Gent43062 wrote:First off... I'm thrilled!
Hehehehe....got the Glacier Bug didn't you?
I'm headed to the backcountry with wife/daughters to COS/MOJ/ELF/HEL/GAB starting 7/16.
Well done, you can "work" with that.
What's really a luxury is that I'm in Ohio and can plan around this the known dates.. Versus the alternative of getting a "walk in" permit that doesn't allow the planning.
That's true, you have a reservation and so some certainty for planning.
Although I'm really happy with having an itinerary locked in, I have to personally say that I'm always looking to improve. If STO, FIF, GRN, MAN happened to open up when I arrive St. Mary on 7/15, is there anything I could do to do the loop?
In theory you could do that if all those sites were available on the right dates, etc(HIGHLY unlikely imo).
However, they would likely just write a new permit using what they could from your current permit, BUT...
I believe as a practical matter you should forget that.
It's highly unlikely that the passes will be passable due to a big snow year. And I'm pretty certain that the Ahern drift between FIF and GRN will not be passable that early for average hikers, and even many experienced hikers. (Ahern would probably require crampons and an ice ax for safe crossing)
The switchbacks coming down to Many Glacier from Swiftcurrent pass might still be blocked too.
It's possible that all these places will be snow free in mid/late July this year, but I doubt it.
That's my own opinion anyway.
So I wouldn't count on doing that route.
If I walk into the ranger station requesting to trade ELF/HEL/GAB for STO/FIF/GRN/MAN, would they do it?
I seriously doubt it.
I feel like I'm being greedy/selfish but I know I love hiking the high ridges, and have researched how beautiful STO --> MAN must be. Besides this, we'd prefer our hike be a loop for obvious reasons.
I don't blame you for wanting to do a loop like that!!
Any thoughts on what options I might have if sites would happen to be open starting 7/18?
I do have some ideas for you as I'm sure others will. Be right back with them.
Seems all NP's have different rules.
Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts--Happy trails!
You're welcome. You have a great trip ahead of you!
pete
I would recommend that you become intimately familiar with this page and how to use it to modify your permit.
This page lists all the campsites, their current status, and most important--availability six nights out.
They post this both on-line and on each BC door around 4:30-5PM each afternoon. No permits are issued after posting until
7AM the following morning.
Everyone then has time to peruse the posting to see which campsites will have a space(s) available the following morning.
So start watching this page beginning around June1st so see how it works. Imagine you were walking in that morning to do a modification, or a walk-in.
It's not hard to see how it works.
https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ ... status.cfm
This page is a must read as well, especially the foot notes and "fine print".
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... ap-Web.pdf
Soooooo....
You now have
In at Chief Mountain
COS-->MOJ-->ELF-->HEL-->GAB--> Chief Mountain
COS-->MOL-->ELF-->HEL-->GAB-->out
would be good since MOL is a much nicer campsite--smaller and no horses allowed.
If you can add a day, this itinerary would allow a day to explore up the trail towards Stoney Indian Pass.
And/or if you are comfortable with some basic route finding and bushwhacking, hiking up to Margaret Lake.
There is a beautiful waterfall below Margaret Lake as well. More on that if want to know.
So maybe:
COS-->MOL-->(GLH or MOJ)-->ELF-->HEL-->GAB-->out