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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Before I left East Glacier, northbound in
mid-September, I asked at the Park Service office if the Ranger station and
store at Two Medicine were still open. I was told they were. Imagine my surprise
when I arrived there and both were closed for the season. A friendly ranger told
me I might be able to plead my case the next day and get a permit over the
phone, since I'd already been through the Park Service bear presentations
before.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The next day the ranger on the phone was not being
very helpful. She insisted I had to go into St. Mary for a permit. As politely
as possible I asked her to work with me because the reason I was on foot in Two
Medicine with no permit was because the Park Service employees had given me bad
info the day before, I'd already been through the Park Service bear
presentations, etc. She was having none of it and made it clear she thought I
was making it up when I said I'd been told the Two Medicine station was open. I
admit it, that really made me grumpy. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Five minutes after I'd gotten off the phone a
Ranger appeared. The lady on the phone had correctly determined that I was
strongly considering hiking without a permit. This new Ranger gave me the option
of heading out and getting cited, or going to the Two Medicine Ranger Station,
watching the bear film and getting a permit issued. An easy choice since that's
what I had wanted all along. He and another Ranger were very nice once they
saw that I preferred following the regs. My permit was checked at Waterton Lake
so I'm glad I had one.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Two more things to be aware of in
Glacier:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Many of the bear boxes are not mouse-proof. On
my last night in the park mice destroyed much of my remaining food. Hang your
food when possible instead.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some of the campsites are dangerous. Some are in
the middle of old burns with numerous dead trees well within reach of the site.
Really asking for trouble, especially in the wind. Also many spots are in
shallow depressions in packed dirt. Needless to say rain will, and
did, pool there. At least twice I set up a short distance from the
designated spot to avoid these spots and I'd do it again.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To me Glacier has more "WOWs!" per mile than
any other stretch on the whole CDT. Lots of well-marked trails and
most Rangers are very nice indeed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Colter</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.bucktrack.com/Continental_Divide_Trail_Updates.html">http://www.bucktrack.com/Continental_Divide_Trail_Updates.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.bucktrack.com/Alaska_Brooks_Range_Traverse.html">http://www.bucktrack.com/Alaska_Brooks_Range_Traverse.html</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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