Big Sky Blue: Glacier Park Tour Reflections

img_0756Big Sky Blue is a pretty good way to describe our amazing trip in September!  Our trip up the California coast, through Oregon and on to the great state of Montana, was just a delight!  Every aspect was fun.  Those that came along had lots to say about ‘doing this again’.

We were greeted at East Glacier with this view of the lodge, indian teepee, and snow-dusted mountains.  The next day, our personal Red Bus Tour took us on the grand-circle-loop over Logan Pass and around the Park.  Quotes from our guide that day were “It’s a very unusual (perfect) day”, “You are seeing this like nobody else saw it this summer” (snow on the mountains and perfect day with leaves of gold), “We never see this lake smooth as glass like this”, and “Last week, there was no view like this as it was all fogged in”.  Yep, that’s what they said, to which my reply was, “We have been praying about the weather!” 

ss-tours-glacier-park-10-18sept16-115The fishing on the Flathead River was great, those that hiked had a wonderful time, and staying back at the lodge was said to be very relaxing.   

In Portland, we had a special treat by being allowed an inside tour at the Oregon Rail Heritage Museum the day they were steaming up the 4449 engine as they celebrated the American Freedom Train’s 40th anniversary.  Wow, that was special!

The trip back to LA was just as great, with amazing views over the Cascade Mountains and back down the California coast.

Let’s do that again!


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Lowell Smith

A native of Portland, Oregon, Lowell Smith married his church choir sweetheart Barb in 1978. After a lifetime of rail-fanning, Lowell and Barb ventured out in 1992 to launch a new business in Portland, Oregon. Read more

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What They Say:

Jerry E.

Received GN A10 today. Absolutely stunning! I am very pleased. Thank You all.

J.R.

Lowell, I received my Great Locomotive Chase set today. “THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.” Keep up the good work.

S. S.

I got my new Santa Fe business cars, they are superb and worth the wait ten times over.

D.K.

Aside from the quality, creativity and originality, you are to be commended for your ongoing commitment to this (GAC) series, and all of your series of trains over a period of so many years.  There is always something to look forward to. Keep up the great work!’ D. K.

Rad J.

Lowell, I am very pleased with the N Scale Ferdinand Magellan Presidential car. As a retired US Secret Service agent I have conducted security advances for the president and his family traveling by train. I have done a lot of research on the Ferdinand Magellan and the model has excellent detail. It will be an…

Charles

“You have received many compliments when I have run my RailSmith cars with my friends.”

D.G.

Nothing better than receiving that white box from Lowell Smith.

Anonymous

The thing I love about all the things you do is the fact that everything is so well thought out, so beautiful and so unique.  

R. K.

You are in my book one of the very best.

R.M.

These are indeed miniature masterpieces.