Glacier National Park & new Kossacks to meet await you
I would like to extend to you, on behalf of everyone who has ever attended an Epic DailyKos Glacier National Park Meet-Up, a hearty invitation to join your on-line friends at Dailykos for the Third Epic Glacier National Park Meet-Up! Enjoy vistas beyond words, hike with friends through gorgeous Alpine forests along rushing streams, take a bus ride with still more friends up Going-to-the-Sun Road, have a hike led by famous Daily Kos Glacier & Native American Information Expert Ojibwa, chat over a BBQ and campfire, learn why it is referred to as the “Crown of the Continent”, and find quiet contemplative solitude among the endless peaks, lakes, and streams. Also, no telling what Dkos luminairies and/or Dkos nefarious characters will attend! :)
Hungry Horse Dam, Hungry Horse, Montana
To be sure, few live close to the Park, so it is understood that everyone will need time to make travel arrangements. In the coming diaries, I’ll be discussing methods of travel, possibilities for lodging, things to do, and an itinerary for the meet-up.
First, a Date. Glacier NP, like all National Parks, fill up on and around the 4th of July, so anyone planning on attending should not only be quick about securing time off to attend, but also to secure accommodations (Don’t delay, places fill up, especially inside the park!). The date of the meet-up is… Friday, June 30th, July 1st, and July 2nd. There will be a welcoming BBQ on Thursday evening, June 29th, in Coram, MT. There will be something to do as a group on Friday morning, 6-30-17, so arriving Thursday to get settled is recommended. You are, however, welcome to arrive, participate, and leave as time in your schedule permits.
Next, Getting there. Quite a lot depends on your location upon beginning the trip. You should know—Glacier National Park isn’t very close to many folks, which is part of the lure for outdoor recreation fans. Quick info: Kalispell, Montana has a nice, easy, small airport, serviced by more locations than you’d guess. The airport is perhaps 30 minutes driving from Glacier environs, has rental cars, and is pleasant to travel through. Driving times: From; Seattle, ~9 hrs, Portland, ~10.5 hrs, San Francisco, ~20 hrs, Salt Lake City, ~10 hrs, Denver, ~14 hrs, Kansas City, ~22 hrs, Minneapolis, ~17 hrs, Chicago, ~23 hrs. Train Option: several folks have taken the train previously to Glacier meet-ups—there is a stop RIGHT AT the West Entrance to the park--but you’ll either need a car or a friend with a car once you get off the train. The Park area is vast, and not ‘walkable’ in the slightest. Please do form carpools/arrange rides before you arrive. The word from previous train-users is that the train ride is beautiful & worth it but nearly always a bit late, even up to a day late… Also, when you research Glacier NP, you’ll notice there are both West & East portions. Most/all of our activities are on the West Side. If you elect to stay on the east side, expect to drive over an hour to attend anything with us. You can always take a day to drive a circuit around the Park & see the east side that way. It’s worth it.
Many views like this await you
Third, Accommodations. Oh, my, this is where it gets complicated. Are you a camper, as in a tent camper? If you want to stay in a campground inside Glacier, you need to reserve your spot NOW. If you want to camp in the National Forest outside the National Park, you’re a beast, take your bear spray, and Montana is your oyster. If you want to tent camp, but in a KOA-type place, there are those available. RV: There are several RV/tent places. I haven’t heard anything bad about any of them, but all have their own personality I suppose. I am an RV’er (a small one for me & my 2 dogs), and I stay at Sundance Campground in Coram, MT, about 20 mins from the park. It’s wooded, rustic, clean, quiet, & family run. Iffy wi-fi tho. Motels: There are many options, none are super cheap, some are expensive, and they range from cabins with everything to tiny cabins w/ shared restroom/showers to regular hotel rooms to staying in The McDonald Lodge right on Lake McDonald-gorgeous but old-timey, w/o wi-fi or a/c. Google is your friend, and I am willing to answer any/all questions, and/or consult those more local & know more than I.
First Epic Dkos Glacier N.P. Meet-up, 2013
The Red Bus tour up Going-to-the-Sun Road crew, 2015
Meet-up Activities: Previously, we have met for a morning activity, such as a hike, and a late-afternoon/early evening BBQ or dinner in a restaurant. Some folks go off on their own exploring during some events, others join in everything—no obligations. Can’t hike? there’s plenty else! To be sure: Transportation will be required to attend these events. It is the opposite of staying in the same hotel as the convention, and the area is quite spread out by east coast standards. There will be a ‘Welcome BBQ’ on Thursday evening, where everyone meets (or re-meets) that I sponsor & hold in my campground (I rent an extra space for us to BBQ in) and things to do every day, until the meet-up ends Sunday evening. You needn’t stay the entire time, or you may overlap a day or 4 on either end of the meet-up. Specific examples of ‘things we’ll be doing” include riding as a group up Going-to-the-Sun Road in the Park’s Red Buses (or—perhaps we will choose a different tour company, not decided or priced as yet), taking Glacier near-resident & expert Glacier/Native American speaker Ojibwa-led hikes (none are overly-strenuous, all require some exertion...), driving to more remote parts of the Park for other led-hikes, BBQing on the shores of Lake McDonald, and more!
Group hike along Avalanche Creek, 2015
There will be a re-awakening/continuation of a Dkos group—The Epic Glacier Meet-up Group. If you have any inkling of attending, please ask to join, I will send you an invitation. There are things discussed in that group to answer questions without waiting for me to post another diary, as well as attendee lists and such. Wanna go for a boat ride on Lake McDonald? I know how you do that...
My campsite at Sundance Campground, Coram, MT. Also, home of the ‘Welcome BBQ’ & is showing the ‘Mobile Hut o’ Fella’
So Please consider taking a vacation to a beautiful spot & meeting many kossacks from around the country. It has always been quite fun, I expect this year will be no different!
First two questions you’ll have: Yes, there are grizzly bears. No, they are not marauding about, in fact, you’ll be lucky to see one. But be prepared—it could happen. Just not very likely. And two, the temperature. Well bring shorts & a jacket, that’s the best I can say. I’ve seen it be 32 degrees and 105 degrees around the end of June. It is in the mountains, so weather is highly, highly variable, so come prepared & check the weather forecast before traveling. Glacier National Park entrance sits at 3250’, so snow is never out of the question—but last year it was 100 degrees almost every day…
I’ll be here to answer questions (until I need to leave to go protest at my Congressalderp’s local office) or find out the answer for you, or feel free to kosmail me! Please post any questions even if I’ve gone for a bit—I will revisit this diary after the protest today…
See you in Glacier in June?
You wouldn’t want to miss this, would you?
I will need to compile a list of attendees, an email contact, arrival & departure dates, # in party, where you’ll be staying (which hotel, in the Park, some other campground—how do we find you?...), and hopefully, a cell phone # for each ‘party’ attending. Although cell phone coverage in the Park varies from spotty to non-existent, without a means to contact you during the meet-up has lead to missed rides & such in the past, so a cell # is requested & will never be shared without your permission. Calls made are very few. Honestly—I’m not creating a dossier, just trying to keep track of 20-30 wandering kossacks! Just know—attendees will be spread out, miles apart in accommodations, so attending ‘events’ will most likely be the only way you’ll meet any of us! I will be arriving several days in advance, and stay at least a week after the event, and my cell phone works in my campground so I will be on-site (more or less) & able to assist. You will also receive (by email) a printable list that contains my cell #, the time, date, location, and any more specific info needed for all events. Prices for any event (such as the Going-to-the-Sun Road bus) will be listed, and rsvp’s for each event will be requested-some are more important than others, because if I buy you a bus ride ticket, I expect to be reimbursed & you to show up… :) You may be asked to bring a dish or something to the communal BBQ’s—except the Welcome BBQ, that’s on me. Also—each vehicle entering the Park needs to buy a 7 day, 1 year, or lifetime Golden Eagle Pass.
Remember, I’m just some kossack from southern Colorado. I’ve been to Glacier 6-7 times, and organized the last meet-up (with help!). But Daily Kos, the entity, is not supporting this financially or logistically. It is not an “Official” Dailykos function, overseen by Markos or the staff. It’s on US—me & you. You’ll need to be an active participant!
The date of the meet-up is… Friday, June 30th, July 1st, and July 2nd. There will be a welcoming BBQ on Thursday evening, June 29th, in Coram, MT. There will be something to do as a group on Friday morning, 6-30-17 (probably a hike), so arriving Thursday to get settled is recommended. MUCH more information to follow!
It will be FUN! Please join us!
Much Glacier info, Official website: www.nps.gov/…
Glacier on facebook, which I don’t do: www.facebook.com/…
Visit Montana/Glacier site: www.visitmt.com/…
Glacier County MT site: glaciermt.com/…
Discover Kalispell, MT: www.discoverkalispell.com
|
Glacier National Park Entrance fee (doesn’t include camp site fees, entry only):
Entrance Fee Description
|
Length Covered |
Current Rate |
| Entrance- Vehicle Summer |
7 days |
$25 |
| Entrance- Individual Summer |
7 days (hiker/bicycle) |
$12 |
| Entrance- Motorcycle Summer |
7 days |
$12 per person |
| Glacier Annual Pass |
1 year from month of first use |
$35
|
**And a tip of my hat to kossacks navajo, Ojibwa, state of confusion, and MTmofo, for helping organize this & previous Glacier meet-ups. From tech help & organizing tips to local knowledge, their help is invaluable! Thank you!
PLEASE RSVP!!
Lastly, Fresh Huckleberry Pie. I’m just sayin!
