A Lightweight Guide to the Crown of the Continent

Since I wrote this the excellent Cairno Cartographics maps of the Bob complex have gone into wide circulation. The south and north maps cover the whole area, have quite accurate trail miles, and are made of sturdy, waterproof paper. The old USFS paper map is now (finally) obsolete.

That is a great introductory article on my favorite place. You've continued your legacy of fine writing and superb photos. But now I will have some more competition for my walk-in sites in a couple of weeks!

One question: You mentioned that Red Eagle was a nice campsite. Did it not get scorched during the 2006 fire? When I drove from Waterton to Choteau the day of that fire, I barely got through St. Mary before they closed the highway. It looked like the whole Red Eagle valley was involved, all the way to the lake and beyond.

And I should add the Cattle Baron as a good place to eat. It's on the main highway at the junction where you turn to go to Many Glacier. And the nearby Babb Motel has the cheapest lodging on the east side of the Park, with a great diner across the highway (Glacier's Edge Cafe).

Edit: the names of the 2 eateries had changed since I last was there–now corrected.

Thanks for confirming that, Dave. I was thinking that lake could be a good place to spend a couple of nights while I waited for other places to open up (and avoid motel expenses). You know, read books and chill. But, no shade…

And thanks again for the article, it was a good piece. I look forward to the next installments.

Thanks for that info, Clayton. It's great to have a couple of Glacier-savvy guys here. Sounds like the head of the lake might work for what I'm thinking of.

Beautiful Pictures, and it really is at least that pretty.
… triple divide pass immensely. it's so totally fantastic, i camped up there on a north facing slope to the east of it.

note to single guys :

20 years ago the bar in east glacier, in early season, was for a variety of reasons, a "target rich environment".
i did not capitalize on the situation. but heck, on a rainy afternoon, a fellow just can't hardly go wrong there.

goodness but i love to trek.
peter v.

“You should come here and hike.”

“This article is meant to be both primer and inspiration…”

…don’t forget “and for you to come and stimulate my local economy.”

;)

Your mountains look awesome.

I don't seek out snow climbing, so I always have on whatever trail runner I prefer at the moment. For those occasions when I bring actual crampons (Camp Magix 10s) I leave the more minimal shoes at home (e.g. Sportiva Crossleathers rather than X Countrys). The Camps strap to trail shoes great, but the sole needs a bit of structure to it to provide stability for the crampon and the keep the straps from tweaking your toes.

That said, I used my microspikes a lot this spring. They are comfy for miles on any shoe and lighter. A good combo for a trip with lots of dry walking, a fair amount of snow travel, but only a modest amount of steeper stuff is microspikes, soft shoes, and an ice axe with a real adze (to cut steps when necessary).

Just dayhiked Gunsight today, with almost no snow to be found. Axe got a free ride.

Best advice in the article is your recommendation for walk-in permits and 20+ mile days. I can't think of a single weekend in my my two seasons living in the park when I was unable to secure an awesome trip.

Tad, I find the weird lace guards on the Sportiva shoes totally useless. I cut them off. The (no longer made) Crossleathers are heavier and drain/dry much slower, but are tough and provide a nice buffer against scree and the like.

Brendan, email me. Would be great to meet you.

Nice write-up Dave. Just one little correction: Unless they recently changed the name, it's the "Hungry Bear" Saloon and Restaurant near Condon, not "Happy Bear".