon as we drove up to Wild Goose Lookout I immediately recognized Agrawal took that picture right here. People here brought chairs so they could simply watch the scene here, as the clouds and sun made the scene change every ten minutes. If I had the time I would have liked to join them.

My picture wasn't near sunset like Agrawal's, but beware: I cranked up the colors (unrealistically) it to make it look more like the infamous Android smartphone-crashing wallpaper. Cue the awestruck chorus.