The snow finally stoped and the sun came out today. Lots of hikers and backpackers parked in hotels due to cold and wet conditions! I'm sure the vendors are loving it!

It's been a good cool and relatively we sping and the wild flowers in the lower evevations are stunning this year. The balsoms are just as beautiful as ever! It wont be long until the mid elevations are realy popping with color. Should be another great flower year.

Anyhow, here's the latest from the NPS, GNP. . .


May 25, 2006
For Immediate Release
Melissa Wilson 406 888-7895
NEWS07-28


Start Your Summer at Glacier National Park


WEST GLACIER, MONT. – With the unofficial start of summer kicking off this
weekend, visitors are reminded that Glacier National Park is open and there
are numerous facilities and services available within and around the park.


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


On the Going-to-the-Sun (Sun) Road, vehicles can travel 15.5 miles from the
West Entrance to Avalanche and 13.5 miles from St. Mary to Jackson Glacier
Overlook. Further, park road crews will not be doing any pioneering work
over this holiday weekend, Saturday through Monday. Therefore, hikers and
bikers will be allowed unlimited access beyond the west-side vehicle
closure at Avalanche. However, due to storm damage, no hiker/biker access
is allowed on the east-side beyond Jackson Glacier Overlook.


Park visitor centers in Apgar and St. Mary are open daily. Campgrounds are
available at Apgar, Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Many Glacier, Rising Sun,
Sprague Creek, St. Mary and Two Medicine. Primitive camping, with no water
provided, is also available at Cut Bank.


Activities are available this holiday weekend from several park
concessioners. Glacier Park, Inc. operates tours aboard the refurbished
historic red buses starting May 27. Sun Tours is currently offering
interpretive tours featuring a Blackfeet perspective. Guided day hikes and
backpack trips are available now from Glacier Guides, Inc. Swan Mountain
Outfitters offers horseback rides at Lake McDonald and Apgar beginning May
26. Boat rentals will be available this weekend (May 26-May 28) at Apgar
from Glacier Park Boat Company. Glacier Park Boat Company will start boat
tours at Lake McDonald on May 27. Although Waterton International Shoreline
Cruise Co. boats are not yet landing at Goat Haunt, tours of Waterton Lake
are currently available.


Lodging is available from park concessioner Glacier Park, Inc. at the Lake
McDonald Lodge starting May 26. Privately-owned lodging and other visitor
services are available in the park at Apgar Village and in gateway
communities.


Current area closures include: Mt. Henkel and Mt. Altyn south aspect, the
south end of St. Mary Lake, the head of Logging Lake, and Sullivan Meadow
(near the Logging Creek Ranger Cabin). These areas are all closed due to
wildlife protection. Closures can change at any time and visitor centers
will have the most current information.


The entrance fee for a seven day single vehicle entry to Glacier National
Park is $25 and the fee is $12 for a single entrant (a biker, walker, or
motorcyclist). An annual pass, valid for unlimited entry to Glacier for one
year from the date of purchase, is $35. Even when the entrance stations are
not staffed, an entrance fee is still required. Follow the posted
instructions to pay the entrance fee at the self-payment boxes at each
entrance station.


Visitors are cautioned that spring snowstorms can cause hazardous driving
conditions and/or temporary closures of park roads. Visitors should also
watch for avalanche slides, falling rocks, and debris.


Park visitors are also reminded that all park animals are wild,
unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Feeding of any park wildlife is
against the law and subject to fines. Visitors are urged to keep a safe
distance from all wildlife and to report any bear and/or mountain lion
sightings to a park ranger as soon as possible.


Officials also caution that the November 2006 storm caused considerable
damage to the backcountry trail system. Hikers should be aware of the
possibility of rough, washed out sections of trail throughout the park.
Bridges may have been damaged or destroyed. Much of the damage may not be
evident until late June, or even July in some alpine areas, when park
personnel are able to patrol every trail. Drowning is the number one cause
of death in Glacier National Park. Please use extreme caution around water.


For current road condition information, visit the park’s road status Web
site http://www.nps.gov/applications/glac/roadstatus/roadstatus.cfm.


Current road conditions are also available by calling 511, the Montana
Department of Transportation Traveler Information System. If your phone
does not support 511, call 1-800-226-7623. Both numbers are toll-free.
Select “Glacier Park Tourist Information” from the main menu to hear
Glacier’s road report.


For further information on Glacier National Park, visit the park’s Web site
at www.nps.gov/glac or call 406-888-7800.