Monday, July 14, 2025
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Hopes for a quieter Lake McDonald

| June 25, 2025 8:30 AM


I am writing not with complaint, but with a quiet wish — for the future of Glacier, and for the stillness that lives within Lake McDonald.

I have been visiting this lake for over 40 years. It has shaped me. The still water, the mountain reflections, the cry of the loons — this is not scenery. It is sanctuary.

But in recent years, I have become more and more aware of what is being lost in the presence of gasoline-powered motorboats. Beyond the obvious environmental concerns — gas and oil leaks, emissions — there is a deeper loss that is harder to measure: the loss of silence.

The noise of engines disrupts more than just the air. It fragments the very stillness that makes this lake sacred. And for those of us who come here not to be entertained, but to listen — to heal, to remember, to return to something quieter within ourselves — this disruption is not trivial.

I understand there are commercial interests involved. Boat rentals and tours generate revenue. And change never comes without resistance. But I believe we are entering a new era — one where we are being called to reconsider not just what is profitable, but what is essential.

I am not asking for an immediate ban. I am asking for a vision.

Could we begin imagining a future where electric boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes are the norm on Lake McDonald? Could we preserve the beauty of movement across water while also protecting the silence that makes it sacred?

Let Glacier be a leader in this transition. Let it reflect not just the mountains in its waters, but also our growing willingness to tread lightly on the earth.

Thank you for all you do to protect this land.

And thank you for considering this hope.

With respect and reverence,



Kevin Wright

Resident and lifelong steward of Lake McDonald