Sun Road plows pioneer to Big Bend

Glacier National Park plow crews are making headway in their annual march up Going-to-the-Sun Road.

The west side crew had pioneered as far as Grouse Point last week, which is just past The Alps section and just before Big Bend.

Big Bend is at an elevation of 5,670 feet and 3 miles from Logan Pass. It marks the beginning of a series of eight avalanche chutes leading up to the pass at 6,646 feet.

Photos taken by the park last week showed crews working in deep snow conditions. A few rounds of winter weather are likely this week in the higher elevations, with heavy snow possible over the weekend.

Currently, visitors can drive 11.5 miles from the park's west entrance to Lake McDonald Lodge, and 5.5 miles from the St. Mary Entrance to Rising Sun.

On the west side, hiker and biker access is to The Loop when the road crew is working, approximately 14 miles past the vehicle closure. On the east side, hiker and biker access is to Wild Goose Island when the road crew is working, approximately 2 miles past the vehicle closure.