Author: Jake Bramante

  • Hike 734 Give Back 2017

    Hike 734 Give Back 2017

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    Jake Bramante

    As many of you know, in 2011, my project was to hike all of Glacier National Park’s trails in one summer. In that summer, Glacier saw over 1.8 million visitors. Over the ensuing years, that number has continued to grow. Last year, it was over 2.9 million. That’s an increase of over 59%! Anyone who…

  • Flagg Canyon and Polecat Creek Loop

    Flagg Canyon and Polecat Creek Loop

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    by

    Jake Bramante

    Various sections of the Snake River through Flagg Canyon in the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway area are beautiful, but much of the rest parallels a busy road. The Polecat Creek Loop is primarily used by the horse concessionaires through a forest. With the exception of the Huckleberry Hot Spring and the brief bit of…

  • Paintbrush Divide Loop through Paintbrush Canyon and Cascade Canyon

    Paintbrush Divide Loop through Paintbrush Canyon and Cascade Canyon

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    by

    Jake Bramante

    The loop through Paintbrush Divide in Grand Teton National Park travels through the gorgeous Paintbrush Canyon and Cascade Canyon. From the wooded shores of String Lake to the rocky alpine heights of Paintbrush Divide, the views, including those of Grand Teton, are are varied and breathtaking. The air was cool and crisp as we got…

  • Back down to Yosemite National Park

    Back down to Yosemite National Park

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    Jake Bramante

    As the sun was setting in western Montana, my plane was rising up to the colorful clouds. Time to once again head back down to Yosemite National Park. I’ve been back and forth all summer long as I work on my latest day hike map. Yosemite is a wonderful park and I hope this map…

  • Finding Pikas at Piegan

    Finding Pikas at Piegan

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    Jake Bramante

    While the American Pika can be found in talus slopes all over Glacier National Park, Piegan Pass is a wonderful place to look. With the trail cutting through numerous talus slopes, it’s gentle grade, fantastic views, and great chance to see other animals, it’s a great day hike. “Well, I’ve never seen a pika before…

  • Pitamakan – Dawson Loop 2017

    Pitamakan – Dawson Loop 2017

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    Jake Bramante

    If you were to ask me which hike is my favorite hike, I probably would tell you the Pitamakan-Dawson Loop. I set out with a group of donors and staff from the Glacier Conservancy to do this loop and the sunny day, fantastic loop, and a boat ride was one for the books. Sinopah Mountain…

  • Climbing Spot Mountain and Red Mountain

    Climbing Spot Mountain and Red Mountain

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    Jake Bramante

    The ridgeline that contains Spot Mountain and Red Mountain is a beautiful behemoth that rarely gets climbed. Kristen and I decided to tackle these two summits in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park and we were rewarded with expansive views along this long ridge. It involved a little bit of bushwhacking and some…

  • Climbing Going-to-the-Sun Mountain

    Climbing Going-to-the-Sun Mountain

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    Jake Bramante

    Going-to-the-Sun Road gets its name from the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Mountain. The legend goes that Napi, the god of the Blackfeet people ascended back into heaven from the mountain. We decided to make our own ascent of this mountain and the views were definitely heavenly. Siyeh Creek was as beautiful as ever as we began our…

  • Mt. Reynolds and Dragon’s Tail

    Mt. Reynolds and Dragon’s Tail

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    by

    Jake Bramante

    Mt. Reynolds in Glacier National Park stands prominently above Logan Pass. A ridgeline extends to the south forming another wonderful summit called Dragon’s Tail. While Dragon’s Tail isn’t officially recognized as a high point by the USGS, it is by the Glacier Mountaineering Society. For that reason, and just because it’s there and amazing, we…