Glacier Outdoor Center Blog

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is one of our favorite  non-profits. This group “is dedicated to restoring and preserving the trail system and wilderness values in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.” The BMWF has been around for 15 years and it does an incredible amount of work in “The Bob” on trail maintenance and weed eradication by working with the US Forest Service, individual volunteers and generous donors. So, we do our part by providing the raft support needed to get out of Granite Cabin on the Upper Middle Fork when the BMWF has a crew working there.

Every year, a crew of volunteers with the BMWF hikes the six miles into Granite Cabin, which sits right above the Upper Middle Fork river below Schafer Meadows. The crew of volunteers spends a few days working out of Granite cabin before we come along with some rafts and float them out them 17 miles out to Bear Creek. It is always a great day spent for us as we get to catch up with the BMWF and reward this hard working crew with a scenic float on one of the most amazing and beautiful stretches of the Middle Fork river. We provide the guides, boats, life jackets and wetsuits for the crew. The work crew is headed into Granite Cabin this morning, so we’ll look forward to seeing them in a few days!

For more information about the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation visit: www.bmwf.org – check them out, they are a great crew with an abundance of volunteer opportunities available.

Glacier Raft Company rolls out in some very  classy buses. If ever a bus was more than a bus, it’s now.  These vehicles are very vital to your whitewater rafting adventure. Without them, we couldn’t get you to the put-in very efficiently.  And without them we WOULDN’T  be up a creek. Also, we were the first local raft company to use a school bus and make this claim; “We are the pioneers of buses on the Middle Fork.” Yep!

Anyway, a lot of these buses are backed with history and interesting tidbits that we thought we’d share.

This gem is called the “Sasquatch Bus” and in its prior life was a bus used in Utah by the Wasatch Powder Guides. It still has its original paint job!  Retro righteous.

The Sasquatch Bus taking in a nice view of Glacier Park

Below, is the “Mountain Bus. ” This baby ain’t afraid of anything. Don’t judge it by its short stature.  The Mountain Bus was purchased on the east side of the mountains in Augusta, MT.  It has blown hrough two feet of mud in the Great Bear Wilderness and sailed along the Canadian Border road past Polebridge’s glorious pot holes.

Mountain Bus

This is the “Rasta Bus” and yes, we painted it those colors. Perhaps there is a bit of a post-paintjob remorse? No, this bus is solid up and down. (Especially up and and down Hwy. 2) and is a crowd favorite.

Rasta Bus

We used to have an old prison bus that has since moved on to a better life.  And, the flat-nosed buses in our fleet came from the Utah Corrections Facility.  Ah, if those buses could talk…!

So, if you see one of our colorful buses on the highway, wave and know that the people in there are headed to or returning from an epic adventure. Climb aboard one of our classic buses for a ride of a lifetime!  Oh, and it’s fun when you get to the river, too.

Here at the Glacier Outdoor Center, we’ve decided that all of that spring rain was, in fact, worth it. Thanks to that moisture, we now find ourselves in the middle of a stunning summer and an incredible rafting season.

The sun is out and so are we! Our team is taking folks on full and half-day float trips, fishing excursions and overnight camping trips. Whether we’re guiding a visitor’s adventure or getting them into the gear they’ll need beforehand, the Glacier Outdoor Center crew is dedicated to showing folks all of the great activities Glacier summers have to offer — and take it from us, the list is a long one.

Imagine, if you will, a day that looks like this:

You and your family are seated on a comfortable, sturdy raft. Above you is the giant blue sky Montana is famous for. Surrounded by deep forests infused with mountain air and peaks that soar heavenward, you fly down a roller-coaster river that will take you on the ride of a lifetime.

Sound like a good day? We think so. And since we also think that a “one-float-fits-all” package would get kind of boring, we’ve put together a variety of different trips for you to choose from. Interested in a family-friendly, half-day trip? Looking to do some fly fishing? Find the perfect Glacier Outdoor trip by clicking here.

If you’re looking for an especially unique experience, consider one of our Great Bear Wilderness trips. The Great Bear Wilderness connects the Bob Marshall Wilderness to Glacier National Park, and through its middle runs the Upper Middle Fork of the Flathead River. We are the only outfitter in Montana permitted to guide trips down this section of the Middle Fork, and we’d love for you to join us on our next float.

If there was an award for “most beautiful backyard,” we’re pretty sure Glacier Outdoor Center would win, especially in the summer. Come and see for yourself — the weather is warm, the days are long, and we’ve got a spot on the raft waiting for you!

For more information on planning your next summer adventure, give us a call or visit Glacier Outdoor Center online.

We had such fun day with a group of 37 Rotary International students who stopped in West Glacier as they travel via train around the US. Every year this group tours the US and makes a stop in West Glacier to hang with us for a day. We took them all on a half-day whitewater raft trip, ate lunch and challenged them to a guide vs. student volleyball game. The weather was perfect and we were happy to help celebrate the end of their school year here in the States with some good ole’ Montana fun.

It was also nice to have the Missoulian and the Hungry Horse News join us to take some photos and hang with the kids. Check out the article in the Missoulian:

http://tinyurl.com/5r3noon

After lunch, we carried on the tradition of challenging the kids to a guide vs. students volleyball game. Plenty of trash-talking was to be had, but no one is sure who actually won.

Thanks for coming Rotary and we’ll see you again next year!

Now that it’s officially summertime, it’s important to remind our guests how to properly dress for a whitewater adventure.  So, here’s what we suggest you need to wear and what not  to wear to go rafting and have a great time.

The weather in Montana can be super unpredictable and change drastically within minutes, so it is important to dress in layers to suit the weather.

We have wetsuits, splash gear, life jackets and booties on-site.  As you decide what to wear, remember this line: “Cotton Kills!”  Don’t wear cotton…trust me.  Pick layers made of poly-pro, capilene, polar fleece or pile.

Pretty simple huh? If you have any questions about what to wear, where to go and what to think please give us a call at 1-800-235-6781 or email info@glacierraftco.com –there will be a friendly voice awaiting your questions and putting any worries at ease.

Come join us–the water is fine!

Oh, don’t forget–the river likes to eat sunglasses, so be sure to pick up a custom Glacier Raft Co pair of Chums!

Water, water everywhere.  And everyone seems to be paying attention.  It’s all eyes on the river levels as we wait to see how mother nature will play the mountain snowpack hand she’s been dealt.  Glacier Raft Co. is excited about the runoff because it’s sure to maintain the water levels later into the summer.  We’ll have some solid rafting conditions into the early fall!

Yesterday we got out of the office and snapped a few more pictures of the Middle Fork of the Flathead in its current muddy, fast state!

The West Glacier Take-Out

As you can see, the levels are changing quickly. Here is a snapshot of the river this morning.  For current water information check out the USGS website:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=12358500

Also, the National Park Service shot this video yesterday standing on the Old Bridge in West Glacier.

Springtime in the Rockies is always interesting. Especially this year. Check out what the water flows have done just this week! Since rafting is flowing through our veins this time of year, we pay really close attention to what the water is up to and it is up to some good things!

If you were to look outside right now, you wouldn’t believe me, but it is rumored to be 80 degrees on Sunday and the water level is perfect for some fun whitewater rafting. Gather your pals, round up the kids and head up to West Glacier for some rafting on the Middle Fork of the Flathead river this weekend to kick-start your summer. Summer is coming, I promise. Actually, the weather guy promises—I would never make such a bold statement!

After a winter (and an ENTIRE spring) of powder days and headlines about La Nina here in Northwest Montana, we are ready for fun summer days on our rafts or along the shore with fly rod in hand. But snow that piles up must melt and flow down.  Reports show that the snowpack water content levels for the Flathead River basin are currently 200% of average. That’s some heavy H20!  We’re so excited to have plenty of water for a full summer of river adventures, including whitewater river rafting, fly fishing, wilderness camping and scenic floating.

Our friends at Quadrocopter took an FRV Hexakopter out for some video flights following the snowmelt east from the Continental Divide. There are some amazing shots of the Flathead River’s Middle Fork and South Fork converging.

The video is just a taste of how beautiful this area is. Book your river trip today.

Glacier Raft Co’s first  whitewater raft trip of the season launches today! This is a rite of passage into summer. We couldn’t be more excited! The weather is cooperating and we’ve got a shiny five-stack of rafts headed up to the Moccasin Creek put-in on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.  You may be thinking that the water is pretty chilly still…but the wetsuits are clean, the sun is shining, these rafters are tough.  They’re from Cutbank High School, and came over the mountains from Montana’s East Side to celebrate wrapping up another successful school year.

We’ve got another trip headed out tomorrow.  Be sure to book your own trip soon!

Bring it on, Summer. We are ready for you!

Who wants a new used boat? I do! Who wants to sell the boat that is taking up too much space in the garage? I DO! I DO!

Head to the Glacier Outdoor Center Boat Swap and Tent Sale May 14th and 15th. Saturday’s hours are from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday’s are 10:00am to 3:00pm.  We’re giving our river rat friends the chance to sell their rafts, kayaks and inflatables.

Show you the money! In exchange for this awesome chance to buy and sell boats, if your boat is purchased we will reward the sale amount of your boat with either 85% of the sale price in cash or 100% in store credit. Some cash probably sounds great, BUT we’ll have in-store sales on boating accessories and apparel in case you opt for the store credit option. Come with an old boat and leave with some new toys.

Boat Swap Details
- Drop off your boat between May 11-13, no later than 5:00pm
- Unsold boats need to be picked up on the afternoon of Sunday, May 15th
- Paddles, frames and accessories can only be sold as part of a package deal with your boat–not separately
- You don’t need to be present for your boat to sell
- Call or e-mail with questions (406)888-5454 or info@glacierraftco.com

PLUS, we will be having a Tent Sale with store-wide bargains on hats, t-shirts, winter gear and even housewares.  (“Housewares” means cool stuff from inside our cabins, since we’re upgrading appliances, televisions, etc.)

AND, check out the Glacier Raft and Outdoor Center website Friday evening for a list of swapable boats at glacierraftco.com/outdoorstore/usedgear