Government shutdown had minimal impact so far

While the government shutdown enters its second week, area businesses say the impact of the closure of Glacier National Park has been minimal.

Montana Raft Company and Glacier Wilderness Guides co-owner Randy Gaynor said the company had a few day hikes planned, but the folks who were going on them canceled for other reasons prior to the shutdown.

The company offers guided hikes in Glacier, but Gaynor said most trips are done by the end of September. The company had some cancellations with Glacier Guides Lodge, and visitors who were already here in the Flathead “were pretty bummed out” that they couldn’t go into the Park.

Glacier Park Inc. spokesman Dan Hansen said the Park’s major lodges were already closed for the season prior to the shutdown. The company was running a few Red Bus tours on the weekends, which had to be canceled. He said the shutdown wasn’t impacting bookings at GPI’s Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish.

Dee Brown, owner of Canyon RV and Campground in Coram, said her campground closed prior to the shutdown. She said travelers still expect the Going-to-the-Sun Road to be closed in September, as it has been for the past six years due to construction. This is the first year the road was scheduled to be open to Logan Pass from the west side.

The weather hasn’t been cooperating at higher elevations. Snow has already blanketed the high country, and more inclement weather is expected this week. Prior to the shutdown, Park officials closed the Sun Road at The Loop because of snow.