Glacier Natl Park - summer '06

“Splitting up is a very good idea for you guys. Also if your group is so large you may want to try and have a group run the route in reverse. Last year I submitted in the same route you guys are looking at (at 8:00 AM on April 1st) and a route from St. Mary's to Two Medicine lake and got neither one.
So come up with many alternatives for your hike just in case you don't get what you want.”

“Thanks for the info flasher”

“Sounds good. We will firm the ride thing up this spring when there are dates firm times. I hope the drive won't take too much time.”

“So ,whats are plan on applying for the permits, robertr,BigPoppa do you guys need others to apply also whats the process on applying

thanks”

“Rob, did you get my mail this time?”

“I am not sure about the permits. Let me check with my BP guru. He has spent hiked Glaciers a few times and show shed some light on this.”

“I am not sure about the permits. Let me check with my BP guru. He has spent hiked Glaciers a few times and show shed some light on this.”

“I checked and I like to loop. It looks dooable. I am only wondering about the crowds. We are going at a popular time and Many Glaciers seems poplular. I am wondering if if we should try starting out some place more remote.

robertr - Did you go off trail? You mentioned that two of your partners went one way and you went the other way.”

“Sorry, but I am now out for this trip. I am going to climb Blue Mountain in Jamaica while I am there helping run a youth basketball clinic we have run for 12 years. We just set the dates and it overlaps with this trip. Have a good time.”

“Time just seems to slip right by. I keep getting caught up with other tasks. Back on track this week and trip planning...

BigPoppa - I wasn't the one who did this before - that was flasher. There is a form online through Glacier for applying for backcountry permits. I've been told the earliest time to apply is April 1. I'm going to confirm this with the park this week.”

“Hey all...

It's finally nearing March and I have to start thinking about permits. From the information I've gathered, it's going to be very difficult to plan this trip with a group of more than 5 people. I propose not only do we split into groups of 5, but we consider different dates as well. There are a lot of "maybes" on the list -so this may not be an issue but just in case.

I'd like to add Olddog and BigPoppa to the permit - they've both followed the thread consistently and have shown initiative in the planning (and are both on the "definite" list). I have two other friends who are interested, so I have a full permit of 5 if the the four of them all are all interested. I'll await to hear from Olddog and BigPoppa.

Just so the two of you know, my best friend lives in Indiana as well - I believe the two of you do. Carpooling would work well.

More to come....

Rob”

“Rob, You'll have to count me out on this one. Sorry! I really want to go but can't get away for that long. Next time? But I'll see you and Takara (sp?) at Lasson.”

“Sorry Theresa, we'll miss you... I enjoy hiking with you. Nothing will top our Winnemucca trip ;)

As for dates for this trip, I'd like to leave them open with a couple weeks available. This will allow better opportunity to get the sites we want. I will have the permit in the first of April - not sure how long before I'll hear back.

Rob”

“I'm in , were do they live in Indy .I'm leaving for the Grand Canyon this Saturday so I will not be in contact”

“My buddy lives in Anderson.”

“I'm a candidate for a Glacier trip. Been there a bit, live about an hour south of West Glacier. Could possibly help with backcountry offices if necessary, my experience with the procedures is it works better if you go in person. Been going it alone some, word is the grizzlies don't bother groups of hikers as much.
last edited: 3/13/06 6:38:27 PM”

“i have hiked to park alot. the area up near polebridge is quite remote also and not heavily traveled. start at bowman lake, brown pass, hole in the wall, kitna lakes, boulder pass, kitna lakes (two campsites). or you could include goat haunt and some others. hole in the wall is probably the most spectacular camp in glacier.”

“I might be a candidate to join up. I live close by and am in the park quite a bit. Hike alone alot, in grizzly country it's nice to have some company.”

“Okay... here's the propose route. Let me know in the next week or so if you recommend any adjustments.

Day 1 - Many Glaciers to Elizabeth Lake Foot campground - 9.8 miles. There's the option of staying an extra day here and hiking into Helen Lake (18 mile round trip). I hear Helen Lake is great.

Day 2 - Elizabeth Lake to Cosley Lake - 6 miles. An easy day and if we decided to hike into Helen Lake, we could easily tack this onto the hike out of Helen totalling 15 miles.

Day 3 - Cosley Lake to Stoney Indian Lake - 13.3 miles with strenuous uphill. We could take a break at Mokawanis or even camp at Mokawanis to break it up but I hear Mokowanis isn't a good campground.

Day 4 - Stoney Indian Lake to Fifty Mountain - 8.1 miles. I want to tackle Porcupine Ridge which is an additional 10 mile round trip and 3000 ft elevation gain. It will be a tough day, but worth it. Those not interested can go on to Fifty Mountain and the rest can meet them there. With Porcupine Ridge, it makes for a 18.1 mile day.

Day 5 - Fifty Mountain to Granite Park - 11.9 miles

Day 6 - Granite Park to Many Glacier - 7.9 miles.

If we don't add the extra day for Helen Lake in the beginning, this will be a 5 night, 6 day trip. With Helen, obviously a 6 night, 7 day trip.

The members of my group - Don F., Big Poppa, Olddog, Calabrese, Poole... please contact me privately so that I have all of your information (phone, names, etc) so I can contact you privately.

Rob”

“by the way - my e-mail is rob_ritchey@yahoo.com”

“Rob, sounds like a good plan, I just got my topo on Monday ,I'll check it out tonight, looks do-able .Will you submit another Plan- B just in case we can't get our first choice”

“Sorry I signed up 3 times. I'm a newcomer and am bumbling around the website at this point. The more the merrier though, supposedly there's never been a grizzly attack on a party of more than 3 or 4 something like that.”

“Way to jinx the group happytrails, now one of you is bound to get attacked. Question is which one of you is the slowest?”

“Hey olddog... god to hear from you. You already sent me your information, correct? I got an e-mail, but wasn't sure if it was from you or BigPoppa - the nick easn't included.

I have considered alternate campgrounds. In addition, an alternate route would be first, the same route in reverse. Another will be posted in the next couple of days. I'm finalizing it. If you see an area that looks interesting, feel free to share.

Rob”

“The group thus far is myself, Poole (aka mountaindewd), fischer, olddog, bigpoppa, and calabrese. There are still a couple of you I haven't heard from in a couple weeks.

The permit is going out overnight before the 1st - ready to go. The alternate route is being finalized and will be posted in the next couple days.

Olddog or Bigpoppa, are either of you going to be driving or flying and renting a car? This has some influence on our ability to do an alternate route without a loop.

Please let me know if you decide you can't make it - I have been contacted by a number of others who are interested.

Rob”

“Robert You may want to check out the route from St. Mary's lake to Two Medicine lake. I haven't done this route but have seen pictures from it and its amazing (of course the park is amazing.

God I wish I could join you all but Hawaii / Honeymoon is taking up the vacation time this summer.”

“I know I mentioned about driving out with a couple of you, but at this point I'm looking on flying and renting a car .
Hope this doesn't inconvenience anyone”

“oldog - I don't believe you flying and renting a car is going to be an issue. My other buddy from Indiana (Poole - aka mountaindewd) is flying also and I'm going to pick him up. I'm swinging through Salt Lake City to pick up Fischer. He's offered to drive as well so that we have two cars - thus to avoid having to do a loop route.
If you're certain youre going to rent a car, perhaps Fischer can leave his car at home and ride with me. Then you can shuttle us back should our original route not get accepted.”

“fyi....have hiked glacier alot. if you have the time. 7-10 days. the one of the greatest hikes is starting at bowman lake and exit at slide lake. not a loop.
takes you through brown pass, stoney indian pass, gable pass. along the way you hit some of the camp sites you are considering.

if its too early, like june or even early july you may need crampons and ice axes....was worth the effort. also some of the camp sites at the passes might be unavailable early due to snow.”

“does Fischer live in the Salt Lake area, If so it would be a lot cheaper for me to fly into Salt Lake, I could split the gas cost and help with the driving and we would still have 2 cars at the park”

“We are looking at going to Glacier and were wondering if 17-20 miles a day is doable out there or should we scale back some.”

“for a very fit person ,yes ! but why”

“willi997 - I'm sure 20 miles a day is doable. I did the Tahoe Rim Trail last year and did 20 miles a day the first three days (including over Mt Rose). But, as oldog states, why! Tahoe is not near as scenic as Glacier. If you lived nearby and could return to the park frequently, then I suppose it would be justified (as my case is with Tahoe). I'd take your time and enjoy the area.

We plan to keep the mileage relatively modearate - but I'm sure I'll venture off from base camp daily to explore the area.

It all depends upon your expectation from the trip, of course.”

“Oldog - I'll call Fischer tonight. He does live in Salt Lake City. Depending upon when you fly in, one of us would be able to pick you up at tha airport.

The alternate route will be posted by this evening - give me feedback please. It needs to be mailed in within one week.

Rob”

“Okay - I tried to come up with an alternate route but I kept finding myself in the same general location. Despite, I'll propose it anyway.

Start - Logan Pass
Logan Pass to Granite Park - 7.6 miles

Granite Park to Fifty Mountain - 11.9 miles

Fiftey Mountain to Mokowanis Lake - 11.5 miles

Mokowanis Lake to Cosley Lake - 10.5 miles

Cosley Lake to Elizabeth Lake - 6 miles
OR
hiking on into Helen Lake which would be 15 miles

Elizabeth Lake to Chief Mountain Customs via Belly River Cyn - 9.3 miles
OR Helen Lake to Chief Mountain Customs - 13.6 miles

This doesn't differ tremendously, but does provide a one-way route instead of a loop and gives us a bit more variety as well as reversing the direction of hiking increasing our chances of still crossing Stoney Indian Pass.

Rob”

“I haven't finalized another route, but an option would be to hike along the continental divide from Two Medicines to St. Marys to Many Glacier... possibly on up to Belly River Canyon and out at Chief Mtn Customs near the border.

I'm going to call the park tomorrow for some additional details.”

“I haven't heard from BigPoppa for a while - hope he's still interested. If so, I need your contact information. Please send to rob_ritchey@yahoo.com

I checked on permits yesterday with the backcountry office. Between April 1-15, they pool the permits and draw randomly. Overnighting on April 1st doesn't help, but I do plan to have it there then anyway.

Olddog - my best friend lives in Anderson, IN. He's going to be joining us. He's also going to fly out to Salt Lake so perhaps the two of you could get together once we have the permit secured. There's no sense in spending any money until we know. The backcountry office said it would be 2-3 weeks after they recieve it before we would get a response. That's still plenty of time to get an airline ticket at a reasonable cost (if there is such a thing).

Time to get in shape. If we get the alternate route, it's going to be a bit tougher mileage wise. Woo hoo......

Robertr”

“Olddog - Fischer is going to drive, therefore when we have secured a permit, we'd be glad to pick you up on Salt Lake.

rob”

“I have family in Salt Lake that I might visit, so whenever, just let me know when I need to be there for a pick up

Ps thats a double Woo-hoo”

“I'm feeling the need for a mountain hit so I'm planning a trip back to Swan Valley to backpack the Mission and Swan mountains solo again...I thought I'd check the trips page to check if anyone was planning a Glacier hike...not that I planned to join it but, if I'm in the area, it would be very cool to meet some of you...so, I'm going to follow this thread...see if any of you plan to spend the night either before or after the hike at any particular campground or hotel...I've been considering a stay at the way overpriced, but superbly positioned, Many Glacier Lodge for years although I do enjoy the campground...”

“PERMIT REQUEST HAS BEEN MAILED”

“After looking over my alternate route - it's obvious that the campgrounds are near identical in reverse - even though the route exited Belly River Canyon. On the permits, there is an option to reverse the route. For that reason, I have proposed an entirely new route from the recommendation of locals on this site as well as the ranger.

The alternate route is a bit shorter, only 3 nights, 4 days - but we can then do a few day trips into other areas of the park. A couple of you thought this was acceptable.

Upper Two Medicines to Old Man Lake
Old Man Lake to Atlantic Creek (Pitakaman Pass)
Atlantic Creek to Red Eagle Lake
Red Eagle Lake to St. Marys Lake.

Anyone reading these thread care to comment on the above route?

Rob”

“Thats the trip I wanted to go on last year it looks to be a fun trip.”

“Looks fine ,were going to owe you big time for doing this planning,I'll buy the first round when we get out.”

“Glacier group check out the Glacier website or the E Hike thread as they have some neat new things on backpacking and dayhikes. They plan on adding more as time permits. I suggested they look for volunteers for video footage and photographs.”

“Thanks Flasher... pretty cool.”

“found some info and pictures of the trip ,June 03/Backpacker ,we gota go to Mokowanis Lake”

“As you know, the primary itenerary is set for Mokowanis. I've heard good and bad things about it. The lake is supposed to be beautiful, but the campground is supposedly questionable. For that reason, I didn't request it as a campsite. I believe it is a back-up should we not get one of the other.

Patiently awaiting permit information.... should begin them this weekend or Monday.

Robertr”

“What a disappointment! I got my "reservations" so called today from Glacier. They completely changed my itenerary - only 3 nights instead of 6, a different route entirely with very little backcountry, deleted a couple people allowing only 4 and authorized the 3 nights during the week! I can't help but be somewhat pissed given the work I put into it and the fact that I got my application in the day they started. Oh well... I guess.

The itenerary I received is:
Entry - Logan Pass
1st night - Granite Park
2nd night - Many Glacier
3rd night - Cracker Lake
Exit - Many Glacier

I would be fine with going and doing day hikes in addition to this - but I feel like it wouldn't be worth the effort to get a ride all the way from Many Glacier back to Logan Pass entry for only a few days.

What are others thoughts - both those in the group and those who have been to Glacier before that would like to comment.

Thanks,
Rob”

“You can go to the waterslide at Columbia Falls.”