Timberline's plans for '99 reflect our passion for the magic of Montana. Our 7-day Glacier Alpiner and 9-day Glacier Rambler bicycle tours return for a 13th season. Another component of our Glacier program, the Glacier/Waterton Lakes Adventure combining cycling, hiking and whitewater rafting again will be offered this season. And for those whose primary interest is hiking, see our Glacier Park Hike that offers some of the best alpine hiking in North America.

GLACIER PARK ALPINER

Dates: (7 days, 6 nights; Sun-Sat) July 4-10; Aug. 1-7; Aug. 29-Sept. 4

Assembly Point: Kalispell (airline, rail and bus service to Kalispell; Timberline van transfers to and from transportation terminals)

Tour Cost: $1,495 (includes all lodging, breakfasts and dinners, support van, transfers, leaders, tour maps and narratives)

The Glacier Park Alpiner assembles in Kalispell and we'll head for Glacier early-morning of Day 1. Before long, Glacier's snowclad peaks are visible as we enter the park at West Glacier and ultimately ride along the shores of Lake McDonald to our overnight at the Lake McDonald Lodge.

The logistics of this first day present the optional opportunity to enjoy a half-day of whitewater rafting on the Flathead River just prior to entering Glacier.

With that relatively gentle first day behind us, it's on to one of the most exciting cyclotouring experiences to be found in North America—the challenge of spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Highway and its summit at Logan Pass (6046'). How can we describe the experience of Going-to-the-Sun? The awesome glacial snowfields, tumbling waterfalls, the Hanging Gardens, the spectacular vistas that unfold at every switchback as we climb higher and higher. We promise some sweat, but the beauty is well worth it. As a reward for that effort, we can look forward to a long downhill to St. Mary and then on to Many Glacier on the Park's wild Eastern Slope. We'll spend the evening in the historic Many Glacier Hotel, set magnificently on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake in the shadow of Grinnell Glacier.

On Day 3, we'll cross the border into Canada for a visit to Waterton Park. We'll spend the evening at the Prince of Wales Hotel, standing regally at the north end of Waterton Lake above the Waterton Townsite and overlooking the world's longest unguarded frontier.

We'll return to Montana on Day 4—one of the most intriguing days that we offer on any tour. We'll climb from the Waterton Valley, trace the course of the Belly River and ride in the shadow of mystical Chief Mountain. We'll continue along the sparsely travelled eastern perimeter of Glacier beyond St. Mary Lake to the Triple Divide separating waters that flow to the Atlantic, Pacific and Hudson Bay. Our last climb on this very special day crests atop Looking Glass Hill with its breathtaking vista of Two Medicine Lake. And what a way to end this day—an exhilarating 8-mile descent into East Glacier where we'll spend the next two evenings at the grand Glacier Park Lodge.

We'll remain in the East Glacier area on Day 5 with a wide array of activities available on this layover day. Among those choices are some excellent hiking opportunities in the Two Medicine region, ranging from the ambitious challenges of Dawson Pass and Scenic Point to the relaxing boat ride across the lake and leisurely return hike along the shoreline. And for those who prefer a more literal interpretation of this "rest" day, the pool at the Glacier Lodge is an inviting alternative.

It's back on the road early-morning of Day 6 for a relatively gentle return to the Continental Divide atop Marias Pass. We'll ride to the southern tip of Lake McDonald and a final evening on its shores at the Apgar Village Inn, and then return to Kalispell by mid-afternoon of the final day.

Total Mileage – 335

GLACIER PARK RAMBLER

Date: (9 days, 8 nights; Sat-Sun) July 17-25

Assembly Point: Missoula/Polson (airline and bus service to Missoula; Timberline van shuttle between transportation terminals and Polson prior to tour. Note that this tour assembles in Polson and concludes in Missoula)

Tour Cost: $1,795 (includes all lodging, breakfasts and dinners, support van, shuttle between Missoula and Polson prior to tour, leaders, tour maps and narratives)

Simply stated, the Glacier Park Rambler is Montana Magic at it's best. The majestic snowcapped peaks of Glacier and Waterton Parks, the spectacular climb to Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Highway, the pristine, glacier-fed lakes, the expanse of beautiful Flathead Lake, the magnificent alpine settings and Old World charm of the Many Glacier and Prince of Wales hotels, the memorable farewell evening in the Swan Valley, and on and on. The Glacier Park Rambler is a continuum of experiences and impressions that captures the special essence that is cycling in the Rocky Mountain West.

Assembly for the Glacier Park Rambler has been moved to Polson and Timberline will provide the 1-hour van shuttle between the Missoula airport and Polson during the assembly day (July 16). This itinerary modification creates a layover day in the Two Medicine region of Glacier within our traditional 9-day format.

We'll ride the wooded eastern shore of Flathead Lake early-morning of Day 1 through the interesting village of Big Fork to Whitefish. It's on to Glacier on Day 2 as we ride the beautiful shoreline of Lake McDonald to the Lake McDonald Lodge. The logistics of this day present the optional opportunity to enjoy a half-day of whitewater rafting on the Flathead River just prior to entering the park.

We'll "go to the sun" the following morning, crest at Logan Pass and then descend to St. Mary on the way to Many Glacier and an overnight at the base of Grinnell Glacier on Swiftcurrent Lake at the Many Glacier Hotel. It's then on to Canada along the Chief Mountain Highway to Waterton Park and an evening in the elegant Prince of Wales Hotel, overlooking Waterton Lake.

Day 5 is adventure cycling at its best. We'll climb from the Waterton Valley, trace the course of the Belly River and ride in the shadow of magnificent Chief Mountain as we return to Montana. From St. Mary, we'll ride the sparsely-travelled eastern perimeter of Glacier toward Two Medicine. A final 4-mile climb up spectacular Looking Glass Hill, with its awesome panoramic view of Two Medicine Lake, precedes a thrilling 8-mile descent into East Glacier that concludes this extraordinary day.

We'll spend the next two nights at the grand Glacier Park Lodge and a layover day that offers several great hiking options at Two Medicine. We'll leave East Glacier early-morning of Day 7 with a gentle climb to the Continental Divide atop Marias Pass (5,280') as we ride to Apgar and another evening on the shores of Lake McDonald at the Village Inn.

Our eighth day, and final evening on tour will be one to remember. We'll ride the wooded, winding Swan Valley, tucked between the Mission and Swan Mountains in the heart of the Lolo National Forest. We'll spend the evening at the historic Holland Lake Lodge, on the lake for which it is named.

The adventure continues on our final day as we ride along Seeley Lake, climb the Beaverhead Divide and finally descend along the magnificent Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers to Missoula where our tour concludes.

Total Mileage – 558

GLACIER PARK/ WATERTON LAKES ADVENTURE

Date: (8 days, 7 nights; Sun-Sun) Aug. 15-22

Assembly Point: Whitefish, MT (airline and rail service to Whitefish; Timberline van transfers to and from transportation terminals prior to and following tour)

Tour Cost: $1,695 (includes all lodging, breakfasts and dinners, half-day whitewater raft trip, support van, transfers, leaders, boat trip to Crypt Lake trailhead, tour maps and narratives)

Timberline has been cycling and hiking in Glacier and Waterton Parks for the past 12 seasons in the context of the region's most comprehensive and adventurous program. But as our activities have grown over the years, so also has our awareness of how much remains for us to experience in Glacier/ Waterton. The Glacier Park/Waterton Lakes Adventure is merely the next progression in our commitment to create the ultimate, total experience.

In the context of this 8-day odyssey, we'll cycle through the heart of Glacier to the Continental Divide atop Logan Pass on Going-to-the-Sun Road, and then to Waterton and beyond. We'll raft the whitewater of the Flathead and hike to the glaciers above Many Glacier. In Waterton, we'll hike to Crypt Lake, a trek that many believe to be the finest of all Rocky Mountain hikes.

We'll assemble in beautiful Whitefish, on the shores of Whitefish Lake, and ride to Glacier on Day 1. Mid-day, we'll experience the excitement of whitewater, Montana-style, as we explore the Flathead River Canyon in the context of a half-day raft trip. Then it's back on the bikes for a gentle 10-mile ride along the shores of Lake McDonald to the Lake McDonald Lodge.

One of North America's premier alpine cycling experiences is ours on Day 2 as we challenge "Going-to-the-Sun" atop Logan Pass at the Continental Divide. We'll continue on to Many Glacier where we'll spend the next two overnights at the Many Glacier Hotel. Day 3 is dedicated to hiking at Many Glacier and we'll choose between two spectacular options—Iceberg Lake and Grinnell Glacier.

We'll ride from Many Glacier Valley early-morning of Day 4 and cross into Canada along the Chief Mountain Road—perhaps our all-time favorite cycling road. The next two overnights are planned for the magnificent Prince of Wales Hotel, perched high on a hill overlooking Waterton Lake.

Day 5 may be a layover day, but it is anything other than a rest day. An early morning boat launch will transport our group across Waterton Lake to the Crypt Lake trailhead, and we'll spend the better part of the day engaged in this extraordinary 11-mile round trip trek to one of Canada's most magnificent alpine lakes.

The adventure continues on Day 6 as we ride north from Waterton and into the historic Crowsnest Pass region. We'll overnight in Blairmore and then crest Crowsnest Pass early the following morning as we cross into British Columbia. It's on to Eureka that evening prior to our return to Whitefish through the Flathead Forest on our final day.