Empire Builder thru Glacier Park in Thanksgiving

[Texan Eagle]

Anyone taken the Empire Builder thru Glacier National Park around Thanksgiving time? I have a trip planned to the park taking train to and from PDX/SEA to Essex, MT and wondering how it will be in terms of weather and crowds.

Does it start snowing seriously over Marias Pass in late November? What has been the usual history of EB in terms of delays/cancellations this time of the year?

How full is the train in coach over Thanksgiving (27th and 28th, so middle two days, not the start and end of long weekend)? What's the chance of a group of 3-4 getting seats together or seats in SSL from Essex, MT?

Anything else I should know about taking this train that time of the year?

 

[yarrow]

no crowds at the park. quite limited transportation around the park. going to the sun road closed and such. should be some snow at essex though with el nino and general warming who knows. we took the family to west glacier one year around t-giving, stayed at belton chalet, brought our x-country skis and had a great time. i wouldn't expect weather related delays but who knows.

 

[Karl1459]

Snow can be expected in the high country anytime between August 1st and July 31st. According to US Climate Data http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/essex/montana/united-states/usmt0593the average temperature for Essex in November is 36/23. So your chances of seeing some snow is pretty good, though having enough base for cross country skiing may be iffy.

3 of us did a VAN-PDX-VAN a couple of years ago at Christmastime. The eastbound was modestly full but the SSL seemed not overly busy (and the attendant/conductors had blocked seats for groups) . Westbound the train was 6 hours late and FULL, the conductor was obviously (though professionally and politely) frustrated that there was a loss of control of seating and we ended up in seats several rows apart. The farther west the train emptied out and there were several vacant tables in the SSL, and perfect weather until the fog rolled in about Bingen-White Salmon.

Remember there is no diner PDX-SPK-PDX, and no SSL SEA-SPK-SEA and the lights go out on the scenery early eastbound.

The IWI was nearly full, but there was very little traffic on the highway. I did a 2 hour hike east on the highway and saw maybe 10 cars.

Check with the IWI a week or two before and you will get a better idea of the conditions... they will know then whats on the ground and what the long range weather forecasts are.

 

[tomfuller]

Take the EB to Whitefish instead of Essex (Isaac Walton lodge). It is much easier to get a rental car from the Kalispell airport there.

In the summer you can rent cars in Whitefiah but I think they come from the airport.

A few years ago my wife and I got picked up with a van from the Meadow Lake Resort at the WFH station in early November. We got a rental car delivered to the resort and drove up as far as Lake McDonald where the gate was closed for the GTTS road.

 

[Karl1459]

re rental cars... If your plan is to mostly stay in Essex take the train, there are rental cars available from the IWI if needed. Unless you love 40 miles of winter driving on two lane highways.

 

[Texan Eagle]

Our plan is to go as a railfan trip, not really much into skiing and such. We are staying at the Izaak Walton Inn, hence Essex. I read vaguely that IWI offers rental cars, has anyone availed of that facility? Is it like usual rental car agencies aka on 24 hours basis (if I pick up at 9am and return next morning at 9am I pay for 1 day rental) or they have their own rules?

Also, does anyone know if there is any transportation available from Kalispell Airport to IWI one way? I am considering flying in one way and take the train other way so in that case I can't rent a car at the airport (how do I return it!) so if there are shuttle/van sharing/cab and if so, how much does it cost? Calling IWI got me a disinterested "I don't know" response.

 

[Palmetto]

There are car rentals and a taxi service at Glacier International Airport. You might google the airport and see if the taxi company will take you up to Essex . If not, it's a car rental I guess. But I'm not sure a one-way rental there is even possible.

As far as renting a car at the inn itself, I just clicked on the car rental link on the website, and it came up blank. Not a good sign.

 

[tomfuller]

With the rental in November 2005, a driver came to the resort with our car and we rode back with him to the airport to complete the rental agreement.

We left the car at the Amtrak lot in Whitefish and dropped the key in a box at the station before we got on the eastbound EB.

On a westbound EB from Chicago we got off at Cut Bank and had a car (Pontiac) waiting for us in the lot. The key was in the gas flap and the rental agreement was on the sun visor for me to sign.

On that trip we drove up from St. Mary to the gate about 20 miles up. They were still clearing snow at Logan Pass on June 1

 

[D.P. Roberts]

I've rented a car in Whitefish several times. There are two vendors right there at the station, and they are very familiar with late trains, it's very easy. Even if you're staying at IWI you could detrain at Whitefish & drive from there, but of course you would miss the scenery through the mountains. Several taxi and shuttle services serve Kalispell, Essex, Whitefish, Big Mountain, etc.

 

[Texan Eagle]

I've rented a car in Whitefish several times. There are two vendors right there at the station, and they are very familiar with late trains, it's very easy. Even if you're staying at IWI you could detrain at Whitefish & drive from there, but of course you would miss the scenery through the mountains. Several taxi and shuttle services serve Kalispell, Essex, Whitefish, Big Mountain, etc.

I ended up calling the rental car agencies at Kalispell airport for details and they were very friendly. I will be flying into Kalispell one way and taking the train out, so renting a car from the airport and dropping it off at Whitefish Amtrak station. They said that is okay to do.

Thanks for all the advice! I had not considered Kalispell and Whitefish at all, was focusing only on Essex and hitting a wall!

 

[fairviewroad]

3 of us did a VAN-PDX-VAN a couple of years ago at Christmastime.

Say what?

 

[andersone]

I had great luck with a renter at East Glacier, but it was July,,,,,,, and do they cut out EG in the winter? its hell getting old and feeble,,,

I am jealous,,, I loved the Walton,,, sadly I probably will never get back there,,,,,

 

[Karl1459]

3 of us did a VAN-PDX-VAN a couple of years ago at Christmastime.

Say what?

oops VAN-ESM-VAN. lol

 

[montana mike]

I think the plan to fly into FCA (Kalispell) and leave on the train makes sense. Just keep in mind it will be dark on the train ride going west bound. As far as snow, since I live in WFH, the odds are that there might be a little snow on the ground, but with the forecasted El nino on the horizon this may not be the case. The IWI is worth it with or without snow.