Shootout '07: Glacier National Park--info/lodging/signup

Phyxius

schmooo wrote:

I has been told that getting internet access that week is going to require a few big leaps and hurdles. If anyone more familiar with St Mary's can debunk this information I'll love ya forever.

I'm certainly not one of the tech heads, but I talked to the people @ St. Mary's a couple months ago and they said you can use the phone lines there....but you will pay for it. So, hotel phone costs + long distance fees.

Jaraviss

funny story...kind of related
when i went on my mini-vacation back to that area...(cut bank, to be precise)..
my children were "DYING" because they couldn't get online at my mom's house (outside of town).
so i took them into town to find an internet cafe...
we pulled up to a coffe shop and i asked the gal "do you have free wifi here"?
she said "yeah, but you have to order coffee if you want to use it"

so i buy some sort of coffee mocha drink? (i *DO NOT* drink coffee or anything like that so i had no idea what it was).
we pull out all three laptops...turn them on..wait...they finally start up...and we can't get online!!

we tinker around with our settings...this that..nothing..

so i ask her, "do we need a key or somethign to get on?"
she says "you mean like a page?"
i blink a couple times and say "page?"
she says, "are you trying to get online?"
i say "yes"
she says "we don't have internet access here"


we pack up....leave....and sit in the parking lot of one of hte motels that has wireless

so yeah......that's all!
-G

:ivar

greenpea

zweiblumen wrote:

Unless your phone and computer can do it over bluetooth. My sanyo will talk to my powerbook over bluetooth for connectivity. Not the fastest thing ever, but in a pinch...

I just figured out how to connect my cell phone to my laptop via bluetooth and use my cell phone to connect to the internet.

Then I checked T-mobile coverage area, and there is no coverage anywhere near the lodge. :cry

gus

Im hoping the phones dont work & i dont see a computer myself.

Ann McRae

I'm with you gus! Not bringing a laptop. Bringing the cell phone but once everyone at home knows we have made it in one peice, turning it off seems like a great choice!

Honestly, last year at Bryce, I had cell phone coverage and called home once. Texted a few times. At Zion, where there was no coverage, I didn't miss it at all!!!

We will be good company, provide interesting dialogue face to face, maybe Nikolai will order shooters once again , and don't forget the scenery and the hiking and the PHOTOGRAPHY!

ann

gus wrote:

Im hoping the phones dont work & i dont see a computer myself.

greenpea

Ann McRae wrote:

We will be good company, provide interesting dialogue face to face, maybe Nikolai will order shooters once again , and don't forget the scenery and the hiking and the PHOTOGRAPHY!

ann

I am definately looking forward to meeting everyone and having a good time. But for me, the laptop/cellphone was about getting to say goodnight to my 2 little girls via skype or cell phone. Oh well.

I still want to bring the laptop so I can look at my pics, and so I don't run out of CF cards.

EDIT: ...suppose there is always land lines, forgot about those.

Skippy

Ann McRae wrote:

Skippy

We had a wicked, wicked thunderstorm yesterday. Day started at 22C, and really no indication that storms were coming, but beautiful thunderheads and then hail about 5 p.m, at 9 p.m., we had northern lights!

Really scary and bizarre, but magnificent.

Now, lets hope for none of that on the preshootout!!!

Ohhhhhhhh coolness even .... gawwwd I'd love to see the Northern Lights
what a sight that would be to see.

Not nice for driving in those storms, but cool for the eyes

.... Skip
.

schmoo

Ann McRae wrote:

I'm with you gus! Not bringing a laptop. Bringing the cell phone but once everyone at home knows we have made it in one peice, turning it off seems like a great choice!

Honestly, last year at Bryce, I had cell phone coverage and called home once. Texted a few times. At Zion, where there was no coverage, I didn't miss it at all!!!

We will be good company, provide interesting dialogue face to face, maybe Nikolai will order shooters once again , and don't forget the scenery and the hiking and the PHOTOGRAPHY!

ann

Wish I could forget the world, but it's the middle of the semester for me and two projects at work.

Skippy

Got a friend in NSW who has a friend in Glacier National Park right now,
she phoned her today and told here there are lots of Bears in the park
... Skippy
.

Scott_Quier

Skippy wrote:

Got a friend in NSW who has a friend in Glacier National Park right now,
she phoned her today and told here there are lots of Bears in the park
... Skippy
.

Bears are great. Moose, bison, elk, etc are also great. But, because they are wild and so unpredictable, they are best viewed at the other end of about 400mm.

Just something to keep in mind.

Ann McRae

Yep - fall should have all the wildlife down from the high country. Any info as to whether hikes are closed because of the bears?

And certainly, they must be treated with respect and awe.
ann

Scott_Quier wrote:

Bears are great. Moose, bison, elk, etc are also great. But, because they are wild and so unpredictable, they are best viewed at the other end of about 400mm.

Just something to keep in mind.

jdmphoto

Ann McRae wrote:

Yep - fall should have all the wildlife down from the high country. Any info as to whether hikes are closed because of the bears?

And certainly, they must be treated with respect and awe.
ann

Ann, I don't know about current trail closures due to bears. But when I was in Many Glacier last month there were a few trails closed there due to Grizzly activity. Also since the Going to the Sun road will be closed as of Sept. 16 from Avalanche creek to Siyeh bend the Highline trail,Loop trail and Hidden lake trails will not be accessible. You will need to check with the visitor center to get up yo date trail info after you arrive.

cwphotos

There better not be any bear closings.............

ian408

cwphotos wrote:

There better not be any bear closings.............

It's likely. Remember that fall is the time bears are actively packing on the
pounds for the winter.

cwphotos

:help Thanks Ian. There are only a couple on here that understand my bear aversion from the last trip. Im sure it will be ok.

Soo who is bringing the bear repellent????

gus

ian408 wrote:

It's likely. Remember that fall is the time bears are actively packing on the
pounds for the winter.

You just be ready with the camera...i'll fight the bear.

Ann McRae

Bear AVERSION? Dean had issues with the carved bear cubs at bryce last year! Squirrels are maybe a bit aggressive for Dean's tastes!!!!

cwphotos wrote:

:help Thanks Ian. There are only a couple on here that understand my bear aversion from the last trip. Im sure it will be ok.

Soo who is bringing the bear repellent????

gluwater

gus wrote:

You just be ready with the camera...i'll fight the bear.

If that's the only shot I got the entire trip I could go home a happy man.

davev

Dean, just hang out with me.

Coming off my third knee surgery, I think you'll be able to out run me.:D

Ann McRae

Dave - I didn't notice you're third knee last year, must be a well kept secret!
ann

davev wrote:

Dean, just hang out with me.

Coming off my third knee surgery, I think you'll be able to out run me.:D

cwphotos

gus wrote:

You just be ready with the camera...i'll fight the bear.

I'll be in burst mode at that point. I would pay money to watch that actually.

Looks like I will be sticking by gus for this trip........

Oh and Ann the reason that Dave didnt mention the other surgery is now he is half bionic and could easily outrun a bear....leaving those of us in the short and portly category (i.e. me) to be consumed......

gus

cwphotos wrote:

Looks like I will be sticking by gus for this trip........

Sure...i will need someone to hold the 2 pound jar of peanut butter.

David_S85

Some URL's if you are driving
Current Montana Fire Conditions Reports

Road Work / Closures, Etc.

devbobo

gus wrote:

Sure...i will need someone to hold the 2 pound jar of peanut butter.

ian408

I don't think you'll need a two pounder gus...

David_S85

How grizzly!
Dean, I found this...

Montana State Animal: Grizzly Bear
Adult grizzlies can grow to weigh 1,500 pounds and be eight feet long. Their claws are sharp as knives and about four inches long. Their back feet leave pawprints as big as magazines. Grizzlies have been seen killing and eating over 100 fish in one day. They can run as fast as a horse for short distances. They are the biggest meat-eating land animals in America. Wildlife experts say fewer than 1000 grizzlies are left in the western United States. When grizzlies are seen in northwestern Montana, it's usually in places like the Cabinet and Mission Mountains, or Glacier National Park.

cwphotos

Thanks.........Dave............So........Informative............. :bluduh

cwphotos

On another, serious note, I am planning on bringing energy bars on the trip. Are there bags to put this stuff in when hiking that wont attract bears. I just know they can be attracted to scents and want to know if I need to double ziplock it or something.

greenpea

From my experiences while hiking in black bear country... If you have food the bears will smell it; there is no hiding (opened) food from bears. In Olympic National Park you are required to keep all your food (and anything that smells such as garbage, toothpaste, etc) in a bear canister, but that only prevents the bears from actually getting to your food, they can still smell it they just can't get into the bear canister.

I think the most you can do is have bear bells on your person, so that the bear can at least know your coming and have a chance to properly get ready for dinner.

Nikolai

Just a reminder
It's not necessary to be able to outrun the bear.
What it necessary is to be able to outrun Dean with his energy bars...