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!
