Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/1312747
D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 12 I T SOUNDS LIKE A SOCIAL MEDIA MEME: Could you stay at Many Glacier for five months—in the winter—with- out ever going into town? For David and Rebecca Wilson, their answer was "yes" times four. Every summer, millions of visitors flock to the jaw-dropping beauty of the Many Glacier Valley in Glacier National Park. Trails resemble lines of ants heading to the glorious lakes, glaciers, and peaks of the region, and parking is a competitive sport. But when the road closes, often due to snow, few will ski, bike, or hike the seven miles to the hotel, leaving the area in quiet solitude to the wildlife and the winterkeepers. With David already working on the maintenance crew in Many Glacier during the 2014 season, when the winter caretaker position for the Many Glacier Hotel and surrounding buildings opened up, it sounded particularly intriguing. Both game for a new adventure, David and Rebecca decided to jump at the opportunity. Suddenly, they needed to pre- pare for five months of isolation, living the quarantine lifestyle long before it was cool. It's practically impossible to mention a winterkeeper's position without thinking of The Shining, but aside from the wind sounding like people singing down the halls of the grand old hotel, David assures us it is far more grounded. Barely skipping a beat from his summer work, he had plen- ty to accomplish when the guests were gone. As with any senior structure, there are always features to fix and improve, and given the remote location, the Wilsons were constantly watchful for the effects of water, ice, or snow. Beyond caring for a century-old hotel hours from any civiliza- tion, it was like any other day at work. "I worked a regular week. I created a lot of my own work list. I knew what I need to do before the spring," he said. Alone at Many Glacier: BEING A WINTERKEEPER AT ONE OF MONTANA'S LEAST ACCESSIBLE HOTELS article by AMY GRISAK photos by DAVID AND REBECCA WILSON