In 2014, we took a multi-week hiking tour of Glacier National Park. Our stay at the hike-in Sperry Chalet was a key highlight of the trip. Sadly, Sperry burned last summer during the Sprague fire. More on that in my post: 13 Miles in Glacier, Gunsight Pass to Sperry Chalet: Glacier Park Photo Tour #2. Goats were in abundance around the Chalet. They are attracted to human urine for the salt! Plus they are looking for handouts (please do not feed them).
All photos are my original works.
The Chalet itself was a backcountry stone structure that was opened in 1914 by the Great Northern Railway. At the time of our trip, it was one of two remaining structures built by Railway, with now only the hike-in Granite Park Chalet remaining.
The Chalet was a National Historic Landmark, and remains so because the kitchen and dining building did not burn. The landmark sign is in that building.
Staff cooked delicious meals for the guests in the dining building, which also had a wood stove.
Provisions for the Chalet were brought in by mule train on the shortest route in, which is the 6-mile Lake McDonald trail. We hiked in on the 13-15 mile Gunsight Pass trail (different signs and maps give different distances).
Chalet rooms lacked electricity or running water. Our room had pipes and a sink, but they were not functional. A nearby bathhouse had compositing toilets and running cold-water sinks. Our room had two beds with a good pile of wool blankets. Even though temperatures reached freezing overnight, we were warm.
Our room faced the north side of the Chalet and had a balcony.
The view from the Chalet looking north to Lake McDonald was amazing. The lake could be seen in the distance and, in the morning, the clouds were below us.
After dinner, people (And goats!) congregated on the rocks below the Chalet and shared stories and drinks. Many people, us included, carried in wine.
Bear warnings were in effect when we arrived, as a Grizzly had been seen at the nearby backpacking camp area. Those campers were relocated to a location nearer to the Chalet.
This is the view from the Chalet toward the dining hall.
Outside of the dining hall.
Side view of the Chalet balcony. It was the wood portions such as this and the interior that burned. The stone walls remained and have been braced for winter. There are plans to rebuild.
One last view of Lake McDonald from the Chalet.
We took a stunning hike to the Sperry Glacier and hiked out via the Lake McDonald trail, where we caught a park bus back to our car. I will cover those in separate posts.
Here are other posts in the Glacier Park Photo Series:
Highline Trail Glacier National Park: Glacier Park Photo Tour #1
13 Miles in Glacier, Gunsight Pass to Sperry Chalet: Glacier Park Photo Tour #2
2 Nights at The Backcountry Sperry Chalet: Glacier Park Photo Tour #3
Would You Climb the Stone Stairs? Glacier Park Hike to Sperry Glacier: Glacier Park Photo Tour #4
Grinell Glacier Hike in Glacier National Park: Glacier Park Photo Tour #5
#glacier #hiking #nature #travel #photography #nationalparks #goats #mountains #montana
