FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hazzben]

Nice, Hazzben!  That one's on my list.  My wife took a girls trip to Banff a couple of years ago, and she really wants to bring the family next time.

I'm heading to the BWCA in a few days with my 9 year old--it'll be his first time and my first time in nearly 25 years.  We've got 3 adults and 5 kids.

We were gonna try for Banff, but with travel restrictions did Glacier instead. It didn't disappoint, but Banff is definitely still on the list.

I rode the Empire Builder through Glacier last week. One day I'd like to ride it again and stay at the Izaak Walton Inn and then connect with and outfitter to do some camping. I think hauling all that gear by train would be a pain in the ass.

We stayed in Apgar Village on the shores of Lake MacDonald. It was nice being in the park since we didn't have to mess with park passes or any of that nonsense.

[DuffMan]

Good ratio.  I hope the kids can keep you hooligans under control.

We're all Johnnies (the other two are former Johnnie wrestlers), so I'm not too worried.  There is a reason I'm only bringing along one of mine, though!

[speedybigboy]

Just returned from a trip to Glacier National Park. If you haven't gone, it's a really a must do. We did a ton of hiking and averaged around 8-10 miles a day, peaking with the Highline/Grinnell Lake trek at almost 15 miles and 40k steps. I'd love to come back through on a western motorcycle trip at some point as well.

Already planning a return trip with the kids in tow now that we've scouted it out and know where all the good cliff/bridge jumping spots are 

PLU grad here. Been thru there 3 or 4 times, once I bicycled from Missoula to Jaspar. You should definitely do the Icefield Parkway (Banff to Jaspar) at some point. Anyways, I'm heading back down there to GNP in two weeks for some day hiking. Do you care to share what other hikes you did? We are looking at about 10 miles per day, camping at the KOA in Saint Mary's. Or share these good cliff/bridge jumping opportunities.

thx

[hazzben]

Just returned from a trip to Glacier National Park. If you haven't gone, it's a really a must do. We did a ton of hiking and averaged around 8-10 miles a day, peaking with the Highline/Grinnell Lake trek at almost 15 miles and 40k steps. I'd love to come back through on a western motorcycle trip at some point as well.

Already planning a return trip with the kids in tow now that we've scouted it out and know where all the good cliff/bridge jumping spots are 

PLU grad here. Been thru there 3 or 4 times, once I bicycled from Missoula to Jaspar. You should definitely do the Icefield Parkway (Banff to Jaspar) at some point. Anyways, I'm heading back down there to GNP in two weeks for some day hiking. Do you care to share what other hikes you did? We are looking at about 10 miles per day, camping at the KOA in Saint Mary's. Or share these good cliff/bridge jumping opportunities.

thx

For sure.
- Danny On Trail 5-10 miles up and down Big Mountain in whitefish. You can also take a chair lift up/down if you want half the distance.

In Glacier these would be top hikes:
- Highline + Grinnell Lake Overlook. If you go from Logan's Pass down to the Loop, it will be just shy of 15 miles and about 6-8 hours. Most difficult part is by far the Grinnell Lake Overlook. It's posted as .6 each way, but it's closer to 1.1 each way, very steep and loose rock for much of it. But the views are amazing sitting atop the Continental Divide and looking down at Grinnell and into the Many Glacier part of the park. you can also refill on water if needed at Granite Park Chalet before the last 4+ mile decent. This is a hard hike, but epic views.
- Grinnell Lake Trail - around a 7 mile loop. beautiful views, starts out of Many Glacier on the East side of the park. Much less up and down than Highline
- Ice Berg Lake Trail - 9.3 mile out and back. Gorgeous views, again from Many Glacier side (a little north of St. Mary's where you're staying). Good midpoint in difficulty between Grinnell Lake and Highline
- St. Mary's + Virginia Falls - 3+ miles out and back. Bridge at Virginia falls is perfect for jumping into the pool below the falls. Make sure you do the last .2 miles to the very base of St. Mary's for some stunning views. Parking can be a little tough since a lot of people swim for a while here.
- Hidden Lake (Overlook) - Overlook is 1.5 miles out and back from Logan's Pass. If you go down to the lake it's around 5 miles total. Stunning views, but parking is brutal at Logan's Pass. Either get their early before 8 or after 10/11 when the parking/hikes start to turn over. Good one to combine with St. Mary's or Avalanche Lake
- Avalanche Lake + Trail of Cedars - 6 miles out and back. Again parking is tough, get there early. First mile is very easy, then some moderate up and down. Very different hike as you go through beautiful cedar trees and end up at Avalanche Lake.
- Redrock - On Going to the Sun Road. There's lots of swimming and a large boulder/cliff wall about 20+ feet in height you can jump off of. Perfect to hit up on the way back from a hike to cool down if you are staying on the West side of the park. It's not as busy as earlier in the day and easier to find parking after 4.
- Old GNP Entrance - Local bridge jumping favorite. In West Glacier proper if you're exiting the park, go left on the road just before the minigolf. Just keep following that road for about a mile or two and it comes to a dead end at the old park entrance bridge. Very cool spot, where you can jump off of a 30-40 foot bridge into the Flathead River (plenty deep). Great lunch spot with lots of spots to chill and read, etc. Locals galore.
- Going to the Sun Road Sunset Drive - we did a meal in East Glacier and timed it so we were heading Westbound on Going to the Sun around 8:30. Timing will be a little different, but we hit Logan's Pass around 8:45 and slowly descended and pulled off at several view points. Unreal to see the sun go down as you look down from the road out over the Western part of the park.

Food: Eddie's Cafe in Apgar Village is great. Locally owned small business. Farm to table burger, pulled pork and onion rings are legit. Chicken Fried Steak for breakfast is too. Great spot to hit up a meal at the end of the day or for breakfast before a big hike.
- Glacier Distilling - Super cool local distillery and tasting room. Small plates available after 2pm. If you're into Whiskey and spirits, their tasting flights were great. I got bottles of North Fork, Tapline Rock & Rye, and Daughter of the Sun.
- Huckleberry Shake/Pie/Cobbler. Anywhere you can, it's really good stuff.
- Strange Haze IPA and MT Haze were a few that were really good on tap IMO.

[SagatagSam]

For those who don't follow Boz Bostrom on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/bozbostrom/status/1423036384776949765?s=21

The Johnnies have taken down the "new" scoreboard (ok, new as of 2002-03) in Clemens Stadium. I was completely unaware. Anyone know what's going on? Are we getting a fancy Daktronics HD video board?

[Retired Old Rat]

New scoreboard going up at SJU. Moved to the east so it doesn't block the view of the church.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159244592857980&set=a.84828042979&type=3

[SagatagSam]

New scoreboard going up at SJU. Moved to the east so it doesn't block the view of the church.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159244592857980&set=a.84828042979&type=3

Wow. Looks like it will be twice the size of the old one! Got to keep up with the arms race, I guess.

[faunch]

New scoreboard going up at SJU. Moved to the east so it doesn't block the view of the church.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159244592857980&set=a.84828042979&type=3

I used to love sitting in that hill in my folding chair...a guy could even smoke a victory cigar up there during the second half!

[OzJohnnie]

New scoreboard going up at SJU. Moved to the east so it doesn't block the view of the church.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159244592857980&set=a.84828042979&type=3

I used to love sitting in that hill in my folding chair...a guy could even smoke a victory cigar up there during the second half!

I sat on that hill right near you and your chair when the Johnnies beat the Tommies in overtime in way back in 2009.  The Jays scored in that corner of the endzone which the scoreboard will now block.   It was a perfect view of the play.  What a day that was.

And it was 12 years ago?  Damn.  Time flies.  It seems like yesterday in my memory.

[OzJohnnie]

New scoreboard going up at SJU. Moved to the east so it doesn't block the view of the church.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159244592857980&set=a.84828042979&type=3

It looks like that's Ravi Alston out front doing those sprints, as well.  That guy is going to be some sort of superstar this year, I bet.  Fingers crossed.

[faunch]

New scoreboard going up at SJU. Moved to the east so it doesn't block the view of the church.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159244592857980&set=a.84828042979&type=3

I used to love sitting in that hill in my folding chair...a guy could even smoke a victory cigar up there during the second half!

I sat on that hill right near you and your chair when the Johnnies beat the Tommies in overtime in way back in 2009.  The Jays scored in that corner of the endzone which the scoreboard will now block.   It was a perfect view of the play.  What a day that was.

And it was 12 years ago?  Damn.  Time flies.  It seems like yesterday in my memory.

This game? All I would get now is a picture of the back of giant Jumbotron!!!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWfAasoxzjgoGP7x5

[OzJohnnie]

This game? All I would get now is a picture of the back of giant Jumbotron!!!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MWfAasoxzjgoGP7x5

Great photos!  And really good ones of the OT dive into the corner to win the game.  I spotted my old man in the Stiftungfestivities photo talking to someone like a long lost friend (a special talent of his) along with TDT wearing a that light brown overcoat.

[BDB]

I've got Retired Old Rat located with his hat on backwards and camera at the ready. 

[Retired Old Rat]

I've got Retired Old Rat located with his hat on backwards and camera at the ready. 

That is One Armed Scot and his lovely bride to my right.

[Retired Old Rat]

From Charlie Walters:

As University of St. Thomas football approaches its inaugural Division I season with a challenging schedule, it has added a team chaplain.