Come join me for a week of (day) hiking in Glacier Park! This writeup is in progress, but mostly done. Do read everything, there are changes from last year.
We'll have hikes from Monday, July 29th, 2024 through Friday, August 2nd, and an easy warmup hike on the 28th. Hikes may change at the very last minute due to weather, bears on the trail, etc. Usually we keep in contact since we see each other as we hike and after the hike.
Linus will not be coming this year. I'm not too fast these days. I'll start the trail with everyone, after explaining the highlights, and will turn back with the last people as they come back and will sweep. I do have an Inreach.
I've only missed going 2 years (2020 and 1983) in the last ~45 years, so this is really unlikely to be cancelled, so do your planning/booking! Let me show you my hiking home!
Montana
This trip is in Montana, it is not local!
You need to decide if you're flying up to Montana (and renting a car), or driving. Getting there and figuring out where to stay is the hardest part of the trip, unless you decide to drive all the way up and just camp in which case it is easy.
Lodging
I will be camping at Johnson's (http://johnsonsofstmary.squarespace.com/) this year, which is just outside the park, and can book several sites that we share if people are interested. Camp sites are $20 for 2 people, 1 car. $10 extra per extra car or person. I will split costs.
Or you can book your own camping, there are several campgrounds in the area, such as Chewing Blackbones, let me know if you want details.
One may also book motel lodging (Red Eagle in St. Mary, or Thronsons in Babb) or in the park (see Xanterra.com). Motels often fill very early though cancelations can occur. Staying at East Glacier is not recommended, the mountain road to/from there is slow.
Food
Often we will meet to eat a number of evenings after the hike. Some people often eat in camp, some go to nearby restaurants. We often eat in camp for breakfast since we're getting ready for the day's hike and don't have much time. There is a nearby small market but it is pricy.
Transportation
Driving to Glacier, from L.A. takes ~20 hours, often split across 2 or 3 days. I often do this, it's a car trip!
Flights, are often into Great Falls or Kalispell. Rental car rates can be the deciding factor. Evaluate both costs before reserving!
Weather
Will typically be in the 60s to 80s during the day as we hike. Where we camp the lows will often be in the 40s or so. Often there is rain at some point during the trip.
I've visited the park enough that I don't mind hanging at a hotel during a rainy day but with people staying a limited time, some will hike even in the rain.
Roads
Permits are needed for most of the roads in the park from 6am to 3pm. This is to address crowding.
We'll bypass the permits by entering the park by 6am. So you may need to get up by 5am or even 4am depending how quickly you get ready. There are beautiful morning pics one can take with the early sun, plus we'll get to the hike early and finish not too late.
Hikes
Meeting locations:
A=Swiftcurrent Motor Inn parking lot in front of restaurant (enter via Babb)
B=Many Glacier Hotel Boat dock (obviously lakeside of Hotel) (via Babb)
C=Logan Pass Visitor Center (via St. Mary)
D=Just inside the park near St. Mary, need to pass the entrance station by 6am.
Sunday, July 28rd, optional warmup hike to Red Rock Falls. 3.6 mi. round trip, 236' gain. Meet at A at 4pm, enter park after 3pm to avoid road permit. We often see moose at the lake on the way!
We'll met for lunch at The Park Cafe (in St. Mary) Sunday at noon.
Monday, July 29th, Iceberg Lake, 10 mi. rt, 1450'. Meet at A at 7am.
Tuesday, Grinnell Glacier, 12 mi., 2181'. Meet at B at 7am.
Wednesday, two hikes: Virginia Falls, 2.9 mi., 452', Hidden Lake Overlook, 2.7mi, 551'. Meet at D at 6am.
Thursday, Highline Trail, 14.9 mi, 2578' with interesting optional extensions. Meet at C at 6am!!
Friday, Avalanche Lake, 5.9 mi, 757'. Meet at D at 6am.
Saturday, leisurely pack up & head home
Friday will be a short day and we'll have a celebratory/final dinner in
Babb at the Cattle Barron which is known for its steaks! (They have alternatives for us non-steak people :-).
Do try to make the Sunday or Monday hikes, I'll explain anything missing, meetup.com does limit writeup length!
Note that we will not gather as a large group on these hikes, we'll form small/medium groups of similar paced people.
Contacts/Safety
Emergency contact (name & #) required, who do I call if you can't? I've done these hikes many times, safely, but things can happen. Last year someone had a heart attack on a local hike, we had a hard time reaching his wife. Give me your info before we start hiking.
Past
Some pics from earlier trips of mine can be found at https://steve-aka-baloo.smugmug.com/Misc-Glacier-pics/n-DZHL66