Glacier Outdoor Center Blog

Well, we’ve had the first snow of the season and our ginzugroomer is aching to buff out the trails. It’s not much longer now before we sill be offering classic and skate skiing in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable. Interested in a guided ski or snowshoe tour into the Crown Jewel of the Continent?… Let one of Glacier Outdoor Center’s seasoned local guides show you around.

Join Glacier Raft Company’s River School for exciting whitewater rescue courses and general river skills courses. We’ve added another whitewater rescue technician course July 17-19. We also still have an introduction to river skills course July 25 & 26. Call us at 406-888-5454 to get signed up! See you on the river.

Check out footage of everyone swimming in the notch. These are students in Glacier Raft’s Whitewater Rescue Technician course for May. Try not to get sick watching. Next time I’ll try to keep my head still while swimming. Check out the classes at http://glacierraftco.com/guide-school.htm#river%20skills. Hope to see you on the river!

On Saturday May 30th, eight current and former Glacier Raft Company guides completed the first single-day navigation of the Flathead River from the Schafer Meadows Ranger Station, located deep within the Great Bear Wilderness, to the Sportsman’s Bridge, just north of Flathead Lake.  The journey, completed as the river neared its peak flow, took just under 18 hours.  

The first 28 miles of the trip, known as the Upper Middle Fork, is located within the Great Bear Wilderness and is home to consistent class IV and V whitewater at high flows.  The two four-person crews put 14 ft AIRE rafts on the river at 5:10 am and exited the wilderness at 10:00 am, covering nearly 30 miles, that normally takes two to three days to navigate, in under five hours.  

After completing the wilderness section the paddlers still had to cover over 40 miles of class III-IV whitewater above West Glacier and nearly 50 miles of flat water between West Glacier and Flathead Lake.  The incredibly demanding trip began before sunrise and ended after sunset as the crews pulled into the take out at 10:54pm.  

Thanks to everyone who helped make this trip happen and allowed us to kick off the summer of 2009 with such a fantastic accomplishment!  

For more detailed play-by-play from the expedition check out this article from Thursday’s Daily Inter Lake.

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/06/04/sports/outdoor_life/outdoor_life_8755908154_01.txt

 

 

 

 

Mother Nature certainly had Montana paddlers in mind over Memorial Day weekend as she mixed up an outstanding concoction of sunny skies and premium whitewater. Adrenaline junkies and eager spectators thirsty for a taste of Ma Nature’s latest home brew descended on Bigfork, MT this weekend for the Bigfork Whitewater Festival. Paddlers reveled in classic class IV whitewater on the Swan River’s “Wild Mile” and on-lookers cheered and jeered from the sun-baked banks of the river.
Glacier Outdoor Center was on hand all weekend to provide demo kayaks and canoes as well as a daily fix of live bluegrass. Missoula’s “Rich & Rare” brought foot stompin’ tunes to the demo tent all afternoon… not to mention the wee hours of the morning. It was a good ol’ fashioned Montana hoedown and we can’t wait to do it again next year!!

Boats and Gear Galore!

Boats + Bluegrass = Summertime Perfection

RC and Karsten talk strategy before a heated slalom duel.

Val charging his Jefe below "The Big Drop"

RT and the Remix, searching for the next gate.

George on the White Salmon

Here’s one of our guides out playing on the White Salmon. If you see him, get our paddle back.

Here’s some photos of one of our guides brewing beer at the Flathead Lake Brewing Company in Woods Bay, MT right on Flathead Lake. The owner of FLB Terry Leonard, was kind enough to allow Carl to help brew a batch of Saison. The best part was the quality testing that goes on at the end of the day. Check out FLB and grab a white cap, or if you’re up to it, a Roy’s IIPA, but be careful with that one. Woods Bay is a great stop on your way to or from Glacier National Park after rafting or fishing with us.

First Drop

Castle Lake

Here’s some photos of an Upper Middle Fork trip I took last year with the McCrane family. We had an awesome time and it sounds like we’re going to do it again this year. Call now to book this four day Bob Marshall experience. We are offering 15% discounts for Upper trips booked for the month of June! That is a deal we probably won’t be able to talk Darwon into again, so jump on it now. June is excellent for whitewater. http://glacierraftco.com/specials.htm

Glacier Raft is now offering a guide school and river rescue and education courses. We are certified with Rescue 3 International and the American Canoe Association.

Offerings:

1. Six day guide school of ACA curriculum for anyone who would like to guide professionally.
2. Two day river running course, which teaches the basics of reading and running water and river safety.
3. Two day course that goes over advanced techniques and extended trip planning.
4. Whitewater Rescue Technician course with Rescue 3 International.
5. We will also be developing a river sense class for kids to develop safe users.

Check it all out on our website

Here’s a glimpse of Darwon’s training routine with Hunter. He’s getting ready to show the public what he can do! If you care to take him on, he will be accepting challengers February 21st and 22nd for our next dog skijoring race. A portion of the proceeds goes to benefit the Montana Humane Society! Call now to register (406)888-5454