Resolutions: plan your work; work your plan
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Editor,
I became a Glacier Park Trail Crew member at Many Glacier in May of 1951. The 12-man Many Glacier crew lived in a tent camp on the shore of Lake Sherburne that summer. The trailhead for Grinnell Glacier, Swiftcurrent Pass, Iceberg Lake and Ptarmigan Tunnel all originate at the Swiftcurrent Campground. The trails sometimes twist and turn on nearly level ground and at other times the trails go straight and steep.
Our primary job as Trail Crew was to clear debris and snow from the trails in the Many Glacier area. In early July, all the trails still had a foot or two of snow at the highest elevations, which needed to be removed for the safety of foot and horse travel. Nearly every day during June and July, we hiked to the “tunnel,” the “pass,” the “glacier.” Those were long hard hikes. I recall setting goals of distance and time. Could I make the next two hundred yards without stopping to catch my breath or can I walk a mile with my shovel and pack in less than twenty minutes, or, I’m going to climb to the third switchback before taking a break, etc. Each day I would extend my goal. By the end of summer I could hike up the trail nearly as fast as coming down the trail. Well, almost.
My point is this: what do I want to accomplish in 2015 and how will I make it happen? Call it what you will, resolutions or goals. Plan your work; then work your plan. I became trail foreman for the east side of Glacier Park in 1955.
Over the years, my goals have primarily centered on becoming a more mature Christian, even when I worked in the park. Goals like Bible reading, times of prayer, sharing time, talents and treasure, serving Christ and his church. I’m goal setting once again.
Harvey A. Town
Polson
