If the Blackfeet Indians are correct in calling the greater Glacier National Park ecosystem the 'backbone to the world,' then our 'backbone' is in significant danger of losing the cartilage between its vertebra. To put it more succinctly, Glacier National Park is losing its glaciers. Of the hundreds that once dotted the park, which spans the Montana/Alberta boarder, only twenty-five remain today. Scientists speculate that the glaciers will be completely gone by 2030, though the verdict's still out on this whole Global Warming hullabaloo.
Fear not, ye doctoral readers – the old backbone to the world is still a sturdy ecosystem; and it's still considered by many travelers to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Over thousands of years the receding glaciers have formed a myriad of valleys, lakes, streams, and mountain ranges within the park, which still provide ample resources and protection for almost all of its original animal and plant inhabitants. It's nearly impossible not to stumble upon a wildflower or meandering marmot when taking to the trails. Less frequently, though very present in the park, are the rams, mountain goats, wolverines, and the mighty grizzly. Though the exact number of grizzlies in the park is unknown, Glacier is thought to be the home to the more grizzlies than any other National Park within the continental U.S. You should always err on the side of caution when entering the back country, but it's worth noting that only 10 deaths by grizzly have been reported since the park's creation in 1910. With almost 2 million visitors each year, the chances that you'll be next on the list are... likely? I'm no mathematician.
Speaking of visitors, Glacier is crawling with them in the summer months, especially after the Going-to-the-Sun Road opens. This 53 mile road, which strategically traverses some of the park's most scenic overlooks, takes motorized visitors through the heart of the park. Inside Glacier are roughly 350 buildings and structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Many chalets were built when the railroad came to town in an attempt to make Glacier the "Switzerland of America." Currently three chalets are still open within the parks boarders. I'm not certain if the expansive roads and park chalets abide by the park founder's philosophy of maintaining a unobstructed wilderness akin to what our ancestors experienced, but they do their part to bring awareness and paying visitors to the park, thus earning greater political support for its protection – call it a necessary exploitation.
Pro Tip: Avoid the roads during the day. By noon they'll likely be packed with tourists. I'd recommend arriving before the sun. Dawn and sunset are your best bets for seeing wildlife, and dawn is the safer of the two with the sun showing you the way back home should you hit a trail.