5 days in Glacier National Park (1st gear list. Need to cut weight.)

Angelo, have you checked your route for current snow hazards? A few of the highest areas still have snowfields where crampons and an axe are a good idea (I used them on the E side of Gunsight Pass this past weekend, but only in a few spots).

I can't imagine you'll use down pants, unless you sleep really cold.

I'd ditch the rain skirt and mitts if the forecast looks good (chance of rain less than 30%, warm temps). If you get cold easy, bring 'em anyway.

As for socks, I'd only bring two pairs, unless you typically hike in liners and thicker socks. Don't mess with a proven system.

For me, the torsolite would be enough ground insulation.

Water in Glacier is abundant and very good. Drops are enough. On a related note, I find a single 32 oz bottle more than enough capacity. Typically I bring a single 20 oz bottle and do fine. Just drink off and fill up at every opportunity, and be strategic about stretches that might be dry.

You'll want good bug protection, the mosquito season has been nuts this summer.

Yes, and right now I think Fifty Mtn and Stony Indian Pass are still quite snowy, which means my mom will want to change our route (doesn't want to try out crampons and an ice axe). Will the rangers be OK with a re-route?

Ditched the down pants, z-lite and MSR SweetWater. Replacing with Aquamira droppers and 1/8" pad.

Socks: I am ditching the liners and keeping the thicker socks for sleeping (and possible back-up).

I have an OR bug headnet but I am replacing with Pete's Headnet.

Anything else I can cut down or multi-use? This my first time adding up all my gear weight, I am heavier than I thought. I was hoping for 10lbs max.

Get rid of the trowel, all sites will have a toilet (usually a seat on a hole in the woods, but sometimes with a roof and walls).

50 Mountain is no doubt snowy, but is not steep enough to require an axe. I'll be headed over that next weekend and will no bring anything more than poles. Stoney Indian could be hairy in spots, and the trail status reports are not especially encouraging. 923 (the Goat Haunt BC ranger) is our neighbor during the off-season and she gives conservative but accurate reports.

The rangers have been dealing with reroutes all year, and will I'm sure be happy to work with you. I'd call them ASAP and give them your permit number and concerns, they might be able to set you up with a good alternative even before you arrive here.

I camped at fifty mtn on Sunday night, and there was no snow on the trail from goat haunt, and a few snow fields that could be skirted or crossed without equipment on the upper highline. The ahern drift, about 5 miles north of granite park, was supposedly blown with dynamite today as it was pretty sketchy to cross. The cattle queen drift, a few miles north of the ahern, was basically a snow bridge that was you may or may not want to cross. We crossed it about 10 yards uphill from where the trail goes under because a large portion of the snow bridge had melted away under that area on the northern side.

Your list looks good.

Are you seeing any of the fuzzy-wuzzies there?

–B.G.–

Saw a big, fat, blond sow Griz with 2 huge yearling cubs in the 50 Mtn meadow on Saturday. They were eating roots and ran away once they smelled us.

i was in waterton last week, the canadian part of the peace park, and saw 4 bears, including 2 griz and one was a sow with a cub. no snow on the highest passes i went through (7000-9000ft)

i only carried for outerwear, houdini jacket, whim pants(both non waterproofs) a pair of liner socks for sleeping and a cocoon hoody. i had on wool tee shirt and running shorts.

ditch the R1, Rain skirt,heavy socks, balaclava, one of the platys, head lamp and spare batteries, trowel,bear whistle.

add some bear spray.

photon should be enough for light.

use a tent stake for a trowel if u have to

wind pants dry quickly

u have a wind shirt for hiking if its cold, R1 is redundnat with the UL parka.

balaclava is redundant with the hood on the parka.