Here is the start of my first backpack trip report in Glacier National Park. I finally got to live out a dream. I've hiked in Glacier lots since 2009 but never backpacked. The anticipation between March and now is almost unBEARable. (I try not to read any bear stories until I've left Glacier). It was hard prep hiking for this trip as it's so hot down here and the monsoon has hit so it also limits what you can do in the high country around Arizona. And less I forget, thx Glacier Chatters for this board and the contacts I made while preparing for this trip. Alas, I was finally on the airplane headed to my park.
Aug 7, Monday. But first we stopped at my cousins ranches and where I used to live south of Chester, Montana - altho I was eventually raised in Havre. Plus I had to go get the bear spray I had my cousin buy for us in Gt Falls. We still had to stop in Shelby to pick up the Fireball though because the stores don't sell liquor and you have to go to a state store. We got into Gt Falls too late for that. Anyway, here is a video of some movies and pictures of the ranch, close to the Marias River, if you want to see what the plains are like:
Aug 8, Tuesday. Our drive from the ranch to Waterton was on a blustery day. We stopped at Shelby for fuel and Fireball and then at Cut Bank for lunch that we ate near the Indian Statuary off of Hiwy 2. We took the road from Browning via Duck Lake; it's a much prettier and easier drive then going thru Browning. We got to see the bison on the hill. That's twice now I've got to see them. We checked into St Mary's VC (I tried to talk the entrance person into letting me get my Senior Pass as I turn 62 in October. I was going to pay the $80, I just wanted to get it now while I was at the Park but she was having none of it. Very grumpy). We went to get our permit and tried to change our first nite to Frances or Hawksbill but nothing was available. They did mention snow at Brown's Pass but in retrospect, I think he meant Boulder. We watched the new movie and then headed up to Waterton.
In honor of Canada's 150th Anniversary, entrance to the park was free. We later heard that for the weekend, because of overcrowding at Waterton, you had to prove you had a reservation to even get in. It's also been very dry up there so some campgrounds were closed. We had a reservation at Crandell Mountain Lodge and were very happy with our little room that had everything. They even let us stay an extra hour the next morning as our boat didn't leave until 1. We took the afternoon to walk around Waterton and even got to watch some of the Pow Wow competition. Of course the biggest treat was the huckleberry soft ice cream after our taco dinner at the Taco Bar (their bowls are delish). Yum, yum. Later that nite in our room, we sorted all of our backpacking food and then I started to pre-pack my backpack when I realized I forgot my drinking tube so we stopped at Tamarack Outfitters just down the street and I had to buy a new platypus. While there we bot some Canadian MREs that we'll save for Arizona.
Aug 9, Wednesday. HIKE DAY ONE We had a hearty breakfast at Trappers. I tried the Saskatoon Berry waffle... a little sweet but good. For the rest of the story and hike to Lake Janet from Goat Haunt, check out this link to my trip log and photoset: https://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=46626 the trip log is below the photoset. There is a link in the trip log to my video for Aug 9 from Waterton to Lake Janet Campsite:
GOA to JAN Segment; Length 3.50 (Mine 4.15 from Customs, not sure where their start point is)
Elevation; Up 760 | Down 0 (Mine 817 up, 1035 AEG)