Glacier National Park News Release


Work Continues to Prepare West Side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road
Many recreational opportunities exist in the park


WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park report that crews
are completing snow removal in the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun
(Sun) Road and are currently removing debris and repairing areas damaged by
last November’s storm and recent heavy rain on the west side of the Sun
Road. Given the amount of work that remains, it is still too early to
project any opening for the west side of the road to Logan Pass.


“While we are nearing completion of snow removal in the alpine section, we
still have much labor-intensive work ahead of us before we can plan to open
to Logan Pass from the west side,” commented Superintendent Mick Holm.


“Much attention has been given to the washouts on the east side of the
road, but the west side was also impacted by last November’s storm. There
is significant debris distributed throughout the alpine section. While much
of this debris can be removed with equipment, some must be removed with
hand tools, making the removal process very labor intensive. We also must
repair some of the road near Oberlin Bend which experienced serious
shoulder erosion and damage to the water drainage system below the road.
Unfortunately, crews will need both lanes to accomplish this work, so
one-way traffic is not an option. Jersey barriers must also be placed in
several locations along the road where we lost some road shoulder.”


“Last week’s rain further complicated our work. It caused a significant
washout and retaining wall damage occurred at Rimrock which must be
repaired or stabilized prior to opening from the west side.”


Additionally, as is true each year, crews must also complete traditional
road preparation work. Most of this work has not yet been done. This work
includes installing guardrails and signage, repairing potholes, clearing
culverts, sweeping the road, clearing parking lots and facility
preparation. “Just the installation of the avalanche resistant guardrails
at Haystack and Triple Arches takes about three days to complete.”


Despite the alpine section’s closure, visitors to the park can still travel
15.5 miles from the West Entrance to Avalanche and 13.5 miles from St. Mary
to Jackson Glacier Overlook. Further, again this weekend (June 9 and June
10) hikers and bikers will be allowed unlimited access beyond the west-side
vehicle closure at Avalanche on these days. However, due to storm damage,
no hiker/biker access is allowed on the east-side beyond Jackson Glacier
Overlook.


Other park roads are open for vehicular travel including the Camas Road,
the Many Glacier Road, the Two Medicine Road, and the Cut Bank Road. The
Inside North Fork Road is open from the Polebridge Ranger Station to
Logging Creek.


Current area closures include: Mt. Henkel and Mt. Altyn south aspect, the
south end of St. Mary Lake, the head of Logging Lake, and eastern side of
the Inside North Fork Road between Logging Creek and Anaconda Creek. The
head of Kintla Lake is also closed to boat traffic. These areas are all
closed due to wildlife protection. Trail closures include: the Upper
McDonald Horse Bridge due to flooding and the Autumn Creek Trail due to
bears. Closures can change at any time and visitor centers will have the
most current information.


Additional park facilities and concession activities are also available.
Avalanche campground opened today, June 8, as did the Many Glacier Hotel.
Boat tours in Many Glacier also began today. Glacier Institute classes are
offered throughout the summer, including options for this weekend.


Visitor centers in Apgar and St. Mary are open daily. Glacier Natural
History Association bookstores are also available in each of these visitor
centers as well as at the train depot in West Glacier.


“With fewer visitors, comfortable temperatures, and wildflowers in bloom,
including beargrass, now is an enjoyable time to come and visit Glacier,”
concluded Holm.


- NPS -