Trip Planning Checklist

I love Glacier National Park. I worked there for a summer in college, and it was one of my favorite life experiences. I got to do a lot of exploring while I was there five years ago, and now we're going back so I can show David my favorite places that I discovered back then, as well as discover new things! Having already spent significant time in a place you're going to vacation helps A LOT with the planning process. I will share my knowledge here, both because it's fun for me to think about it and also because it might possibly help someone else plan an awesome trip the Glacier!

Trip Planning Checklist

Between March and May

• Determine when and how long your ideal trip will be
  
• Buy plane tickets
• Make car rental reservations

Before April 15th

• Make a simple list of things you want to do and places you want to go
• If applicable, plan your backpacking trip. Determine how many days, what route you want to take, how long you want to hike each day and where you want to camp. Plan a first choice and a second choice trip.

By April 15th

• Apply for your backpacking trip with the Glacier Backcountry Permit Office

After You Receive Your Backcountry Permit Reservation

• Make a more detailed, day-by-day itinerary
• Make camping reservations as possible

One Month Before the Trip

• Make a packing list
• Buy items you don't already have
  
• Make a meal plan
• Make a grocery list for things you need to buy before you leave (nonperishable items, things you want to prepare and package yourself, things you think may not be available in small town Montana)
• Make a grocery list of things you need to buy after you arrive in Montana (fresh produce, things you don't need to package yourself)

Two Weeks Before Trip

• Dehydrate food as necessary
• Make arrangements for someone to drop you off and pick you up at the airport

One Week Before Trip

• Buy food from your shopping list of things to buy before leaving
• Pack backpacks
• Give a simple itinerary of your trip to a few friends/family members

2-3 Days Before Trip

• Prepare any foods that must be prepared in advance
• Package your food
• Print documents to keep with you: car rental reservations, campsite reservations, backcountry permit reservations, an itinerary for yourself, a shopping list for when you arrive in Montana, a copy of your backcountry trail info (so you don't have to take the whole book on your backpacking trip)

The Day Before Trip

• Print your plane tickets