An Unusual Friendship
Number ‘ol George among the countless outdoors people who will greatly miss Pete Hart, former Glacier Superintendent and all-around good guy.
Pete Hart and I met under somewhat shaky circumstances in June 2002. Was introduced to him at the West Glacier Café by Chief Ranger Steve Frye and Pete immediately said, “Oh, you’re the guy on the radio who said I wasn’t doing anything up here.”
Had to think fast, then remembered I had suggested that Glacier was changing administration more often than some people change their underwear, with the last Super, “….Susanne not being there long enough to find her way to the ladies room before shipping out to Yellowstone, and I don’t know if the new leader is doing anything or not.”
Formalities out of the way, Pete and I sat down and had a good “give and take” talk. After awhile, he told of having a Ranger “role model” named Tom Milligan, when he first went to work for the Park Service in Grand Teton. I told him if he admired Tom Milligan, then we should be friends, because Tom and I had been parachute instructor buddies at Missoula Smokejumpers in the middle 50s. That revelation seemed to give Pete at least some reason to begin liking me.
A week after meeting Pete Hart, I wrote in this column that, “I still don’t know if Pete is actually doing anything up there, but at least now … I like him.”
Through the years, while he filled in as the head honcho at Glacier Park on two occasions, and after his settling down in retirement with wife, Sally, in Livingston, Pete and I kept in touch by letter and phone calls. We even talked about doing some hiking together and I mentioned that being years younger he might have to carry my pack, he laughed and said he’d be glad to give it a try.
Final letter I received was written last Nov. 14:
“Dear George, A belated thanks for the wonderful Glacier DVD … Sally and I have watched it several times and each time is a great treat. Thanks for thinking of me and for the phone call. A lot of water over the falls in the short time since my stint at Glacier and I guess the most important thing I learned has been the value of my friends over the years.”
“If you had not made fun of me that morning on the radio, we probably would not have become friends. As I look back, many of the folks were ‘thorns in my side’ when I was holding up the NPS banner became good friends later. I truly believe that there is a need for diverse opinion in how parks are run and that those who think a little differently love their parks all the same.”
“George, thanks so much for thinking of me. I miss you on the radio but still enjoy your column. Will be in Columbia Falls at my daughter’s over Thanksgiving and will try to give you a call. I’m trying hard to beat this stuff. Your friend, Pete H.”
Pete Hart was a decorated Vietnam veteran, an outstanding career Park Ranger and supervisor. I appreciated his willingness to meet people more than half way, and listen with respect to the other guy. Lastly, I deeply admired his unbelievable personal strength and optimism while fighting a long and painful battle with serious illnesses … “I’m trying hard to beat this stuff.”
I’m not really glad I “made fun” of Superintendent Hart that memorable spring morning years ago; but, it did result in a remarkable friendship that I shall value for as long as I live.
Thank you, Pete.
G. George Ostrom is a Kalispell resident and a national-award winning Hungry Horse News columnist.