Planning a Route Through the Park

I scoured the Internet high and low to find trail maps and information on backpacking and backcountry camping in Glacier.

The U.S. National Park Service website was a great place to start:  http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

My initial route through the park involved hiking from East Glacier train station to West Glacier train station, or vice-versa.  The overall distance for this route is about 52 miles. Being at the mercy of the campground locations I would have to go: Day 1 - 7 miles, Day 2 - 7 miles, Day 3 - 13.5 miles, Day 4 - 9 miles, Day 5 - 13.5 miles, and Day 6 - 12 miles (East to west).  The campsites along this route (TMC, NON, UPN, LNY, HAR) do not all open up for reservations until July 15th.  The park service does not take reservations for dates prior to the published opening date.  The published opening date is when the campground is typically free of snow.  Walk in's may be allowed earlier than that, but I really need to have things on the books for this trip, it's too far to travel to not be guaranteed campsites that fit with the itinerary.

I found a map of the park that shows the terrain and am a little discouraged at how little I will actually be in the mountains.  For the time investment I would like to be in the mountains a bit more (and I am looking for a bit more of a challenge).

Getting to Glacier

It is a 16 hour drive from the Twin Cities to the eastern edge of Glacier National Park.  The Amtrak Empire Builder route runs from the Twin Cities out through the park, so I thought it would be a good idea to research possibility of taking the train out there and then compare that to the cost of driving.

Driving Cost:  From Elk River to East Glacier is 1075 miles (16 hours), @ 20mpg in the Sportage that would be 54 gallons of gas at $3.50 a gallon is ~$190 each way, with the additional cost and down time of getting a motel room half way.

     ($190 + $50) x 2 = $480

Amtrak Cost:  The Amtrak from St. Cloud to East Glacier is $167 one-way (19 hours) and there would be no motel needed.

     $167 x 2 = $334

One of the potential downfalls of the train is that their website says that this route does not allow checked baggage, so I may need an extra seat for my backpack, but I need to call Amtrak to confirm.

The Idea

Over Christmas break I read a book called AWOL on the Appalachian.  The book is about a software engineer who decides to quit his job and through hike the AT.  After reading of AWOL's adventure I decided that I would like to experience backpacking in the mountains of Glacier National Park in Montana. 

I did some research on the park and read that scientists project that by 2020 there will be no more actual glaciers in the park, which is kind of lame.

Now begins the process of planning a trip, there are a lot of details that need to be worked out to plan a trip of this magnatude, especially since I've never been to Glacier National Park before.  Maps will need to be found, routes planned, campsites reserved, transportation lined up, gear planned, etc.  It's a good thing I'm starting early, the soonest I will be able to get into the park is mid-late June.