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Non Football Question

If you want to get out and walk around at Logan Pass (the top of the Going to the Sun road), plan on being in the parking lot before 0900. It's like downtown Beijing up there once they get the road open.
 
I love Whitefish! Every time I go up there I have a good time. I've never ran into any trouble there. Nothing's better than meeting some Canadians that like having a good time.. They'll pay for beer all night as long as you keep that bowl lit!
 
Don't even think about coming until at least Mid June. If you come in late may their still may be 20' of snow on the road. Come the last week in August and join us for the NDSU game.
 
Silvertip said:
A couple of tips for our GSU friend...

* Do not hit Glacier NP anytime until after the July 4th weekend. Knowing better, I still went up in mid-June last year and froze my az off. Tons of impenetrable fog and rain and of course Logan Pass was still buried under lots of snow. Thru history there's never been a month Glacier didn't see some kind of snow - but unlikely in July-August...September, maybe?

* For an add-on mini-international experience take your passports along (required since 9/11, etc)and visit adjoining Waterton Lakes Park in Alberta Canada. There's a picturesque big old hotel overlooking the town site where you can buy British woolens, china, toffee and quaff beer in an English-style pub. You can also take a boat trip on the lake into Montana and back again you world traveler you!

Currently living in Colorado. Nothing here compares with GNP... :thumb:

Enjoy
Visiting Waterton is a lovely add-on to going to Glacier. And the Prince of Wales is a charming touch of Britain in the middle of the Canadian Rockies. Went there on my honeymoon and again on our 25th wedding anniversary.
 
Get out of your car and hike. That's the only true way to experience the beauty of GNP.

And I love Whitefish. Old WF is still there, you just have to hang out in the right places. Is it touristy? Of course it is, but hell, so is GNP. Eventually any great place is.

33+, thanks for visiting the board. I have nothing but complete respect for your program.
 
griz8791 said:
If you want to get out and walk around at Logan Pass (the top of the Going to the Sun road), plan on being in the parking lot before 0900. It's like downtown Beijing up there once they get the road open.
Now that is funny, and true.
 
A trip to Glacier without visiting the Many Glacier/Swiftcurrent area is a waste. Its the best area of the park, IMO. Instead of staying at the Many Glacier hotel, we always go up the road another mile or so and rent a cabin behind the Swiftcurrent store/restaurant. Its a decent place to eat, lots of trails for hiking (don't forget your bear spray) and you can usually spot a bear on the hillsides just before dark in the store parking lot. Make sure you bring binoculars. Very peaceful, no TV's, radio or cell service. I love that part about Glacier. And if you want an amazing montana steak make sure you stop at the Cattle Baron steakhouse in Babb on the way to Many Glacier. Consistently as good of a steak as there is on the planet!
 
Without adding to the barrage of advice, let me just encourage you to do this: When in Glacier. GET OUT OF YOUR CAR AND GO HIKE SOME TRAILS. Amazing how many people just go whizzing through Glacier and Yellowstone, figuring they see it all from their cars. You really need to park that thing, grab your pack and go for a nice long hike. Well-prepared, of course. Even better if you go camping for a couple of days.
 
Hammer said:
A trip to Glacier without visiting the Many Glacier/Swiftcurrent area is a waste. Its the best area of the park, IMO. Instead of staying at the Many Glacier hotel, we always go up the road another mile or so and rent a cabin behind the Swiftcurrent store/restaurant. Its a decent place to eat, lots of trails for hiking (don't forget your bear spray) and you can usually spot a bear on the hillsides just before dark in the store parking lot. Make sure you bring binoculars. Very peaceful, no TV's, radio or cell service. I love that part about Glacier. And if you want an amazing montana steak make sure you stop at the Cattle Baron steakhouse in Babb on the way to Many Glacier. Consistently as good of a steak as there is on the planet!

Call first and make sure they are open.... They are kind of different that way. But definitely worth it.
 
There are also some hidden gems up the west side road in Glacier also. You come to a tiny town called Polebridge, which has a wonderful old-time style merchantile where a bunch of great-looking hippie chicks run an amazing bakery. An hour and a half up the cobbly road you will find Bowman Lake, which is jaw-droppingly beautiful. A wonderful place to pitch your float-tube and fish, hike, or just get a stare on. One of those places that its hard to believe how beautiful it is . There is a campground there but it don't think there are any motels after you leave West Glacier. It is well worth a day-trip though, and less people than a lot of places.

In defense of Whitefish, my family stays there a couple of nights a year and really enjoy the town, and it makes a great jumping-off place for Glacier. Try the Bulldog Bar for a garlic burger and a Coldsmoke on tap. I like all the locally owned shops downtown, it's American enterprise and I try to support them. I know a lot of you don't venture outside of Walmart, but there are some great people who own the little stores there.

As far as tourists go, yes they are in Whitefish and Glacier, and Yellowstone Park. They are on the Bighorn, Blackfoot, Madison, Gallatin, Rock Creek, the spring creeks around Livingston and darn near everywhere you can think of. When you live in an amazing place, it's the price you pay. But 95% of them are fine folks and are grateful to be able to experience our state. Some of them only get one chance in a lifetime, so it means a lot to most of them. It's not that hard to find a little solitude if you want it.
 
cclarkblues said:
blah blah blah It's not that hard to find a little solitude if you want it.

that could well be the best aspect of existing in montana in lieu of other locations.
 
I would wait until the last week of July of August for the best weather. Even if the road opens up to the pass, lots of trails are still inacesible and snow covered in the high country until later. Also, it can be pretty crappy weather early still. The East side of the park is cool, really great hiking. Also, its summer and it'll be crowded no mater what, so base your trip on the weather in my opinion. The east side is less crowded. I work in Whitefish and live between Kalispell and Whitefish. There are some douchy pricks there, but just laugh them off, they're harmless. Whitefish has fun bars and restaurants. Lots of fun stuff around here in the summer. Another option if you're into biking at all is to come up befor the road is open to cars and ride the going to the sun road on bikes, best bike riding there is, in my opinion. If you time it right, you can bike to the summit one week, then drive up to the summit and ski/sled/dink around in the snow a few days later if that intrests you too. If the crowds are too much, there's lots of "local" places to go that are neat. Just send me a PM.
 
kemajic said:
Dmontanagrizzlies said:
Harm said:
Whitefish....an overly exspenesive town populated with rich arrogeveryonea$$holes under every rock who sit around and lament the loss of what used to be a quaint mountain town prior to their arrival....yeah, if you're looking to save money stay the hell away from there... . :thumb:

Pretty shitty statement Harm. My wife and I own a small business and depend on tourism dollars to make it. I can tell you we aren't rich nor are we rich assholes, as you put it. In fact my wife, born and raised in WF, we both graduated from WF high and have historic ties to the town.
One in fact where her grandfather is commemorated on a plaque for his former downtown business.
I make it a point as well as any of our employees to offer tourism help, thank everyone for shopping, no matter if they bought something or not.
Publishing some broad stroke like this is ill served. We miss the "good 'ole days" for sure but during the economic crash it was the locals who kept this business alive when tourism dropped off.
I love this town with all of my heart and to say something like that can impact us.
I'm sorry if you had a bad experience somewhere here but Whitefish is an amazing town with
Wonderful people that find amazing resources to keep her a buzz for all to experience.
My simple take from it is that he doesn't like yuppie towns, wine and cheese crowd, kraft beers, etc. Me either, I prefer the old Whitefish, but I don't live there so my opinion isn't for much. We have our Red Lodge of similar ilk near here....

...old stumptown...
...they came...
...they saw...
...they bought it...

... 8-) ...
 
GSU33+yrFan said:
Griz Fans
It has been a while since the last time I posted on this site. I'm an ole Georgia Southern fan who is looking for some information on visiting Glacier National Park this summer. Before the true Griz fans get their noses out of joint about this being a football message board, who better to ask advice from than a true Montana Griz Fan. I've attended all the home and championship games Georgia Southern has ever played Montana and respect the program.
I'm planning a trip to Glacier between May 25th and mid August. Any suggestions of best non crowded dates (without bad weather we don't like snow is was 72 in south Georgia yesterday), places to visit, stay inside or outside of the park, pro and cons of airports best ways to save $$$ would be greatly appreciated.
Georgia Southern moved up and won the Sunbelt this year but I truly miss the true playoffs with a real national champion.

I'm surprised that nobody has said the obvious yet. Delay your trip for a month. September is awesome. The bugs are dead and the tourists have gone home and the fishing is still awesome. The best part of delaying for a month, you can swing by Missoula and catch the ESPN Kick Off Classic and watch the Griz kick some Bison ass. You are welcome at my tailgate any time GSU33 :thumb: :thumb:
 
lol.. you guys aren't good at reading. He's going in the summer because the kids are in school. I don't think September is an option.

That said, like Hammer said above, Swiftcurrent Lake is a must-hit. Great view, the hotel there is old and Bavarian looking, very cool to see. Last time I was in there we saw quite a few grizzlies doin' what bears do. In this case, eating an elk. Logan Pass is fun, but definitely get out of the car and hike the trail to Hidden Lake, one of my favorite sites in Glacier. Hiking into Avalanche Lake is a fun hike too, with a great view.

Whitefish is a cool town, you can go ziplining up on Big Mountain during the summer, that's a lot of fun to do.
 
Thanks for all the info so far. The hotels within the park are filling up fast especially after GTSR opens approx. June 19th unless we move around the park with single open dates. I was looking at flights last night from Savannah, GA to Missoula has the best prices $750ea vs $900-1000 to other cities around. Planning this is not as easy as I though it was going to be. A week long visit may run $5000.

I watched a lot of the FCS playoffs, Sam Huston made it in with out Coach Fritz who was a good get for GS. I put together a speaking engagement in Savannah with Fritz, he is a class act not missing a beat with Monken going to Army. Our old coach Paul Johnson is at GA Tech with former GSU coaches spread out between GT, Navy & Army.
GS was 1st in rushing but the NCAA will not give us the title in transition, Navy 2nd, GT 4th and Army 6th.
I thought MT would make the jump before APP St. Maybe NDSU and MT will make it soon because NCAA is gutting FCS, better to be in the G5.
Thanks again for the input :)
 
...hmm...tell you what ...just PM me...I'll exchange digits and personal email with you.
Growing up here I know the hot spots and who to talk with. Lol...going in June and August...smh, leave that to the rooks....smh....
 
GSU33+yrFan said:
Thanks for all the info so far. The hotels within the park are filling up fast especially after GTSR opens approx. June 19th unless we move around the park with single open dates. I was looking at flights last night from Savannah, GA to Missoula has the best prices $750ea vs $900-1000 to other cities around. Planning this is not as easy as I though it was going to be. A week long visit may run $5000.

I watched a lot of the FCS playoffs, Sam Huston made it in with out Coach Fritz who was a good get for GS. I put together a speaking engagement in Savannah with Fritz, he is a class act not missing a beat with Monken going to Army. Our old coach Paul Johnson is at GA Tech with former GSU coaches spread out between GT, Navy & Army.
GS was 1st in rushing but the NCAA will not give us the title in transition, Navy 2nd, GT 4th and Army 6th.
I thought MT would make the jump before APP St. Maybe NDSU and MT will make it soon because NCAA is gutting FCS, better to be in the G5.
Thanks again for the input :)

The GTSR opening is largely dependent on spring snow storms, which often delay it. Mid-July is a great time to go for that reason.. you know the road will be all the way open.
 
Dmontanagrizzlies said:
...hmm...tell you what ...just PM me...I'll exchange digits and personal email with you.
Growing up here I know the hot spots and who to talk with. Lol...going in June and August...smh, leave that to the rooks....smh....

Oh gosh, another insider surfaces - and this one for Glacier Park :pray:
 

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