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| Member |
Just wondering if any local members here have any recommendations on things to see, places to eat or hikes they recommend. We will be staying in the area The week of Sept 5 to Sept 12. | ||
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| Crusty old curmudgeon  |
Better keep track of the fires in the park. Right now a lot of the park is shut down, even the 'Going to the Sun' road. Jim ________________________ "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird | |||
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| Member |
Check with the park to see what areas are open. A short time ago the park was closed due to fires. In my view the single best hiking map/booklet is: Day Hikes of Glacier National Park. You can visit his website at: http://www.hike734.com I don't know what your experience level is in hiking in grizzly bear country. If unsure, read up on it and, when in the park, pay attention to bear warnings and the storage of your food. Attacks are a rare event; however, the fires may have displaced bears from their normal areas. Glacier is a fantastic place to hike. Silent | |||
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Member |
I live about 15 miles outside of West Glacier. As you know, the park is once again on fire. I understand the fire is about 8,000 acres and out of control. The park service is evacuating Fish Creek camp ground and I believe Apgar Campground as well. These are the 2 larges campgrounds in the park. I highly doubt much will change until we get cold weather and either rain or snow. Today is windy and cool at 65°. Visablity is extremely poor with smoke obscuring the mountains on the north and east of us. In general - - once again, this sucks. Glacier Park is a jewel but these fires start either by man or lightning and aren't dealt with until they are out of control. I don't know where you are coming from, bukerhammer, but feel free to contact me for information as your vacation nears. Other than Glacier Park, we have wonderful bodies of water including the huge Flathead Lake and Hungry Horse Reservoir. Both are beautiful - when the smoke clears in October. Mike I'm sorry if I hurt you feelings when I called you stupid - I thought you already knew - Unknown ................................... When you have no future, you live in the past. " Sycamore Row" by John Grisham | |||
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Republican in training |
Where you staying? -------------------- I like Sigs and HK's, and maybe Glocks | |||
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| Eschew Obfuscation |
This. We went there last year and the wildfires had large parts of the park, including the Going to the Sun road closed. It put a major crimp in our trip. Our smoke obscured view of Big Sky Country on arrival at Kalispell airport.  _____________________________________________________________________ “One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.” – Thomas Sowell | |||
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| Crusty old curmudgeon |
As 'mcrimm' mentioned, keep in mind that being a National Park, the policy is to let nature take its course by protecting structures only and let the fires go till rain and snow puts them out. I wouldn't even think of going to GNP until October or early November. Jim ________________________ "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird | |||
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| Member |
We have been keeping up to date on the fire and the park being closed but assumed it should be open by the time we get there, but maybe not. We are staying in Whitefish and were thinking about going up to Banif National Park in Canada so may have to change some plans if Glacier is not available. We are driving. | |||
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| Republican in training |
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6135/ Howe Ridge fire info above. Also - the policy is certainly not to let the fire simply take it's course. They've had at least two of those huge airplanes scooping up water from Lake McDonald and a few choppers involved while fighting this one. Here's a picture one of my Aunts took a few hours after the fire at Howe Ridge started (this fire started from dry lightning), from Mt. Brown lookout: https://imgur.com/a/JeHwXBy  -------------------- I like Sigs and HK's, and maybe Glocks | |||
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| Crusty old curmudgeon |
Only if it's near structures or popular tourist areas. Fire in the mountains and outlying areas they let go. It's been that way for a long time and I haven't heard of any policy changes. I'm talking about the smoke, which will be around for some time. Looking at your map, the fire is getting close to the Going to the Sun Road and that will be protected. Jim ________________________ "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird | |||
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| The Constable |
As of 8/20 at 1045 AM MST, We have a Canadian cold front that slipped in and we are getting much colder temps. AND.... getting some widespread, moderate rain! Just checked with a friend in Babb (Near the St Marys entrance) , raining there too. GNP is quite large this fire is on one end of the Park, the other half is still open. Going to the Sun Road is NOT fully closed, only half of it. The rains now should help , but considering the players involved, this will probably not be out until heavy fall rains or our first snows. Think about the east side of the Park Many Glacier/St Mary area. A day trip up to Waterton Lakes in Canada? A hike out of the Many Glacier area? We have space reserved at the Granite Park Chalet end of the month, 8 mile hike up, then down and out to Going to the Sun at the Loop. We may have to do the long in and out as that part of the road IS closed. So we are hoping for good skies and no fires as well. | |||
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| The Constable |
Just 3 weeks back;  | |||
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| Muzzle flash aficionado  |
If you are able to visit the park, you will love it. I was there in 2013 on an escorted AMTRAK tour (photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157635037593408/ ). flashguyThis message has been edited. Last edited by: flashguy, Texan by choice, not accident of birth | |||
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| Republican in training |
Hikes for the east side: Cracker Lake Iceberg Lake/Ptarmigan Tunnel (my dad helped pack the doors up there long ago) - if you are really in shape you can do both of those (Iceberg/Ptramigan) in a day. Grinnell Pitamakan Dawson loop trail Highline trail if open There are a few tiny short hikes to falls around St. Mary but they will be like going to BestBuy on black Friday... St. Marys is good to shop and eat for half a day. If you like horses, there are some guided horse riding. Take a boat ride on one of the historic boats (Glacier Park Boats) on St. Mary or Two Med. The boat ride on Two Med. lake will include a short hike to Trick falls, with a NPS Naturalist. -------------------- I like Sigs and HK's, and maybe Glocks | |||
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| The Constable |
Don Draper, Grinnell and the Ptarmigan two of my favorites. Elaborate on Your Dad and the tunnel doors! What a piece of history there. When, how, etc? | |||
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| Eschew Obfuscation |
Agreed. Even though the smoke was a problem, we saw enough to ensure we'll be back.   _____________________________________________________________________ “One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.” – Thomas Sowell | |||
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| The Constable |
bukerhammer, The link to daily GNP info. https://home.nps.gov/applicati...nfobull/closures.cfm You are hitting GNP at the end of the season so some unique issues; fires, bears and weather. We saw three sets of grizzlies on the Grinnell hike three weeks back. Trails will close with little notice due to bear activity. If You intend to hike, DO carry bear spray. Nice time to be at the Park though, as most of the folks with kids are gone. But the weather can turn wet and cold very quickly. So dress accordingly. The drive around the Park is nice, but one must really hike to truly get an idea of Glacier. I started hiking the Park far too late in life, one of my true regrets. Get out and hike! If I can be of any assistance contact me. But DonDraper has it handled pretty well. | |||
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| Crusty old curmudgeon |
This is good advice. We went to the St Marys area a few years ago and it's worth doing. If no fires hit the east side of the park, this is a good option. Jim ________________________ "If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird | |||
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| Eschew Obfuscation |
Another good reason to check out the maps by Jake734 that Silent mentioned. I bought his 'Day Hikes of Glacier Park' map guide ($11.95) before going. He ranks the trails by length and location within the park. His descriptions also tell you the elevation change and level of difficulty. The maps are extremely reasonably priced considering the very useful content he packs into them. _____________________________________________________________________ “One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.” – Thomas Sowell | |||
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| Republican in training |
Dad was a seasonal ranger mostly based at Polebridge in the early 60's. One of his future brother-in-laws was a packer at St. Marys at the time. On his days off he would often go over to the east side and go on packing trips with him. Not sure if it was a door that was getting repaired or what (as I'm pretty sure the tunnel was built long before that). He did remember that he had his own saddle though... haha. My mom's dad was supervisor of roads in the park, and was in charge of clearing Logan Pass every year. I think he (grandpa) worked for close to 45 years in the park. -------------------- I like Sigs and HK's, and maybe Glocks | |||
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