Plows reach Big Drift in Glacier Park

A snowplow crew has reached the “Big Drift” at Logan Pass on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the Sun Road.

The park’s west-side crew reached the drift on Wednesday, estimating it to be larger than it has been in recent years.

There was no depth estimate, but it is typically the deepest snow that is encountered every year. Work also got underway in clearing the parking lot at Logan Pass and installing guard rails and cleaning up debris from lower portions of the road.

Meanwhile, a crew approaching Logan Pass from the east was working toward Lunch Creek just below the East Side Tunnel.

In all likelihood, the full length of Sun Road won’t open to motor vehicles until sometime after June 20, park officials said during a recent media tour of the plowing effort.

Park leaders plan to meet throughout next week to consider when to open the road over Logan Pass.

In addition, crews are putting up hundreds of removable railings along the alpine sections of the highway.

Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said the park could open the highway’s alpine reaches to vehicle traffic, perhaps as far as Big Bend, before Logan Pass is opened. On the east side, Sun Road could be opened to Jackson Glacier Overlook, although no dates have been set.

Park officials hadn’t planned on opening the east side of the Sun Road until June 21 at the earliest because of ongoing road construction.

Park road crew foreman Stan Stahr said the plowing effort so far has been “about average,” with few equipment problems and fairly good weather, but there is more snow than normal.

Snowpack in the park this winter was about 130 percent of average, and portions of Sun Road still have extremely deep snow. Plow crews spent a week and a half getting through the Rimrocks area a half mile below the pass on the west side. Drifts there towered above the highway.

There are no hiking or biking restrictions on the west side on weekends, and  Sun Road is clear of snow and ice as far as the Rimrocks. Beyond there, bikers and hikers may find snow and ice up to Logan Pass.

Sun Road currently is gated to vehicles at Avalanche Creek. The bike ride from Avalanche to the pass is about 16 miles with a steep elevation gain.

On weekdays, the road is open to hikers and bikers on the west side as far as The Loop.

Most secondary roads in Glacier Park are open, except for the Cut Bank Road and the Inside North Fork Road between Fish Creek and Logging Creek.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.