Glacier National Park, Montana, USA and the adjoining Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, provide a spectacular setting for an environmental field trip, whether focusing on the physical geography, geology or ecology of the region.

There are campgrounds you can drive to and backcountry campsites that you must hike to. On this virtual field trip, we will be hiking and camping in the backcountry. The backcountry campsites generally have several tent sites, pit toilets, food preparation areas and food storage areas. Tents must be pitched within designated tent sites in part to avoid damaging fragile alpine ecosystems, and in part to maintain separation between sleeping and food preparation areas. All cooking and eating must be done in the designated food preparation area. Never take any food into the sleeping area. You must hang your food from the food poles whenever you are not cooking or eating. When washing clothes or dishes, you must carry water at least 100 feet from any lakes or streams to prevent water pollution. All garbage and food scraps must be packed out.

Animals, including deer, goats, porcupines, squirrels and other animals are attracted by sweat and urine. They can destroy camping gear, shoes and campsites in search of salt. Any bear sightings should be reported to a park ranger. To reduce your chances of a bear encounter, make lots of noise while hiking - talk or sing loudly to warn them off. If you encounter a bear, do not run. Avoid direct eye contact as bears may take this as a threat. Talk softly and slowly retreat. If a bear charges you, drop to the ground and assume a fetal position; play dead. Mountain lions also live in the park and may be a hazard. Once again, if a mountain lion approaches, do not run. Back away slowly unless attacked; in case of an attack, act aggressively and fight back.

Before setting out into the backcountry, you must get a permit. Permits are free, but you are required to follow the agenda on the permit. Be prepared for weather changes - it can snow any month of the year and hypothermia is a potential problem. Be sure to pack warm clothing that will dry quickly. Although many believe that water in wild areas such as this is safe to drink, giardia lamblia may be present in any of the water bodies in the park. Take along a water pump/filter designed to remove these organisms or be sure to boil any water (3 minutes) before you drink it.

Source for the majority of the above information: Glacier: Backcountry Camping Guide. Glacier National Park, MT. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

For more information on Glacier National Park, visit their web site at http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm.

Created March 14, 1999 by Karen A. Lemke (klemke@uwsp.edu). Last updated March 14, 1999 by KAL.
The URL for this page is http:/www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/lemke/gnp_vft/general_information/park_info.html