2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Are you a seasoned hiker, or just starting out? Let us know your questions or experience with the backcountry permit process.

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zozeppelin
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by zozeppelin »

Thanks Sue - confirmed a 'me' problem :)
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by NDjason »

paul wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:40 am
I put in for a 6 day trip in the Belly river for August. If I don't hear back by May, I will probably make plans to go the Wind River range like last year.
I hope your recovery goes well.

-Paul
Hey Paul! What did your route look like? I think I asked for GAB-HEL-ELF-GLH-GLH-COS. Hoping for a more relaxed itinerary this year!
~ jason
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by paul »

NDjason wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:49 pm
paul wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:40 am
I put in for a 6 day trip in the Belly river for August. If I don't hear back by May, I will probably make plans to go the Wind River range like last year.
I hope your recovery goes well.

-Paul
Hey Paul! What did your route look like? I think I asked for GAB-HEL-ELF-GLH-GLH-COS. Hoping for a more relaxed itinerary this year!
I requested ELH-HEL-COS-MOL-MOL-COS, It's pretty similar to yours except the first day is longer
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by NDjason »

paul wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:58 pm
I requested ELH-HEL-COS-MOL-MOL-COS, It's pretty similar to yours except the first day is longer
Nice! I think we have pretty similar goals. Would you think about taking the tunnel? Or in/out from Chief?

Pete - I like your plans too. I always wish, after my trips, that I had spent a little more time enjoying the scenery. Your itineraries look like plenty of chances to smell the roses!
~ jason
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by paul »

NDjason wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:47 pm
paul wrote: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:58 pm
I requested ELH-HEL-COS-MOL-MOL-COS, It's pretty similar to yours except the first day is longer
Nice! I think we have pretty similar goals. Would you think about taking the tunnel? Or in/out from Chief?
I'm trying to avoid the tunnel this year because getting into Many Glacier will be very difficult with construction and crowds. Ordinarily that would be a option, I love going through the tunnel and the trip down to Elisabeth lake.
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by PeteE »

Paul and Jason:
You both have great itineraries. Hopefully you'll get them or at least an itinerary you can modify when you arrive.
Paul, you and anyone else going to Many Glacier...
If you go in EARLY, before 0700, preferably 0600, you'll probably have no problem.
At least that's what I'm going to do as soon as they open to Many Glacier.
Construction, for the most part, doesn't take place 24/7
They may have traffic controls that alternate traffic on the one lane sections--if there are any.
That's the usual practice.


pete :wink:
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"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by paul »

Thanks Pete,

I'm just going to try to avoid Many Glacier. I doubt I will get a permit anyway with the amount of applications this year.
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by cdsmith379 »

paul wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:44 pm Thanks Pete,

I'm just going to try to avoid Many Glacier. I doubt I will get a permit anyway with the amount of applications this year.
I doubt I will get one too. There must be a better way, I saw almost no site movement yesterday, did they take the day off? Not updating the system? I get it it is a lot of work and routes are complex but it could be more efficient. Just venting.
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by zozeppelin »

Jason and Paul, very nice trips - please post pictures of Helen.

Keep faith, if you had flexibility in your itinerary then you should get something close that can always be improved upon arrival.

So far they have processed 780 'site nights' after large group permit, assuming 3-4 night average ... 200-250 trips?
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by paul »

zozeppelin wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:42 am Jason and Paul, very nice trips - please post pictures of Helen.

Keep faith, if you had flexibility in your itinerary then you should get something close that can always be improved upon arrival.

So far they have processed 780 'site nights' after large group permit, assuming 3-4 night average ... 200-250 trips?
I can post some pictures of Helen lake from previous trips.

I think most people do short trips. So the average might be below 3 nights.
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by Sue Z »

Apparently, the GTTSR tickets are now official. https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... dentry.htm
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by zozeppelin »

Thanks Paul, would really like to see some pictures, it is a really interesting area back there when viewed from the tunnel down to Elizabeth.

Up to 800 site nights gone. Speculating focus was on updating the trail status as the remaining majority updated today with projected clearing dates.
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by zozeppelin »

Sue Z wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 5:06 pm Apparently, the GTTSR tickets are now official. https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... dentry.htm
I wish they would have waited until it was actually bad (needed). Last year was an anomaly with only one entrance/exit. Perhaps this year will also be challenging due to limits on shuttle occupancy. Load the gun fine, but don't fire until necessary.

Thankfully, 'wilderness permit' holders are on the exclusion list. Which I think just means if you don't have a ticket, get a walkin permit for McDonald, Gable or other underutilized site and now you have a ticket.
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by paul »

Some photos of Helen lake

Image

Image

Image

From the goat trail above the lake
Image

Image
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2021 Backcountry Permit Applications: Date for submittal now March 17

Post by Selkie »

Gorgeous photos, Paul!

In re entry reservation ticket, per the link:
"Entry Reservation Ticket OR Service Reservation"
Below is a bulleted point; I take it to mean everything listed is a Service Reservation [my bold]:
This includes visitors with overnight accommodations, including Village Inn, Lake McDonald Lodge, Rising Sun Motor Inn, Granite Park and Sperry Chalets, Fish Creek Campground, or in-park private lodging, and visitors with reservations for wilderness camping, boat rides, guided hikes, horseback rides, or bus tours offered between the West and St. Mary Entrances of the park.
Will be interesting to see how much pushback the Park gets.
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