My ILs had tried 6 different times to go to Glacier National Park while they were enroute to or from visiting us. Every year the "Going to the Sun Highway" and Logan Pass was still closed due to snow.
Then in 1999 they arrived on the 3rd of July. We had called the Park the day before and the road had just opened. We had made reservations early that year at the older, cheaper hotel that sits at IIRC the west end of Lake McDonald. It was probably built in the 1930's but has been kept up. The accommadations are modest but comfortable and relatively reasonable. So 4th of July morning we loaded up our car. My FIL really raised an eyebrow and though an extremely quiet man, he verbally questioned us putting winter coats in the car for us and them...it was the 4th of July afterall....and in the 80's here.
We departed and arrived at the park early that evening after a short stop in Troy MT where we were stopped until the 4 th of July parade was over.
The next morning...into the canvas topped (rolled back by popular demand) White tour buses again from the 1930's we loaded and the trip began. At the time I was still smoking. In the morning WHITEOUT conditions...on the pass and the view point at the summit of Logan Pass. In the one photo that is me I'm 6'1" in my winter mountain parka having a cigarette after fighting the wind for 10 minutes trying to light it with my Zippo. That afternoon at the same place.....short sleeve shirts and shorts were the attire.......
I give you Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park
the famous White touring buses
Wild goose island on St. Maries Lake
On July 5th, they still had a bit of snow.....