Glacier National Park Question

[jmc325]

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience hiking in Glacier National Park, specifically Grinnell Glacier Trail. My husband and I are wanting to try out this hike, we're looking into going July 31- August 5th. We're both in decent shape, but have pretty much zero hiking experience other than Bell Rock in Sedona last year. Coming from Houston, I know that the elevation can be problematic, so we're going to be climbing stairs and doing the stair master to help with that as best as it can. 

If anyone has any tips and general insight about hiking Grinnell or visiting GNP in general, please feel free to share!

[sunnysally]

It is very hard to predict how you will react to altitude. Even if you've been at altitude without problems, you can still have a hard time. When we were in Cuzco at 13000 feet I felt like I was going to die and my husband was fine. There was a couple at our hotel from Minnesota as well who were in their 70s and not in great shape and they both did better than I.

We are going to Glacier the first week of July and wanted to do the Grinnell Glacier trail, but it looks like it won't be open yet. Check out www.hike734.com The guy hiked every mile of Glacier in one season! We bought a few maps from him and they arrived with a handwritten note.

Enjoy your trip!

[G22]

I love the Grinnell Glacier trail! One of my favourite hikes there. We didn't do anything to prepare for it, but we lived in Montana at the time so elevation wasn't an issue. We packed lots of water and some snacks for on the way up and sitting at the top.

Glacier is my favourite park, you can't go wrong with any of the hikes there. Unless you get up to Logan Pass Visitor Center early in the day, it will be a madhouse and hard to find parking.

[InBetweenDays]

We did part of the Grinnell Glacier hike a few years ago. We went the end of June/early July and there was too much snow to get to the glacier. But we went probably 2.5 miles in (5 miles round trip - made it from the Many Glacier Hotel around Lake Josephine and back) with our 5 and 8 year old. We're from Seattle - so sea level - and the the elevation wasn't an issue. I think the highest point you hit is only like 6,500'.

Definitely be bear aware. Some hikers we passed on the trail had seen a grizzly, and we saw a black bear on another trail we did nearby later that day. That hike was a quick 2 mile RT up to Apukini falls. Absolutely gorgeous.

[fabkc]

If you are in decent shape, you will be fine. This trail is a relatively gradual climb. While everyone is different, I have never noticed the elevation in Glacier. Take plenty of water and snacks, wear good footwear, and grab a hiking stick/pole if you can. Going downhill is actually what will make your quads sore the next day - that motion is hard to replicate in the gym but I think the poles help.

We have several other favorite hikes in the park. The Dawson-Pitamakn Loop is my all-time favorite trail. Siyeh Pass Loop is also great. Check out hikingglacier.com if you haven't already.

[m1and1m]

I would give yourselves at least a full day to acclimate, minimum. A lot of people try to just go climb immediately and that's not ideal. Even very fit people can have problems at altitude. Grinnell isn't considered high altitude so you'll probably be fine with a day before you hike. Some people are very sensitive to altitude changes, though. I don't get AMS but I feel like shit on day two at an elevation most don't even notice.
Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of AMS, HAPE, and HACE. That way you'll know if you need to descend.