Park in the Dark
62 JUNE 2019 • SKY & TELESCOPE
Volunteers Make It Happen
The amazing programs within Glacier don’t come without
challenges — primarily a lack of knowledgeable people
to help keep them going. The Big Sky Astronomy Club
members are an integral part of the program, and the
park is always looking for more volunteers.
“The numbers are growing more and more,” says
Lucas. “It’s hard to find people to help. It’s the most
challenging thing the park has to do. We could expand
this program and make it even better than it is. It’s really
tough for us when we get 90 people (per night at the
Apgar or St. Mary stargazing events) and there are two of
us running the telescopes,” he says.
Wagner shared the sentiment. “I love the volunteers.
They are great. If you take the volunteers out, you have
zero programs.”
For those who wish to step up and into this rewarding
role, specific information is available at https://is.gd/
GlacierAstro.good portion of the backcountry campgrounds have excellent
views of the sky, and aligning geographical features with the
celestial ones creates a one-of-a-kind experience.
Spaces are limited in the backcountry sites, but there are
a couple options for securing a spot. Potential backpackers
can apply for a permit via the backcountry advanced reserva-
tion system, which opens on March 1st for large groups (9–12
campers) and March 15th for standard groups (1–8 camp-
ers) (https://is.gd/GlacierAdvance). As the date is sometimes
referred to as “IT Armageddon” because the system occasion-
ally crashes due to the high volume of requests, have your
application ready to submit, with several itinerary choices
for the best chance of securing a site. Applicants are typically
notifi ed by mid-April whether their application was successful.
If planning ahead isn’t an option, or a reservation wasn’t
obtained, showing up in person at one of the backcountry
offi ces can sometimes secure a site since there are a certain
number held for walk-in backpackers. Line up early (some
begin the wait as early as 5 a.m.) for the 7 a.m. opening, and
talk to the helpful rangers to see what spaces are available.
This can be done a day in advance or the same day.Living the Night Life
If spending the night under the stars isn’t in the cards,
another option is to be strategically positioned for the dark
hours. John Ashley, biologist, photographer, and author of
Glacier National Park After Dark: Sunset to Sunrise in a Beloved
Montana Wilderness, spends innumerable days coordinat-
ing astronomical events with the weather and the scenes he
envisions in his mind. To obtain these shots he notes when
comets, Moon phases, or a particular meteor shower will
be visible and where he wants it in relation to the landscape
before venturing into the darkness.
“I never just go out with a camera and hope to fi nd
something,” he says. “There are some alignments I’ve chased
unsuccessfully for multiple years and they’re still on my
calendar.”
While not everyone will snowshoe up a ridge to line up a
perfect shot of the full Moon, astronomically minded visi-
tors can often drive to suitable viewpoints, especially along
Going-to-the-Sun Road where the best visibility is above the
treeline. Use the pullouts on the east side of Logan Pass, par-
ticularly above Siyeh Bend, or higher than the hairpin curve
known as “The Loop” on the west side.
Hiking to less accessible vantage points is also an effec-
tive way to gain a better perspective of the night sky, but it’s
not necessarily advised. Glacier, besides having a reputation
for amazing scenery, is also one of the largest strongholds of
grizzly bears in the lower 48. While hiking up to Siyeh Pass,
for example, will undoubtedly offer exceptional night view-
ing, it’s probably not worth the risk of bumping into a bear.
Surprise encounters are the number-one reason for human-
bear confl icts within the park, and hiking at night increases
the probability dramatically. On a practical note, no matter
when you’re hiking, day or night, always bring bear spraypPUBLIC PROGRAMS Nearly 30,000 people attend stargaz-
ing or solar parties in Glacier National Park each year. Because
of the northerly location of the park, summertime darkness
doesn’t fall until around 10 p.m. local time, but once it arrives,
the skies are pristine, barring bad weather and smoke. Darkness
arrives earlier in winter, but cold-season observing requires
dedication and planning. JOHNASHLEY