Camping close to TH and food storage in Glacier NP

You will be expected to stay at the campsites listed on your permit. The only place I know of where dispersed camping is allowed is in the Nyack/Coal Creek area in the SE part of the Park. You certainly shouldn't sleep next to a trail stealth style, as bears sometimes use the trails at night.

As far as food storage is concerned, nearly all campsites have a bear pole where you hang your food bag. Those few that don't will have a bear-proof metal food storage locker. I am not sure if they would be OK with you taking/using a bear canister, but I wouldn't bother. I hate the weight and bulk of them, and I would hate to have a bear play soccer with my food and move it 100 yards away and push it into a lake or river.

Thank you Gary. Nyack Creek area was where I started planning, then realized I need to shoot for the glaciers further north. Been real busy this late Winter, getting supplies for a contractor who is remodeling for me. Don't even have a garden started, as I usually spend weeks looking at maps, but that was when I was much younger.
Duane

Unfortunately bear canisters are not acceptable in place of hanging or lockers. I had the same question a few years ago and asked at the backcountry permit office.

About my only worry now, provided I get a reserved permit, is getting a campsite every day. A lady who wanted to go with me, has a Mt Whitney area trip planned too close to my trip, don't know why she did that, so my only worry is getting myself to each days destination and maybe finding a parking space or hooking up with a shuttle. One lay over day to explore.
One question I just remembered, how are fire restrictions here normally, better than the Sierra in July? Will I be able to bring a alcohol stove/Caldera Cone setup? The area looks lush, but that may be earlier in the season.
Duane

Your alcy stove will be good to go. I've never heard of any restrictions on stoves, a la the Sierra. A few BC camps allow fires, most do not.

If you're looking for an easy place to camp prior to your trip, the south and west sides of the park border Forest Service land almost exclusively, and its not hard to drive a dirt road a little ways back and find a nice spot to camp. The east side is reservation so no dice there.

Thank you for that bit of info David. I may be able to use one of my smaller packs for the trip. I'm shooting to get in the area the afternoon before, securing my permit if I am lucky and finding a camping spot, then getting up early the next AM to get a parking spot or catch the shuttle for a early start on the trail. I wanted to bring my Civic, but if I have to venture down a FS road, may bring my beater Toyota PU. Its been to WY a few years ago. I need to check out the shuttle service, was not wanting to count on it so I could leave when I wanted and when I exited, would be able to leave immediately.
Duane

No need for a truck, the Civic should be fine.

If get a permit in the lottery, you can pick it up the afternoon of the day before. The preferred method as the office will be quieter. If you're trying to do walk-in you'll want to be there super early on the morning before you want to start hiking.

Depending on your starting TH, getting there early is a very good idea. A lot of them fill up by mid-morning.

The free park shuttle is reliable, but not fast, especially if you have to switch buses at Logan Pass. The pay shuttle run by Glacier Park Inc along the east side road is reliable, but costs money. They take reservations, but are generally not full.

Is bear spray required? Did not see any requirements for it.

I'm trying for Packers Roost TH, first choice counter clock wise up to Flat Top, second choice counter clock wise. Don't know what is considered west or east side TH's. In my estimating mileage between camps, I would be able to go further, but going by the mileage between CG's per the Park website, it is a bit further then I may be able or want to do each day. Wanted to save some daylight for taking it easy and maybe exploring a little. Right, exploring in old man griz country.
Duane

By all means, Duane, carry a small can of Counter Assault bear spray. You can't fly on a plane with it, so buy it in either Kalispell or at some gear store near the Park (MT has no sales tax, which offsets the cost). When you leave to go home, give it to a ranger (hopefully unused)–they will be very happy to take it off your hands and find a good use for it. Remember, a can of pepper spray won't be the biggest cost of your trip. But, if needed, it could be the best investment of all. Just carry it, have it at the ready at all times, and know how to employ it.

Packer's Roost is on the west side of Logan Pass. The good stuff is on the east side (IMO)–Many Glacier, Two Medicine, and the Belly River. The stellar longish hike, though, is the Northern Boundary, which is on the west side. You can access that one from Logan Pass, Waterton in Canada, and from Kintla or Bowman Lakes from the west side.

Please get a guide book and read up on GNP. I'm not sure that you are quite ready yet, Duane, but we'll try to help.

I am not aware of any bear spray requirement. That would be an enforcement nightmare. I also see no such written requirement on the Backcountry Permit. I carry spray on GNP dayhikes and backpacks. My USFS boss (I was a volunteer on the forest adjacent to GNP) did not carry. It's a matter of choice.

Two things to consider about Flattop:
(1) the obvious second camp would be Fifty Mtn. Fifty was closed much or all of last year due to bear issues. Not sure what the status will be this year.
(2) I have experienced small critter entry into my locked vehicle trunk at Packers Roost. The little guys made a mess. If you want to store some post-hike snacks or a change of clean clothing it would be good to store them in a canister or ice chest.

I have time to dig for more info, just asking what I feel can get me up to speed on a few things I was not sure of. I've been pretty busy this late winter and lazy, so the other night I sat down for a few hours and figured out a few routes. Initially, I was going up Nyack, but could not see many glaciers there and it was suggested last Fall to go see the glaciers before they disappear, so that is the reason for the Packers Roost TH heading north. I wanted to make Brown Pass, but it is a bit too far, maybe day hike out of Goat Haunt with a layover day there, gives me some options. I can get my feet wet for this area and maybe when I retire in a few more years, I can go back to any area I missed. Plus, more likely from what I've read, to get a permit for the west side. Only me, so I could possibly change my route if I learn more or change my mind. I'm of the mind set that you don't want to over think things. Info is gold though.
Duane

PS: Going in where I plan, gives me a quick exit back to N CA I think, still need to study road maps, looks like I need to take 80 East, then head north in Elko or Wells.

I love Hwy. 93. Never get tired of it. Very scenic. All they way from about Las Vegas or in your case, Wells, to Kalispell.

Thank you John, it's been at least 30+ years since I was into ID for my previous job with the five and dime, Meridian was the last trip. I have some old road maps too that my mom had, so need to update those. I've gone up out of Winnemucca and the road coming down close to Wells, 93? gotta consult my map. Last trip was when my '79 F-100 was brand new I believe. Hit a Pheasant, cracked the windshield, had some wacko not let me get into the slow lane later, gas can stolen, on the way home, the relief driver almost let someone run us off the road when they passed and did not check the mirror, fun trip.
Duane

"I love Hwy. 93. Never get tired of it. Very scenic. All they way from about Las Vegas or in your case, Wells, to Kalispell."

You want to take the detour over to Yellowstone and come into the east side of Glacier.

–B.G.–

Duane, there aren't that many good books on GNP hiking, but probably the best is Erik Molvar's Falcon Guide–Hiking Glacier and Waterton Lakes NPs. Pick up a copy and read it cover to cover. It will provide you with much of the information you'll need about GNP–the trails, the hikes, the greatest hits, the elevation gain/loss, and the mileage from point A to point B. You'll want as much info under your belt in the rare event that your permit gets altered due to recent bear issues. That way, you can quickly change your itinerary to something good, rather than just take what the ranger suggests.

Bob, it may take too much time, just with the straight shot up 93. I'll have to MapQuest it to see what the mileage will be like. I've taken a little over a day and a half before to get to Jellystone via Jackson. Camping after work by Winnemucca, then along the Snake in Alpine Jct. Saturday night. Time wise, I want a little free time the second full day of travel to check out the Park HQ's and sight see if possible and locate a camping spot.
Gary, good advise, had not thought much about the what if. A long drive there to find out I have to quickly change plans or go to the back of the line and decide. :(
Duane

PS: Ordered the book.

I love beating a subject to death so here is a list of some other Montana guide books. I have no idea if they are still in print or are otherwise available. Might as well cram them all into one thread for future reference.

Some more Falcon Guides:
Best Hikes Along the Continental Divide, 1998. Russ Schneider.
About 15 pages is relevant to GNP. Some backpacking and some day hiking trips.

Hiking Montana, 1994. Bill Schneider.
About 15 relevant pages.

Best Backpacking Vacations Northern Rockies, 2002. Bill Schneider.
About 24 relevant pages, mostly backpacking.

Changing gears from Falcon Guides:
The Hiker's Guide to Montana by guess who? Bill Schneider. Falcon Press 1983.
Not many GNP pages.

Hiker's Guide to Glacier National Park by Dick and Sharon Nelson. Glacier Natural History Assn. 1978.
Mostly dayhikes.

+1 on Molvar's book. It seems to have the most GNP information.

edit to correct authors names.

John, camping along the way in ID? Or should I consult a map and pick a spot? Have yet to MapQuest the route for mileage and time, I figure I can at least make Elko after work, giving me at least 12 hours of travel the next day thru ID before stopping. Maybe I'll have a free day, my second full day out, with little travel. May stay in a motel in Elko to get an early start.
Duane

Duane,
I have done little to no camping in Idaho so I can't be much help. Most of my Hwy. 93 travels have been in the winter, escaping the Montana cold weather for places like Snow Canyon, Death Valley, Valley of Fire. A good day's drive from Kalispell will land you in Twin Falls; I have made it as far as Jackpot. Lots of people drive faster than I do, though. Craters of the Moon to Kalispell would not be an overly long drive and COM would be a good/fun place to camp but 12 hours of driving from Elko would probably get you well north of COM, maybe up to Salmon?? This is all off the top of my head; the Mapquest idea is a good one.
You can drive like a madman through Nevada and much of southern Idaho but eventually the mountains and river canyons force you to slow down to ~60 mph or less. That's OK. Enjoy the drive. You can pick up the pace again in parts of the Bitterroot Valley, MT.
My house is a good jumping-off point to The Park and is about 25 minutes from West Glacier. If I am not out backpacking or hiking you would be welcome as a house guest. Or you could pitch your tent in my yard if I am away from home. Big yard, lots of privacy. I could loan or give to you an expired bear spray, should work just fine, we could test it. PM me for info. if you are interested.

Per Mapquest it seems that 12 hours of driving from Elko would put you in the Kalispell area. Not bad!

Thank you for the offer John, I need to do some calculating. First day of vacation is July 16, so that should get me way up north in ID.
Duane

Thank you for the invite John, I'll wing it for camping somewhere as I don't know where I'll be by Thursday night, I'm taking half a day off Wednesday and hope to make it to Jackpot maybe that night, get up early if I can and drive all day.
Got my reservation, they messed up my email addy, so when I reapplied twice in two days last week, they left a message to call, that's how I found out. Now I see my original plans are only for five nights and I can do 6 and like my newer route better, but I can change them with a early walk up permit, provided I can get in early on Friday, otherwise, its a Saturday start with my all ready in place permit.
I now need to pick up a bear bag, line, maybe bear spray and more food.
Duane