Glacier is calling, and I must go. Summer is here!

All right all right all right. I officially have GNP fever now for the 2022 season.

If you recall from a prior post, my seasonal onboarding is going be a little different than most. Actually, it’ll be totally different as I’m being accommodated (shhh… I’m not allowed to tell anyone. Unless of course they end up reading this blog).

A first summer Jammer has to go through one week of classroom training stuff. Actually, I’m pretty sure this is the standard way they start off every year (thanks DOT). It will be full of Federals and State requirements, and I’m sure a ton of corporate content to ensure that you’re a good and responsible driver when sitting behind the wheel of a million-dollar vintage motor coach. AND you understand the consequences if you screw up.

That is then followed by one week of driving training. You get your Montana CDL Class C for vehicles past 10k pounds. Then spend week two with a seasoned lead driver who will show you all of the ropes (as well as the tricks of the trade). But it’s completely on you to figure out your dialog. WHAT you want to talk about, and WHERE you want to say it along the many miles of steep narrow treacherous mountain road.

Because of timing, my 2 weeks of mandatory training for the summer falls on the last 2 weeks of school. Yeah, that’s just not going to fly. So that’s where the accommodation comes in.

Instead I will take off the 2nd to the last week of school to do my classroom training, drive home finish up my last week at school, drive back and finish up my driver training. Not looking forward to burning 1,000 miles of gas at historically high prices, but it will work.

In theory this will put me week behind everyone else starting up new for the season. In reality, I already have my CDL Class B. AND I did get to log 150 Jammer miles on the Sun Road last fall with Jammer Don. AND let’s not forget I’ve got more Jammer dialog bouncing around in my head than I could share it in a lifetime. So I think I’m going to be OK. Probably a couple of days with a lead driver and then start talking for money.

A bright side of this whole thing is that my roommate from last year is currently onboarding now. You might recall a post I did questioning if he was potentially a retired serial killer. But at the end of the day, I’ve grown to like the guy and really appreciate his friendship and how we share knowledge about all things Glacier Park. And hey, I never saw him in a clown suit, and there’s no proof he has a crawl space full of bodies. Hell, I don’t think he even HAS a crawl space! So going forward I think I’ll just have to reserve my judgmental stereotyping for those more deserving of my satirical literary wrath. Like the hundreds and hundreds of tourists I am going to transport this summer. I could not ask for a better canvas to create with.

The Many Glacier hotel is not open yet for the season. And a picture of Many before the crowds descend is always a glorious thing.

This was taken just last week, and you can see fresh snow on the cars and the heavy snows of winter in the parking lot. For me it is like looking at a timeless picture of an old friend. A friend just about to get up from a very long sleep. It’s almost unconceivable to think that in a few short weeks this place will be so busy the NPS will have to close the road at the entry gate before noon because there is no place to park. The valley is full.

Ex-bunkmate Don even did me one better. He was up at the newly acquired Beargrass Campground just down the road from that wonderful little slum looking for a city to attach itself to: Babb, MT. This will be for employee only housing this summer, similar to my stay at the Coram RV Park on the West Side last season.

It was nice of Don to snap a quick shot of the campground common kitchen area. So I know what to expect and can pack accordingly. I plan to spend a lot of time there. From my past experience, the communal area is where all the magic happens. I know I’ll be pulling some stories out of that place.

And as though Don hadn’t done enough already, he even found out that I will be housed in Cabin Number 4. I have no idea what that means. Although it does have wonderfully creepy kind of a Quentin Tarantino horror film vibe to it. He kindly snapped some photos of it and even what the view from my front porch will be. It’s nice to see that I will at least have some trees to hold off that hot summer sun this time around.

I’ve got pages and pages of things that I need to get done before I depart on June 2nd for my 1st week of indoctrination. I know it won’t all get done, but I’ve got to try. The benefit of bouncing back for that last week of school is that I’ll be able to get all the stuff I forgot.

This is going to be a totally different summer. A totally different experience. I just can’t wait to share it with you all.