Exploring Glacier in September – 4 Day Glacier National Park Crash Course

Exploring Glacier in September – 4 Day Glacier National Park Crash Course

Hike Overview Continued

Itinerary: (subject to change due to trail closures and weather) 

Day 1: Airport Pickup/Arrival to Campus, dinner, and short walk nearby. 

Evening Program: Native America Speaks Program: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

Day 2: Rockwell Falls: Geology, Wildlife and History 

Length: 7 miles roundtrip, Elevation Change: 433 ft 

Day 3: Piegan Pass: Alpine Ecosystems and Flora 

Length: 9 miles roundtrip, Elevation Change: 1,750 ft 

Evening Program: Closing Fire: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

Day 4: Airport drop off/Departure Day 

Food: The following meals will be provided by the Glacier Institute staff: Dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 4. We can accommodate any dietary restrictions upon request. Breakfast and dinners will be eaten in camp while most lunches will be eaten out in the field. 

Accommodations: 3 nights of lodging are included into the course fee. Our student cabins are basic, hostel-style cabins with 5 single beds, bedside lights, and electrical outlets. Students should be prepared to share a cabin with up to 4 other people, cabins are separated by gender. Couples may be paired up in the event there is ample space. We provide a bottom sheet for your bed as well as a pillow and pillow case, but please bring a warm sleeping bag. Be sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp for night trips to the bathroom. The community bathhouse has flush toilets, sinks, and hot showers. 

Park Entrance Fees: Participants are responsible for purchasing their park entrance passes prior to the course. These can be purchased online at: https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74280. 

Physical Requirements: Moderately-strenuous. Participants will hike an average of 8 miles each day over uneven terrain with an average elevation gain of 1,100 feet. See hike-specific trail stats on itinerary above (these are approximations).

Equipment: You will receive a Field Camp gear list once you register. Most importantly are comfortable hiking shoes, snacks, water bottle at least 1-2 liters, backpack, rain gear, hat, and sunscreen. Weather can be varied, especially in the higher altitudes, so please be prepared with appropriate clothing, with extra warm layers. We will be hiking in varied elevations throughout the course so expect cold, potential snow and high winds. 

Suggestions on Getting There: The Glacier Institute Field Camp is located just inside the West Entrance to Glacier National Park. The nearest airport is in Kalispell, Montana, about 30 minutes from Field Camp. A Glacier Institute Airport shuttle will be provided between 1:00pm and 4:00pm, dependent on arrival times of the group. Travelers driving in should plan to arrive at Field Camp on arrival day between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to check in and get settled. Travelers should plan to depart Field Camp by 10 a.m. on departure day. If you find airline reservations are difficult to make by flying into Kalispell, an alternative is to fly into Missoula, which is about three hours from the park. If you fly into Missoula you will need to rent a car for the drive up to the park. 

*Note: airfare and car rental are not included in the trip price. 

Notes on our Itinerary: It is common for many of our days to start early with breakfast between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. We plan accordingly to beat the heat as well as the crowds, and allow ourselves ample time to reach the trailhead each day. The early bird gets the worm, especially in Glacier National Park. We allow ample down time in the evenings, upon returning from our daily excursion. Due to the nature of experiencing a natural place such as Glacier National Park we are constantly adjusting our plans to accommodate road and trail closures (due to bears, weather and wildlife). Therefore natural circumstances may arise that warrant us adjusting some of the above itinerary. *Be sure to also check out our adult day courses going on. If there is one you are interested in joining during your week, please inquire upon registration. 

Trip Difficulty: The hikes will range from 7-9 miles in length. The hikes will be moderate to moderately strenuous with elevation gains of 400-1,800 feet. All of the hikes are on maintained trails and will take place between elevations of 5,000 to 8,100 feet. In order to comfortably complete the hikes on this trip, all hikers should be participating in regular aerobic activity four to five days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes duration — jogging, bike riding, or using the aerobic equipment at your local gym are just some examples. By the time of the trip you should be able to comfortably maintain an average hiking speed of 2-2.5 mph for six to eight hours — the key word being comfortably. Because of the small, but real potential for grizzly bear encounters while hiking in Glacier National Park, it is not safe for people to become separated from the group. Therefore, it is imperative that you are able to maintain the hiking pace recommended by the leader. 

Weather: Field Camp is located in West Glacier, roughly 3,600ft above sea level. Glacier National Park covers quite a large spread of land, and straddles the continental divide. On any given day, the weather on the west side of the divide can be quite different from the weather on the east side of the

divide. The best way to be prepared for ever changing mountainous weather is to have layers! See our gear list for recommendations on what to bring. We recommend checking the weather prior to your trip. NOAA Weather Forecast is a great resource for this. Although we will be lodging in West Glacier we will also travel to the eastern side of the divide near East Glacier & Saint Mary; checking the weather for these different locations can help to provide a big picture of the forecast. 

Gratuity Guidelines: Gratuity for Outdoor Education Specialists and/or Instructors is not included. 

Fellow Travelers: This is a group travel adventure. All participants are encouraged to review the itinerary and trip difficulty. It is inevitable that some travelers will have different goals, perspectives and abilities. We ask that the group respect each individual’s conditions and needs throughout the course or trip. We want everyone to enjoy themselves to the fullest!