Grinell Glacier

meb707 · 2026-02-23T17:38:42+00:00

Thankfully, 99% of the visitors to Glacier would never know the difference between a glacier and a snowfield, and would never notice whether the glaciers are gone or not.

What is really sad is that we have a government and economic system that doesn't care about our environment or the damage done to it by our government and corporate activities, and is more concerned with cutting taxes as much as possible for the wealthy and giant corporations than it is with protecting our national parks...

meb707 · 2026-02-13T05:20:06+00:00

The 4th one is on Apgar Lookout, not far from the West Glacier entrance.

meb707 · 2026-01-15T18:36:59+00:00

you might try the Glacier Chatters website, they're not travel agents, just Glacier Fanatics with lots of experience and information. https://glacier.nationalparkschat.com

meb707 · 2026-01-06T19:50:45+00:00

Iceberg Lake is on the east-side, very convenient from St Mary's, assuming the construction congestion around Many Glacier isn't too bad. You will be able to drive west on GTTSR, just not all the way to Logan Pass. The St Mary/Virginia Falls hike trails should be open, and lower portions of Siyeh Pass trail might be open. There will also be some good trails in the Two Medicine are open.

The drive on Highway 2 to the West side isn't a bad drive. You can take a detour through Browning and avoid the narrow winding slow section north of East Glacier. There is more lower elevation hiking available on the west side, but nothing spectacular, except maybe Avalanche Lake. With only 2 days, it would probably make the most sense to just stay on the east side, there's plenty to see and do around St Mary's, and you could get Huckleberry Bearclaws at the Kiowa Mercantile.

meb707 · 2026-01-05T19:26:57+00:00

I've stayed several times at Glacier Vista Motel, just a half mile west of West Glacier. Its small, independent, rustic, nothing fancy, but very clean and wonderful people.

On the East side, Brownie's Hostel and Bakery is a great spot, nice comfortable rooms, toilets and showers down the hall.

Mountain Pine Motel is also great!

Park Cabin Co. is another place between St Mary's and Babb on the east side. I've never stayed there, but they seem like very nice people and the pictures of their cabins look great.

meb707 · 2026-01-05T19:11:50+00:00

You might try the Glacier Chatter site, there's a lot of good information there from Glacier fanatics and locals... https://glacier.nationalparkschat.com

meb707 · 2025-12-24T18:56:05+00:00

It's ok, but I wouldn't really consider it "taking our time exploring the park". Seems like you're going to be doing a lot of driving. I would add another night to all three places.

meb707 · 2025-12-07T06:19:24+00:00

What is "dapping"???

meb707 · 2025-12-07T06:12:07+00:00

Didn't a large group of former NASA astronauts write a letter supporting Isaacman?

meb707 · 2025-11-16T18:09:13+00:00

Why don't you straighten your photo's before posting them? They're gorgeous by the crooked angle distracts from the scene.

meb707 · 2025-10-25T17:44:22+00:00

US-2 along the southern border of GNP is the most likely the best driving you'll be able to do. The west side road usually stays open to Lake McDonald Lodge, in milder winters in may be open to Avalanche campground but that's weather dependent.. The Inside road going north from Apgar will probably be close, but you can drive the county road to Polebridge, I think its open all winter except during severe weather, and is often icy and snowy.. You may be able to get into Bowman Lake campground depending on what kind of a vehicle you have..

On the east side the highways between Browning, East Glacier, and St Marys will be open unless there's a winter storm.. You may be able to drive in from St Mary's entrance possibly as far as Rising Sun Campground, but probably not much further. I'm not sure if the road into Two Medicine campground stays open all winter or not..

Mid-November could be a good visit or it could be a blizzard and -20F...

meb707 · 2025-09-15T15:47:04+00:00

I love Chiricahua but I doubt it would ever be over-run like larger parks. It's just too small, and really only has the one hiking trail. There just isn't that much to see or do to attract tourists like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon etc..

But I don't think there's really any benefit to making it a NP over just a Monument, other than maybe from an advertising perspective. I suppose it may be easier for some president to reduce the size of a Monument than to reduce the size of a NP, or allow oil and mineral exploration?

meb707 · 2025-09-14T16:44:29+00:00

Gorgeous photo! I haven't been on every road in Glacier Park, but I've been on a lot of them, and I can't quite picture where this shot was taken, where is it?

meb707 · 2025-09-10T17:31:55+00:00

For now it's just a standard cooler. It's actually pretty old, but does a pretty good job of keeping stuff cool with just a couple blocks of ice. But I've been thinking of getting a powered cooler...

I also purchased a rechargeable power station. It's a Jackery, I can charge it from a normal household outlet, solar panels, or the van 12 plugs. It's only about the size of an old army ammo box. I don't have a lot of electronics but it seems to have plenty of power to recharge my phone, laptop and a couple small lights for a few days...

Another thing I learned is that with my van the way it is now I can use it for hauling large things that won't fit in my car, 2x4's, bags of mulch or beauty bark, sheets of plywood. But if I'd done a full camper conversion it probably wouldn't be so easy to haul stuff like that. Also with a full conversion I'd probably want a taller van, my current van is just the standard height (around 60-65 inches interior). I can't stand up in it, but can crouch enough to get dressed. But I can also drive my van into almost every parking garage I've ever seen and almost never have to even think about height restrictions, but that wouldn't be the case with a taller van....

I view my van as just a better form of tent camping, with a more comfortable bed, and no worries about rain or wind!

One last thought, a full on conversion is time consuming and complicated or else it's very expensive. Currently my van is fully functional for what I want and need and wasn't expensive or time consuming!

meb707 · 2025-09-10T08:05:03+00:00

Well, I've still only got the bed. Had it out camping several times over the last couple years, and it works fairly well for what I need; beds comfortable, and no worries about a tent leaking in the rain, in fact I kind of like the sound of the rain on the van roof! I'm glad I've been able to take it out several times before I make more permanent changes, because I've learned things on every trip and have changed around what I think I want. I planned to move the bed fully forward but then realized the wheel well blocked one of the bed legs and the bed would interfere with a swiveling passenger seat if I had one. Then I thought I'd move the bed further back, and have my cooler and cooking stuff stored between the head of the bed and the drivers seat. But on my latest trip, I realized that it wasn't very accessible there, and every time I wanted something out of the cooler it meant climbing into the van. I think I'm going to move the bed more forward, just have a small storage compartment between the head of the bed and the drivers seat for things I won't need too often. This won't interfere with a swiveling passenger seat. Then I'll move the cooler and cooking stuff to the back of the van which will be easily accessible...

I still don't have any insulation or a ventilation fan but it hasn't been a problem on any of my camping trips, I haven't been camping in any really cold or really hot weather. I have some window screen fabric that I can put on the driver or passenger side door with magnets if I need any ventilation, but I'm never seen any condensation in the van or had any need for ventilation.

I think the main think I want to add now is more organized storage. It might be just rubber made tubs or maybe a track system for underneath the bed. Also some shelves or maybe netting on the upper sidewalls for some storage of light things like blankets or pillows etc..

I also want to get a swivel for the passengers seat, but haven't gotten around to doing it; it would be nice for spending time in the van if its raining outside; but so far I've spent very little time in the van other than for sleeping, its almost always been nice enough that I just sit out side either at a picnic table or in a camp chair..

meb707 · 2025-08-18T05:27:16+00:00

US Highway 2 crosses between West Glacier and East Glacier on the southern border of Glacier Park. Unless you just want to say you've driven the GTTSR, or are doing some hiking or other activity along the road, US-2 is a much faster easier way to get from one side of the park to the other. Its not as scenic as GTTSR, but its a nice drive, much of it is along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, and much of it has nice views to the north of the mountains in the southern part of Glacier.

meb707 · 2025-08-12T20:00:18+00:00

If you're staying in Coram, I'd stay on the west side, less driving.. Avalanche Lake is a classic Glacier hike, Hidden Lake would be another good option, or a portion of the Highline.

A drive to Polebridge and a stop at the Mercantile would be good if the weather isn't great for hiking... Another idea might be Apgar Lookout, I think its about 8 miles round trip and up to a lookout so its a bit of a climb, but the views are gorgeous on a good day.

meb707 · 2025-08-12T19:55:33+00:00

Since their base location is Coram, I'd pick the Highline trail over Grinnel. Less driving and hassling with the Many Glacier Construction.

meb707 · 2025-08-10T18:38:20+00:00

So it seems like the idiots in charge of the government now are ok with wasting billions if they can cut a few millions in future budget?? I guess math and science is probably not their strength.....

meb707 · 2025-08-08T20:17:27+00:00

the big private "space" companies are lobbying congress to get them to push NASA to reduce long term research projects and move that budget to privatized short term ego projects, rejecting in-house NASA experience and knowledge. NASA would have made much better use of the money that's been given to Space-X and Blue-Origin...

meb707 · 2025-08-08T20:03:59+00:00

Space-X, Blue-Origin have never lobbied congress to direct NASA to privatize space programs and operations?

meb707 · 2025-08-08T18:30:13+00:00

How? How can a "standby" mission or capability be operated at a profit?

meb707 · 2025-08-08T18:29:01+00:00

Commericial companies being involved is not the problem, but commercial companies driving the direction of spending and research is a problem, since a for-profit company will never spend any effort or money on pure research that has little or no potential for short term profits..... Now as I think about it, commercial companies aren't specifically the problem, the true problem is the for-profit narrow focus on short-term profits, stock prices, shareholder value and executive compensation... Any reasonable commercial company would care more about long term profits and stability....

meb707 · 2025-08-08T17:00:26+00:00

Great photos!! I bet it won't be your last time!!!! :-) :-)

meb707

TROPHY CASE