Any advice on Glacier National Park?

Discussion in 'New Roundtable' started by old school, May 13, 2014.

  1. old school

    old school Veteran Member

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    I will be going there in August for the first time. I was just wondering if anyone else had ever been there and had any tips?
     
  2. Bengal B

    Bengal B Founding Member

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    Here's a tip. Don't slip on the glaciers. You'll be easy pickings for the bears
     
    MLUTiger likes this.
  3. MLUTiger

    MLUTiger Secular Humanist

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    Don't start fires that will melt glaciers and cause the sea levels to rise...
     
  4. Bengal B

    Bengal B Founding Member

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    Only You can prevent forest fires
     
  5. CajunlostinCali

    CajunlostinCali Booger Eatin Moron

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    If you pour a little anti freeze on flower preservative, you will have fire.

    Getcha some of that, nerds of FTD.
     
  6. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    Pay no attention to these computer gnomes that never actually travel.

    First of all, they should call it Glaciated Park. There are no glaciers left. Just a few snowpacks that retain the names of the former glaciers. Global warming is very real. But the scenery is spectacular. Mountains, forests, lakes, big sky, standing stones, falling water, the whole panoply. The night sky at that altitude on a clear night is really something.

    The Going-to-the-Sun road is one of the best mountain roads in America, but at peak tourist season, it is bumper-to-bumper all the way. The parking lot at the visitor center at the top of Logan pass will be completely full by mid-morning. Do the road as early as possible and get ahead of the crowds. Pull over frequently and enjoy the views. Pick a good-weather day as well because rain and fog will hide the scenery. Do not speed anywhere in or around the park but take your time and see it all. Rangers and cops are everywhere managing traffic. Take your good camera and telephoto lens, this is not a park for iPhone snapshots.

    The back-country trails are very good but many are strenuous and bears are everywhere. The Ranger-led hikes are easy and interesting. Campgrounds also fill up early, get reservations as soon as you know your schedule. Same with hotel rooms near the park.

    Glacier Village Cafe in East Glacier is a good place to eat. Classic burgers and good sandwiches, good breakfast, and Indian tacos. Decent dinner but there are some upscale places around with great trout and steaks. Huckleberrys are very big in the northern Rockies. Try the huckleberry pie and huckleberry syrup with pancakes. Huckleberry jelly is a good local souvenir for the folks at home. Moose's Saloon in Kalispell is a good drinkery.

    East Glacier is near the Blackfoot Indian Reservation. Do not fuck with the Blackfeet on the Rez. They are not like the easy-going Navajo in Arizona. Their turf, their rules.
     
  7. CajunlostinCali

    CajunlostinCali Booger Eatin Moron

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    As you were. I have traveled to nearly every place on the earth absent of a brochure and I have never not needed good fire advise.

    Put them flower packets in you vehicle and remember me when you hit that vacation spot where the roads are missing from the map.
     
  8. Bengal B

    Bengal B Founding Member

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    Computer gnomes????? I resents that allegation and I resents the alligator
     
  9. HalloweenRun

    HalloweenRun Founding Member

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    Go early, stay late!
     
  10. old school

    old school Veteran Member

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    Thanks for the advice. However, Red's assertion that there are no more glaciers in the park will remain our little secret. You see I told my wife to pick where she wanted to vacation this year and she picked Glacier, partly because she wanted to go before the glaciers all melted. I'm going to stay in the park on the east side. I'll be hiking everyday and intend to buy bear spray because of the large grizzly population. I read where Jim Fowler, from the old "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom" show, was charged by 3 bears while he was hiking there and had to fend them off. I am going on a 7 mile ranger led hike one day which will probably all but kill me in the high altitude. I have been to other parks like Rocky Mountain in high altitudes and it is a little humiliating when the locals, 10 to 20 years my senior, come flying past me on the trails. I will also be taking your advice and getting a telescopic lens. Unfortunately, our schedule is jammed packed so I will be at the mercy of the weather.
     

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