'Gentleman's Journey' - Fundraiser features tales, photos of Glacier trek
A bull moose feeds in Red Eagle Lake in Glacier National Park in this 2010 file photo. (Hungry Horse News)
When he set out on July 17, Chris Peterson intended to hike 100 miles through the backcountry of Glacier National Park and document the park in pictures to commemorate the park’s centennial this year. It took him a few more miles to reach the end of his journey.
“The idea was to hike 100 miles — a mile for each year — but at the 100-mile mark, I was in the middle of nowhere,” joked Peterson, a photographer for the Hungry Horse News and the editor of Glacier Park Magazine.
All totaled, he walked 111.5 miles in 10 days.
“My route began at the south end of Glacier from the Walton Ranger Station to the Bowman Lake Ranger Station in the north. Along the way, I ran into several bears, many moose, curious marmots, dozens of bighorn sheep and three mountain goats and I lost a $1,000 camera lens.”
The results of Peterson’s journey is a spectacular collection of photographs Peterson has dubbed “Gentleman’s Journey.”
Peterson will be on hand to show his photographs and tell the stories behind some shots at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, for a Glacier National Park Fund fundraiser.
The event will be held at Crush Wine Bar in downtown Whitefish; proceeds from the evening’s photo sales will benefit the Glacier Park Fund’s accessible trail project in the Many Glacier area.
The goal is to develop trials that provide visitors of all abilities with opportunities to experience the park, and the project needs additional funding to be completed in its entirety.
The Glacier National Park Fund, park staffers and many volunteers are spearheading the effort to get the Centennial Legacy Project completed.
“I just want to help in any way I can,” Peterson said. “I’m extremely lucky to experience Glacier the way I do. Others should be able to have similar experiences and this trail project will showcase one of the finest places in Glacier and make it accessible for everyone.”
The Glacier National Park Fund is the nonprofit fundraising partner for Glacier National Park. Its mission is to preserve and protect the natural beauty and heritage of the Park for the use
Peterson’s photos also will be featured in the Summer 2, 2010 issue of Glacier Park Magazine. To view the photos in the upcoming magazine edition go to www.glacierparkmagazine.com/100miles.