CDT Thru Hike 6: Canadian Border To East Glacier, MT (Flip-Flop)

To avoid the very high snow (and avalanche danger) in Colorado this year, I've decided to flip up to Montana and hike south! Follow me through the incredible Glacier National Park in this update.
Check out some of my favorite backpacking gear here: amzn.to/34QK7mt

[@davidcolinstillman5585]

AWESOME! BE SAFE! GOD BLESS! YOUR VIDEOS ARE GREAT ,COULD HEAR YOU TALKING PERFECTLY.MAKES YOU WANT TO BE OUT THERE TOO! GLAD YOU HAVE FRIENDS HIKING WITH YOU , PLUS GOD WATCHING OVER YOU TOO!

[@Loner2012AT]

Know you have mixed feelings on the flip flop - but miles are miles. The landscape is just amazing and am always amazed at the things you see. That marmot wanted to hike with you! Keep having fun!

[@highhorse313]

OMG, some of those areas are breathtakingly beautiful! Many of us will never get to see this in person, but your videos reveal what it's like to be there. Thank you!

[@benharrison1837]

Traveling south will assume normality eventually, if it hasn't already. You do what you have to on these trips. Amazing scenery. I can't get over those glacier areas, mountains with plenty of water run-offs and cloud cover. Once again - great job. Look forward to the next entry!

[@mobiltec]

Probably the best choice given that the monsoons are early this year. Great shots. Fantastic scenery.

[@LYLEWOLD]

that is beautiful country there. those marmot sure are cute. nice of you to be kindly as far as sharing the trail with that one. to echo others - glad you have friends along. I'm sure it's making the experience better (and likely safer) for all of you. thanks for bringing us along.

[@RealGood10]

You're so lucky to be able to do this, and to have the wisdom to choose to do it! A lot of young people like you don't realize how great something like a thru hike really is.

[@dianajohnson5059]

I love Montana and miss it so much! I lived there for 25 years am in Alabama now. I love your videos sooooo much!

[@Mily-ql1eo]

Beautiful place. Happy to see you back on the trail. Be safe.

[@deericcio3379]

I didn't see your new bed roll thing ? Awesome video , soooo beautiful!

[@phrayzar]

wow, what an amazing section. Loving the vids. Safe travels.

[@Mark2025]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing another video of your journey across America.

[@sinfonianbarelytone9191]

Stunning scenery. Amazing feat. Welcome back!

[@jazziered142]

Joe, it is so beautiful. I hope you will do a review of the big three whe you are done.

[@robster7530]

Thanks again for the continued updates and great video. Loved the "sheep dip" and the marmots. Sounds like you made the right choice and a beautiful area. Waiting til the next one.

[@tvtoms]

This is some really great eye candy! Really beautiful scenery and captured in a really great style too.

[@capsoutdoors]

Now that is some amazing country to hike through, breathtaking!

[@anthonysianni235]

The Big Sky Country is looking Awesome! Definitely a good decision to flip where you did. Im loving the videos bro...Onwards

[@kendallhatton7601]

amazing footage. really appreciate and love the videos. If there are many more of those types of climbs up snow, those snowshoes you bought are amazing for steep climbing and also work great in semi frozen crap. depth of snow is not important. also the heel elevator is a really nice bonus. and thank you for your time in these videos.

[@hypnolobster]

After years watching your videos, I've decided that you sound like Mitch Hedberg.

Amazing scenery!! Wonderfull!! Thanks for sharing.

[@darrenwarne371]

Confused? I was lol - Montana looks beautiful -- keep in trekking!

[@redbustourguide]

Coolest Marmot sighting ever on trail

[@PhillipCarterPearson]

I still love your videos

[@Psychonaut273]

It is amazing to watch where you are. I wish I could be there too. The beauty of nature, wonderful waterfalls, the silence. Must be fantastic. How do you manage your supplies? How does that work? Maybe you can explain that in the next video. Would be great. Thanks for sharing. Christian

[@redbustourguide]

Excellent video!!! Props too yoo!

[@OneFoot1967]

Just fantastic!

[@LeJambeaux]

Montana is my favorite state. I'm glad to tag along.

[@wrightallen3054]

Hudson bay which leads to the Arctic Ocean. Triple divide flows into three oceans.

[@SmackNC]

Glad to see you made it up north. It was a good strategy to head north. Sometimes you gotta take what the trail gives you. Very cool scenery. Love watching your updates. The CDT is certainly different from the other two trails if not just for the new challenges it brings. Any bear issues that far north?

[@BackcountryBanter]

I've seen one grizzly, I'd say medium sized, but it ran off immediately. No problems as of yet.

[@KevinOutdoors]

Spectacular!

[@dabaird12]

Thank you for sharing

[@kookiemoose]

Thank you Joe. I guess I don't mind a backtrack so much. Seeing how I don't have a passport, and I'm to cheap to get one lol!

[@KuntryRD]

Nice!

[@mg222.]

And people ask why I'd pick Montana as one of the states I'd want to live in

[@steveh1273]

great video Joe!!!! What precautions did you take for Grizzlies? Keep us informed on temperatures and bear prevention please. That is one beautiful park.

[@BackcountryBanter]

Hanging/properly storing food in the bear bins at the campsites is the biggest thing in glacier. I also have a small can of bear spray.

[@derick4104]

I'm starting a SOBO section hike of the Montana/Idaho portion on June 25th and need to find a way to get from the Helena Airport to the trail head. Any suggestions? Know any shuttles?

[@brianmowers307]

Stunning!! How weird does it feel traveling SOUTH?

[@BackcountryBanter]

In one word: wrong The sun is in my face all day. (It's not actually that bad though)

[@GillilandFarms]

Joe, awesome videos, watched them all. What was your start date at Glacier? Did you only use the Guthooks app for navigation like on your hikes and which maps did you use, bear creek surveys or something else? My daughter and I are planning a CDT thru hike starting in mid to late June from Glacier.

[@BackcountryBanter]

+Gil Gilliland Cool! Good luck. I started in glacier on June 12th I think. I only used Guthooks for my GPS and that worked out great. I also carried the Ley maps in paper form. They worked well for what I needed.

[@nealstafford4389]

sweet

[@pellelindbergh4455]

how long took you to plan and how long to walk?pluswhat kind of maps and resuppy

[@tmbacz]

Really epic! CDT Glacier looks amazing. What's the difficulty level of that section as far as physical demands and navigation is concerned?

[@BackcountryBanter]

+tmbacz Navigation is as easy as following the trail. Physically, it's not easy as there are many ups and downs and climbs up to passes. But... it's all switch-backed very well. For the CDT as a whole, it is fairly easy.

[@kookiemoose]

Hey Joe. Say, is the US/Can border on the CDT Waterton Route marked by a sign or something? I mean if I was hiking north is there something to let me know that I was on the actual border? If I was hiking north and came to the US/Can border, how far would I have to backtrack into the US to get to a town where I could get out and get back home. I guess what I'm asking is; do I have to go into Canada to get home using the Waterton Route?

[@BackcountryBanter]

There is a monument on the Waterton route at the border. I forget how long from Glacier to the border it is, but I'm sure if you really wanted to backtrack it, it could be done in a few days. I took a different (Chief Mountain) route so I am not 100% sure about the details of the Waterton route. Another option is finishing on the Chief Mountain route (just inside the US but not as nice as the Waterton one).

[@sickbrawler91]

Another great video mate! Just wondering how things were working with the group you were with as you had been together for a while by this stage. At the start of the day did you pick a campsite and then just go at your own pace and meet them there or did that happen a few days at a time? Cheers mate!

[@BackcountryBanter]

We would really just hike and generally end up in the same area every night or at least every so often. We all had a similar pace.

[@blomeup2day]

So if I decide to hike the CDT in the future, I should leave in June from Canada and head south to avoid having to jump across the trail because of hitting Colorado too early because it is too dangerous?

[@BackcountryBanter]

Not necessarily, this year just happened to bring a lot of unusually late snow in Colorado. It was actually looking like a low snow year in CO for a while.

[@GillilandFarms]

I am planning a CDT thru hike and would interested to know where your resupply stops were in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

[@BackcountryBanter]

+Gil Gilliland Check out this post for some info on town stops: chiltontippin.com/cdt-town-master-list/ Also, there are plenty of other sites with resupply lists on them.

[@backpacker3421]

@5:29 what is that in the background? Looks like it's on trail, but doesn't look like a backpacker, more like a critter of some sort.

[@backpacker3421]

Never mind. Next shot shows the same hiker more clearly...

[@dantheman2238]

how many miles would you say this section was?

[@hazeorman]

Very nice video! What is the map you show at 30:44?

[@BackcountryBanter]

+hazeorman Thanks! It's the map they'll give you at the Glacier National Park station to help you plan out your hike and confirm where you'll be staying every night. Unfortunately, reservations are required.

[@gearhartful]

Montana marmots are cute.

[@markstanton2362]

See any grizzlies in Glacier N.P.?

[@susandalton5245]

Thanks for the video. Beautiful country. I am glad all worked out well with your decision to flip-flop. I have heard it said it is not your heart that will get you to the end of your hike but your feet. I believe it takes the heart, the feet, and the head; and sometimes, maybe, just some good fortune. The same year you hiked and made your decision to flip, another CDT hiker's hike ended in death. karlfmoffatt.blogspot.com/2016/12/otter-olshansky-lonely-death-on-new.html Each person, I am sure, hopes to make the best decision; sometimes, things don't work as one would hope. I am glad you made it home. ( "Sailin Home", Demis Roussos). Best success to you, and may the greatest of all things be yours.

[@BackcountryBanter]

Thanks for watching and for the interesting comments Susan!

[@GillilandFarms]

In glacier you are required to stay at designated campsites, correct?

[@BackcountryBanter]

+Gil Gilliland Yeah, every night you'll have to stop at a predetermined campsite.

[@GillilandFarms]

About how many miles did you walk per day in the park?

[@BackcountryBanter]

+Gil Gilliland Anywhere between 18 and 27 miles, depending on which campsites you choose. And there are many choices, so you could certainly do less.

[@MrWinger1951]

What is the alcohol stove setup at 3:13?

[@BackcountryBanter]

It's a Vargo alcohol stove with foil windscreen and a snow peak trek 700 pot. Though the stove is quite efficient, it is a pain to fill.

[@MrWinger1951]

Joe Brewer Thanks for the reply and I'm really enjoying your videos.

[@LumpinSpacePrincess1]

I would like to donate, but there is no link on your website backcountybanter. When I click donate, there is no further link.

[@tvtoms]

Tara Crocco I see what you mean. There used to be a Paypal widget there but it's not working it seems. He should post his PayPal link in the video description box when / if he see's this.

[@derekpatterson9182]

Tara Crocco its on the about page on youtube to the right

[@tvtoms]

Oh good he got that added there too. Much easier that way.

[@LumpinSpacePrincess1]

Thanks Derek and tvtoms.

[@LumpinSpacePrincess1]

Unfortunately there is no link there either.