More roads open in park
More roads and facilities have opened in Glacier National Park, and crews continued to make progress plowing Going-to-the-Sun Road this week.
The road into the Many Glacier Valley opened on Monday, but there are no facilities open in the valley yet due to abundant snow.
Because of that, the opening of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn has been delayed until June 16.
The Bowman Lake Road and campground were opened Friday, as was an eight-mile section of the Inside North Fork Road from Polebridge to Logging Creek. The Lake McDonald Lodge was set to open today, along with Glacier Park Boat Co. and Red Bus operations.
Snow plowing continued on both sides of the park this week.
On the west side, crews have completed initial plowing of Sun Road about three miles beyond the Loop. They have been encountering snow depths ranging from 8 to 20 feet.
On the east side, initial plowing advanced with a half mile of Siyeh Bend, and crews are encountering 7 to 8 feet of snow. HK Contractors, the contractor for Sun Road rehabilitation work, have been assisting with plowing efforts on the east side.
“Although there is an unusual amount of snow in our mid-elevation ranges, the crews are making good progress and opening roads and facilities in the safest manner possible,” Glacier Superintendent Chas Cartwright said in a news release.
“Recreational activities abound whether you are looking to hike, bike, camp, view wildlife or just take in the beautiful scenery.”
This weekend, there are no planned restrictions for hikers or bikers on Sun Road, Many Glacier or Two Medicine Roads.
However, avalanche danger persists throughout the park. Avalanches along Sun Road can occur during and after snow storms, during and after rain events, and especially during warm, sunny days.
During high avalanche danger, park officials do not advise hiker-biker travel on Sun Road beyond Avalanche Creek and Rising Sun.
Drowning is the leading historic cause of death in Glacier and park officials anticipate high flows on park streams in the weeks to come, and visitors are urged to use caution around park waters.
Links for photos, video clips, road conditions and plowing status can be found on Glacier’s home page, www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm.
For information on current campground status, visit the park’s camping web page, http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm.
Travelers also may call park headquarters at 406-888-7800 for current road and weather conditions.