Highlights
- Hike and explore Glacier National Park
- Raft the Flathead River
- Share outdoor experiences with other women
Includes
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Entry fees, equipment, guides, and gratuities
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On-trip transportation
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All meals and lodge accommodations
Overview
The Trip
Glacier National Park is undoubtedly one of the crown jewels of the National Park System; it's also called the "Crown of the Continent" for its jagged, glacier-covered peaks spread across the Continental Divide. Possessing scenic wilderness, abundant wildlife, thick forests, alpine meadows, and Wild and Scenic Rivers, the park's grandeur is almost overwhelming. We put all of our favorite activities and Glacier highlights into one amazing week and want to share them with other adventurous women. This is Montana summer camp for grown ups!
The Trip
Glacier National Park is undoubtedly one of the crown jewels of the National Park System; it's also called the "Crown of the Continent" for its jagged, glacier-covered peaks spread across the Continental Divide. Possessing scenic wilderness, abundant wildlife, thick forests, alpine meadows, and Wild and Scenic Rivers, the park's grandeur is almost overwhelming. We put all of our favorite activities and Glacier highlights into one amazing week and want to share them with other adventurous women. This is Montana summer camp for grown ups!
Rafting the Flathead River will take up two days of our time together. Our first views of the park will be from the river. During our time on the water, we'll learn about the history of human exploration and settlement of the area. We’ll also take time to unravel the park's complex geological history. The peaks and valleys of Glacier tell an astonishing story that stretches from 1.5 billion years ago, when the area consisted of primordial seas. The highest mountains in the park are covered in sedimentary rocks that existed before vertebrate life on the planet.
"Well, the impossible takes a little longer, but the difficult we do immediately" - Going-to-the-Sun Road engineer, 1925
After our river trip, we'll experience the country's first road to be designated a National Historic Landmark, the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. An engineering marvel, it is truly one of the most scenic highways in the world. Building it took over 20 years. Its jaw-dropping scenery, tunnels, terraces, bridges, hairpin turns, and 1,000 foot drop-offs never fail to inspire and thrill.
With over 700 miles of hiking trails, we'll have plenty of options for exploring the delights of the backcountry. We'll enjoy the wildflowers while admiring the glaciers that plunge down the mountains toward outrageously-colored turquoise lakes. If you're feeling inspired, there will be an opportunity for a polar bear plunge. Prepare to be dazzled.
After traveling by foot and by raft, we’ll try horseback riding next. Everyone will saddle up and enjoy time meandering across alpine meadows, gazing at the peaks, and admiring classic Rocky Mountain scenery. This is truly Lewis and Clark country, the landscape of both Native Americans and early explorers.
While we have a busy itinerary, this is a great trip for adventurous beginners. Our days will vary considerably, and there will be time for relaxing, reading, and browsing the book shop at the visitor center. In the evenings, we’ll enjoy casual conversation before and after dinner. After time spent exploring, we’ll learn about threats to Glacier's wilderness and efforts to protect it.
This is a perfect trip for moms and grown daughters, college friends who haven’t vacationed together in years, or a week out with the new friends you’ll meet. Regardless of whether you come alone or with a friend or family member, you’ll feel like a kid again!
Itinerary
Day 1: If you’re flying in, pick up from the Glacier airport can be arranged. We will all meet in Kalispell by late afternoon, giving us ample time to settle in, meet everyone, and have dinner together.
Day 2: We’ll be transported to our put-in on a fork of the Flathead River, buckle up our life jackets, and hop on board our rafts! We'll enjoy easy floating on the scenic border of the national park and will discuss the challenges facing the National Park Service in the 21st century. Tonight we'll camp on a riverside beach and enjoy the incredible starry skies of the Montana wilderness
Day 1: If you’re flying in, pick up from the Glacier airport can be arranged. We will all meet in Kalispell by late afternoon, giving us ample time to settle in, meet everyone, and have dinner together.
Day 2: We’ll be transported to our put-in on a fork of the Flathead River, buckle up our life jackets, and hop on board our rafts! We'll enjoy easy floating on the scenic border of the national park and will discuss the challenges facing the National Park Service in the 21st century. Tonight we'll camp on a riverside beach and enjoy the incredible starry skies of the Montana wilderness.
Day 3: River time! We’ll spend the day rafting. The scenery and geology are distracting, so it’s a good thing the rapids are easy. We may have some inflatable kayaks for everyone to try, depending on the flow. Some participants may enjoy a morning swim. Lunch will be picnic-style on a beach. After lunch, we'll float to our take-out and head to dinner and our hotel in West Glacier.
Day 4: From West Glacier, we'll head into the park and climb aboard one of the historic Red Buses to tour the Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass. We'll take a hike through a spectacular meadow to Hidden Lake Overlook. After the hike, we'll get back on the road, with stops for photos, wildlife, and photographs. In the late afternoon, we'll arrive at Many Glacier Hotel, a spectacular 200-room Swiss-style chalet next to Swiftcurrent Lake.
Day 5: Today we'll explore the Many Glacier Valley in the morning. In the afternoon, we'll saddle up and go horseback riding to Cracker Flats. Today we'll have many great opportunities to see wildlife. We'll spend the night at the Rising Sun Motor Inn, along the Going-to-the-Sun Road and St. Mary Lake.
Day 6: This morning, we'll journey south to the Two Medicine area of Glacier. We'll get an early start to catch a scenic boat ride on the "Sinopah," a historic wooden boat that will take us across Two Medicine Lake. We'll then hike through another spectacular basin surrounded by stunning peaks.
Day 7: It's time for everyone to pack up and enjoy one last breakfast together. Transportation to Kalispell will be provided.
This itinerary may be modified, depending on river flow, the weather, guest speaker availability, etc. The hiking, rafting, and horseback riding activities are easy to moderate. Many of the hikes involve uneven, rocky terrain and elevation gain. The pace can be adjusted to suit the needs of the group, but everyone should be in good condition since we'll be at higher altitude than where most people live.
Logistics
Getting There
The trip will begin and end in Kalispell, Montana. We will provide transportation from the airport in Kalispell to our hotel on the first day of our trip and to the Kalispell airport at the end of the trip.
By air: Glacier Park International Airport is the gateway to the park and the Canadian Rockies. It's located 10 miles north of Kalispell and is served by Alaska, Delta, United, and Allegiant Airlines.
By car: Kalispell is located 116 miles north of Missoula, 237 miles east of Spokane, and 229 miles west of Great Falls, MT. Montana is pretty far from just about everywhere!
Getting There
The trip will begin and end in Kalispell, Montana. We will provide transportation from the airport in Kalispell to our hotel on the first day of our trip and to the Kalispell airport at the end of the trip.
By air: Glacier Park International Airport is the gateway to the park and the Canadian Rockies. It's located 10 miles north of Kalispell and is served by Alaska, Delta, United, and Allegiant Airlines.
By car: Kalispell is located 116 miles north of Missoula, 237 miles east of Spokane, and 229 miles west of Great Falls, MT. Montana is pretty far from just about everywhere!
Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.
Accommodations and Food
We will mostly be staying in historic hotels and lodges. Rooms will be shared. The first night of the trip will be spent in central Kalispell. The second night of the trip we'll be camping on a riverside beach on the Flathead River. All camping gear is included in the trip price. We'll spend one night at one hotel and two nights at another -- both are located inside the park.
We will try to accommodate dietary restrictions. Meals will generally include breakfast and dinner at restaurants or hotels, with lunch and snacks generally fixed "to go" each day.
Trip Difficulty
The hiking, rafting, and horseback riding activities are easy to moderate. Each person needs to be in at least moderately good condition so we can all enjoy our hikes, paddling time, and riding. Participants are encouraged to walk, hike, and exercise on rough terrain in preparation for the trip. The Flathead River rafting trip is a professionally guided whitewater trips and includes rapids up to Class III. Separate liability waivers are required for the rafting trip and horseback riding.
Equipment and Clothing
No special equipment is required for this trip. All gear for the river trip, including personal flotation devices (PFDs), tents, sleeping bags, and pads will be provided. September weather can be extremely unpredictable. Most likely we will experience mild days and chilly nights, but everyone needs to be prepared for colder days and rain. Layers and good rain gear are essential. Binoculars are recommended for bird and wildlife viewing. A list of appropriate clothing and personal gear will be sent to all participants after acceptance on the trip.
References
- Chadwick, Douglas, The Wolverine's Way.
- Dayton, Duncan and Ken Burns, The National Parks: America's Best Idea.
- Fraley, John, Wild River Pioneers.
- Lomax, Becky, Glacier National Park.
- Schultz, James Willard, Blackfeet Tales of Glacier National Park.
- White, Christopher, The Melting World: A Journey Across America's Vanishing Glaciers.
The Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park face many conservation challenges in the 21st century. During the course of our trip, we’ll talk about the (mis)management of public lands, industrial tourism, and efforts to increase connectivity for wildlife between the protected open spaces of the Rocky Mountain corridor.
In 2016 America celebrated the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. We’ll discuss how the NPS has changed over the last century and the difficulties it faces as it seeks to protect the parks, while rendering them accessible to a growing human population. Glacier is in danger of losing all of its glaciers in the next few decades due to a warming climate. Reduced snowpacks and hotter summers are already impacting the ecosystems and wildlife of the park. During the trip, we'll take time to assess the ramifications of glacier retreat and loss on the park.
Sierra Club National Outings will operate this trip with the assistance of NPS concessionaire Glacier Guides and Glacier Raft Company.
Staff
Important Notes
- Carbon Offsets
- Carpooling
- Electronic Billing and Forms
- Electronic Devices
- Equipment
- Essential Eligibility Criteria
- How to Apply for a Trip
- Leader Gratuities
- Medical Issues
- Non-discrimination Statement
- Participant Agreement
- Seller of Travel Disclosure
- Single Supplements
- Terms and Conditions
- Travel Insurance
- Trip Feedback
- Trip Price
- Wilderness Manners