madhawk78
I am thinking of doing a hiking/camping/backpacking trip to Glacier NP this summer. Anyone out there have any advice, tips on such a trip? Is it worth the trip or are their better places to go. I was in Yosemite and Rocky Mountain NP last year, so any comparisons would be nice as well.
Answer
I have not actually been there yet myself, but am doing a week-long backpacking trip there this summer and did a lot of research in preparation.
By many accounts, Glacier NP is one of the best hiking and backpacking spots in the country. In fact, it routinely ranks at or near the top of Backpacker Magazine's annual survey. That is one of the reasons that my friends and I decided to make it this year's big backpacking trip.
I would highly recommend that you get the National Geographic Trails Illustrated map of the park which shows all the trails, camp spots and roads. I also got a couple of trail guides entitled "Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks" by Erik Molvar and "Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park" by Vicky Spring. Both are quite good, but if I were to get just one I would lean a little more toward Molvar's as a little more practical and easier to use. For general sightingseeing guides to the park and area, I got the travel guides by both Moon Publications (Becky Lomax) and the Insider's Guide (by Susan Olin). The Moon guide was quite helpful and detailed, while the Insider's guide was little more than a local business directory.
A couple of things about hiking and backpacking there...
It can be challenging to find good loop backpacking trips. Most will end up being out and backs or point to point requiring some sort of shuttle. The one exception is the famous 'Northern Circle' loop in the center of the park (starting near Swiftwater).
You must have permits to camp overnight in the backcountry. Although they always reserve some walk-up permits, most spaces can be reserved in advance by faxing a request. Note that the reservation period started on April 15 and so it may now be difficult to get popular spots between June and August. We sent in ours before the deadline and are waiting to hear if we got our intinerary.
Glacier is famous for bear country - both black and the grizzly. While attacks are comparatively rare, the park website has a video on what to do about bears and there are very tight restrictions in the backcountry around storing food and eating in a special designated 'eating spot' away from the tent spots.
Aside from hiking and camping, a few of the other things that Glacier is famous for...
Historic Lodges - In or around the park are some of the most historic and famous lodges in the US park system. The lodges at McDonald Lake, East Glacier and Waterton Park (Canada) are particulary grand and well known.
Going to the Sun Road - The famous road that bi-sects the park and is considered one of the most scenic drives in the country.
Lake Tours - Many of the larger lakes have historic tour boats that take you out on scenic cruises.
Whatever your choice, have fun!
I have not actually been there yet myself, but am doing a week-long backpacking trip there this summer and did a lot of research in preparation.
By many accounts, Glacier NP is one of the best hiking and backpacking spots in the country. In fact, it routinely ranks at or near the top of Backpacker Magazine's annual survey. That is one of the reasons that my friends and I decided to make it this year's big backpacking trip.
I would highly recommend that you get the National Geographic Trails Illustrated map of the park which shows all the trails, camp spots and roads. I also got a couple of trail guides entitled "Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks" by Erik Molvar and "Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park" by Vicky Spring. Both are quite good, but if I were to get just one I would lean a little more toward Molvar's as a little more practical and easier to use. For general sightingseeing guides to the park and area, I got the travel guides by both Moon Publications (Becky Lomax) and the Insider's Guide (by Susan Olin). The Moon guide was quite helpful and detailed, while the Insider's guide was little more than a local business directory.
A couple of things about hiking and backpacking there...
It can be challenging to find good loop backpacking trips. Most will end up being out and backs or point to point requiring some sort of shuttle. The one exception is the famous 'Northern Circle' loop in the center of the park (starting near Swiftwater).
You must have permits to camp overnight in the backcountry. Although they always reserve some walk-up permits, most spaces can be reserved in advance by faxing a request. Note that the reservation period started on April 15 and so it may now be difficult to get popular spots between June and August. We sent in ours before the deadline and are waiting to hear if we got our intinerary.
Glacier is famous for bear country - both black and the grizzly. While attacks are comparatively rare, the park website has a video on what to do about bears and there are very tight restrictions in the backcountry around storing food and eating in a special designated 'eating spot' away from the tent spots.
Aside from hiking and camping, a few of the other things that Glacier is famous for...
Historic Lodges - In or around the park are some of the most historic and famous lodges in the US park system. The lodges at McDonald Lake, East Glacier and Waterton Park (Canada) are particulary grand and well known.
Going to the Sun Road - The famous road that bi-sects the park and is considered one of the most scenic drives in the country.
Lake Tours - Many of the larger lakes have historic tour boats that take you out on scenic cruises.
Whatever your choice, have fun!
If you were camping with your family, saw a bear around your child's tent, and had a gun, would you shoot it?
danny_boy_
I purposely did not express any opinion in this question. Please don't make assumptions about how I feel about the topic.
I am merely attempting to get your opinion with regard to the question . . .not me. I am specifically interested in people's reactions to a bear; not a mountain lion, squirrel, snake, or badger, OK?
Answer
Just because the bear is sniffing around is not reason enough to justify shooting it. If it was actively trying to get inside the tent then maybe, after firing a warning shot while shouting and running up to the bear, to see if it might run off, which it most likely would, and then and only then if it continues to invade the tent or charges you should you shoot, and only if it's a grizzly bear, because a black bear almost never finishes a charge, it's always a bluff.
I also suggest this wouldn't happen unless your kid had food or other smelly items inside his tent and you should be more conscientious about teaching him how to properly store food, hanging, boxes, or canisters.
And yes, I do have a kid and I take him backpacking and hiking all the time in bear country (High Sierra) and we've never had an encounter such as you envision with a bear. Why don't you ask if I'd shoot a mountain lion or kill a rattlesnake near my kid, yes to both. Black bears are mostly harmless by comparison. Are you going to shoot a bison nosing around your kids tent in Yellowstone?
Just because the bear is sniffing around is not reason enough to justify shooting it. If it was actively trying to get inside the tent then maybe, after firing a warning shot while shouting and running up to the bear, to see if it might run off, which it most likely would, and then and only then if it continues to invade the tent or charges you should you shoot, and only if it's a grizzly bear, because a black bear almost never finishes a charge, it's always a bluff.
I also suggest this wouldn't happen unless your kid had food or other smelly items inside his tent and you should be more conscientious about teaching him how to properly store food, hanging, boxes, or canisters.
And yes, I do have a kid and I take him backpacking and hiking all the time in bear country (High Sierra) and we've never had an encounter such as you envision with a bear. Why don't you ask if I'd shoot a mountain lion or kill a rattlesnake near my kid, yes to both. Black bears are mostly harmless by comparison. Are you going to shoot a bison nosing around your kids tent in Yellowstone?
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Title Post: Who has been to Glacier National Park?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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