Jul 93 min read

What you should know before Visiting Glacier on a Women’s Hiking Trip

As we sat at dinner on the last night of our four day women’s hiking trip I asked the group, “What would you do differently now that you’ve been here? What would you tell someone else about preparation?”

The flood gates opened as they shared their thoughts. I’ve put the most important in bullet points below.

Strength train and improve your cardio vascular conditioning for endurance. Complete workouts with inclines. Carrying your pack and handling steep inclines will be more challenging than you may anticipate.
Expect possible long waits, less than desirable service, and limited food options on the east side of the park. We stay in Babb and there are maybe 6 restaurants total in a very small town with seasonal employees. Bring your patience.
While getting up early may be difficult, you will appreciate being on the trail with cooler temperatures, less people, and better lighting for photos.
Check your ego and know that it’s ok to go at your own pace. It is better to preserve your body than to push ahead.
You will be forced to disconnect because there is no cell service within the park. Your contact with family will be limited to evenings or possibly during some drives to trails. You may have service on the top of the mountains.
Margot will properly structure the hikes based on difficulty. Day 1 will be an easy-moderate hike, Day 2 will be the most challenging, Day 3 will be based on how the group feels, and Day 4 will be easy or just a travel day depending on flight times.
Trekking poles and multiple shoe options are a good idea. The poles can help with balance and relieve some pressure on your joints. They also help eliminate swelling in your fingers. You may want to bring sandals for after hikes to let your feet breathe.
Margot buys predominantly healthy breakfast items and snacks. If you prefer flavored oatmeal, you should tell her before she goes to the store.
Most women entrust the itinerary to Margot, but she will send an all-trails link to a hike list and ask for your preferences. If you do not look or reply then know that you are committed to the trail of choice.
Trail difficulty is relative to the hiker. Using AllTrails allows you to hear all different perspectives in their reviews. Overall a good rule of thumb is to look at the overall 5 point satisfaction score of the trail, the most recent reviews of what to expect, and the difficulty rating of easy, moderate, hard, or strenuous. A trail rated moderate could feel hard for an inexperienced hiker.
Margot is a power hiker. You do not have to be on her pace to enjoy the experience. It is ok to express the speed you’d like to hike and one should also feel confident to stop and wait for the rest of the group if they feel overwhelmed. This can be done on any out and back trail. The front of the line will pause and check for the rest of the party regularly.
You should bring layers of clothing, including a windbreaker/rain jacket. The weather can change rapidly at higher elevations and you will periodically put on and then later remove layers as you move. Avoid cotton and invest in merino wool socks and possibly water proof hiking shoes.
If you have weak ankle stability get a mid-height hiking shoe. There will be random rocks on many trails that could easily cause an ankle sprain if you aren’t walking with your eyes on the ground at least 80% of the time.
Make sure your pack has a water bladder.