Gunsight Pass

The Gunsight Pass Trailhead is about 13.2 miles from the Saint Mary Visitor Center and accessed from the Jackson Glacier Overlook. If you plan on hiking the 19.5 miles in one shot you are looking at an 11 to 13 hour day. I planned this as a day hike and it took just 9 hours of hiking with a speed walking pace from the trailhead until reaching Gunsight Lake where you begin your 3,819 feet ascent to Gunsight Pass. At the lake, you will find the backcountry campground which has six sites, three of which can be reserved. Even though you will be walking through a lot of forest on this portion of the trail, there will be openings where grand views will present themselves. One such opportunity provides a picturesque view to the south of lush grassy meadows surrounding Mirror Pond with the 9,030 foot Citadel Mountain in the background. It is not uncommon for a moose to wander into this scene. Upon arriving at Gunsight Pass (6,946 feet), you will be treated to views of Lake Ellen Wilson far below to the southwest, Gunsight Lake to the northeast, Gunsight Mountain to the north, and Mount Jackson to the south. The hike from the Lake Ellen Wilson backcountry campground trail junction to Lincoln Pass is 2.3 miles and 1,121 feet of elevation gain. The pass, at 7,050 feet, is the highest point along this hike. From the pass, it is an easy 1.2 miles with 550 feet of elevation loss to the Sperry Chalet. Sperry is a great place to fill up your water, change socks and do any foot doctoring before your 5,876 feet. descend to Lake McDonald Lodge. Also they have delicious Huckleberry Pie and lunch menu if needed. By the time you finish this challenging yet very rewarding hike through the landscape that will give you a feeling of awe and accomplishment, you will possibly have seen a Moose, Mountain Goats, active Bears and big horn Sheep. An absolute must hike that cuts almost directly through the center of the park. I maybe bit off more than I could chew and didn't pack Advil or my walking sticks and ended up losing about 6 toenails a week later which was completely my own doing. I will say this has been one of my best physical accomplishments and look forward to my next Glacier National Park adventure. This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all. • 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester) • Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²) • Pre-shrunk fabric • Side-seamed construction • Shoulder-to-shoulder taping • Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US Size guide   LENGTH (inches) WIDTH (inches) CHEST (inches) XS 27 16 ½ 31-34 S 28 18 34-37 M 29 20 38-41 L 30 22 42-45 XL 31 24 46-49 2XL 32 26 50-53 3XL 33 28 54-57 4XL 34 30 58-61