Bellingham to Glacier, it’s time.

BirdieJane

Any of you going to glacier this week

jgram2

Safe travels and loads of fun (and some photos)!

ericnliz

@BirdieJane, Be safe out there & have fun!

2Cougs

@BirdieJane - So glad the Glacier trip included breakfast with the SpoT@b group!!!  If was great seeing you again.

BirdieJane

ericnliz

@BirdieJane, Awesome pictures! So, question of the day...did you catch breakfast?

BirdieJane

Wish I could say yes, only fish that got hooked happened when I sat my rod down helping my wife gets stuff ready to cook lunch on the beach. Drug my pole to the waters edge and broke off. The best lake fishing is in Two Medicin but it was to windy all the days we were there.

Pika1

With the fires and closures on the west side of the park, what areas did you visit?

BirdieJane

We started the trip on the east side, camping at Two Medicine, then a day trip to Saint Mary to Logan Pass. Then to the Many Glacier area. When We learned Apgar was open we went and set up camp. Very nice, very few campers. We then day tripped to Bowman Lake area. The fire is burning in less then 1% of the Park. Temps ranged from mid 30’s to mid 80’s when the relative humidity dropped the fire activity picked up. Mostly burning in an old burn while we were there. Our last day Shuttel busses began exspress runs from Apgar to Logan Pass. However an inversion had smoke to the ground in the early portion’s of the Going To The Sun road. But we enjoyed the ride anyways.

BirdieJane

BirdieJane

BirdieJane

Blackfeet Nation

Travelin3D

Some really great shots! How did the new Ascent perform on the trip?

lkc001

How clever with your use of the propane cover & little table on the wheel jack!   Don't suppose you have a pic of how you did the table?  

jgram2

Here’s @BirdieJane’s post about this wonderful mod! 
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/5063/outside-hitch-table-kitchen-mod#latest

BirdieJane

The Subaru Ascent, is a terrific upgrade from our Subaru Outback 2.5. We really liked the Outback, but always mindful of the hitch weight, and engine temps when climbing in summer weather. 

The Acent climbs mountain pass’s with ease. Rpm stay around 3,000 when climbing under tow or without the trailer. Most often we find ourselves needing to watch our speed as you can find yourself at 70 without realizing. We prefer to tow at 60 to 63 mph and keep Rpm around 1,500 when on the flats.
Out trip to Glacier we Averaged 16.3 mpg. This included all types of driving while under tow including multiple mountain passes.

This car has good cargo space, that we filled for this trip as well as traveling with a canoe. We did not do that with the Outback over Hitch capacity concerns. With the Outback we could monitor engine temps when climbing. The Ascent only has a dumb engine temp gauge on the dash. So we where unable to see engine temps when climbing mountain passes. So in closing, we are at just over 4,000 miles and really are glade we upgraded.

2Cougs

@BirdieJane - So glad the Glacier trip included breakfast with the SpoT@b group!!!  If was great seeing you again.

BirdieJane

Thanks for finding this old post, I was not that fast. By the way, this table has worked well for tying flies, a stand up bar counter. “we have joked about getting some fold up bar chairs for cocktails”,  and a utility table when doing all kinds of stuff
all the items for this are at Lowe’s .

MuttonChops

BirdieJane said:

Not sure which one I like more . . . wild life or Meal ? 

ericnliz

How 'bout a meal WHILE you're checkin' out the wildlife! Thanks for sharing the great pictures!

ChrisandAlexis

@ericnliz, that sounds great just as long as it isn't a bear.

ericnliz

@ChrisandAlexis, Then you just watch the bear eat your meal!

Homebodyatheart

@BirdieJane I totally forgot Saturday that you’ve got the Ascent! Argh! Ours comes hopefully Monday! Thanks for the review! I’ll share it with Mr Homebody. Your pics are amazing and I want to get there next year! Thanks!

Homebodyatheart

@BirdieJane I know you have the taller 320 Outback, but what length hitch drop works with the Ascent? Also how many miles on your engine before you started towing? I’ve heard 500 miles before towing but that the engine is otherwise broken in before it leaves the factory. Thanks!

BirdieJane

@Homebodyatheart we are using a 6 inch drop. The Subaru Ascent hitch will come with a 5 inch. I feel like we could use a 7” but when we get loaded we seem to level off. You could go with an adjustable hitch. Also check in you glove box or ask where the pigtail is to plug in your brake controller, it comes with the hitch. The car is prewired for a seven way plug and break controller.

BirdieJane

@Homebodyatheart if your car has RAB (Reverse Asist Backing) it does not like the trailer back there. You can temporarily disable it on you camera screen. But it is slow to turn off. Also if you keep the brake pedal pressure it will not engage and stop the car every time you try to back up. They need an off switch when you tow. Hope they come up with a fix for this.

ericnliz

Ok, here comes Mr. Picky! @BirdieJane, you forgot to update your signature line for your new Ascent. @Homebodyatheart, I'm STILL , they were parked RIGHT OUTSIDE across the street. Nuff said, time to go scatter joy & harmony somewhere else!

BirdieJane

@lkc001 Here is another use for the table

BirdieJane

@ericnliz Ok profile all updated!!

ericnliz

I'll be right over!

lkc001

that's just so WRONG showing that big ol' pot of crabs & brewski----you're bad.  & I'm jealous