Glacier Outdoor Center Blog

This past weekend Glacier Outdoor Center guides Marc Evans and Karsten Carlson had fun taking two different media folks from Snowshoe Magazine and The Daily Interlake on snowshoe excursions along Lake McDonald and up Scalplock Lookout in Glacier National Park.

It was a beautiful day to be in Glacier Park. With bluebird skies, the views were endless. Follow this link from Trails.com to see the route.

Courtesy of Ryan Alford

Ryan Alford, owner of Snowshoe Magazine, traveled from Denver, CO to spend the weekend with us. In two days he covered about 18 miles on snowshoes. Ryan took a ton of photos and tells us he enjoyed his weekend. Ryan not only toured Glacier Park and stayed in one of Glacier Outdoor Center’s cabins but he also ate in local eateries including Packer’s Roost, The Belton Chalet, The Glacier Grill, Trapline Cafe and The Bandit Saloon. And he met up with Glacier Park’s Centennial Coordinator, Kass Hardy at Park Headquarters. Kass provided some great insight about what is happening this year in conjunction with the Centennial Celebration. Look for Ryan’s write-up soon in Snowshoe Magazine.

Dillon Tabbish, a local writer for the Daily Interlake, also had a great time on the trek up Scalplock Lookout. Look for Dillon’s story about the adventure this Thursday, March 11th in the Outdoors Section in the Daily Interlake.  Dillon’s a local, so he knows how great this area is, but even he said it was an experience to remember forever.  Thanks for joining us, Dillon–it was great!

Courtesy of Ryan Alford

Look forward to seeing the reviews! Check out our Facebook page to see the coverage or follow us on twitter: @glacierraftco.

Some say Glacier Raft Co/Glacier Anglers co-owner Darwon Stoneman is way too dang lucky.  Whether it’s hunting season or fishing season, he always bags the big one.  The thing is, he’s lucky so often that there’s a chance that there could be a bit of skill involved as well.

March came in like a fluffy, warm little lamb on Monday, so Darwon and guide Marc Evans hit the river with a few good friends.  Former guide Bryan Anderson rowed Darwon into a honey hole that delivered big time.  Yep, that’s another monster.  Check out the great pictures taken by Marc.

Bryan wrote about the day in this blog post featured in Flyfish Magazine.

Here’s an excerpt from the Flyfish Magazine blog post:

The morning started out with heavy valley fog that burned away by noon to reveal bright skies and the snow-capped Rockies. Throughout the day, layers came off as the sun became hot on our backs. In equal intervals the layers went back on and a good winter coat came in handy as the sun eventually left and kept us wishing for July and a pair of flip flops.

The cutthroats here in the Flathead River are developing spawning colors and getting ready to make their annual trip to the tributary streams that surround Glacier National Park. The idea is to intercept those fish before the pilgrimage begins. When the timing is right, you’ll see sizable average fish in decent numbers.

Although we did see two fish rise to something on the surface, a dry fly never hit the water. In the end, MFC’s streamers and nymphs worked well and brought nice fish to the boat. We pulled the Flathead Trifecta–cutthroat, rainbow and bull trout. With the run in its infancy, there are most certainly better days to come.

You can read the rest of the post and see more of Marc’s pics by clicking here.

We’re lucky to live where we live, but we’re excited to share it…so start planning your fishing adventures with us!  Also, we’ve got great deals on fishing gear including rods, reels, flies, fly boxes and more in the fly shop at Glacier Outdoor Center.  And we’ll see if we can talk Darwon into letting some of his luck rub off on you!

Western States ski festival is tomorrow.  Race teams started to show up today and the kids have been testing out the course.  Races begin tomorrow at 9:30am.  The weather is absolutely beautiful up in West Glacier today. 

We’re so excited to be hosting the Western States Youth Ski Festival this weekend.  The youth Nordic skiing competition is called The Race at Glacier.  And while you may have read about it previously here on our blog, don’t take our word for it–take it from the real wordsmiths at the Missoulian and Flathead News Group.  Check out their articles…and we look forward to seeing you up here this weekend.

When you come, please bring a camera, and send us your best pics–we’d love to post them here on our website!

Glacier Outdoor Center Hosts The Race at Glacier for the 2010 Western States Youth Ski Festival
Young skiers are set to gather in West Glacier to compete in Nordic events

For the first time ever, Glacier Outdoor Center and Glacier Nordic Ski Club are teaming up to host “The Race at Glacier” for the 2010 Western States Youth Ski Festival. The race, which was previously held in Sun Valley, Idaho,  will bring more than 150 Nordic racers, ages 6-15, from all across the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Region to compete in this two-day event.

• When: Saturday, Feb. 27th  9:30am-2:30pm Sunday, Feb. 28th 9:30am-12:00pm
• Where: Glacier Outdoor Center, 12400 Hwy 2 East, West Glacier, MT 59936
• Who: 150+ Youth Nordic Racers from Montana, Idaho, Utah, Washington and Canada
• What: Skate, Classic, Obstacle and Downhill Nordic race events

The registration deadline is Monday, February 22nd.  Forms are available by emailing Linda Grady at skiranch@centurytel.net.  The entry fee for youth racers is $50 for all four events and includes the Saturday banquet, Sunday lunch and an event hat. Adults also have the opportunity to compete in the 7K Masters’ Race held on Saturday after the junior competitions.  The entry fee is $15 and registration will take place on-site.

Concessions and luxury cabin accommodations are available at Glacier Outdoor Center and spectators are welcome. Volunteers are needed for timing, course maintenance and food concession.  Cameron Blake is the volunteer coordinator and can be reached at blakegray@centurytel.net.

No matter how many years you’ve managed to dodge the Valentine’s Day bullet, it never seems to get any easier. Sure, flowers and chocolate are great, but what about a gift you’ll both enjoy?  How does a romantic night spent at one of GOC’s rustic cabins sound?!  Pretty good, right?

Glacier Outdoor Center still has a few one-bedroom cabins available for the Valentine’s Day weekend (that’s February 14th guys!)  At $119 per night and use of the snowshoe and Nordic ski trails included, that’s a price you just can’t beat.

And, if you don’t book that cabin before they’re all taken, we’ve still got a great idea for your romantic weekend.  Take advantage of our “Two Hearts Ski as One” promotion.  On Valentines Day, couples get two ski passes and two rentals for the price of one!

To book a romantic Valentine’s Day getaway call us at 1-800-235-6781.  Or, bring your two hearts up on Sunday the 14th to ski as one!

1-800-235-6781  | PHONE: 406-888-5454

It was fun to take The Missoulian reporter Michael Jamison on a recent snowshoe trip in Glacier National Park.  He did a great article about the excursion.  He started the piece with a poetic description of what you’ll find on one of these trips:

From Michael Jamison of The Missoulian:

A filigree of paper-thin ice edges McDonald Creek, knit by patient months of cold and quiet, Mother Nature’s delicate lacework finely wrought in winter white. Above, great pillows of snow slide silent into dark and ancient forests. Red cedar and hemlock, spruce and black cottonwood, the great bare boles of larch dwarfed by soaring summits. Beneath, swirling currents of glacial blue fall down, laughing over lips of black rock, pouring smooth sheets of liquid winter into frosty, frothing pools.
There is no other sound, no other life – just the tracks of those who came before. Deer and otter, squirrel and ermine, snowshoe hare. A raven watches. Snow creaks underfoot.

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here.

photo by Michael Jamison/The Missoulian

This is our second season offering guided trips inside the Park, and it’s going great!  The custom excursions include numerous trail options and varying degrees of difficulty.  Glacier Outdoor Center’s guides are certified in Avalanche Safety Level II and trained by the National Ski Patrol in Outdoor Emergency Care and Mountain Travel. Our guides are local industry veterans who share information about regional wildlife, vegetation, history, glaciations and winter backcountry conditions as well as provide cross-country ski and snowshoe instruction.

We hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the Glacier Centennial before all the crowds come–give us a call–we’d love to show you what Michael Jamison saw first-hand!

While we’re deep in the middle of winter here at Glacier Outdoor Center by spending our time skiing and snowshoeing and generally having fun in snow, we’ve always got summertime in the back of our minds.

Ahh… summertime – those three (four if we’re lucky) blessed months of sun and fun.

Just last week, the National Park Service statistics office said that more than 2-million people visited Glacier National Park in 2009. That’s huge! It’s a 12.4% increase over 2008. According to an article in the Daily Inter Lake, GNP has more visitors at every entrance compared to 2008, but with substantial increases of 29% at Many Glacier and 10% at West Glacier.

With GOC in West Glacier, of course we’re proud to claim responsibility for at least part of that 10%! All summer long, we’re busy guiding raft and fly fishing trips down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. And the gear shop and cabins at Glacier Outdoor Center offer a great lodging option for vacationers visiting the park.

This summer, we’re excited that Glacier National Park will be celebrating its 100 Birthday. Check out all the fun stuff the park has planned during its Centennial Summer.

April 22, 2010-Glacier Centennial Green Business Activities-Flathead Valley, MT

April 22, 2010-Glacier National Park Birthday and Program Miracle of America Museum, Polson, MT

April 23-24- Glacier Symposium at Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell, MT

April 30 and May 1, 2010-Death by Chocolate Glacier Park Murder Mystery at Conrad Mansion, Kalispell, MT

May 11, 2010- Glacier National Park 100th Anniversary Rededication at GNP Community Building, West Glacier, MT

May 13, 2010-Glacier Centennial Film Festival at Whitefish Mountain Mall Theater, Whitefish, MT

May 21, 2010- Spring for Glacier (Centennial Art is Auctioned) at Belton Chalet & Lake McDonald Lodge in West Glacier and Glacier National Park, MT

May 24 and 25, 2010-Flathead HS Choir Presents: GNP Centennial Concert Flathead HS, Kalispell, MT

June 10, 2010-Glacier Centennial Film Festival at Columbia Falls High School, Columbia Falls, MT

June 22-24, 2010 and June 26 Glacier Centennial and Glacier National Park Plein Air Paint Out at Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell, MT (unveiling)

June 25, 2010- Centennial Poetry Reading at the Belton Chalet, West Glacier, MT

June 26-29, 2010-Western Governor’s Association Conference in Whitefish and Glacier National Park, MT

June 27, 2010-Belton Chalet Centennial Birthday Party in West Glacier, MT

July 8, 2010-Glacier Centennial Film Festival at Lake McDonald Lodge, Glacier National Park, MT Glacier

July 10, 2010 Centennial Symphony at Rebecca Farm Kalispell, MT

July 20-26, 2010-Glacier Mountaineering Society Centennial Summit in Glacier National Park, MT

July 22-25, 2010-Centennial Heritage Days in Columbia Falls, MT

July 24, 2010-Joe Cosley Collection Unveiling in Columbia Falls, MT

July 29-August 1, 2010-Many Glacier Employee Reunion at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park, MT

July 30, August 2-3, 2010-Centennial Roadshow Hootenanny Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier Park Lodge & Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park, MT

August 11-16, and 18-23, 2010-Glacier Grand Heritage Tours, Glacier National Park, MT

August 12, 2010-Glacier Centennial Film Festival at St. Mary Visitor Center, Glacier National Park, MT

August 13-15, 2010-Centennial Huckleberry Days Whitefish, MT

August 20-22, 2010-Glacier National Park Trail Crew Rendezvous in Glacier National Park, MT

August 22, 2010-Annual National Park Service Employee & Alumni Picnic in Glacier National Park, MT

September 5, 2010-Belton Centennial Employee Reunion

More details of what’s in store for 2010 can be found at: www.glaciercentennial.org. We are looking forward to a great year and hope to see you at some of the festivities!

Wow! Thank you for helping us make our 2nd annual fundraiser for the Humane Society of Northwest Montana a huge success!

Thank you again to the sponsors, donors and supporters that helped Glacier Outdoor Center and Glacier Raft Company: Whitefish Amimal Hospital, Montana Coffee Taders, WAG, Tailwaggers, Belton Chalet, racers and spectators. We had great prizes!
For all you racers and spectators ready to mark your calendars for next year (cabins fill up fast) we are shooting for the second to last weekend of January. For the most up to date info follow us on Facebook or Twitter; or, subscribe to our newsletter  http://www.glacierraftco.com/newsletter/subscribe.htm.

And, the final results for our Doggie-cross 3k course are:
Than Pulsifer & Taz 5:18
Dena Rissman & Dinger 5:35
Billy Carrol & Jameson 5:41
Jen Carpenedo & Ander 5:52
Manolita Connor & Laika 6:00
Chris Connor & Miyah 6:06
Ryan O’Rourke & Que 6:13
Darwon Stoneman & Fisher 6:27
Nic Lee & Kila 7:21
Peter Steele & Rory 7:28
Brad Taylor & Kimo 8:02
Marcie B & Serge 8:19
Jenny & Lupin 8:19
Joe Haun & Bruce 9:05
Matt Graves & Sitka 9:10
Tye Paulson & Maggie and Buddy 9:37
Steve Lund & Ruger 9:54
Terri Stoneman & Rusty 12:10
Darryl Ibilings & Kiska 17:48
Shaun McCullum & Hershal 20:02

Many folks also came to spectate and ski our groomed trails with their dogs to help with the cause.  All dog trail fees collected over the weekend were donated.

Thank you again! We all had such a great time and it was nice to see so many smiles! Please remember if you are looking for a new four legged friend to join your family there are many dogs at the Humane Society looking for a home.  Check out our Facebook page to see all the photos! Glacier’s Facebook Page Or check out Glacier’s Flickr account if you’re not on Facebook.
And… Who let the dogs out….!

Everyone check out our new calendar of events. You can find this in our blog under calendar of events! Here’s the link: http://blog.glacierraftco.com/category/calendar-of-events/