Mark Ficek is the president of Northwest-based company, Metals Testing Services, a business he has guided since 2002. An avid outdoorsman, Mark Ficek once spent a year exploring Bob Marshall, Yellowstone, and Glacier national parks.
Hikers headed to Glacier National Park will not be disappointed, unless it’s by the fact that they don’t have more time to explore its many trails. One of the most notable is the Highline Trail, which runs 11.8 miles and affords stunning views and alpine meadows.
The trek begins from the north side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Logan Pass and follows the continental divide, also known at this point as the Garden Wall. Approximately one quarter of a mile in hikers will confront a famous ledge that can be a challenge for those afraid of heights, as it is only six to eight feet in width. About 2.5 miles out, hikers will tackle the only major climb up to Haystack Pass, which is at an altitude of 7,024 feet and offers a great panoramic view, making it an ideal lunch-break stop.
After ascending to the highest point at 7,280 feet, hikers begin descending toward Granite Park. Soon they will encounter the Granite Park Chalet, where they can spend the night or buy some food or water before continuing on toward the gorgeous 8,987-foot Heavens Peak while traversing fields of wildflowers. At 11.2 miles, hikers reach the bottom of the descent at Packers Roost Trail junction, and from here the trailhead is just over half a mile away.
