2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Are you a seasoned hiker, or just starting out? Let us know your questions or experience with the backcountry permit process.

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joshillian
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by joshillian »

Go my permit back today. Ended up being my fourth choice, but at least I got something :D

ENTER - RED EAGLE (TRAILHEAD)

7-30-2018 - REF - RED EAGLE, FT
Fires; YES
Segment; Length 7.60
Elevation; Up 300 | Down 0

7-31-2018 - ATL - ATLANTIC CREEK
Fires; NO
Segment; Length 11.60
Elevation; Up 2680 | Down 2000

8-1-2018 - MOR - MORNING STAR
Fires; NO
Segment; Length 3.10
Elevation; Up 400 | Down 80

8-2-2018 - OLD - OLDMAN LAKE
Fires; NO
Segment; Length 5.50
Elevation; Up 1877 | Down 1000

EXIT - TWO MEDICINE NORTH SHORE (TRAILHEAD)
Segment; Length 6.50
Elevation; Up 544 | Down 2053


TOTALS;
Trip length 34.30 miles
Elevation up 5,801 feet
Elevation down 5,133 feet

The timestamp on the application was 10:04.16. My first three choices were all pretty popular routes and as you can see we're straddling that 8/1 date that is the opening for a lot of BC sites. Probably not ideal planning on my part.
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by BombDiggityNate »

My access to the campsite availability page is erroring out again today. Anybody else?

https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ ... bcmap.html
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by danwadas55 »

It's been down since about 11:00 am. I was able to access it all weekend and this morning. Might be a short term thing like it was last time. The campsites did not change since Friday though, so I don't think they were issuing permits over the weekend OR the site didn't update. It looked the same for STO though friday afternoon and this morning.
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by vikinghiker »

BombDiggityNate wrote:My access to the campsite availability page is erroring out again today. Anybody else?

https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ ... bcmap.html
I'm having the same issue today.

joshillian - That's almost identical to my 2nd choice for a route...we had REF (or REH), ATL, OLD, NON. Our dates were a little later with a range from 8/2-8/10 so still hoping we get one. I think our 1st choice is very unlikely at this point. Timestamp was 10:11:52 but had the same issues as others with pages not loading, "form not found", etc.
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by paul »

I received my permit this weekend. It wasn't exactly what I requested for a first preference but it's okay. My timestamp was 10:07:51
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by danwadas55 »

Paul - good to know. It must not update on the weekend then if you received one. I’m a 10:08 and still waiting. Still hope.
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by paul »

BombDiggityNate wrote:My access to the campsite availability page is erroring out again today. Anybody else?

https://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/ ... bcmap.html
I try not to look at that page since it can be misleading. Sometimes they send out email notifications for permits days after the permit was actually issued. So even though you may not have heard anything back yet, you might already have a permit.
We are in the mountains and the mountains are in us. - John Muir
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by Sue Z »

Congrats, new permitees! Glad to see that there's progress being made.
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by PeteE »

There was nobody in the Backcountry Office over EASTER weekend when I drove by Saturday.
Are you folks really surprised?


pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

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And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by joybird »

I was kicked out of the system two (or was it three?) times. My final time stamp was 10:10:12.

BUT....I just got my permit! It was my third choice, but I gave them absolutely no wiggle room on dates and it's all gonna work out...so I'm happy. :arrow:
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by NDjason »

joybird wrote:I was kicked out of the system two (or was it three?) times. My final time stamp was 10:10:12.

BUT....I just got my permit! It was my third choice, but I gave them absolutely no wiggle room on dates and it's all gonna work out...so I'm happy. :arrow:
Whoohoo! Where are you headed?!
~ jason
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by vikinghiker »

Very excited, we got our permit today!! This will be our first trip to Glacier, really looking forward to it. Timestamp was 10:11:52. Only downside is it's for 3 nights, was looking to make this a 4 night trip. Does anyone know if it is possible to add a night along the route (looking at Morningstar Lake after Atlantic) when you pick-up your permit (assuming I get there early and walk-up permits are available for the night in question)? Is that something that can be/is done? Thanks for any advice. Josh

ENTER - RED EAGLE (TRAILHEAD)

8-4-2018 - REF - RED EAGLE, FT
Fires; YES
Segment; Length 7.60
Elevation; Up 300 | Down 0

8-5-2018 - ATL - ATLANTIC CREEK
Fires; NO
Segment; Length 11.60
Elevation; Up 2680 | Down 2000

8-6-2018 - OLD - OLDMAN LAKE
Fires; NO
Segment; Length 8.60
Elevation; Up 2277 | Down 1080

EXIT - TWO MEDICINE NORTH SHORE (TRAILHEAD)
Segment; Length 6.50
Elevation; Up 544 | Down 2053


TOTALS;
Trip length 34.30 miles
Elevation up 5,801 feet
Elevation down 5,133 feet
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by PeteE »

Yeah, the hard part for you is over 8)
And yes, you can get your permit modified when you arrive here. People do it all the time.

Keep in mind that if you want to add Morningstar Lake(good idea imo), then you have to also move the night at Old Man Lake up a day---so Old Man lake has to be available as well when you add Morningstar Lake. Make sense?

pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

George Carlin
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by vikinghiker »

PeteE wrote:Yeah, the hard part for you is over 8)
And yes, you can get your permit modified when you arrive here. People do it all the time.

Keep in mind that if you want to add Morningstar Lake(good idea imo), then you have to also move the night at Old Man Lake up a day---so Old Man lake has to be available as well when you add Morningstar Lake. Make sense?

pete :wink:
Thanks Pete, yes that makes perfect sense. You and the others on here have been a tremendous source of information as I was making my plans and I'm sure I'll be asking more "rookie" questions as the time gets closer.
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Re: 2018 Backcountry Permit Buzz

Post by PeteE »

vikinghiker wrote:
PeteE wrote:Yeah, the hard part for you is over 8)
And yes, you can get your permit modified when you arrive here. People do it all the time.

Keep in mind that if you want to add Morningstar Lake(good idea imo), then you have to also move the night at Old Man Lake up a day---so Old Man lake has to be available as well when you add Morningstar Lake. Make sense?

pete :wink:
Thanks Pete, yes that makes perfect sense. You and the others on here have been a tremendous source of information as I was making my plans and I'm sure I'll be asking more "rookie" questions as the time gets closer.
You're welcome! Ask away.
Now that you have a permit with a "viable itinerary",,,
You could/might have good options to improve your itinerary after you arrive.
That usually means getting to a backcountry office very early in the AM.
If you are 1st in line, you'll have a far better chance of getting what you want, assuming it was listed as available the night before when they post the open campsites.

2:32


So if you have an extra day, or two :) see if you could do something like this if it appeals to you.

In at StMary
REF-->ATL-->MOR-->OLD-->NON--> Out at Two Med
Two short days lets you take your time and explore, look around, have fun, enjoy the scenery.
You could easily hike up to Medicine Grizzly Lake before hiking to MOR.
Take your camp down to make room for incoming hikers.
Hang your stuff on the food pole while you hike up to Medicine Grizzly Lake.
Now, you might not get any changes, but doesn't hurt to show up early and try...imo 8)

pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

George Carlin
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