Glacier National Park Chat

Hello campers,
I got backcountry camping permits from Aug 30 - Sep 4. Although I've done reasonably long hikes before I'm a little tentative about going out into GNP wilderness alone. If any of you are interested in joining me, please let me know (and perhaps write a little blurb about yourself). Here are my permit details:

CAMPERS: 2
ENTER - JACKSON GLACIER OVERLOOK (TRAILHEAD)
8-30-2018 - MAN - MANY GLACIER
8-31-2018 - ELF - ELIZ LK, FT
9-1-2018 - STO - STONEY
9-2-2018 - FRA - FRANCIS
9-3-2018 - HOL - HOLE IN WALL
9-4-2018 - UPK - UPPER KINTLA LK
EXIT - KINTLA LAKE (TRAILHEAD)
Currently it's just me, so there's space for one more person. I plan to do about 85-90 miles total.

Separately, if you have any tips for solo campers, I'm all ears. I'm planning on taking a bear cannister, bear spray and also a bear bell.

I go out alone all the time--like tomorrow.
I wouldn't worry about being "alone" because, trust me, you won't be alone out there unless you want to be.
There will be other backpackers hiking every segment of your route and day hikers on some as well.
You shouldn't have trouble hooking up with one or more of them.
You got a really great itinerary. Some long days but through spectacular country.

You may meet someone when you pick up your permit too.

One suggestion would be to watch your water management. It's been very dry and many of the smaller streams are dry now.

pete

PS

Leave the bear bells at home.
That constant jingling/ringing sound annoys the hell out of many people--like me
Shout, clap your hands, sing, but please...anything but bear bells.

and you don't need a bear canister, unless you want to bring it. A bear bag will be plenty sufficient and in fact, we noticed a lot of people don't even bring bear bags. There are hanging poles so if you do bring a bear bag, bring a rope to string it.

Thank you for the encouraging comments. Got my permits, and am set. Had to alter my itinerary a bit due to fires, and due to ptarmigan tunnel being closed. Doing the following (almost) loop:

ENTER - JACKSON GLACIER OVERLOOK (TRAILHEAD)
8-30-2018 - MAN - MANY GLACIER
8-31-2018 - POI (POIA LAKE)
9-1-2018 - COS (COSLEY LAKE)
9-2-2018 - STO (STONEY)
9-3-2018 - FIF (FIFTY MOUNTAIN)
9-4-2018 - GRN (GRANITE)
EXIT - LOGAN PASS

One more suggestion:
You could begin your trip at Siyeh Bend which is on the GTTSunRoad, a few miles farther up the road from Jackson Overlook.
That will save you considerable elevation gain day 1 which is going to be a long day.(look on a good map)
No need for permit change to start at Siyeh Bend

Have a good safe trip!

pete

I’ve never hiked the Jackon Overlook to Siyeh/Piegan Pass trail. I always assumed it
is buried in trees with no interesting views. Can anyone confirm that is indeed the case?
(Don’t want to go out of my way to score mileage that is uninteresting)

Pizza Bob wrote:I’ve never hiked the Jackon Overlook to Siyeh/Piegan Pass trail. I always assumed it
is buried in trees with no interesting views. Can anyone confirm that is indeed the case?
(Don’t want to go out of my way to score mileage that is uninteresting)

You assumed correctly.
Yeah, it's one of the most boring miles in the park...imo.
I've walked up a 1/4 mile or so from the overlook and back down about the same from the trail junction.
A big "nothing burger"
It's only purpose that can figure is to provide a trail for those coming from either GUN or REY to continue on to Many Glacier and beyond.
I see no point whatever in this fellow adding that steep(ish) boring mile to an already long day.

pete

I hiked down from the Siyeh Pass/Piegan Pass trail to Jackson Glacier Overlook a few years ago. This was when a few of us hiked the Siyeh Pass Trail starting at Sunrift Gorge.

The section from the junction in the Siye Pass/Piegan Pass trail to Jackson Glacier Overlook was mostly in the trees with few views. I don't recall any views beyond the immediate area. I also don't recall switchbacks - just a very steady down.

I hiked it so I could say I had done so. Given the choice of that trail or going to Siyeh Bend from the same trail junction I would suggest the Siyeh Bend route is much preferable.

Does anyone know what the elevation of the Siyeh/Piegan trailhead at Jackson Glacier Overlook is compared with the Siyeh/Piegan trailhead at Siyeh Bend?

Thanks,
Lyman

llholmes1948 wrote:Does anyone know what the elevation of the Siyeh/Piegan trailhead at Jackson Glacier Overlook is compared with the Siyeh/Piegan trailhead at Siyeh Bend?

Thanks,
Lyman

On Caltopo, the trailhead at Jackson Glacier Overlook appears to be 5300 ft, while the one at Siyeh Bend looks like 5840 ft.

Sue Z wrote:

llholmes1948 wrote:Does anyone know what the elevation of the Siyeh/Piegan trailhead at Jackson Glacier Overlook is compared with the Siyeh/Piegan trailhead at Siyeh Bend?

Thanks,
Lyman

On Caltopo, the trailhead at Jackson Glacier Overlook appears to be 5300 ft, while the one at Siyeh Bend looks like 5840 ft.

6300ft at 1st trail junction where both these trails meet.
1.2 miles down to Siyeh Bend @5850ft
1.3 miles down to Jackson Overlook @5300ft

So to get to the 1st trail junction, a hiker coming from Jackson Overlook will hike 1.3 miles and gain a 1000ft in elevation. About 770ft/mile.
Starting at Siyeh Bend, a hiker will hike 1.2 miles to that 1st trail junction and gain about 450ft in elevation. About 375ft/mile
Which would you rather do?

So to me, unless a hiker has a reason to use that spur trail, e.g. it's part of the Continental Divide route, or continuing a hike from REY or GUN....
Why 'begin" a hike there if going on to some destination over Piegan pass?

Oh that's right HYOH "Hike your own hike"

pete

Sue and Pete,

Thanks for that information. I knew the trailhead at Jackson Glacier Overlook was lower than the one at Siyeh Bend but didn't know just how much lower!

When my daughter and I were in Glacier in early June 2007, the road was open only as far as Jackson Glacier Overlook. We completely overlooked the spur trail to Piegan/Siyeh at the time but in hindsight it would have been interesting to try to hike up that trail and see how far we could have gotten before the trail became impassable.

Lyman