Mow looks back at first year

Another year of record visitation at Glacier National Park and continuing progress on Park infrastructure projects was some of the good news Park superintendent Jeff Mow relayed to the Columbia Falls Area of Chamber of Commerce last week.

“Folks in Waterton Park tell me they’re also seeing a lot more visitors,” he said. “A lot of people from the Calgary area — I’ve heard Banff was gridlocked.”

An uptick in the economy might partially explain the surge in tourism, Mow said, adding that Yellowstone National Park also reported more visitors this summer. Mow said he was impressed by how fast tourism ramps up for the short three-month season here.

“Unfortunately, we had some flooding on the east side and construction on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, which created a double-whammy for east-side businesses,” he said.

The end of construction on the west side of the Sun Road provided a big boost to west-side businesses, Mow noted. Long-term plans call for finishing Sun Road reconstruction from Siyeh Bend to Rising Sun this year and from Rising Sun to St. Mary next year.

Paving those two sections would take place at one time. The entrance gate at St. Mary could be widened to accommodate RVs. Reconstruction from Apgar Village to Avalanche Creek could take place a few years from now, he said.

Meanwhile, Park managers are working on a number of alternatives for the Sun Road Corridor Plan. Mow said he hopes to bring those back to the Columbia Falls Chamber this fall.

“One option is no more free shuttles,” he pointed out. “I’m hearing loud and clear not to get rid of them, but they’re not sustainable without funding.”

Mechanics are already cannibalizing shuttle buses to keep the fleet going, he added. Meanwhile up at Many Glacier, workers will start replacing the Swiftcurrent Bridge this fall, and rehabilitation work will continue at the Many Glacier Hotel.

“We want to return the lobby to its past grandeur,” Mow said. “Funding to restore the double helix stairway is about two-thirds there,” thanks to donations from alumni groups.

Mow said he was impressed by “so much tradition and connection by people to the landscape” at Glacier Park. He also gave kudos to his fellow National Park Service staff.

“We specialize in aging infrastructure,” he said.

The Park’s concessioners deserved a nod, he said, including Xanterra Parks and Recreation, “which scrambled on such short notice to pull things together,” Glacier Park Inc., “which didn’t go away and instead reinforced its business position here,” and the Lundgren family, which has been recognized in the past by the Secretary of the Interior.

“Visitors in West Glacier can’t tell where the town ends and the Park begins, thanks to the Lundgrens,” he said.

Looming ahead is another potential federal government shutdown, but Mow expects to see a continuing budget resolution that will keep the Park open.

“We’ll likely see a flat budget that will allow us to continue the same level of service,” he said.

Mow said he was impressed with hiker-biker opportunities on the Sun Road in spring before the highway is opened to motor vehicles.

“It’s very unique and special,” he said.

Running shuttle buses from Apgar to The Loop before the Sun Road opened past Avalanche Creek this year was well received, but continuing that opportunity depends on funding. The same applies to running the shuttles after Labor Day.

Mow also said he wants to promote more winter use. Park managers have discussed keeping one lane of the Camas Road plowed as an emergency route in event of an oil train disaster at West Glacier, which could also open up opportunities for skiers and snowshoers.