Waning Vacation August 1957 – Part Three

The American Summer Family Vacation – A quintessential rite of summer! For the Waning family it was an extraordinary break in the pattern of their summers. Grandfather's work logging had generally precluded summer vacations. The good weather of late spring, summer, and early fall meant long days in the woods. In 1957, however, Grandmother decided that if the Waning family was to ever have a "Summer Family Vacation" it would be have to be that year. Barbara was headed into her senior year in high school that fall, and the window of opportunity was contracting. Grandmother thought it important the family have a vacation together, and the girls have the chance to visit the Teton's, Glacier, and Yellowstone, She also wanted them to visit the state where their father was born. So Gramps shut down his operation for a couple of weeks, and off they went!

Margaret Waning's Vacation Notes – Yellowstone Trip August 1957

"Starting Mileage 25,635

Start 11 o'clock Sat. Morn. Beautiful trip across McKenzie – ate about 2 at Bend – Milkshakes at Burns. (Antelope) changed time – slept at Vale – breakfast at Nyssa.

25,999 – Nyssa Sun 18
Spent Sunday at Caldwell cause Barb didn't feel so hot.

26,030 – Caldwell
A lovely trip past 1,000 Springs – travel warm – not hot, cloudy smokey big fire on Sun. Spent the nite at Idaho Falls same as 20 yrs ago. Town twice as big – saw the falls. Dressed up & went to dinner.

Start at 26,360
Got to the Park Tuesday eve after beautiful ride through the Teton's. This is Friday have seen dozens of Geysers - & I went for a horse back ride Thursday morn. Saw a buffalo – also have seen beautiful elk – huge rack of horns & big thrill of all three moose. Stayed Tues & Wed, nite at Old Faithful. Thursday nite at Mammouth Hot Springs.

26,800 – Roosevelt Lodge
Sat. Morn off to Mont.


27,036 – Sun. Morn. – 25^th
In Livingston – very rugged mts. Between the Park & Red Lodge. Summit 10,942 ft. Warm, windy from Red Lodge to Livingston – see thunder storms in the distance. Friday Morn. – spent Sun. Mon. & Tues. around Wilsall. Jim visited Everett Carr(Mon) – Sun. went to the Old Place & John Swandalls, Had supper Mon. nite with the Ray Isbells. On Tues. visited Hattie S. & had lunch – in the aft. Visited & had supper with Elery Brights – then saw Oscar Olsons's.
Wed. drove to Havre & Thursday visited Matt & Lily.


27,634 – Friday Morn at Havre
On our way home through Glacier.
Back to the dishes. B.W. **


27,890 Sat. Morn Hungry Horse
Leaving West Glacier. Beautiful scenery. Barb drove through Logan Pass. No bears.

Sun. Morn left Spokane – saw Grand Coulee. Stopped at June's for a couple of hours –

28,347 Mileage at June's
Spent Sun. nite at Goldendale, Wash – then on home.
28,773 –


Travelled 3,138 miles."



** Barbara Waning penciled note (Waning humor)



Note: June was one of Gram's many maternal Greenwell cousins - June Gantenbein Suckow – the daughter of Fred Gantenbein and Fanny Greenwell.
Thanks to Barbara for the use of her Yellowstone trip photos.