Glacier National Park Vacation

[JohnnyEgo]

Just got back from a week in Montana, and figured I'd share some vacation stuff. We let my 8 year old pick where we went for vacation this year, and he had a definite opinion. He wanted to go to Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana, because they had read about it in school. Since we live 45 minutes from RMNP, the idea of driving 16 hours to look at some more mountains was initially of limited appeal to me, but these are the things we do for family. I way over-prepare for everything, further amplified by both my wife and son's tendency to overpack, so it's a good thing I have a long bed truck.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier128.JPG


Everything I read about Glacier hyped the whole bear encounter thing, so I dutifully bought some bear spray.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier122.JPG

And I brought my Plan B:
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier124.JPG

And my Plan C, for unexpected late night tire changes, emergency bathroom breaks, etc...:
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier125.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier126.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier127.JPG

Fortunately, the only bears we encountered were the ones we almost hit on the drive through western Montana at 9:00 at night. We saw none of them in the park, which was probably a good thing, as every single male tourist over the age of 18 was armed with bear spray, and many of them seemed quite eager for the opportunity to mace some wildlife. It would have been a really horrible idea to wear a fur coat in the park.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier63.JPG

First two days we spent in the west side of the park, right outside Kalispel, where we stayed. The west side of the park is fairly low in terms of elevation, and has a large lake and some pretty swift moving rivers cutting through it.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier82.JPG

I give the park credit for making clear signs that eliminate any uncertainty about climbing down the cliffs.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier83.JPG

But I am also a man, and I have a boy just like me, so over the side we went.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier86.JPG

[JohnnyEgo]

We took a boat tour of Lake Macdonald, which gave some beautiful views of some of the peaks:
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier35.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier22.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier23.JPG

Then we did the Trail of Cedars, which was a flat, smooth trail about a mile long. Some big trees, and a waterfall. Very easy to walk.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier44.JPG

Probably should have pumped some lunch into my boy before we did the hike. We have some really nice family photos from the walk, but this one is my favorite, because I see my own default 'meh' face has been passed down to the next generation:
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier62.JPG

These cool old busses are all over the park. Bus operator told me Ford pulled all the bodies off in the 90s and put them on E450 chassis, so they handle like modern shuttle busses, and run off propane. We thought about taking a bus tour, but the main road through the park was still closed due to snow clearing in the high mountain passes, so we passed. But if we come back again, we'll definitely take the tour.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier110.JPG

While the main road was out of commission, we got up early one morning and took the long way around the park, over to the more mountainous east side. Felt a lot like RMP
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier01.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier94.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier18.JPG

[Mazin]

Looks like you guys had a blast thanks for sharing!

[pickenup]

We got to go on a little journey too, THANKS.

[Irving]

Pretty fantastic views.

[zteknik]

Looks like you had a great time. Awesome views!

[JohnnyEgo]

You'd have to work to take a bad picture in the place, particularly on the east side of the park.

Took a hike around Lake Mary on the east side, which promised some spectacular water falls. We hiked down one side of the valley, and up the other, about a 5 mile round trip with probably 300' of elevation change.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier05.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier105.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier118.JPG

I had worried about how my wife would do on the trail, and the climb back up required a few rest breaks. However, she and my son handled it surprisingly well, and were in better condition then a lot of folks we met along the trail. The plus of living at around 5000' is that we never ran out of breath in Glacier, which tops out at 6000' and some change. In the valley, I think we were below 3000', and while parts of the climb were fairly steep and labor intensive, it didn't give either of us that 'my heart is going to explode' feeling that both of us get in RMNP starting at about 9000'.

Spent the last day in the towns of Kalispell and Whitefish, which I would equate to Fort Collins and Estes Park, respectively, but with fewer visible potheads and homeless people. I asked my son what his favorite part of the trip was. It was when we let him get two scoops of icecream. If I had known that in advance, I could have saved a lot of drive time.
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier70.JPG

All in all, everyone enjoyed the trip quite a bit. My wife seemed to enjoy being outdoors much more then I expected, and seemed excited to do some more hiking around RMNP when we returned. So if you have the chance to visit, don't hesitate to make the trip to Glacier. And if you need some unused bear spray, I'll sell it to you cheap.

[theGinsue]

Looks like a great trip.

Good looking family and an adventure they'll never forget.

Excellent pics, but I must agree that in some of them your son is definitely displaying the "meh" face. Poor little guy.

Thank you for sharing!

[JohnnyEgo]

He pulls that stunt every other time we go to take a picture. His timing is nearly impeccable; he's smiling, I press the shutter button, and in 1/60th of a second, he's got a perfect flat face. I think it's hilarious, but it drives his mother up the wall. These pictures were taken as fast as his mom could press the button:
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier60.JPG
https://www.johnnyego.com/photography/glacier/glacier59.JPG

[OtterbatHellcat]

Yeah, that is pretty cool that you shared your experience with us, glad you guys had a good time....nicely done, Sir.

Thanks.

[MrAK]

Good looking family and trip. Your son might appreciate the ice cream more than anything else right now, but he’ll carry those memories. You’re doing it right.

[Eric P]

Lol on the bear spray. I went to Yellowstone for 10 days around the memorial day weekend. $55 for pepper spray was an expense I skipped, even though i camped the entire time.

Saw 2 grizzlies that were less than 40 yards away. They paid no attention to the humans. And 8 black bears less than 25 yards away. All more interested in grubbing than us humans.

But yes it was funny seeing all the tourists strapping spray on all the paved walkways. While there, elk attacked 3 tourists as well as 1 buffalo attack.

I want to got to glacier NP and the Canadian bordering park. It sounds like a visit later in summer would be best to allow snow to recede.

[Great-Kazoo]

As always enjoy reading your write ups, be it a trip to someone else mountains, or building something else child proof.
For those who don't know or never had the pleasure of meeting John. Conversing with him his stories and day - day experiences, laced with the same level of sarcasm and other witty things, like me, will be one more thing we miss.

[Bailey Guns]

That looks like a great time for all of you.

I'm heading up in that direction, but just a little west, next weekend. Gonna hop on the bike and take a little trip to Bonners Ferry and up into BC for a short ride. I debated going to Glacier but didn't have enough time. In Sep we're gonna do the Magruder Corridor (https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_055707.pdf) drive from Elk River, ID to Darby, MT. And next summer I'm going up to Banff National Park in Alberta.

Thanks for giving me a glimpse into Glacier NP with the great scenery and family photos. Very nice.

[jamesm7485]

That area of the country is fantastic, have family in Missoula, Bozeman, and Polson. I'd move to Montana tomorrow morning if I could convince the misses. Great pictures!

[Hummer]

Great photos, looks like a fun trip. Thanks for the tour.

Your photo of the river and canyon along the Trail of Cedars reminds me of a favorite place off the road from Banff to Jasper. Mistaya Canyon has falls of turquoise blue water enclosed by mossy cliffs, and there are arctic char in the pools. I need to go back there again....

[BladesNBarrels]

Great photo journey.
Thanks for posting!

[hollohas]

That is my favorite place in the world. I worked for the NPS at Glacier NP for a summer and sometime wish I never left.

[JohnnyEgo]

Magruder Corridor looks like a fantastic drive. Kind of jealous.
One of the ranger stations we visited on the east side of the park at the Canadian border. Had an American ranger and a Canadian ranger. The Canadian ranger was smoking hot, even with a nose ring. Even my wife said 'damn, she's fine'.
Nothing like her on the American side of the park. So I can think of at least one attraction on the Canadian border.
Will miss you as well, Jim! Got to get dinner before you roll out to AZ.

[beast556]

Very nice, we have a trip to Montana at the end of summer planned.

[TEAMRICO]

We are headed to Moab this weekend......that looks like my truck load out when I hit the road!!!

[10x]

Glacier is one of my favourite parks to visit. The only place i feel compares favorably to Colorado.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Great post and pics. I’ve been dying to get to Montana forever, this underlines it more!

PS, cool of you to let the boy pick the spot. When I was his age, I picked Utah and didn’t get there for probably 10 more years after!

[DeadElephant]

Taking the wife through Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier mid/late September. She's never been and has been a long time for me. Hopefully miss some of the crowds. Will be dragging a 4 season trailer so let it snow...or not.
Back in the late 70's I rode/camped through that whole area when I was doing my "Then Came Bronson" imitation. Ok - so how many of you know that reference!

Oh and loved the "meh" look. Having all girls all I ever had was the "this is so painful I can't believe it - why can't I be with my friends, shopping, texting dishing other girls" look[Flower]

[Great-Kazoo]

Taking the wife through Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier mid/late September. She's never been and has been a long time for me. Hopefully miss some of the crowds. Will be dragging a 4 season trailer so let it snow...or not.
Back in the late 70's I rode/camped through that whole area when I was doing my "Then Came Bronson" imitation. Ok - so how many of you know that reference!

Oh and loved the "meh" look. Having all girls all I ever had was the "this is so painful I can't believe it - why can't I be with my friends, shopping, texting dishing other girls" look[Flower]


Where to? Where ever i end up.

You were riding a sporty and wearing a watch cap, too?

[DeadElephant]

Where to? Where ever i end up.

You were riding a sporty and wearing a watch cap, too?

And virtually everything I owned was in a duffel bag strapped to the seat :-)

[CS1983]

Very cool pics, JE.

I especially like letting little man choose where to go. One of my dad goals, as the kids grow, is to facilitate their natural wonder and interests so long as they're within a boundary of feasibility and acceptability. That's how my parents raised me. Glad to see you're doing similar.

[TFOGGER]

Hang on to that bear spray...rumor has it that it works on hippies and potheads, too...