Hi HO, it is off to 2019 We go!

[daveparker]

You can now start figuring out or letting others know when you plan for trips for the upcoming season, it will be here before you know it!

[PeteE]

You can now start figuring out or letting others know when you plan for trips for the upcoming season, it will be here before you know it!

Last year I didn't put in for a backpack reservation.
This year I believe I will. This particular itinerary give me best shot at getting "something" in the area I'm interested photographing.
I'm going to provide the biggest window I can. I will also allow substitutions.
Maximum flexibility makes getting a permit much easier--ASSUMING I get drawn of course
And we know how that works...or doesn't.

Belly River trip
Date Window--June 15-July 15
Enter CME

Night 1 COS (GAB will work just as well)
Night 2 MOJ (Where I sleep doesn't matter. Just need a "base camp"
Night 3 MOJ (for day hikes to Margaret Lake and Sue Lake overlook areas)
Night 4 MOJ
Night 5 GAB

Back out at CME

1. Yes, you can have 3 nights at any of those campsites.
2. MOJ is less desirable than GLH or MOL so I chose MOJ for three nights and allowed for substitutions.
So better odds of "getting something" imo if you choose the "less desirable" campsites. If I get upgraded, fine with me.
Virtually any modification will work for me as long as I get nights 2, 3, and 4 at GLH, or MOJ, or MOL, or any combo of those 3.
I can get where I want to go from any of the three. GLH would be nice for night 4. Makes for fewer miles to GAB.

Five nights might be a tough go for me. We'll see, but gotta do it since it won't be any easier in 2020
My image collection is woefully lacking in that part of the park.

pete

[teapot57]

Good strategy, Pete. I bet you'll get lucky with that itinerary, since you will be early enough to avoid the Northern Circle/Northern Traverse competition.

I like the idea of an itinerary with some base camping, so that you can use the time to explore the area around a backcountry site. From our campsite at GLH, we could see a group of people that were camping, I presume, at MOJ, and were fishing and enjoying time at the very head of Glenns Lake in the evening. From MOJ, that would be a short walk, and would provide lots of good photo ops, between the lake, the streams, and the small waterfalls in that area. Might be a good way to pass the time after supper. MOJ may be in the trees but it’s a short walk to beauty. Not that the forest there isn’t beautiful.

[PeteE]

Thanks Tina:

I figure that if I get drawn, almost any combination of the campsites will work for what I want to do.
I'll have my Kindle if the weather goes bad


Same strategy as before.
If I survive the Belly River trip ...

I'm saving August 1-September 15 for
Something like:
In at Bowman Lake
BOW
BRO(Again, just a place to sleep while day hiking to HOL and BOU)
BRO(to take photos. Avoids breaking down/setting up camp. Less walking overall)
BRO(and carrying just a day pack)
BOW
Out at Bowman Lake

BOW has 8 campsites and BRO is the least popular of BOU/HOL/BRO
No shuttle/logistic issues.
Less likely to have trouble with snow on trails.
If I don't get this reservation, I can try for a walkup.

Three nights at Atlantic Creek would give me 2 days to check out Divide Pass/Divide Peak one day and up to Pitamakan the 2nd day.
Short hike in to ATL so 1st afternoon would be good for Medicine Grizzly Lake.
I'll get this one as a walkup.

pete

[al_in_al]

Five nights might be a tough go for me. We'll see, but gotta do it since it won't be any easier in 2020
My image collection is woefully lacking in that part of the park.

Good luck! Looking forward to seeing your photos from these new-to-me areas of the park!