Avalanche hampers park plowing
The warm, sunny weather isn’t helping the plow crews clearing snow along Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road, where they were forced to turn around Thursday after encountering a 30-foot-deep avalanche near Haystack Creek.
Park spokeswoman Margie Steigerwald said park avalanche technicians investigated conditions along the road’s west side Thursday and determined a high level of danger from potential slides, likely stalling plow work in the area until next week.
“It’s expected this time of year. This is when it happens,” Steigerwald said, adding in an email, “Crews had been plowing at Haystack Creek on Wednesday, but now will need to wait for safe conditions before clearing through the avalanche debris that cross the road.”
The avalanche occurred between Wednesday afternoon and when the crew returned the following morning. Steigerwald noted that temperatures in the area stayed unusually high overnight, never falling below 45 degrees.
The vehicle closure at Lake McDonald Lodge is expected to remain in place at least through the weekend, giving hikers and bikers exclusive access farther up the road.
No official closures are in effect on the west side, but park officials recommend against venturing beyond the Loop until the avalanche danger passes.
Similar conditions prevailed on the road’s east side, where crews stopped at Siyeh Bend to work on road repairs in Many Glacier on Thursday. Hikers and bikers are not allowed past Jackson Glacier due to avalanche danger. Vehicles are restricted to 5.5 miles between the St. Mary entrance and Rising Sun.
Elsewhere in the park, Camas Road is open to vehicle traffic, while the Chief Mountain, Cut Bank and Many Glacier Roads are closed at the park boundary.
Two Medicine Road is closed to vehicles at Running Eagle Falls and the Inside North Fork is closed at Doverspike Meadow, Bowman Lake Road, Polebridge South Gate and Fish Creek.
Free admission to the park continues through Sunday as the park celebrates the end of National Parks Week.