I will be taking a group of kids on a backpack/camping trip to Glacier national park this summer. I am considering carrying a sidearm for protection from bears, etc. I know an attack is unlikely, but the thought of standing there helplessly while a wild animal is attacking someone scares the heck out of me. So my question is do I really need to carry, or is the possability of an attack so unlikely that I need not be concerned. If I should carry, My current arsenol includes a 6 inch .357 mag, or my Glock m22 (.40 S & W). I have also been looking at either a Springfeild or a Kimber .45. Or should I use this as an excuse to finally buy that .44 mag?

If I'm not mistaken, carrying any firearm in a national park is illegal. However, I'd rather be judged by a jury of twelve than carried by six pall bearers.
Is it a Scout group or some other formal group? If so, they probably have their own rules about packing iron. Even so, when I was a member of the Back Country Horsemen, we always contravened the orgainization rule that requires us to not carry arms during club events because several members had wished they had something to put an injured horse down. We just kept the firearm out of sight in a pack. The rule's intent is to not intimidate anyone or otherwise arouse suspicions that we were anything but upright citizens.

Let's start with wetware; what ya got 'tween your ears is the most important asset. Read up on how to avoid bear incidents.
Then, get a canister of bear-type pepper spray to carry on your belt. At least it's legal. Doesn't always work, though.
They haven't banned cutlery, either. You will be needing a camp knife, anyway.
Not having any real experience, this is just my semi-informed opinion.

On the subject of the .44 Magnum, they frequently show up for sale relatively cheaply with a half-box of cartridges because a half box of cartridges was all it took to turn the shootist into a flinching idiot.
Try developing a bear load in your .357 Magnum first. Mine is a 180 grain hard cast bullet with the maximum charge of Lil'Gun. Bullet's seated as far out as I can get it in the Model 19 cylinder. Accuracy is six shots in a five inch circle at 100 yards. Of course, I have no intention of shooting any bear at that distance. The recoil stings my hand a little.

-91

As a fellow backpacker and one that has had a bear encounter, you should invest in a can of pepper spray, and one for each of your campers. Make sure they know how to use it, and try to tell them not to spray into the wind. I try to stay out of national parks, but I am almost certain that you can not carry in some parks.

Take a look at packing.org . I know it has come up there. I believe they have a section dealing with national parks/forests. There are ways to travel through a national park with a firearm but I'm not sure if you would qualify. Best to check.

Bill

you also need to make sure not to cross into waterton park (canada) as they are going to be a lot more upset than even the park service if you get caught with a handgun.
i rode my Harley thru Glacier (goin to the sun hwy) last summer before the fires. it's the most beautiful drive i've ever been on.

monty

Best to check with Park officials upon arrival and even better, well in advance of your trip as mentioned by another reply above. If you find a trail that is closed, don't proceed. The rangers track bear movements and sightings and close trails that may pose a risk. I doubt that it would be legal to carry a weapon inside the park and if you ended up shooting a bear or worse yet just wounding a bear and having it get away, the consequences could be significant even if you were justified. The sprays are popular but their effectiveness has been debated. Many people wear bells or other noise making items to keep bears from being surprised by your arrival.

Something that can be carried, not only in the National Parks, but in Canada as well, is one of the 12 ga. Flare Pistols! They are a signaling device, not a weapon... but I'll asure you that that phosphorus flare coming out the bore would be a powerful deterrent to either two or four legged predators should the need arise. Just food for thought. A friend of mine is a long-haul trucker, and many of the areas he travels don't look kindly upon concealed weapons.... his is a politically correct emergency signaling device.... the flare pistol under his seat or in the center console.

Just a quick idea that wouldn't cause hate and discontent with park rangers, Mounties, or political doo-gooders.

God Bless,

Marshall,

Funny that you mention that little item. I worked for a fellow that was confronted by a black bear on a trail. The bear was quite persistant in closing the distance and prompted the fella to bring his flare gun into play. Penetration was sufficiant to lodge the magnesium flare inside the chest cavity. The bear lost all intrest in stalking humans for the last minute or so of his life.

I believe that my source was reliable, but I would suggest a penetration test on some medium before banking on this information.

Scotty

Nellemit........Glacier is NO picnic for backpackers, especially kids OK. I have been their 4 times and bears a plenty they do have in spades. Close to 700 last time I was up there in the mid 90's, stayed at MacDonald Lodge for two nights instead of our motorhome. Beautiful place it is.

You are supposed to check in at the ranger station before you go out on your hike. They scout some and will list the trails that are open and not contaminated with bears. However remember this, a trail that is closed because of grizz bears 5 miles away, doesn't mean you won't see or happen onto one in your area. Bears travel 20 miles during a days feeding sometimes.

Forget about buying the so called Bear Bells they sell up there, they are a joke. You want to sing and make lots of noise while hiking. The pistol thing won't do you much good, unless it is a 44 mag or bigger. I am not sure if the rangers will let you carry it to begin with unless things have changed. Make sure YOU and ALL your people watch the film on bears the rangers show. It will shed more light on things you need to know about bears up there. We never went hiking at Glacier Park, I just thought it was to dangerous for our young people with us at the time.