From Ocean to Mountain

Life on the Divide

Hello All,

It’s been a hectic summer. I have been in Montana since early June working with the Continental Divide as my backdrop and “Office View”. I worked mostly as a Maintenance Worker at Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park. The Chalet is a Swiss Alpine style type of backpacker lodging. The hike to get to the chalet could be either be 7.5 Miles from Logan Pass or 4 Miles uphill from the first hairpin turn on the Going to the Sun Road. Quite an interesting name, that is the name of the road that runs through the park “Going To The Sun Road”. To drive the road is arguably most popular thing to do in the park.

My daily duties and responsibilities at the Chalet primarily consisted of checking/treating water in the morning and ensuring the “Comfort Stations” were clean throughout the afternoon. These “Comfort Stations” are backcountry restrooms serviced and maintained by the National Park Service. Unlike the Chalet which accommodates overnight guests and is run by a private concessionaire. My work schedule for much of the past summer was one of the most unique work schedules I’ve worked. I would work in the Backcountry for 8 days and then have 6 days off. This unique schedule did have some drawbacks and advantages. It seemed like despite having 6 days off it was a unique struggle to re-acclimate to the time off when it eventually arrived.

This was my first role in a hospitality and service orientated setting, and dealing with under-prepared day hikers in the backcountry was arguably one of the most challenging aspects of the position. On one occasion a hiker had to be flown out via Medevac Helicopter at 11PM at night. The hiker was suffering severe dehydration and fluid loss and could not retain any electrolytes. Thankfully there were 2 Nurses staying at the Chalet who were able to assist as I am by no means a Certified Medical Professional. There was also another time where I had to host a family of 5 overnight who had arrived at the chalet approaching dark, sorely underprepared and wore out from the hike in. There was a 1 year old with them and they were in no position to continue the hike out after dark. Being in a position to help those who were under-prepared and in need of assistance was a highlight of working in my position, but at times it taxed my patience.

As to Life in Grizzly country, Grizzly encounters were more hyped up by my Supervisor than I had anticipated. While we had several bear sightings and a couple close encounters it was only towards the end of the season where someone had to use their Bear Spray on a bear up in the vicinity of Granite Park. For the most part the Grizzlies meandered and wandered around our area paying little attention to us or our presence.

We just winterized the Chalet and NPS Cabin this week and I will be moving on from Glacier National Park and Montana in 3 week’s time. I will be doing work down in what is called the “front-country” winterizing facilities and doing end of season cleanup in the lead-up to my departure. It was nice to have a seasonal means of employment that payed marginally better than previous summertime work in the US. However, the position does not utilize my education and experience in a way that challenges me and I won’t be returning next Summer. My fall and winter plans include attending a Conference on Aid and International Development in Switzerland in October and volunteering with Operation Mobilization at a Refugee Camp in Serbia in November. Thanks again for all prayers and thoughts, I have been very blessed in being able to work and live here in a very beautiful place.

Greetings of Fall,