Glacier’s Orchids – Guided Educational Hike

Glacier’s Orchids – Guided Educational Hike

Hike Overview Continued

Instructor: Steve Wirt

This full-day guided Glacier National Park hike course will provide an exciting introduction to the ecology and identification of some Park’s most elusive and beautiful flora. In addition to learning how to recognize and identify orchids in the field, we will discuss the importance of maintaining specific habitat requirements for each of the species we encounter. Participants will be able to experience and admire Glacier National Park’s wide variety of orchid species.

Meeting Place: Glacier Institute Field Camp

Itinerary: (subject to change due to trail closures and weather)
After a brief introduction at Glacier Institute Field Camp, followed by a presentation of the orchid basics, we will travel to several locations along the Camas Road and upper McDonald Creek. We will try to visit a diversity of habitats in order to see several different orchid species. Our exact destinations will depend on weather conditions and on which plants are blooming in early June. The course will end by 4 p.m. and will not be cancelled due to weather.

Food: Please bring a trail lunch, plenty of water, and snacks for the day.

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

Equipment: You will receive a Glacier Institute Field Camp gear list once you register. Most importantly, bring comfortable hiking shoes, at least 1-2-liter water bottle, backpack, rain gear, hat, sunscreen, and warm layers. Gaiters may be useful as we walk through damp grasses. A magnifying glass or hand lens will be highly recommended to observe orchid species.

Physical Requirements:Easy to little difficulty. We will be taking several short hikes in search of orchids, but it will not be rigorous, with less than 50 feet of elevation change. We may be off trail, so be prepared to walk over logs, through brush, and in the woods where orchids like to grow.