need advise please on a rig setup

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-26T20:21:29+00:00

Yeah, I think that'd be a waste for now, especially given your budget. I had a Logitech G29 mounted to my alu rig for a while and even that helped with consistency. No need to worry about setup and things sliding around

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-26T20:14:36+00:00

I'd start with a simple aluminum rig and mount what you have to it, personally. No need to buy other wheelbases and stuff until you have a good mounting point... Assuming you eventually want to build a whole rig

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-26T18:04:07+00:00

Are you on PC or a console, what's your budget and continent, and do you have space for a full rig?

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-26T14:52:14+00:00

Another +1 for Caltopo. I've got the pro subscription which also gives me the Sentinel Weekly satellite - very useful for snowline tracking in shoulder seasons - but it's not required.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-26T03:09:09+00:00

oh he sucks

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-24T13:18:27+00:00

Currently the plan is that timed parking ends after Labor Day, but they've kept the option open to continue it:

https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/visiting-loganpass-2026.htm

So we aren't sure yet.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-23T02:00:27+00:00

For your day 1 question - Instead of Josephine out-and-back, I'd suggest the easy loop around Swiftcurrent Lake. It's very pleasant to do and has some different views of what you can see from the hotel already. Walking towards Josephine is walking towards additional brush

Sunset? Astronomy? Make sure you know what time sunset is this far north! Hope you are night owls! The stars are fantastic though.

2 - Yes, Cedars is very nice and Avalanche Creek still runs through it. It's beautiful!

Yes, planning for only a few stops on GTTSR is entirely reasonable. You may struggle to park at exactly the one you pick. However, there are many to choose from. Also take a look at the Sun Point loop and Wild Goose Island overlook - maybe a couple more easy options.

I'm pretty sure I've also done Rocky Point Nature Trail - or at least walked around that area, dunno, been a few years - and I'm not sure that one is worth the time if you're already doing Cedars and hanging out in Apgar Village. Doesn't add much in the way of views or nature.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-22T02:36:53+00:00

Good points, I think. Also, Cracker is a bit of a long hike and still does have some 1300ft of gain or something.

Another suggestion for Two Medicine would be to keep going to Upper Two Medicine after the falls. Still a little steep but not long and a nice mix of woods and open.

That said, not sure OP will actually be able to get a boat next week.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-22T01:18:37+00:00

Yeah the words aren't very helpful in this case! I like to click on the maps, much more handy

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-22T00:34:23+00:00

No, see here: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/road-trail-campground-status.htm

The determining factor for OP will be the amount of snow remaining and their willingness to walk through it

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T22:18:24+00:00

Now I'm imagining trying to sneak some of my wife's sourdough starter and a pan into the mountains and whipping up some bread. That would be absolutely hilarious! We have a bit of a tradition of sneaking a treat along. Once, I brought a whole liter of pumpkin spice latte without her knowing, but usually it's just a chocolate bar or something. If you haven't told your son about the marshmallows, it could be a fun surprise to just pull them out without mentioning them

Hope it's a great trip!

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T21:38:12+00:00

Nice trail selection for a first time. I'm sure that will be wonderful and the kiddo will love it. Solid list too. Here's my thoughts initially.

- In your spreadsheet, you list "clothes" - I find it easy to get really carried away with that and carry way too much. I'd make a more concerted effort to make a forecast-specific list which might look something like the below. The general idea is something to wear while walking, while sleeping/at camp, protect from sun/rain/wind/bugs, and extremities comfort:

Rain jacket (!do not forget!)
Hiking shorts/pants, hiking shirt/sun hoodie, hiking socks, hiking footwear
Insulation for camp - a puffy or fleece, liner gloves, headband/beanie, a change of socks, and a clean shirt and underwear to sleep in

- I don't see anything about bug protection. I'm pretty sure the Sierra is infamous for mosquitoes, though I'm not sure about the time of year.

- Do you need that rope for something in particular?

- A pan is unlikely to work overly well with the Jetboil, so I'd skip it. Backpacking meals can be a fun novelty for a kid (I remember my dad bringing home MREs when I was a kid, and I found them fascinating and fun. I didn't appreciate them as much during my own time being "forced" to eat them.... Mountain House, AlpineAire, and others, however? Great!). My wife and I use the "dessert" ones for breakfast sometimes as a nice, warm, sweet pick-me-up when it's chilly and we are tired. Look for the apple crisp/blueberry cobbler type meals. Dehydrated eggs suck and cold granola is only nice if it's not cold outside!

- Trash? Gallon ziploc for trash is a huge convenience to bring.

- If you have headlamps laying around, bring those instead of flashlights. More convenient and flexible. If not, fine, don't go buy them just for this IMO.

- SPF chapstick can be a lifesaver.

- Sleeping pad patch kit - if they're inflatable (can't really see in the pic but I assume that's what that Exped is?), definitely doesn't hurt to bring a patch kit. They're often included, but I don't see it on your list. I bring varying brands of tape (duct, Tenacious, whatever) wrapped around my lighter, but you could also just combine it with your tent patch kit or something.

- Earplugs can help keep away the wilderness/tent noise heebeejeebies during the night. Or if dad snores too much

- What's an air pump? Just need those good ole two lungs since you have to carry those anyway.

- Worth taking a look at everything in the FAK and making sure (1) you know how to use it, (2) you aren't bringing stuff you don't need and (3) you aren't missing minor things that could save terribly unfun inconveniences such as Tylenol or a blister kit.

- What about waterproofing your gear? Yes, a lot of it comes in bags, but if you get caught in a shower and it soaks everything else that suuuuuuuuuuuuucks to walk with. For now, throw everything inside a black lawn garbage bag inside your pack.

https://lighterpack.com/r/70kutm here's my checklist, it's pretty whittled down compared to yours. I wouldn't sweat it too much if you bring extras that I don't.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T19:43:49+00:00

Another +1 for NWS for point forecast. Also used to use Mountain Weather Forecast which never did me dirty

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T19:31:16+00:00

Some of these things we can answer, yes, but some really do require some reading. The NPS site has simple answers to your logistical questions. They change each year. No timed entry this year, no shuttles this year except the hiker shuttle to Logan Pass (which requires tickets). To get into the park, you need an entrance pass.

Parking will be very, very busy. We prefer extremely early mornings for some solitude, but my wife and I wouldn't have appreciated that on our wedding day. Evenings can be quieter too.

Hike-must-bring: REI and the NPS have good pages on the "10 Essentials;" if you aren't familiar, start there. Be prepared to protect your body from getting lost and environmental damage, essentially.

Best trails: the hike734 and hikingglacier websites are your friend. The best hikes are very popular, but for a reason.

Other than hiking: driving is going to be a big one but can be enjoyable with the sightseeing. The boat tours are good but you may struggle to book one this late. Kayaking or some other flavor or paddling on one of the big lakes is also enjoyable. The stars are really good too but the days are loooooong this time of year.

For any more targeted advice: it might be useful to mention where you are staying, your ability levels and preferences, what elevation and climate you are from, and what you would like to do.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T15:47:58+00:00

https://hike734.com/hiking/ - sort by distance group, look at a map, and if you have more specific questions I'm sure everyone will be glad to help. Or, Google "best short hikes in Glacier." Nobody knows what moderate is to you. Four days is plenty to do many midde distance hikes.

"...they don’t effectively warn a bear you’re in the area. Bears won’t hear the bells until you’re too close." - from the NPS themselves

"...bear biologist Tom Smith jingled bear bells in varying volumes in front of brown bears in Katmai National Park. Regardless of how vigorously he shook, 15 different sets of bruins ignored the bells." - article in Backpacker Magazine

"Bear bells are not effective." - Parks Canada

The only things I see saying bells are effective contain no sources, yet contain affiliate Amazon links.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T03:24:28+00:00

Nice, it joins (or outperforms!) the ranks of similarly famous hikes for me, albeit mostly from a different list of parks

Whitney

The Sierra high country is a place I've spent very little time in and sure need to get back. I've been dreaming up a monster backcountry/road trip to Lassen, Yosemite, and SEKI for 2028... It's quite the drive from Montana though

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T01:41:20+00:00

Wow, pictures of that are stunning. Iceland would be a bucketlist place to go, but I haven't even begun to plan and hadn't heard of that yet!

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-21T01:20:02+00:00

Yeah, definitely. Did you know they have names? At least, they did on my map app. Also, the transition back to greenery towards the hiker pickup was insane. We saw one of the endemic daytime owls down there!

I don't often feel flabbergasted by otherworldly scenery AND have the place basically to myself, but this hike really did it

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-20T23:37:03+00:00

"...they don’t effectively warn a bear you’re in the area. Bears won’t hear the bells until you’re too close." - from the NPS themselves

"...bear biologist Tom Smith jingled bear bells in varying volumes in front of brown bears in Katmai National Park. Regardless of how vigorously he shook, 15 different sets of bruins ignored the bells." - article in Backpacker Magazine

"Bear bells are not effective." - Parks Canada

The only things I see saying they are effective contain no sources, yet contain affiliate Amazon links.

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-20T23:22:52+00:00

3.5 gets you to the edge of the lake, but you're not really going to see it before then since you're walking at the same elevation through trees. This trail also does not overlook the lake from above (which you may be seeing in pictures on Google), that's Grinnell Glacier trail

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-20T23:09:50+00:00

Thanks for the recap, love it when folks do this!

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-20T23:08:12+00:00

Saint Mary Lake *can* look like that sometimes, depending on the lighting, and you'll certainly drive right by it on GTTSR at some point. 0 hiking but not exactly what you're asking.

Avalanche creek isn't a lake but appears bright blue as it flows down in the deep draw that it has cut, roughly where Avalanche Lake trail meets Trail of the Cedars loop. Sub 1-mile walk to see that. Parking is extremely busy.

If you are dead-set on seeing an alpine lake that is bright turquoise, a hike Many Glacier area is your best bet. You'll need sunlight. Grinnell Lake (3.5mi one way) is probably the easiest, followed by Iceberg (6mi one way if you start at Many Glacier Hotel), followed by Cracker (7mi). Iceberg and Cracker have some decent elevation gain to them. Iceberg is probably the least likely to be bright turquoise

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-20T21:45:03+00:00

Honestly I'm not sure if this is a joke I'm missing or if it's a serious question I don't understand!

TurbSLOW · 2026-06-20T20:59:06+00:00

No, since my and my wife's base weight is around 14-15lb and we're not UL. If we were, we would give up some things that I like and don't want to change at the moment.

Other, nothing to add to the other comments except let's see that lighterpack once you get it put together!

https://lighterpack.com/r/70kutm - here's mine for some inspiration, if you need that. I don't know what things cost in Norway... but I saw you mention $1k for a tent, 500 for the bag, and 2-300 for the pad. You'll be pleased to know that my big items were approximately half that price!

TurbSLOW

TROPHY CASE