2013 Wilderness Trip
The plan for 2014 was similar to the format used for the Wilderness Trip in 2010. We traveled on Amtrak, spent the first & last nights at a Group Campsite, and sought as many overnights as possible in the Backcountry.
There are several unique aspects of this format:
There are several unique aspects of this format:
- Amtrak makes the traveling easy and fast (less than 24 hours to Glacier which otherwise is more than two days for traveling)
- It is slightly more costly traveling by Amtrak (though youth under age 16 are charged half-price!)
- Amtrak tickets are less expensive on certain days so that leaving late Friday evening and returning on a Friday is cheaper
- It is mutually advantageous to have others travel with us so that we might share the cost of a bus to take us and pick us up from a Amtrak Depot - likely St. Paul, MN
- First and last nights need to be at a Group Campsite in order to fit the train schedule
- Glacier National Park has free shuttles which will take us to and from our Trailhead
- Glacier has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and wonderful trails. Because of this Glacier restricts the number of backcountry campsites and the number of people who can overnight at each backcountry campsite.
- We will need to plan many different routes and overnight campsites! Three choices need to be submitted by April 1. Glacier will then negotiate a final plan since many others will have submitted plans for the same routes & campsite that we want.
- The group is also likely to have to split up since some campsites only allow a maximum of four people.