Montana Backpacking Trip Planning- Questions

Craig, Glacier doesn't "allow" bear cans because almost all backcountry camping is at designated sites which have either a metal food locker or a pole for hanging food. All you need is 40 feet of rope.

The CDT isn't a bad idea at all, in no small part because you can take a pay shuttle from East Glacier up to Waterton, by far the easiest point-to-point logistics if you don't have the option of a car spot. You obviously don't have a reserved permit, and mid-Sept is still quite a busy time in the Glacier backcountry, so plan on being flexible with route and camps. Do some research into how the permit system works.

David,

Thanks for both replies. I spoke to a Glacier NP ranger on saturday over phone about the reservation system. I'm hoping the campsites aren't too booked. The ranger said they handle quite a few Walk in permits, so it didn't sound as limited as JMT (crossing fingers).

I appreciate the shuttle mention. Yeah I'll need that unless someone recommends a loop trail.

Walk-ins go up first thing the day before you start your trip. Even in September I'd be at a ranger station early that morning. The Glacier BC office lists walk-in availability on their website, updated daily during the season.

GPI runs the east side shuttle: http://www.glacierparkinc.com/shuttle_information.php Reservations required, but the run from East Glacier to Waterton is fast and leaves you plenty of time to hike the same day.

I'll be doing some sort of trip the first week of September in the Bob Marshall. I tend to just improvise my route. Feel free to PM if you want to try to coordinate.

the Absaroka-Beartooth has lots of options, the "Beaten Path" gets you into a lot of nice country (and lakes w/ fish- if you fish)- it's not a week trip however, although there are lots of options to branch out from there

the CDT (or other potential routes) through the Pintlers is awfully nice, lots of fishing opportunities (again if you fish)

obviously the Bob Marshall Complex can easily accommodate a week trip easy enough

just scratching the surface as we offer lots of very nice country to stretch your legs

either route you mention in Glacier would be worth doing as well, hard to go wrong in GNP for nice looking country :)

Craig,

To answer your question, you might consider the Bechler, Thorofare, or Gallatin Crest regions in Yellowstone Park [actually in Wyoming/Idaho but we Montanans treat it as part of our state].

Regarding your own suggestions, bear in mind that some of Montana's hunting seasons begin in early or mid-September, and that the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, and much of the CDT are in national forests that allow hunting – and are very popular hunting venues. A good reason to select Glacier or Yellowstone NP in the fall.

The options are many and you can't go wrong with any of the other posters' suggestions.

Richard

Thanks for your reponses and recommendations so far.

Edit: Was saying before I was having a trouble find good map of the Glacier shelters + trails with/ elevation profiles.

I went out yesterday and picked up the Nat Geo Mapping software. Its not perfect but I think this will do the trick. Turns out the first 17 miles of the cdt west of "east glacier" has like ~5,600 feet of elevation gain. Good lord. This will be a great trip.

I'm going to toy around with some alternate routes tonight on some possible parrallel trails as well.