Glacier National Park 2005 Summer Tour Trip Planning

Gunsight Pass and Lake Ellen Wilson

Dorf is lucky. Dorf gets to backpack at Glacier National Park twice in one summer. Dorf is lucky. Let me tell you a story....

At about the same exact time I was e-mailing Mark (aka glacierhiker) lamenting the crappy hike the Glacier backkcountry office gave us, he was e-mailing me with his good news of getting the same hike he didn't get last year. I was happy for Mark, but at the same time was a little miffed at my own misfortune.

I continued to read Mark's e-mail and was more than a little shocked to see that he was inviting me along on his trip in August. Just try to stop me. Yumi told me to go for it. Two trips in one summer. Dorf is lucky.

Small problem: the space Mark promised me turned out to not really exist. Damn. Well, yeah, it did, but for different dates. All I had to do was find a couple of other guys to go along and I was set. To make a long story short, I'd be hiking in Glacier with another Mike and a Taj. My oldest son Todd would have also gone had the trip not cut into his return to Junior High in September. Next year I'll make a man out of him.

In at Bowman Lake Auto Campground Bowman Lake (BOW) 7.1
  Lake Francis (FRA) 8.8
  Kootenai Lakes (KOO) 9.1
  Fifty Mountain (FIF) 8.3
  Granite Park (GRN) 11.9
  Swiftcurrent 7.6
 
TOTAL
 52.5

Updates:

July 7: Michael informs me that he was able to snag another hike for our stay. A 35-mile, 3-nighter originating in the Two Medicine area. Sweet.

July 21: Taj informs me that he probably can't get time off from work to stay at the park later so he will take the Amtrak "Empire Builder" back to Milwaukee after the first hike.

Aug. 13: I am packed and ready to go right NOW.

Aug. 23: I call Taj to confirm travel plans and he informs me he hurt his elbow and can't go. Wussy. I doubt he would have even called if I hadn't.

Tentative Itinerary
  

Taj will Go Grayhound from Milwaukee up to Manitowc on Wednesday afternnon. I will pick him up at the depot, pack the truck and take a quick shower. Michael will already be out west (possibly in Glacier) when we depart and will meet us either Thursday or Friday at Many Glacier campground.
Day Date Campground Activity
Wednesday Aug. 24 N/A

Depart Manitowoc by 4 PM
Thursday Aug. 25 Many Glacier

Arrive at Glacier by 3 PM... Dinner at the Park Cafe
Friday Aug. 26 Bowman Lake

Dayhike Many Glacier area (Iceberg Lake, Grinnel Glacier?) ... Shuttle Automobiles ... Dinner at the Northern Lights

Saturday Aug. 27 BOW

Begin hike
Sunday Aug. 28 FRA  
Monday Aug. 29 KOO  
Tuesday Aug. 30 FIF  
Wednesday Aug. 31 GRN  
Thursday Sep. 1 Apgar CG

End hike...Shower, lunch, laundry, Dinner at Two Sisters
Friday Sep. 2 Sprague Cr. CG

 
Saturday Sep. 3 GUN

Begin hike
Sunday Sep. 4 SPE

 
Monday Sep. 5   Off trail...shower...eat...head for home
Tuesday Sep. 6   Arrive safely at home around 7 PM

More updates will be posted as they occur.