Video
Winter Scenes in Glacier, 1920s-1930s
Descriptive Transcript
Title card: Winter Scenes 1920s-1930s
Title card: “This footage, circa 1920s-30s, shows ice skating and sledding on frozen Lake McDonald---a rare occasion!”
Black and white footage. A group of people ice skate with varying degrees of proficiency on the frozen surface of Lake McDonald.
One skater pushes a toboggan with two people seated on it and lets go, sending the sledders spinning on the ice, smiling wide.
A boy in a knit cap skates unsteadily. Behind him on the lakeshore sits a boat pulled up on a dock.
Another skater pulls a sledder by a rope. He comes to a stop and she tumbles out of the sled. Another person picks her up and puts her upright.
Wide view of the lake with six skaters spread across. The ice extends as far as the eye can see.
Title card: “Even the pup came out for a spin.”
A small terrier pads delicately across the ice.
Another dog runs amongst people standing on the shore. Several cabins are in view behind them.
A child on foot chases another on skates.
A man skates fast straight towards the camera, mugging for the camera as he gets close
Slow-motion footage of a skater launching a sledder across the ice
A group sits on the snowbank at the edge of the ice, while children play.
Title card: “This 1930s clip shows a boy playing near part of the Two Medicine chalet. The building is buried up to its roof in snow.”
A boy climbs up a large snowpile and slides back down. He uses a stick to anchor himself so he can reach the top of the pile. He runs down the pile to climb right onto the shingled roof of a building.
Title card: “The American Dipper, or Water Ouzel, isn’t bothered by the cold.”
A small dark bird bobs up and down rhythmically, pecking at the water on the icy edge of a river.
Title card: “This clip, circa 1920s-1940s, shows staff clearing snow from homes and roads in park headquarters in West Glacier.”
On the roof of a large house surrounded by tall pine trees, people use shovels to remove snow and ice.
A snow plow, driver sitting on top, moves down a residential street where the snow looks to be four or five feet high.
Closeup of the plow driver, a young man with a stone-faced expression and cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth.
The plow moves down a snowy forested road.
Title card: “For this backcountry ranger, getting into the patrol cabin took a bit more time.”
A large snow-covered shape in a forest clearing, surrounded by towering pines. A person on snowshoes, carrying a long walking stick, approaches the shape.
He removes the snowshoes and sticks them upright in the snow, then bends down next to the snow-covered shape, and steps down below it.
Closeup of the man who is standing at the entrance to a cabin, which is completely covered by about 20 feet of snow. He begins shoveling himself out of the doorway.
Description
This series of clips shows various winter activities in the park. Temperatures in Montana have risen almost 2.5°F since the early 1900s - lake ice rarely freezes solid, and this type of skating party is likely a relic of the past. Be safe around ice in Glacier National Park! If you have any information to share about the content of the film, please contact us.
Duration
3 minutes, 44 seconds
Credit
NPS
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