AMC Major
Excursion
Glacier
National Park Hiking
and Field Seminars
July 24 – August 1, 2004
Glacier National Park, part of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, is a hiker’s paradise. With
over 1 million acres, 730 miles of trails, soaring peaks, awe-inspiring glaciers, and frequent wildlife
encounters, Glacier is the perfect place to get out of the car and explore the backcountry on foot.
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park spans the borders between Montana and Canada. In 1932
Glacier National Park, in Montana, and Waterton Lakes National Park, in Canada, were designated as the
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. This designation celebrates the longstanding peace and
friendship between our two nations. Glacier and Waterton Lakes have both been designated as
Biosphere Reserves and together were recognized, in 1995, as a World Heritage Site.
For this trip, we partner with the Glacier Institute, which is a private, non-profit outdoor education
organization dedicated to connecting people with the natural and cultural wonders of the Crown of the
Continent Ecosystem, the heart of which is Montana’s Glacier National Park. Emphasizing hands-on,
field-based experiences, Glacier Institute programs promote a balanced understanding of the science of
ecology and human interaction with the environment.
This hiking trip (with one rafting day) is designed for experienced hikers who appreciate moderate to
strenuous hikes with field seminars along the trail, led by local educators from the Glacier Institute.
ITINERARY
Note: All field seminars are tentative and subject to change due to Glacier Institute leader conflicts,
illness, trail or local travel conditions, etc. Please do not get your heart set on any one specific field
seminar; instead be assured that we will have a variety of interesting topics during this trip.
Saturday, July 24
Arrive Kalispell/Glacier Park International Airport in the early afternoon. Drive to Glacier Park Field Camp.
Orientation by GPFC staff to the Park, GPFC, bear/mountain lion/general safety issues.
Stay at Glacier Park Field Camp.
Sunday, July 25 - Wildlife Discoveries of Lewis & Clark hike
During their historic trek across North America, Lewis & Clark described some 300 varieties of plants and
animals, from bitterroots to mariposa lilies and grizzly bears to cutthroat trout. Many of these can still be
found in Glacier National Park and in much the same state that Lewis & Clark witnessed. Possible areas:
North Fork, Marias Pass. 6.5 miles, 2250 feet elevation gain, maximum elevation of 7522 feet.
Stay at Glacier Park Field Camp.
Monday, July 26 - Glacier’s Wildflowers hike
There is not a sight more breathtaking than the colorful flowers found in Glacier National Park’s lush
alpine meadows, along its stream banks and on its glaciated rockscapes. As you enjoy the Highline Trail
amidst these glorious floral displays, you will see and learn about the wildflowers that are an integral part
of this fragile ecosystem. We will hike the Garden Wall/Highline Trail from Logan Pass in towards Granite
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Park Chalet and then down to the “Loop”, with a short car shuttle back. This is a classic Glacier trail with
spectacular views and good opportunities for wildlife encounters. The picture at the top of this document
is looking across wildflower meadows to the “Garden Wall” and Highline trail in the distance. 11.6 miles,
830 feet elevation gain, 3,026 feet elevation loss, maximum elevation 7,280 feet.
Stay at the Glacier Park Field Camp.
Tuesday, July 27 - River Ecology by Raft
We will float the flat water of the pristine Nyack flood plain, learn how rivers function and explore the
habitats, plants and wildlife that depend on them. Bears, elk, deer, beaver, eagle, trout, frogs and aquatic
insects are just a few of the resident critters we may encounter. We’ll finish the trip with an exciting
descent through a canyon of whitewater and learn about the forces that shape this complex landscape.
Stay at the Glacier Park Field Camp.
Wednesday, July 28
Travel day – to Many Glacier area.
Stay at Swiftcurrent Motel and Cabins.
Thursday, July 29 - Many Glacier Geology hike
We’ll hike along rushing streams and across open, windswept meadows to the Ptarmigan Tunnel,
reconstructing the geologic origins of the peaks and valleys around us. Ptarmigan Tunnel offers a
spectacular vantage point over Lake Elizabeth and into the Belly River Valley. 12 miles, 2400 feet
elevation gain and loss, max elevation 7200 feet.
Stay at Swiftcurrent Motel and Cabins.
Friday, July 30 - Fire Ecology of the Swiftcurrent Lookout Trail
We will hike along the Redrock Lakes Trail over Swiftcurrent Pass up to the Lookout. See old fires in the
Many Glacier Valley, and the lookout where the Trapper fire of 2003 came quite close. Approx. 15-16
miles and 3000 feet elevation gain (and loss!) make this a very strenuous hike but very rewarding –
“absolutely stunning, one of the best views in the park” according to locals. Free day at Many
Glacier/Swiftcurrent for those who don’t want to attempt this hike. Options: relax, take boat tour of lake,
canoe/kayak rentals, possibly ranger-led shorter hike if available.
Stay at Swiftcurrent Motel and Cabins.
Saturday, July 31
Travel to Whitefish; shop or rest in the afternoon. Group farewell supper together (cost not included).
Stay at the Cheap Sleep Motel.
Sunday, August 1
Depart Kalispell/Glacier Park International Airport for home.
TRIP LEADERSHIP
Leader - Erika Bloom
I am a hike leader for the Southeast Massachusetts (SEM) chapter Hiking committee and the Boston
chapter - Young Members Committee. I was Hiking Chair of SEM from 2001-2003. I led an AMC
Interchapter Excursion backpacking in Baxter State Park in 2001 and was co-leader on a hiking and
backpacking Major Excursion to Banff, Canada in 2002. I am familiar with Montana and the Glacier area
as my family lives nearby. I have led numerous AMC day hikes and backpacks in the White Mountains.
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ACCOMODATIONS
Glacier Park Field Camp: Sleeping cabin on left, bathhouse and mess hall on right
We will spend the first four nights at Glacier Institute’s Glacier Park Field Camp (GPFC). GPFC is located
just inside Glacier National Park, ½ mile from West Glacier on a bluff overlooking the Middle Fork of the
Flathead River. There are very rustic, spartan plywood cabins; each has 5 hostel-style twin beds with
nightstands and lamps. They have brand new mattresses in 2003. Depending on the makeup of our
group, we may have to mix genders within cabins. There is a separate bathhouse with 4 individual
showers and 5 individual toilets. Other buildings house the kitchen/dining area, the classroom and library.
There is a tipi for “hanging out” but not for sleeping. The sleeping cabins are not heated. Overall, you
should expect to be “roughing it” with spartan accommodations in a beautiful location. Do not expect
phones or television. Cell phone reception inside the park is spotty at best. GI will be arranging our
meals while staying at GPFC.
Swiftcurrent Motor Inn (Cabins behind the motel)
The next 3 nights will be spent at the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Cabins in the Many Glacier area of
Glacier National Park, pictured just above. Our accommodations may include either shared motel rooms
(2 beds and a bathroom in each) and/or rustic cabins with a separate, shared bathhouse. There are no
televisions or telephones in the rooms. Here, the accommodations will be comfortable but plain; the
setting is incredible! There is a lake with canoe/kayak rentals and boat tours nearby, and incredible views
abound. The Many Glacier Valley is prime bear viewing territory. In 2002 one of my aunts took a walk
between the Swiftcurrent Motel and the Many Glacier Hotel less than a mile away – and found herself
sharing the road with a grizzly bear! On the same trip we watched a herd of bighorn sheep mamas and
lambs grazing and playing on the grounds of the Many Glacier Hotel. Rangers often set up spotting
scopes in the motel parking lot to let people watch grizzly bears on the nearby mountainside.
Our last night will be spent at the Cheap Sleep Motel in Whitefish, Montana. We can expect simple
shared motel rooms (2 queen beds and bathroom in each).
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GLACIER WEBSITES
Below are some useful websites if you would like to do more research on the area and the trip:
http://www.nps.gov/glac/home.htm
http://www.glacier.national-park.com/visit.htm
www.glacierinstitute.org
http://www.swiftcurrentmotorinn.com
http://www.cheapsleepmotel.com
COST, REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION
The approximate cost for the trip is $1,879. This will cover the following items:
-
Roundtrip airfare from Boston to Kalispell/Glacier 1
Accommodations at the Glacier Park Field Camp (4 nights)
Accommodations at the Swiftcurrent Motel in the Many Glacier area (3 nights)
Accommodations at Cheap Sleep Motel in Whitefish (1 night)
Meals Saturday supper through Wednesday breakfast provided at the Glacier Park Field Camp
(including trail lunches for Sunday through Tuesday)
All rental vehicles, gas, vehicle insurance (some participants may need to help with driving)
Park entrance fees
AMC Major Excursion fee
Fees for Glacier Institute field seminars
No meals are included from Wednesday lunch through Sunday breakfast. Wednesday supper through
Saturday breakfast may be eaten at the Swiftcurrent Motel restaurant, which has inexpensive, casual
fare. You may also choose to eat at the Many Glacier Hotel dining room, which is a short walk or drive
away, and offers more extensive but more expensive options. You will need to purchase trail lunches or
purchase food in town on Wednesday to make your own trail lunches for Thursday and Friday. There is
no grocery store near Many Glacier. Limited snacks may be purchased in the gift shop.
The approximate cost for the excursion is based on quotes at the time the trip was submitted to the Major
Excursions Committee (October 2003). The final cost of the trip will be adjusted in accordance with the
best arrangements we can make with the airlines. Costs may differ for different points of departure (e.g.,
Boston vs. Hartford vs. New York, etc.). Any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increase, will be
passed on to you. Airfare into Kalispell/Glacier can be quite expensive and options quite limited.
Frequent flier seats this time of year are almost impossible. We have budgeted $600 per person for
airfare; if it is less, those savings will be passed on to you. Likewise, if it is more expensive that will be
passed on to the participants, although only with your previous knowledge & approval. Depending on
when you sign up, you may pay more or less than other participants, as we will lock in individual fares as
each person signs up (to ensure we have sufficient seats). Air seats into Kalispell/Glacier International
Airport are extremely limited and expensive during the peak summer season. Therefore, we may book
each participant’s seat at the current fare as they sign up to avoid a situation where we might not be able
to obtain seats (the minimum number of participants for this trip is unfortunately not enough to qualify for
group rates).
Please be aware that, in accordance with AMC policy, you are subsidizing some of the leader’s costs, but
not all of them. Beyond this, in accordance with AMC rules, the leader may not realize a profit from this
excursion. Any unspent funds resulting from negotiating better rates for airfare, lodging, local
transportation, etc. must be refunded to all the participants. The trip fee also includes an AMC overhead
cost to cover the administrative expenses of offering Major Excursions. This charge amounts to 10% of
land costs (i.e., air travel costs are not included in calculating the overhead charge).
A registration deposit of $300 is due within 10 days of your acceptance on the trip. You must also submit
the application (if not done already), the Confidential Medical form and the signed Acknowledgement and
1
The cost for the trip is budgeted for air travel from Boston. Travel from other cities is certainly possible, but the price may be higher.
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Assumption of Risk and Release forms. The rest of the fees will be due 90 days in advance of departure,
except that your airline ticket fee may be due sooner (upon ticketing). Make checks payable to the
Appalachian Mountain Club. Our cancellation policy is based on the simple precept that your cancellation
shall not raise the cost to any of the other participants or the leaders. Therefore, if you cancel we will
refund any fees that you have paid, less expenses already incurred, or future expenses that will be
incurred as a result of your registration that cannot be avoided. If you cancel after airline tickets have
been purchased, then you own the tickets and that part of the fee cannot be refunded.
You may be familiar with the Glacier area wildfires of 2003, which closed portions of the park. Wildfires
occur in this area of Montana frequently, and there is a possibility that our itinerary would be changed in
case of fires in 2004.
This group size is strictly limited (minimum of 5 participants, maximum of 13). If you are
interested you should register as soon as possible.
When registration is complete, I will send all participants the names, addresses and phone numbers of
those going on the trip. I will be using email as our primary source of communication. If you prefer snail
mail and/or telephone communication, please note that on your registration form.
If you have any questions, please call me so that we can discuss them. Erika Bloom 508-996-3290
(home - before 9 pm). Cell phone (for urgent questions/issues) 508-951-1001. Email is
ebloom1@comcast.net .
EXPERIENCE AND RISKS
Lugging a heavy pack over high mountain passes is very physically demanding. We will be hiking at
elevations around 6-8,000 feet, and although the elevations are not really high enough for contracting
acute mountain sickness (AMS), the combination of physical exertion and lower oxygen levels require
that we pace ourselves and pay closer attention to proper nutrition and hydration. People wishing to
participate in this trip must have previous hiking experience, at the intermediate level or higher. Although
the hiking will be at a moderate pace, this is not a trip for beginners or people who have not hiked for
several years. You should be in good physical condition at the time we depart as well.
We will be hiking in bear country. Many of us take for granted that we hike in bear country all the time
when we are in NH and Maine. However, we cannot in Glacier. Bears (both grizzly and black) are very
much a reality. We will be discussing techniques recommended by bear experts for actions to take if we
encounter a bear, but prevention is the number one technique! We will be hiking as a group; you will not
be able to hike alone ahead of or behind the group because this is bear country. Every year there are
bear encounters in Glacier causing serious injury or death to humans; also, bears are sometimes
relocated or killed as a result of human-bear incidents, which are sometimes provoked by human
carelessness. We want to protect ourselves, and also protect these beautiful wild creatures. We will be
making noise along the trail, to hopefully avoid any surprise close encounters. Your leaders carry bear
spray (pepper spray); if you wish to do so, you may purchase some locally and carry it on your waistbelt
(approximate cost $40-50 per canister). It cannot be taken onto the plane or checked in luggage.
When you participate in this activity you should be both physically and mentally prepared and equipped
with the appropriate gear. You should always be aware of the risks involved and conduct yourself
accordingly. We are not responsible for your safety: you are. Prior to registering for this activity you are
asked to discuss your capabilities with the leader. Please do not be offended by any questions.
BEING A TEAM PLAYER
We will be more than just a group; we will be a team. If you cannot accept and enjoy being part of a
group, if you are not a team player who is willing to help your fellow hikers, then please do not register for
this excursion. You may be asked to help the group in some way. If a member of our group becomes
injured, you will be expected to help carry that person’s gear.
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EQUIPMENT LIST
Notes: Below is a list of the required gear for the trip. Because weather can change quickly in the
mountains, and snow can occur in any month of the year, you will need to have rain gear, sweater or
fleece, hat and gloves, etc. with you on all hikes. If you prefer hiking in cotton shirts, please bring a
synthetic top as a backup in case of getting wet and chilled. Please do not plan to hike in jeans. Weather
may be hot during the day but can get cold in the mountains. I recommend an assortment of shorts, long
pants, short and long sleeve shirts, and fleece jackets and/or sweaters.
Required and Essential Gear
 backpack, large enough to carry 2-3 quarts/liters of water, rain gear, lunch/snacks, hat & gloves,
flashlight/headlamp, personal gear, etc. during hikes
 broken-in hiking boots (preferably water-proof and above-ankle)
 waterproof wind and rain gear (hooded jacket and pants, no ponchos)
 2-3 quart/liter water bottles or equivalent hydration system
 synthetic fleece jacket and/or thick wool sweater
 synthetic or wool warm hat and gloves/mittens (yes, you need these even in July!)
 long hiking pants - synthetic
 at least 2-3 pairs of hiking socks with liners
 Polypropylene, Coolmax, Bergelene or other synthetic hiking clothing (see Notes above)
 comfortable clothing for evenings and in town
 a lightweight flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
 garbage bags to line pack
 toilet paper and extra ziplock bags to pack it out after use
 warm sleeping bag for GPFC; optional pillow, twin top sheet (beds have bottom sheets already)
 towel for GPFC

Recommended and Optional Gear
 Tevas, sandals and/or sneakers (for raft trip and time off the trail)
 hiking poles
 pack cover
 personal first aid kit w/ moleskin, personal meds, etc. (leader will have large group first aid kit)
 waterproof matches or lighter
 whistle and knife
 compass
 binoculars or spotting scope
 sunscreen and insect repellent
 sunhat, bandanna
 sunglasses
 bathing suit
 camera
 field guides (some may be available from leaders)
 field notebook and pencil (waterproof or in ziplock bag)
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