Good question. I'm headed out there shortly. I'll go by the BC Office and ask them.sbosecker wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 10:57 am Does anyone have information on how one accesses the Backcountry Office at Apgar - in an attempt to get a walkup backcountry permit - without an Entry Ticket? Is that possible?
While it is certainly an advantage to get at the backcountry office early enough to avoid being challanged at the west gate (6 am or earlier?) what if you get there after that time?
Scott
Pete,PeteE wrote: ↑Tue May 04, 2021 9:11 pm Scott:
I asked that question at the BC Office this afternoon.
You will need a "valid ticket" to enter the West Gate or St Mary Gate or Camas Rd entrances after 0600.
So you will need to purchase a ticket before arriving at the gate. Tickets cannot be purchased at the gate.
You'll be turned away and told to go to rec.gov
ALL ticket purchases are done through rec.gov
Sucks but there it is. She advised getting a ticket earlier rather than later if you know your dates.
Those of you who have a car or more than one car....if you are a backpacker.
Make absolutely certain you enter the car license numbers on your permit.
Drivers of your cars should have a copy of your permit(phone pic)
LEO gets a copy of all the license numbers associated with a permit. When they run the number of your parked vehicle, if you're on the permit you'll be good. If your car is NOT parked at the trailhead, make sure you tell them at the time they issue your permit.
pete
I thought it used to say you didn't need a ticket on the main ticket info page, but I'm not seeing it right now. The press release from March 31 says "Landowners with property within the GTSR corridor and affiliated tribal members are also not required to have a GTSR entry reservation ticket."wjlapier wrote: ↑Mon May 10, 2021 11:16 am Something I don’t see on the park website. I’m awaiting a reply from the park.
Do Blackfeet tribal members still have access to the park free of charge? Do they need a ticket to enter?
In the past all I had to do was show my tribal ID and they let me and my family in.
PeteE wrote: ↑Mon May 03, 2021 2:38 pm I drove out to the park around noon yesterday.
Businesses in West Glacier are beginning to "wake up". Most were open.
Apgar had a few people, but nothing I'd call a "crowd".
I stopped in at the Backcountry Office and asked about "overnight parking" on the GTTS road.
If it matters, the Ranger I spoke with is one who has worked at GNP for a good while. I know her just by sight
So here's what the Ranger told me in so many words.
KEEP IN MIND: Everything below could change in the next few weeks/months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glacier National Park makes the rules regarding checking in.
rec.gov doesn't have a say on the issue of check-in procedures.
Make absolutely certain that you include the license number of the car(s) you will be parking overnight, or longer on your permit.
Both drivers should have their own copy.
Make copies of your backcountry permit--on phone and paper if you can.
Law Enforcement Rangers get all the license numbers of backcountry campers. So when they see your car parked at the trailhead, they won't cite you.
She also said it might not hurt to leave a note in the window indicating you have a BC permit.
I asked about people like me who may come in at a very early hour for whatever reason.
A LEO might think I had been parked there overnight. She had no firm official answer.
She said I'd probably be ok if I left a note saying where I was and expected return time.
Something we all should do anyway, but I rarely do since sometimes I have no clue where I'm going.
So that's what I'll do--leave a note.
Not much info, but I just get the feeling nobody in the park service knows exactly how this limited entry system is going to work.
And of course I understand. Nobody knows. A lot of issues will be dealt with on a sort of ad hoc basis.
I hope they have it figured out soon because when I got to Lake McDonald yesterday, the parking lot was FULL, and people driving around.
pete
Very few people in Apgar. Lake McDonald Lodge was full of cars.
I'm thinking the "perfect day" got a lot of bikers coming to the park. Park at the lodge and bike to Avalanche Creek and beyond.