#glaciernationalpark #glacier #davidgray
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For my 5th trip of the 2022 season, I returned to majestic Glacier National Park to do a hike in the Belly River area with Carl, Justin, and Travis.

This was my fourth backpacking trip in Glacier and the earliest time of the year that I had ever hiked there. It turns out that 2022 was a heavy snow year for Glacier, and the Park had a 'barely open' feel to it. The Going to the Sun Road was still closed, as was the Ptarmigan Tunnel. Many campsites and passes were effectively closed (in 'winter conditions') due to lingering deep snow. Fortunately, the Belly River area in the northeast corner of Glacier was one of the areas of Glacier that was 'open for business'. Aside from snow in the Poia Lake campground which closed one of the four campsites, the only snow 'sketchiness' we encountered was on the climb to Red Gap Pass.

Thanks to Travis's efforts we were able to secure reservations at both the Lake McDonald Lodge and the Many Glacier Hotel. This was my first experience staying in iconic National Park lodges but I'm certainly hopeful it won't be the last. Those two special nights will be etched in my memory every bit as much as the hiking.

We started the hike at the Poia Lake Trailhead, about a mile east of the Many Glacier Hotel. The original plan was to do a 4day 30mile hike with stays at Poia Lake, Elizabeth Lake, and Glenn Lake, but it ended up being a 3day hike bypassing the night at Glenn Lake (as well as the 10mile outandback additional hiking away from our main route). You won't see it in the video but we ended up spending that extra night at the Many Glacier Hotel, a special evening that capped off the trip perfectly.

I don't know that I would recommend planning a hike in Glacier any time before mid to late July, but we had no choice in timing since early July is the latest Travis can plan trips due to his job in the NFL. It may have had an 'early season' feel to it, but Glacier is a magical place whenever you get the opportunity to experience it. I've tried to get a permit to do a hike in Glacier every year since my last trip there in 2018, but my luck with permit lotteries is abysmal. I'll keep trying and my hope is that there are many more Glacier hikes in my future.

For those who have watched my other videos this one is done in the same style an hour in length, intended to bring the audience along for the 'ride', and with a still picture slide show with music at the end. If you just have a few minutes skip to the end and enjoy the pictures.

Equipment / Gear List:

Still and Video Camera: Nikon Z6 https://amzn.to/3Q3Gsco
Lens: Nikkor 20mm f1.8 Zmount lens https://amzn.to/3znpOP7
Lens: Nikkor 24mm f1.8 Zmount lens https://amzn.to/2QZqNOo
Tripod: Sirui T025X carbon fiber tripod https://amzn.to/3bH3Rvg
Camera shoulder clip: Peak Designs Capture clip system https://amzn.to/2wRdusp
Video Editing Software: Vegas Pro 16 https://amzn.to/2X5dKyu
Pack: Zpacks Arc Blast 55L
Tent: Zpacks Triplex
Sleeping Bag: Zpacks 20degF Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad: ThermARest NeoAir XTherm https://amzn.to/2yjrUlj
Sleeping Pad: ThermARest NeoAir XLite https://amzn.to/39zju6v
Pillow: Exped Air Pillow UL https://amzn.to/2WYE5hZ
Stove: JetBoil Flash https://amzn.to/3azKRi7
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 https://amzn.to/3dPtOL5
Pot: MSR Titan titanium 0.9L kettle https://amzn.to/3bF1RDB
Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot https://amzn.to/2R0JvoW
Buff: Merino wool Buff https://amzn.to/3dCYHSC
Recharging Battery: Anker 3500mAH ‘lipstick’ charger https://amzn.to/2URI7G3
Camp Chair: Helonix Chair Zero https://amzn.to/2xzbwgh
Camp Shoes: Xero Shoes ZTrek https://amzn.to/3bA3X7I
Wet Wipes: Survivorware Wet Wipes https://amzn.to/2JwbQ2e