Park plows reach Haystack Creek area
<p>An avalanche spotter watches as a loader clears snow from Going-to-the-Sun Road above the Loop earlier this week.</p>
A Glacier National Park snowplow crew was making initial bulldozer cuts through the Haystack Creek area Thursday, while another crew was moving equipment to start plowing toward Logan Pass from the east.
The west-side crew on Going-to-the-Sun Road is just over five miles from Logan Pass and has encountered snow depths ranging from 5 to 18 feet deep.
The crew is making good progress, but the earliest Sun Road could open over Logan Pass is June 15 because of contract terms that allow for both lanes to be closed for accelerated work that is part of a multiyear road reconstruction project.
Hikers and bicyclists on the west side of Glacier can travel about 7.5 miles beyond the vehicle closure at Lake McDonald Lodge. On the east side, hikers and bikers can travel beyond a vehicle closure at Rising Sun.
During the weekend there are no restrictions on hikers and bikers.
Roads open on the west side of the park include the Camas Road and the Kintla Road for six miles to Big Prairie.
On the east side, the Two Medicine Road is open to vehicles up to Running Eagle Falls.
All other park roads remain closed to vehicles.