Running from Grizzly bears makes a killer workout...

I should have known when I heard it was called Avalanche trail; it didn't sound too inviting. In fact, it was a scary, dark wood with a raging creek . There was evidence of an avalanche as hundreds of trees were down. It was well kept up though and there were lots of folks hiking it. I was blissfully painting at this incredible lake, of course, named Avalanche Lake when the ranger said I had to go because there was a grizzly bear there. I got out of there as fast as I could! I felt like Little Red Riding Hood with my dog about to be devoured.

Grizzly bear making a kill just across this tiny tiny lake while this photo was being taken

This is my unfinished painting of the falls at Avalanche Lake because I had to flee for my life, but maybe it's better this way.

Getting frightened by bears was worth this view of McDonald Lake
I did learn that these bears don't fish so staying in the Lake was the safest place for Chance. 

Just as in Missouri, when folks blithely talk of tornadoes, people at Glacier National Park imbue an indifference to grizzly bears. No one said anything about grizzly bears when I paid my $10 to get in.

There were bear signs on the trail and the trail's name was called Avalanche Trail. So I guess I was warned, or at least I knew enough to be nervous to hike the trail. The black bear running around  in the parking lot near the trail didn't help, nor did the grizzly taking down a fawn and the moose that was in the vicinity.

There was also a black bear hanging around the wonderful 1914 era Lake McDonald Lodge  where I was staying. So a very expensive can of bear mace was with me at all times because Chance, being a dog, is a big target.

I did learn that these bears don't fish so staying in the Lake was the safest place for Chance. That was the only place he wanted to be so it all worked out. Worth running from bears to stay in the Lodge