Day3....
Our backcountry hike begins.  We head out of East Glacier enroute to  West Glacier along US#2.  Then into Apgar village where the local back-country office is, to pickup our permits.  They also have an obligatory video....just like the BW/Q.

This one's all about backcountry behavior, and much about bear awareness and safety.  My bear "pucker factor" had been growing for a month....and by the end of the video...I was ready to call it quits.  Here's a line from the end of the video that I'll quote for you via recollection....

"......most grizzly bears want to avoid you as much as you want to avoid them.  But, occasionaly, a grizzly might see you as a potential food source.  If you feel threatened by the bear, or feel that the grizzly intends to eat you, then it's very important to act aggressive.  Pick up a stick and wave it.  Throw rocks.  Wave your hands.  Do everything possible to show the bear you are not going to be an easy meal....".

Ok, see my reason for fear?  The ranger gets in his last barbs by warning me that the Bowman lake trialhead and backwoods camp are being frequented by grizzly.  Perhaps we'd like to purchase a can of bear spray?  Mrs. Wally decides we are going in sans-spray and drags me out to the car and changes my underwear.

We head N up into Northfork country (the Northfork of Flathead river borders the park here).  We are headed up about 30 miles of rough gravel road to Bowman lake campground....about 10 mi S of Canadian border.  After a slow ride we arrive.
  (You need to Login or Register



We take way too long to gearup and load our packs and don't hit the trailhead 'tll 2 PM.  We are headed in 7 mi to the end of the lake in the photo, for our first nights camp.  Days 2-3 will take us up and over the pass you see at the end of the lake.  Here was the "Last Will and Testament" photo.
  (You need to Login or Register

View from along the N shore of Bowman trail.  It follows the shoreline the whole way, making for a stunning hike.  MUCHO bear scat everywhere!  I was sans-spray and now I was sans-tinker bells.  My wife was breaking all the rules by "not hiking together".  She was constantly running ahead of my lard-butt.  You'd think she wanted to lose me or something?  Hiking alone, I was no match for the grizzly.
  (You need to Login or Register

Rainbow peak on S side of Bowman lake.
  (You need to Login or Register



Sunrise from Bowman camp the next morning....we're going up and over that badboy today....
  (You need to Login or Register


let the pain begin......