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Grizzlies, Glaciers, and Climate Change, Glacier National Park, Montana Highlights:
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Trip Number: 09268A Price: $1195 Deposit: $200 Capacity: 12 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Mary Owens Hike in one of the crown jewels of the national park system as we learn about climate change, glaciers, grizzly bears, and the geology of Glacier National Park from our experts at the Glacier Institute. Our hikes will take us to a fire lookout, along the highline trail (often described as one of the most stunning in the park), and up to Grinnell Glacier where we will see the effects of climate change up close and personal. After a day of hiking, we will return to our rustic accommodations at the Glacier Institute’s Field Camp for hot showers, a good meal, and lively conversation. There will be one non-hiking day where we may explore some of the local Native American history, or spend the day enjoying the many activities and shops in the vibrant town of Whitefish. Or, you may simply choose to spend the day relaxing at the field camp.
 Photo: Mary Owens Please note: Changes in the itinerary may be necessary due to trail closures or fires. Day 1: We will plan to arrive at the Field Camp around 4 p.m. where we will get settled into our cabins. There will be a meet and greet happy hour followed by our first dinner, prepared by the Glacier Institute’s staff. The evening will be spent discussing the upcoming week’s activities and familiarizing ourselves with the camp. Day 2: Our first hike will be to Apgar Lookout where parts of the landscape along the trail were burned by a fire in 1994. We will pass through different types of burn and will learn about fire ecology and recovery from one of the experts at the Glacier Institute. This hike is approximately 7 miles round trip with 1800 feet of elevation gain. There will be great views of Lake McDonald and the Garden Wall from the Lookout area. Day 3: Today we will hike to Grinnell Glacier where we will learn about climate change and it’s affects on the glaciers. Our hike will begin along the north shore of Lake Josephine. Soon after leaving the lake shore, we will climb to an alpine meadow and have panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The trail ends at upper Grinnell Lake which lies at the edge of Grinnell Glacier, the largest in the park. Although we won’t be hiking on the glacier, we will hike up to the glacier’s edge. This hike is 11.2 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1500 feet. The trail is in prime bear and moose country, so wildlife sightings are a good possibility. Day 4: This is our non-hiking day. Itinerary is flexible depending on participant interests. After dinner we will learn about grizzly bears from a well-known expert.  Photo: Mary Owens Day 5: The Highline Trail. This trail is often described as one of the most stunning in the park, because the views are especially striking all along the trail. The hike begins across the road from the Logan Pass Visitor Center, and follows the garden wall 7.6 miles to Granite Chalet. We will then descend down the Loop Trail to Going to the Sun road. There will be numerous opportunities during the hike to learn about the geology of the park from our expert guide. The hike is 12 miles, with 850 feet of elevation gain, and a 3,000 foot loss from the Chalet to Going to the Sun road. Mountain goats are frequently seen along the trail, and grizzly bears may be sighted in the meadows below Granite Chalet. Day 6: Our final hike will be to Snyder Lake. The trail begins in a forest of Cedar, and then passes through Douglas Fir and Larch. Snyder Lake sits in a cirque with the Little Matterhorn, Mount Edwards, and Mount Brown looming overhead. This hike is 9 miles roundtrip, with 2100 feet of elevation gain. Day 7: The trip will end after breakfast today, and if you flew into Kalispell you will be transported back to the airport by the Glacier Institute (for an additional fee of $30.00). Getting There The Glacier Park Field Camp is located just inside the West Entrance to Glacier National Park. The nearest airport is in Kalispell, Montana, about 30 minutes from the field camp. If you find airline reservations are difficult to make by flying into Kalispell, an alternative is to fly into Missoula, which is about 2.5 hours from the park. If you fly into Kalispell you will be picked up at the airport by the Glacier Institute for an additional fee of $30.00 each way. If you fly into Missoula, you will need to rent a car for the drive up to the park. If there are several people who choose to fly into Missoula, we can help facilitate car sharing. Note that airfare and car rental are not included in the trip price. The trip will be van supported. As part of the trip fee, the Glacier Institute will provide all ground transportation from our field camp to the trail heads.
We will be staying at the Glacier Park Field Camp which is best described as “rustic.” It is located on a bluff overlooking the Flathead River, and includes 5 sleeping cabins, a community bath house, a classroom, and a kitchen. Each sleeping cabin comes with 4 twin beds and has electricity, but there is no running water, heat, TV, or phones. Bed linens are provided, but you may bring a sleeping bag or other personal bedding if you wish. The community bath house has flush toilets, sinks, and hot showers. All meals will be provided by the Glacier Institute staff. Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by the staff, while each participant will prepare their own lunch to eat on the trail. Vegetarians can be accommodated. For more information about the camp and the Glacier Institute, please visit their website at www.glacierinstitute.org.
This trip is rated moderate. Our hikes will range from 7 – 12 miles in length. The hikes will be moderate to strenuous with elevation gains of 850 – 2500 feet. All of the hikes are on maintained trails and will take place between 5200 and 7300 feet elevation. In order to comfortably complete the hikes on this trip, all hikers should be participating in regular aerobic activity 4 – 5 days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes duration – jogging, bike riding, and hiking are a few examples. By the time of the trip you should be able to comfortably maintain an average hiking speed of 2 mph for up to 6 hours.
About two months before the trip, you will be sent a list of recommended equipment and clothing. No special gear beyond the usual required for day-hiking will be required. The most important piece of equipment you can have is a pair of broken in hiking boots. Weather in Glacier National Park in August is usually warm days and cool nights. Daytime temperatures will likely be in the 70’s to low 80’s, while nighttime temperatures will cool to the 40’s and 50’s. Though August is usually dry you should be prepared for rain, and snow is possible anytime of the year. Weather can be notoriously fickle in the park, so it is best to have clothing that you can layer.
If you want to know more about the hikes, pick up a copy of Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park (a Falcon Guide), or Glacier Day Hikes by Alan Leftridge. The Glacier Institute’s website is www.glacierinstitute.org. National Geographic Trails Illustrated has a nice map of Glacier / Waterton Lakes National Park. Conservation Glacier National Park was established in 1910 and encompasses over one million acres of wilderness. It is a land carved by the action of glaciers, and contains striking barren peaks, lush forest, alpine meadows, numerous lakes, abundant wildlife, and of course, glaciers. The park is threatened by climate change with some experts predicting the disappearance of the park’s namesake by 2030. We will discuss this topic in depth, as well as learn about grizzly bears, geology, and fire ecology of the park with the help of our experts from the Glacier Institute.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Leader:
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Mary Owens is a resident of Montana’s Bitterroot Valley who loves the outdoors and an active lifestyle. She has hiked extensively in Montana, the Sierra Nevada, Arizona, and the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. A retired navy nurse practitioner, Mary has participated in many Sierra Club outings, and has been leading national outings since 2008. She is looking forward to sharing her love of Montana and the outdoors with you.
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