wjlapier wrote:My knees no longer can take the longer hikes in the park so my wife and my son are going on a couple of hikes without me. Just curious how much time to allot for the hike to Grinell Glacier Viewpoint? We might take the boat and I'll stick around and fish and enjoy the scenery while they hike.
Same for Dawson Pass?
Thanks!
Can you clarify what you mean by Grinnell Glacier "view point"?
You talking about the place where the pit toilet is that's about 1/3 mile below the area most people go up by the melt pond?
If so, that's about 5 miles
one way and about 1500ft? of elevation gain and virtually all the elevation gain is the last three miles.
The spur trail that goes down to the boat dock is about 2 miles from the picnic area trail head--flat most of the way.
Kind of steep downhill to the boat dock area where you could fish. Might be tough on your knees.
Maybe let them do the hike out to the glacier on the conventional trail while you...
Hike to the boat dock via the other side of the lake which is pretty flat. You can fish and wait for them at the boat dock.
Hard to say how long for them to hike in and then back to the boat dock for the reasons Jay pointed out.
I love that hike. It takes me around 8-10 hours(RT) depending on how much I stop for pics and how long I hang out at the glacier.
Maybe someone here who's done it that way can tell you.
Dawson Pass is a bugger--especially if it's a hot day.
I've gone up to Dawson both times I did that loop hike--once with a full backpack when I did it as a two night backpack.
Doing it as day hike years ago like to killed me LOL. Took me around 12 hours as I recall.
Great hike though. Windy on the divide.
And Jay is right about the lack of water so take plenty.
I think
SueZ did it last year. Maybe she can help with the times.
Sorry I can't help more.
Neither of these are for anyone with bad knees imo.
pete