Glacier National Park 95 Mile Hike: Backpacking the Highline Trail
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- Glacier National Park Backpacking adventure: 95 mile Glacier Highline Trail variant to Waterton Lake, Canada. In 2018 I thru hiked the Continental Divide Trail, and the last section (NOBO) goes through Glacier National Park on the Glacier Highline Trail. It's one of the best sections of trail on the entire CDT, and a fitting way to end a 3000 mile hike. However, it was the end of September when I reached East Glacier, and heavy snow in the high mountains forced me to bail down to the road and walk the highway to the border of Canada. I still completed the CDT, but not at the monument at Waterton lakes. This was a bit crushing to end my 5.5 month hike in such a way. So, this year I came back out to Glacier to hike the Highline Trail again, and get the finish I missed last year at Wateron. This is my second chance at a true CDT finish. This is my redemption!
Check out my video of my CDT finish last year here for the backstory:
• CDT Thru Hike Ep 31: E...
Unfortunately we couldn't get permits for the exact Glacier Highline Trail route. instead, we started at Cut Bank (already did most of everything south of here anyways last year on the CDT up to Old Man Lake), hiked north over Triple Divide Pass to Many Glacier, then had to detour from the Highline Trail by going through the Ptarmigan Tunnel. From here we follow Cosley Lake to Stoney Indian Pass and into Waterton.
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👉 / seekinglost
#glacier #nationalparks #backpacking
Thks for all the effort taking the Vids. I truly enjoyed the hike. Glacier is beyond words especially the back country. Thank You
Beautiful video of the park. Amazing views. Thanks for doing the hard work of hiking.
You cannot even imagine how much you inspire us to get out of all the darkness. Scenery is not just a scenery.. it is cleansing. It inspires to get out there. To reconnect with the natural. To face own shadow side, one on one. At least to try. At least give it a try... And it inspires. 100%. thanks.
Great video. Glad to see it posted and preserved. Thank for taking me along. You're right, it was ok, for a notional park 😉
Hey thanks for giving it a shot and coming with me! And the bears didn't eat you, despite their cravings. So that's a start
Wow...3 days, 50 miles for a virgin hiker....that's nuts!! Good for him and good for you taking him along. I really enjoyed this sequel to your CDT hike.
And you've got your whole life to reflect on what you accomplished. If you haven't gone back and watched your series go back and do it. I bet the condensed version of your trip will bring back a flood of emotion. If it doesn't there's no help for you!😋
I know, he rocked it that's for sure. He actually stuck to a pretty good training regiment before the hike(4 weeks), walking with the pack 5 days a week, incline treadmill and StairMaster, etc. I'm hoping he's open to going again sometime, the knee pain really killed it for him.
Funny you mention that... sometimes when I don't feel like working out in the morning, I throw on one of my old CDT videos, and that usually gets me pumped! haha. Man I miss the trail though. Watching them also reminds me to keep working on the planning for my next one. Lot's of mapping and planning for me this winter!
Feels good reading that. Thanks. Michigan couldn't prepare me for the inclines and declines at the end of the day. I worked out at least 5 days a week over an hour each day. On weekends I was walking with a 33lb pack and I was up to 4 hours a day without knee problems. No blisters. Plenty of energy. Just too flat for good practice I guess.
@@scottpaul4446 yeah....you did good. Those are some serious miles on a terrain you aren't used too. Your buddy Eric should have offered to carry you a little bit.😋 Hopefully those sore knees won't stop you from get back out there!! Keep it up buddy!
Glacier is unlike any other place. Thanks for sharing!
Perfect video and wonderful landscape! Great to see you back on trail along with friends. Totally worth waiting for, keep them comming 👊
Im going to go back and watch your cdt hike from the start. You’re a great videographer. Unmatched by other trip vlogs.
Wow, thanks Kevin, much appreciated!
Agreed! Excellent hiking videos
I've had this one in my watch queue for a week, but have been away from home and only wanted to watch it on my TV. I'm glad I waited! Incredible scenery! Well put together as always. Looking forward to hearing more about your next route!
Thanks, big screen is the way to go for sure!
A "haunt" is just a place to hang out. For example, "that pub was one of my regular haunts." not to do with haunted by ghosts! But I like the idea of ghost goats. Great video! I did much of this hike this past summer, but we missed Piegan Pass due to weather. Too bad, looks gorgeous!
Another great video and gorgeous scenery! It felt like you were out there minus the wind and smells of the trail. Looking forward to your next adventure and thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, glad I could share it with you!
Your video is so visually appealing. It hurts to know you didn't bring a fly rod or care to. Thanks for posting. Unbelievable!
Trust me, I wish I was fishing too. For certain kinds of hikes, I like to bring my rod. I had a lot of fun fishing the high alpine lakes of the Sawtooths a few years ago, the fishing there was excellent!
I am really happy that you got to do your redemption hike and I am thank-full you let me tag along with you from start to finish. While I still refer to Montana/Yellowstone as my “”One true love””...this summer..hopefully..I am off to California to explore the Eastern Sierra..so, thanks again..maybe we will meet out on the trail sometime. Until then..happy trails.
Thank you, it meant a lot to me to get back out there. Ah the Sierras... enjoy your time out there, I think that's the only place that compares to the Winds for me thus far. That's a place I need to get back out to again. Please give the mountains my regards :)
Awesome video, great scenery!
Good to see you back on trail. This is such a beautiful stretch to hike through. While I have never done it, you are my eyes through this majesty until I can make it out there. CDT complete! 50 miles in 3 days is crazy. Good call for him to listen to his body and get off trail.
Definitely a proper way to finish a NOBO CDT hike. No matter where you hike in Glacier it seemed to be pretty impressive just about everywhere. It will blow you away when you see it the first time! The whole Many Glacier area is incredible. Hope you had some awesome adventures yourself this summer!
Yes!!!! So happy to see this. 👍🏻
Congrats on the CDT. The start thru Medicine Grizzly and Triple Divide was spectacular views.
I've hike to Medicine Grizzly Lake a couple times and hope to maybe to the pass and summit someday.
Too bad you didn't go thru the Tunnel, another amazing hike.
Anyway thanks for sharing and congrats again.
Happy Hiking.
Thanks Dan! The summit of Triple Divide would be awesome, I hope you make it. I can only imagine the views, and standing on a peak with such geological importance would be a once in a lifetime experience for sure
Great adventure, Nice video.
Spectacular! With regard to the CDT finish, hey shit happens dont dwell too much on it just keep moving forward like you are but at the same time I understand how you feel. The Idaho trip in my opinion was way more of a challenge than CDT. The stuff you did blew me away. See you down the trail. Thanks again!
Hey thanks! That Sawtooths hike was pretty gnarly huh. I have plans to work it into my next long hike, that's an area I've been looking forward to getting back to. No sense in thinking about the past, CDT has been finished and finished again, only the future to think about now!
You said your next adventure brings you through Nevada. Since I live in Nevada I'm excited to see what you have planned.
I felt for you as you finished the CDT at the Port of Piegan. Very glad you got to get back and experience Glacier NP. Despite permit issues and car keys you still covered some great ground. Your berry stained hands brought back great memories. I did the South Shore St. Mary Lake trail when the thimbleberries were abundant. Both hands were solid red!! Thank you. I look forward to your grand trip. Speaking of the crazy permit system......how do thru hikers coordinate it or are there special rules or something?
Haha nice, earning your berry fingers! There were a lot of berries, and bear crap, in that section along St Marys. Katie would always lag behind in the berry sections. When she'd catch up, if the fingers weren't a giveaway, sometimes the blueberry smile would!
The park tries to help thru hikers by lumping extra hikers into a campground because they know they have small one man tents and don't mind sharing the camp space, but other than that, it seems like most thru hikers just don't get permits for the entire glacier highline trail. In fact, the woman who issued out permits (same one who issued our permits just 20 minutes before the Two Medicine ranger station closed for the season last year on the CDT), said that the NPS would like to move the CDT out of Glacier National Park because the number of hikers is putting too much strain on the permit system now. I'd think there's room for a couple more campsites here and there
Awesome video and glad to see you got to finish that final stretch of the CDT the way you wanted to ( I know you weren't to thrilled about walking that road). Also for second there I thought that was the same woman you hiked with through The Winds. =o)
Thank you. Yep that's Katie from the Winds section! Hopeful couldn't make it this year unfortunately, but the 3 of us *might* be trying for a Wind River Range reunion next summer. Mayyybe...
@@SeekingLost That's awesome! Glad Katie could join you again & good luck on that reunion, look forward to that adventure if it happens.
You amaze me. I am so happy I found your CDT thru hike videos and journal at seekinglost.com hope to read your journal about this trip if you did one. I feel like you have taken us with you. I've been to Glacier, all over CO, WY and MT but never the depths and beauty of where you hiked. Thank you so very much. My husband and I really enjoy watching your vlogs....and learning your gear list. Wow.
Me to your channel: "Where have you been all my life?!"
Ads every 4 minutes is wack dude. Filming is pro as hell haha. Will definitely watch your full cdt series. I'm undecided on nobo or sobo this year, will be my 1st thru. Will probably go nobo starting with the Columbus alt since the shuttles to cook aren't running this year, waiting on snow levels to decide direction. You had some nice clear weather for Sept, lucky!
Not taking snowpack into account, I like the idea of NOBO best, but SOBOs swear by it too. Truth is, either way will be good. Not many take the Columbus route but I suppose now with the shuttles not running it's more appealing. I want to say there are a couple of people still offering rides down to Crazy Cook, you might try checking with one of the CDT fb groups if you're really set on going the official route. Either way I highly recommend the Middle Fork Gila route over the official CDT route through the Blacks. I hear that's awesome too, but the Gila River is a unique experience along the CDT. But I'm sure you already know that. You will love the CDT. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or anything. Good luck out there!
@@SeekingLost yeah Gila alt is a definite. Thanks
Just want to make sure. I'm a big advocate of the Gila. Haha
Famous, glad you got a second shot at it. The trail just does its own thing and hikers just need to roll with it. You roll pretty well. However, we need more info on the 4000+ miler, and we need it now! I'm doing my NOBO CDT this year, starting April 15 - figured tax day was an ironic start date.
Thanks Ken, and yes I know I really need to get a video out officially announcing the plans. I've been putting it off because I like to be very confident about my plans before I announce them. I've got a great framework in place for the route but there's still a lot that's not quite concrete yet. There's a few sections that could end up being drastically changed from what I have planned now.
Nice, April 15th sounds like a pretty solid date... I started April 21st and could have started a week earlier or later, but right there in that time frame I think is the sweet spot. Enjoy your journey Ken!
Thanks for your well-wishes mate. I like your off-trail style and look forward to seeing your 4000 miler coming together - you're quite the planner. When do you think you'll do it?
Once I've got my CDT done, I'll be looking for my next adventure. I can't say that the AT really appeals to me, and maybe the PCT would be okay (just okay...). But your off trail stuff is quite appealing. So maybe, just maybe, if you're looking for someone to tackle it with...
But mate, keep the videos coming - your hiking style, and photography style are the best combination of hiking videos I've seen and I watch a lot of them.
Planning is a gift and a curse... Whether I have 1 year or 10 years to plan it, I'd use all that time! Hoping to do it next year. I feel much the same about the AT and PCT. We've only got so many thru hikes in us (time windows in life, physical condition/health etc), so why not treat each one as if it's your last.
I'm not ready to commit to anything yet, but eventually when I have a more solid plan I think I will be looking for someone to join for some or all of next year's hike. More on that when the time comes!
Best of luck with it and I'm looking forward to learning more about and watching it unfold.
phenomenal views. Looking fwd to watching your new adventures. May I ask what would be the most crucial item to take with you on the trail? Aside from water.
That's a tough question, I don't think I can narrow it down to any one piece of gear, there are several crucial items... the pack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad are the big ones. I'm almost done with another video, my CDT thru hike gear list., this will cover every gear item I brought in detail
@@SeekingLost all right I have expected that this is too broad of an enquiry, Im sorry I should have restrain myself from asking this )) Ok... now let me ask about lightning strike risk in Colorado on the open ridgelines. There are so many videos with hikers talking about it. Was it an issue? How often you had to seek shelter from being struck)) Thanks.
The lightning strike risk in Colorado, or any high mountain ridge lines, is very real. There was really only one time on the entire CDT for me that I was really scared of potential lightning strikes, I headed downhill below the treeline and ended up taking a low route around instead. There were a couple other times where the weather was looking like it could get nasty, and made a preemptive call to avoid the high ridge lines. I was lucky I didn't get caught up on one often in bad weather. I've come within 50ft of being struck by lightning twice in my life, and both were while driving! Nothing close in the mountains yet, thankfully.
@@SeekingLost I truly appreciate you took the time to address my curiosity. Im planning on conquer some of these trails one day. Lighting strike risk for some reason induces dread in me for some reason as it is powerful element of nature and powerful combination of noise, water, darkness, wind... it is tough. May I ask is it only through June/July the thunderstorm season in CO or any other state for that matter? I have read if you go SOBO you will avoid it and as a result would have nice blue sky all the way through CO as it would be autumn hence lightning-free. ))/ I guess it is either sthunderstorms in the summer or early season winter storms in CO. Which is worse? =D
Yo! Glad to see another video by you and that you had another awesome adventure
Edit: Now that I’ve watched all of it. I’m curious if the planing for your big trip is why you didn’t go for anymore this summer? You inspired me to quit a shitty job and attempt the CT this summer, it didn’t go as planned but I’m still glad I did it. I’ve also been doing lots of the NCT in the lower peninsula. Wishing you and your tramily all the best!
Thanks so much! I wish I did more hiking this year and had more adventures to share :)
That's so cool you quit and and least made the leap to attempt the CT! I'm sure the experience you had was amazing. I wish i could say I was that busy planning the next trip, but have just been busy working actually. Working hard to put myself in a position where I can spend more time on trail starting around 2021, when i will likely attempt my next big hike
great videos, I really enjoy ed watching your adventures. what is the brand of the base layer hoodie you are wearing on this hike?
They grey hoodie? That's an Arc'teryx Fortrez. I carry this instead of a puffy
Nice work, again. From De-toilet.... Also, don't forget Hellroaring Creek..
Hellroaring... That creek is roaring right out of hell. Good one!
Bummed you didnt film ptarmigan tunnel. But....great cinematography.
As always, your videography is super and so enjoyable to watch! So glad you are back to hiking again and worked through your CDT finish. (I was beginning to get worried, LOL! ). Wonder what the red-headed bird was; most unusual and funny! Thanks for including us in your adventures.
I know I have been slacking on videos big time! Wish i had been able to do more hiking this year but getting some other important stuff done so I can hopefully spend more time on trail in another year or two. Gotta work sometime! That's a spruce grouse, and it was mating season for them I think
@@SeekingLost Thank you, Famous, and best wishes to you in your future endeavors!
Great redemption hike though Glacier! Congratulations! I see the Brooks made the hike from last year. My name was changed. I'm the one who has done alot of hiking in Wyoming. I live in Buffalo by the Big Horns. So nice to see you finish the CDT not in the snow storm of last year. I have always wondered about the names of all the places too. Like Gros Venture. Goat haunt is really a crazy name. Lots of bear shit this year. And some amazing views. I really enjoyed your hike in Glacier! Awesome video! Thank you! Looking forward to next hike🌲⛺
Hey thanks so much! Did you get out and do some hiking and camping this summer? I drove through Wyoming in late August, car camped a night west of La Barge. Was hoping the road would be passable by car all the way up to Alpine, in between the Salt River Range and Wyoming Range, but it was not. Have you hiked in that area?
what model gopro and equipment did you use? great video!
Thanks! This one was shot on a GoPro 4 with an Evo SS gimbal. I'm now using the GoPro 8, with the built stabilization. It's not quite as good as the gimble for panning shots and such, but nice to not lug around the gimbal. My pack list is here for more details: lighterpack.com/r/93yoxv
Hi. Which trailhead did you start from on this adventure?
I am taking a friend there this summer on his "Bucket List" hike. This would be perfect.
Hi Tim, we started at Cut Bank. You can easily reach it in a small car. Have fun, it's a beautiful place! Many Glacier was awesome, we rented kayaks and got out on the lake there, highly recommend that too if you have the time!
@@SeekingLost Thank you.
Great video. What kind of camera did you use ?
Thank you! This was filmed on a gopro 4 with a gimbal, but I've since upgraded
I really hope that some day you have the opportunity (need too) yield to a grizzly on a trail. You'll have a completely different kind of grin on your face. :)
It's bound to happen one of these days!
What camera did u film on? The colors are gret
GoPro Hero4. It's not the camera, it's the color correction in editing ;)
gorgeous views!!!!
in what month did you do this trail?
This was the very beginning of September
@@SeekingLost congrats! looking fwd. to your next big big journey!
Soooo close to ptarmigan tunnel!!!!! Ugh
I know, right? Very impressed with the whole Many Glacier area though. We spent the night in Waterton after reaching the border, and came back to Many Glacier the next day. Rented kayaks and paddled Swiftcurrent Lake. That made up for it :)
Thimbleberries my favorite
Is she wearing Doc Martens? Or are they just ankle gaiters?
Nope she's wearing brooks cascadia's with gaiters
@@SeekingLost makes a lot more sense now. I thought I was losing my mind