Tough summer to be a Jammer. Great summer to be a simple, humble, shuttle driver.

The skinny on Red Bus Driving this year from the few, the proud, and a couple who are more than a little sour.

Staggered season: the buses were not going to run again for 2022, then they were, then only partially. Flip/flop flip/flop. So drivers showed up for the full season, and would have to drive the employee shuttle or a warehouse truck driving job until the NPS made up their mind to allow more Red Bus drivers. Policy changes are almost daily. Only returning drivers can be hired back this season (well…. sort of), but who wants to come back and make the commitment for a partial season, given a lot of them are from the Midwest and East Coast? The expense doesn’t warrant the travel. Especially when the would-be returning Jammer most likely has already found more profitable pandemic summer work locally. With such a short season, it’s like jumping in a race last minute that was already lost at the starting line.

Hours: The season started out short drivers. So those there are worked worked 12 hours days, six days a week, doing lots of extra tours. Then, because the reservations system is being run online only (with very long hold times), it’s hard to book a tour if you can’t get thru. Now drivers are going down to 4 days a week (a move to really cut back on overtime hours, as some people are logging 60+a week). But seasoned Jammers are not here for the time off. They are here for tours and tips. The only tolerate the former for the latter, with the latter being up to 2x your hourly. Speaking of hourly, I find myself punching in/out on a time clock! Haven’t done that since I did night janitor work in college to pay tuition.

Housing: the West side went to the RV park model a couple of years ago, the East side just start it this year. So now you don’t just end your shift at either LMD or MGH lodges, where you would just pull the bus in and grab some food at the dining hall. Then pop a beer with other employees with tales of stupid tourist tricks. Instead, you end your long day of driving with a 15–20 mile commute outside the park, where you wash the bus in a dirt lot which becomes a mud pit. After you put Big Red to bed for the night, you’ve got figure out something to heat/cook for dinner. Maybe sip a beer with the two random employees in the common kitchen area. Of course, they are only there to watch TV and wait until midnight, when the uninsulated cabins the call home will cool off from baking in the 100 degree sun all day. All that love for ten bucks and hour. Who could say no to that?

Heat: Glacier Park only gets the 90F plus heat normally for about two weeks in August. When that turns into a nonstop six weeks of baking in the sun with 17 strangers for 4-8 hours on hard seats in a vintage 1930’s tour bus, well, it kinda sucks. These buses were built to transition from horse drawn vehicles, and definitely NOT have people ride in ALL day. As you might guess, not so comfy by today’s standards, it can take a toll on the body and mind. And it seems people don’t tip as well when they are tired, thirsty, and.. um… really really sticky. Now factor in lost views from forest fire smoke, sitting in dusty delays from road constructions for 20 to 40 minutes intervals, and the fact most people just want the trip to be done. Makes the thought of being an extra in a Mad Max look film like a walk in the park.

My take-away: Great season for a zero responsibility job and hiking. And maybe getting in some Jammer training for next year should the opportunity present itself. I’m also looking into the NPS shuttles, as they drive the 1-ton vans on the upper reaches of the Sun Road and the full-size class B busses on the lower stretches. Then there are the Glacier Institute 1 ton vans I’ve been seeing in the park for the first time this year, which I found out not only offer shuttle rides, but ride & hike packages. Soooooo many options. But I shall be a Jammer. Eventually. Would love to do a private tour with friends and family and really give people a trip to remember. Maybe even use some profanity on the open mic.