Quist World Tour

Glacier National Park is not as big as Yellowstone or Banff, but it is not lacking in any other way. It is a gem. On Thursday morning we got a good start to the day and headed to Going-to-the-Sun road. This is the road that is only open halfway through the park due to the wildfire. I can’t imagine what it was like for people who were on this winding mountain road and were suddenly evacuated earlier this summer. Some were forced to leave their vehicles on the road. It must have been chaotic and frightening. The farthest we could go was Logan Pass at the top of the road. We figured that the earlier we got there the better, since that is where lots of people would go, and the parking lot would fill up. The drive up through the valley and up the side of the mountains is breathtaking. Glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, and trees dot the mountains looming over us. When we got to Logan Pass we went to the visitor’s center to get some suggestions. We decided on a hike on Highline trail. W...

On Thursday morning, we repeated our early morning safari. This morning we experienced the same fog, the same other-worldly haze keeping some things obscured, and bringing strange beauty to others. The river attracts so many different kinds of birds, and there are just as many birders lining the road to spot them all. This morning’s efforts brought us a close-up view of a bull elk, a magnificent creature. Since he was right next to our car, you could see all the fuzz covering his antlers. Of course we also saw a herd of buffalo, but the newness had worn off by then. Natalie was still really hoping to see a wolf, and I’d have liked to have seen another moose. But that is just a symptom of the human condition, to be dissatisfied with the wealth around us, just wishing we could see more, something different or better. Back to the campground, where we had breakfast and another long, hot shower. It was slightly warmer and definitely getting sunnier, so most of us sat around the fire...

Randall LaGro is an artist, part of the large art community in Taos and the rest of New Mexico. He has found success in the art world for his paintings and monotypes. He is also a man of deep faith who works hard to remain open to God’s leading in his life. He is a family friend of one of our passengers, and he generously invited us to visit his incredible studio today. His studio was once the studio of artist Joseph Sharp, who was one of the founding members of the Taos Society of Artists in the early 1900s. Sharp built the studio in 1915, and it is on the National Historic Register. It’s an incredible space all by itself, but Randy’s art makes it even more fascinating.   Randy had watercolor supplies laid out for the girls, and they set to work creating some art. Meanwhile I watched them and did my best to carry on an intelligent conversation about art when I know so precious little about it! He was gracious about answering my questions and giving suggestions and inspirati...