What have you done to your 200 Series this week?

[rherrco]

We’re early risers and will be on east coast time so getting early starts is kinda our thing.

Getting sites was somewhat dicey, we didn’t want to take our chances so we jumped at what was available as soon as those dates we knew we would be there opened up. We typically boondock in dispersed wild camps so going established will be tough for our set up because we only have an outdoor shower.

The mosquitoes are something we’re worried about and, to be completely honest, something we haven’t fully recovered from since our Wyoming trip. On that trip I learned what they taste like and how many you can eat through your nostrils… it was biblical. Maybe I should pack the walls for our canopies to make cooking and showers private and mosquito free.

Mesh head bags were standard equipment on our last rafting trip on the Green River. They kept the bugs out of our mouths and eyes, but they were a PIA to deal with. For some reason, the river guides never seemed to attract the mosquitoes. They claimed it was the scent of soaps and deodorants that drew the bugs, but I don’t know about that.
National Parks everywhere are just way too popular now. We only go before and after the summer season, but even then it’s crowded. Regardless, our national parks are treasures well worth the effort to get out and experience them.

 

[bloc]

We’re early risers and will be on east coast time so getting early starts is kinda our thing.

Getting sites was somewhat dicey, we didn’t want to take our chances so we jumped at what was available as soon as those dates we knew we would be there opened up. We typically boondock in dispersed wild camps so going established will be tough for our set up because we only have an outdoor shower.

The mosquitoes are something we’re worried about and, to be completely honest, something we haven’t fully recovered from since our Wyoming trip. On that trip I learned what they taste like and how many you can eat through your nostrils… it was biblical. Maybe I should pack the walls for our canopies to make cooking and showers private and mosquito free.

Check out the executioner pro mosquito killer on Amazon. This tennis-racket shaped thing vaporizes them... no BS, they'll explode. Quite entertaining.

Not a totally new concept, but that one is built solidly enough for camping.

 

[gasman4u]

We’re early risers and will be on east coast time so getting early starts is kinda our thing.

Getting sites was somewhat dicey, we didn’t want to take our chances so we jumped at what was available as soon as those dates we knew we would be there opened up. We typically boondock in dispersed wild camps so going established will be tough for our set up because we only have an outdoor shower.

The mosquitoes are something we’re worried about and, to be completely honest, something we haven’t fully recovered from since our Wyoming trip. On that trip I learned what they taste like and how many you can eat through your nostrils… it was biblical. Maybe I should pack the walls for our canopies to make cooking and showers private and mosquito free.

Pretreat your clothes and hats with premetherin before the trip. It helps dissuade them for sure.

 

[Artie]

Mesh head bags were standard equipment on our last rafting trip on the Green River. They kept the bugs out of our mouths and eyes, but they were a PIA to deal with. For some reason, the river guides never seemed to attract the mosquitoes. They claimed it was the scent of soaps and deodorants that drew the bugs, but I don’t know about that.
National Parks everywhere are just way too popular now. We only go before and after the summer season, but even then it’s crowded. Regardless, our national parks are treasures well worth the effort to get out and experience them.

We have a set of the mesh head bags, they get the job done but are cumbersome. We use the non scent stuff for laundry and soap so hopefully we’ll be spared the worst.

As for the National Parks, I completely agree. Some are better than others, Great Basin was mainly inhabited with the people camping there but the campground was sold out and our first night someone had our site and swore up and down that the check out date on recreation.gov was not the checkout date but the last night they were allowed there… the refused to move and the visitors center had closed so no one from the park could be found to do anything about it. It really made us mad, I can’t comprehend how some people can just not give any effs at all and look you straight in your eyes and be like that. Yes, our national parks are amazing but the normie’s from town who do not have any outdoor experience bumble around like it’s a theme park with a janitorial staff as they casually litter, pick flowers, harass wildlife, let their kids crawl over everything breaking limbs and sensitive plants… the experience is usually ruined for us because of them and it’s infuriating. Yes, it’s their park as well but holy lord I wish all us responsible outdoorsy types gatekept better. We’ll only stay at one of those campgrounds if it’s our only option.

Check out the executioner pro mosquito killer on Amazon. This tennis-racket shaped thing vaporizes them... no BS, they'll explode. Quite entertaining.

Not a totally new concept, but that one is built solidly enough for camping.

Just bought 2, looking forward to some mosquito executions. We have that bug-a-salt bug killing gun thing and it’s also fun and very bug execution’y.

Pretreat your clothes and hats with premetherin before the trip. It helps dissuade them for sure.

I’ve been reading up on this but I’m worried it will anger my wife’s eczema… the mosquitoes go after her the worst and she’s sensitive to the deet. I’ll read up on this more.

 

[K9LTW]

I’ve been reading up on this but I’m worried it will anger my wife’s eczema… the mosquitoes go after her the worst and she’s sensitive to the deet. I’ll read up on this more.

My wife has fairly mild eczema and is also a veritable smorgasbord for all biting insects. She uses permethrin quite a bit and, at least in her case, it has had no ill effects on her skin. We spray our stuff down outside and allow it to completely dry before packing it away/putting it in the closet, etc. We use the Sawyer spray bottles. We're not big fans of DEET and such either; particularly when we don't have ready access to a proper shower to scrub off.

 

[clrussell]

We’re early risers and will be on east coast time so getting early starts is kinda our thing.

Getting sites was somewhat dicey, we didn’t want to take our chances so we jumped at what was available as soon as those dates we knew we would be there opened up. We typically boondock in dispersed wild camps so going established will be tough for our set up because we only have an outdoor shower.

The mosquitoes are something we’re worried about and, to be completely honest, something we haven’t fully recovered from since our Wyoming trip. On that trip I learned what they taste like and how many you can eat through your nostrils… it was biblical. Maybe I should pack the walls for our canopies to make cooking and showers private and mosquito free.

As far as showers. When we were at glacier there were camp showers available. They were actually very nice, much nicer than the ones at Yellowstone. (Also probably 50 years newer)

We are an outdoor shower group as well so we found this acceptable to be able to cleanup from the day/ days.

 

[bloc]

Just bought 2, looking forward to some mosquito executions. We have that bug-a-salt bug killing gun thing and it’s also fun and very bug execution’y.

Just make sure you press the button a couple seconds early to give time to charge the capacitors. If it's not at full power it will stun them but not quite blow their wings off.

 

[JohnJB]

We leave June 20th, we’re done at Glacier on July 3rd. We have a small camper so we can’t drive the entire GTTSR. Based on what I’ve read it sounds like it’s a potential traffic jam and can take an entire day to traverse… if this is the case then we may not even drive the entire thing. We have campsites at St Mary’s first, Fish creek second but can easily bail on these for better spots if they come available.

For as crowded as Glacier can be, it’s also not terribly difficult to avoid folks as well. Getting about a mile off pavement or a boardwalk trail easily avoids 95% of visitors if we’re talking about foot travel. For vehicle travel, I highly recommend driving N Fork Rd all the way to the border on the west side of the park. Great views looking east back into Glacier. There’s also multiple offshoots along the way that’ll allow you drive right up to the shore of the North Fork Flathead River. This is National Forest land, verify about the ability to camp. Beyond that, there’s forest roads in between N Fork Rd and US 93. I’ve done over 60 miles on them in a day and only seen occasional bike packers.

There’s some fire lookouts you can explore in this vicinity. If you’re venturing into the Whitefish area, you can drive to the top of Big Mountain via FS roads. And I always tell folks to check out Spotted Bear Spirits as the owner is a good friend of a friend.

 

[clrussell]

For as crowded as Glacier can be, it’s also not terribly difficult to avoid folks as well. Getting about a mile off pavement or a boardwalk trail easily avoids 95% of visitors if we’re talking about foot travel. For vehicle travel, I highly recommend driving N Fork Rd all the way to the border on the west side of the park. Great views looking east back into Glacier. There’s also multiple offshoots along the way that’ll allow you drive right up to the shore of the North Fork Flathead River. This is National Forest land, verify about the ability to camp. Beyond that, there’s forest roads in between N Fork Rd and US 93. I’ve done over 60 miles on them in a day and only seen occasional bike packers.

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There’s some fire lookouts you can explore in this vicinity. If you’re venturing into the Whitefish area, you can drive to the top of Big Mountain via FS roads. And I always tell folks to check out Spotted Bear Spirits as the owner is a good friend of a friend.

I wanted to go this area and run to the border. We simply did not have time.

Another day

 

[Artie]

For as crowded as Glacier can be, it’s also not terribly difficult to avoid folks as well. Getting about a mile off pavement or a boardwalk trail easily avoids 95% of visitors if we’re talking about foot travel. For vehicle travel, I highly recommend driving N Fork Rd all the way to the border on the west side of the park. Great views looking east back into Glacier. There’s also multiple offshoots along the way that’ll allow you drive right up to the shore of the North Fork Flathead River. This is National Forest land, verify about the ability to camp. Beyond that, there’s forest roads in between N Fork Rd and US 93. I’ve done over 60 miles on them in a day and only seen occasional bike packers.

View attachment 4139783

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There’s some fire lookouts you can explore in this vicinity. If you’re venturing into the Whitefish area, you can drive to the top of Big Mountain via FS roads. And I always tell folks to check out Spotted Bear Spirits as the owner is a good friend of a friend.

Marking my map now, thanks for the deets! This is exactly the types of places we seek out.

 

[WreckDiver1321]

For as crowded as Glacier can be, it’s also not terribly difficult to avoid folks as well. Getting about a mile off pavement or a boardwalk trail easily avoids 95% of visitors if we’re talking about foot travel. For vehicle travel, I highly recommend driving N Fork Rd all the way to the border on the west side of the park. Great views looking east back into Glacier. There’s also multiple offshoots along the way that’ll allow you drive right up to the shore of the North Fork Flathead River. This is National Forest land, verify about the ability to camp. Beyond that, there’s forest roads in between N Fork Rd and US 93. I’ve done over 60 miles on them in a day and only seen occasional bike packers.

View attachment 4139783

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There’s some fire lookouts you can explore in this vicinity. If you’re venturing into the Whitefish area, you can drive to the top of Big Mountain via FS roads. And I always tell folks to check out Spotted Bear Spirits as the owner is a good friend of a friend.

Absolutely agree with this, if you're willing to get out and walk even a little, you can avoid almost everyone. There's some fantastic hiking opportunities there and plenty of lesser known stuff that people miss.

I LOVE the North Fork area. Polebridge huck bear claws are the best, and almost impossible to beat the views. There's also a sneaky back way from Whitefish to the North Fork though some really incredible scenery. Love that drive, and you can find tons of huckleberries along the way.

There's a lot up there, and even getting there is a treat, depending on which way you go.

 

[JohnJB]

We simply did not have time.

Another day

Amen, sums up nearly every trip I take out to CO, UT, WY, MT, etc.

 

[JohnJB]

Absolutely agree with this, if you're willing to get out and walk even a little, you can avoid almost everyone. There's some fantastic hiking opportunities there and plenty of lesser known stuff that people miss.

I LOVE the North Fork area. Polebridge huck bear claws are the best, and almost impossible to beat the views. There's also a sneaky back way from Whitefish to the North Fork though some really incredible scenery. Love that drive, and you can find tons of huckleberries along the way.

There's a lot up there, and even getting there is a treat, depending on which way you go.

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Love. You got some goodies down by Billings too. Lots of fun from Red Lodge to the Cooke City area. I’m always in awe of just how big Big Sky Country is!

 

[WreckDiver1321]

Love. You got some goodies down by Billings too. Lots of fun from Red Lodge to the Cooke City area. I’m always in awe of just how big Big Sky Country is!

I spend a lot of my summer time in the Beartooths

 

[Artie]

For as crowded as Glacier can be, it’s also not terribly difficult to avoid folks as well. Getting about a mile off pavement or a boardwalk trail easily avoids 95% of visitors if we’re talking about foot travel. For vehicle travel, I highly recommend driving N Fork Rd all the way to the border on the west side of the park. Great views looking east back into Glacier. There’s also multiple offshoots along the way that’ll allow you drive right up to the shore of the North Fork Flathead River. This is National Forest land, verify about the ability to camp. Beyond that, there’s forest roads in between N Fork Rd and US 93. I’ve done over 60 miles on them in a day and only seen occasional bike packers.

View attachment 4139783

View attachment 4139784

There’s some fire lookouts you can explore in this vicinity. If you’re venturing into the Whitefish area, you can drive to the top of Big Mountain via FS roads. And I always tell folks to check out Spotted Bear Spirits as the owner is a good friend of a friend.

I just got a few minutes to sit down and peruse my map.... I have already made a ton of potential camp site waypoints off N Fork Rd. We'll explore that area and likely find a wild camp more to our liking.

I've been debating on bringing some fishing gear but I do not believe my southern redneck fishing methods will translate well up there. Sure, I can catch some brook trout out here but, from what I understand, the trout situation requires a lot more skill and knowledge of that fishery.

 

[mfeferman]

Marking my map now, thanks for the deets! This is exactly the types of places we seek out.

Same, although I've never been to that part of the country in my LX.

 

[LCH21]

I just got a few minutes to sit down and peruse my map.... I have already made a ton of potential camp site waypoints off N Fork Rd. We'll explore that area and likely find a wild camp more to our liking.

I've been debating on bringing some fishing gear but I do not believe my southern redneck fishing methods will translate well up there. Sure, I can catch some brook trout out here but, from what I understand, the trout situation requires a lot more skill and knowledge of that fishery.

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Glacier is my favorite park. I have been going there almost every year since the late 70s. I usually stay at Kintla. Unfortunately, it has become rather crowded over the years. Be aware that vehicles and vehicle-trailer combinations over 21 feet are not allowed on GTTS and the inside North Fork Road all the way to Kintla. I used to take my small camping trailer to Kintla, but not any more. Now, no trailer of any kind is allowed. If you want to hike to Hidden Lake, which is worth it, get to Logan Pass early as the parking lot fills in the early to mid morning. Apgar has some nice shops. From Apgar, I recommend taking Camus Road up to the North Fork area. Actually, the only road without going outside the park. It's the road that Fish Creek is off of. I don't know the status of the Inside North Fork Road from Fish Creek north, but it has been closed for the past several years to Polebridge. From the North Fork back towards Columbia Falls and Kalispell, the North Fork Road, which can be a dusty, washboard nightmare, is a beautiful drive along the north fork of the Flathead. The Polebridge Mercantile is interesting, has good but expensive treats (bearclaws and such). And as said before, the drive up the outside North Fork Road to the border is beautiful. Also, there is a surprising amount of private property mixed in the the NFS land up that way. Some of those people are of the separatist variety and it can feel somewhat like stepping into a Stephen King novel. In my fifty years, I've never had an issue. For fishing, be sure to read the latest regs as they keep changing. Last year, it was catch and release only for the native species. In Kalispell, Cislo's on Hwy 2 just north of Hwy 35, west side of road, has good food. If you like real sporting goods, the Sportsman & Ski Haus is the place and Murdoch's if you like real ranching supply / western wear stores. Also, the Western Wear store in downtown Kalispell. Great antique shop in the basement and boot shop connected. Whitefish is fun but a bit touristy. Also, Whitefish charges a sales tax and Kalispell doesn't. The drive around the bottom of the park on Hwy 2 is a beautiful drive, if GTTS is not doable.
I don't know if I will make it back there again this year or not. Kintla is not the same since Lyle is no longer the ranger there. He worked that job until he was 97. He died a couple of years ago just shy of 103. He was a great man. Really miss him.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[echocall]

Where's the best place to get some OEM/OEM quality shocks? Guessing I don't need to pay toyota dealer prices for Bilsteins. I have one leaky shock on my 2013 so I think they're all original

 

[FrazzledHunter]

Glacier is my favorite park. I have been going there almost every year since the late 70s. I usually stay at Kintla. Unfortunately, it has become rather crowded over the years. Be aware that vehicles and vehicle-trailer combinations over 21 feet are not allowed on GTTS and the inside North Fork Road all the way to Kintla. I used to take my small camping trailer to Kintla, but not any more. Now, no trailer of any kind is allowed. If you want to hike to Hidden Lake, which is worth it, get to Logan Pass early as the parking lot fills in the early to mid morning. Apgar has some nice shops. From Apgar, I recommend taking Camus Road up to the North Fork area. Actually, the only road without going outside the park. It's the road that Fish Creek is off of. I don't know the status of the Inside North Fork Road from Fish Creek north, but it has been closed for the past several years to Polebridge. From the North Fork back towards Columbia Falls and Kalispell, the North Fork Road, which can be a dusty, washboard nightmare, is a beautiful drive along the north fork of the Flathead. The Polebridge Mercantile is interesting, has good but expensive treats (bearclaws and such). And as said before, the drive up the outside North Fork Road to the border is beautiful. Also, there is a surprising amount of private property mixed in the the NFS land up that way. Some of those people are of the separatist variety and it can feel somewhat like stepping into a Stephen King novel. In my fifty years, I've never had an issue. For fishing, be sure to read the latest regs as they keep changing. Last year, it was catch and release only for the native species. In Kalispell, Cislo's on Hwy 2 just north of Hwy 35, west side of road, has good food. If you like real sporting goods, the Sportsman & Ski Haus is the place and Murdoch's if you like real ranching supply / western wear stores. Also, the Western Wear store in downtown Kalispell. Great antique shop in the basement and boot shop connected. Whitefish is fun but a bit touristy. Also, Whitefish charges a sales tax and Kalispell doesn't. The drive around the bottom of the park on Hwy 2 is a beautiful drive, if GTTS is not doable.
I don't know if I will make it back there again this year or not. Kintla is not the same since Lyle is no longer the ranger there. He worked that job until he was 97. He died a couple of years ago just shy of 103. He was a great man. Really miss him.
Enjoy your trip!

Interesting! We'd love to return to Glacier. It was one of our favorite if not the favorite stop on our Western trip last summer.

Re. "If you want to hike to Hidden Lake, which is worth it, get to Logan Pass early as the parking lot fills in the early to mid morning."

I'm sure it's seasonal but we got to the Logan Pass parking lot 7/27/2025 approximately between 0600-0630 and we got one of the the 2 or 3 remaining parking spaces. It was mobbed when we got there and actually thinned out mid-morning when we were on our way out. We were staying at the St. Mary / East Glacier KOA Holiday so it was an early morning, leaving about 4AM. The hike to Hidden Lake is easy and worth it, IMHO.

Hidden Lake, behind us and down to the left.
GPS: 48.6882436,-113.742796

 

[Sajan]

Where's the best place to get some OEM/OEM quality shocks? Guessing I don't need to pay toyota dealer prices for Bilsteins. I have one leaky shock on my 2013 so I think they're all original

Not sure when the next 25% off sale is but I would just order it online from a participating dealer..