Did You Know?

The "Backbone of the World" is the Blackfeet tribal name given to the greater Glacier National Park ecosystem. Known to Native Americans as the "Shining Mountains" and the "Backbone of the World", Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of forests, alpine meadows, lakes, rugged peaks and glacial-carved valleys in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Its diverse habitats are home to nearly 70 species of mammals including the grizzly bear, wolverine, gray wolf and lynx. Over 270 species of birds visit or reside in the park, including such varied species as harlequin ducks, dippers and golden eagles. The landscape is a hiker's paradise that is traversed by more than 740 miles of maintained trails. Glacier Park's varied climate influences and its location at the headwaters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Hudson Bay drainages have given rise to an incredible variety of plants and animals. http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Glacier National Park

NPS Photo Grinnell Glacier circa 1910 Throughout time, people have sought out Glacier National Park's rugged peaks, clear waters, and glacial-carved valleys; its landscape giving both desired resources and inspiration to those persistent enough to venture through it. Evidence of human use in this area dates back to over 10,000 years. By the time the first European explorers came into this region, several different tribes inhabited the area. The Blackfeet Indians controlled the vast prairies east of the mountains, while the Salish and Kootenai Indians lived in the western valleys, traveling over the mountains in search of game and to hunt the great herds of buffalo on the eastern plains. The majority of early European explorers came to this area in search of beaver and other pelts. They were soon followed by miners and, eventually, settlers looking for land. By 1891, the completion of the Great Northern Railway sealed the area’s fate, allowing a greater number of people to enter into the heart of northwest Montana. Homesteaders settled in the valleys west of Marias Pass and soon small towns developed. NPS Photo Dr. and Mrs. George Bird Grinnell ontop of Grinnell Glacier Around the turn of the century, people started to look at the land differently. For some, this place held more than minerals to mine or land to farm…they began to recognize that the area had a unique scenic beauty all to its own. By the late 1800s, influential leaders like George Bird Grinnell, pushed for the creation of a national park. Fifteen years later, Grinnell and others saw their efforts rewarded when President Taft signed the bill establishing Glacier as the country’s 10th national park.

http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm

Glacier National Park One of the Ten Best Hiking Spots in the U.S.

Montana's Glacier National Park is a true hiker's paradise, with more than 730 miles (1,174 kilometers) of marked trails within its boundaries. It's such a popular hiking destination that more than half of the people who enter the park are there to set off on foot and explore. The park and its trails are known for impressive mountain peaks, isolated alpine lakes and no shortage of wildlife. The park gets its name from the huge glaciers that helped to shape the park's rock formations 10,000 years ago. In 1850, the park had 150 glaciers, but today there are only 26 remaining. Because of climate change, those are predicted to be gone by the year 2020 [source: NPS.gov]. Like most of our national parks, you'll need a backcountry permit to hike overnight in Glacier, but you don't need to plan a year in advance like the more popular Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Another consideration for hiking in Glacier is the snow line. By mid-June you can hike the lower elevations with no fear, but you'll have to wait until late July for the snow to melt in the higher elevations.



http://www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm