Oberlin sunset
By Mallory Ignasiak
If there’s one person I should thank for pushing me to come to Glacier, it would have to be my dad. When I told him that I was interested in trying seasonal work, right away, he mentioned how magical Glacier National Park was and how I should try for a job over there.
In the early 90s, he visited the park with one of his close high school teachers and loved it. While camping in St. Mary, they hiked around the lake and stumbled upon a bull moose feeding in the water.
“It was HUGE! I didn’t really understand how big they were until I got to see one in person. From then and there, I knew I was gonna have to come back.”
Aurora borealis view from seasonal housing
As it so happens, life got in the way and he couldn’t make the time to visit the park again. He took on the responsibility of raising a family and keeping a full-time job. However, almost 32 years later, he finally had a reason to make the trip back into Montana again. When he heard I got a job with the Glacier National Park Conservancy, he was absolutely overjoyed. Next thing I knew, he was helping me pack the car and offering me his scout tent to use for camping.
Lynx along the Dawson Pass Trail
Spending 2 summers here, I’ve been able to do things that I didn’t even think were possible. I’ve pushed myself to try backpacking, hike 40 miles in one weekend, and walk across the border into Waterton, Canada. I’ve swam in glacier-fed lakes, seen the northern lights from my backyard, and studied the Andromeda galaxy through a telescope. I’ve identified plants and animals from afar, climbed peaks, and even saw a lynx along the Dawson Pass Trail. The list goes on and on! Most importantly, these memories wouldn’t mean anything without the friends I’ve made along the way. As my season reaches its end, and I have to say goodbye, I know I’ll never forget how special this place is and all the people I’ve met in it.
Farwell get-together ‘25
And it’s all thanks to my dad; without him, I probably wouldn’t even have looked into working at Glacier National Park. I’m forever grateful for his insight and all his support when it came to leaving home and driving about 1,408 miles from Grand Rapids, MI. Thank you, Dad!
