Montana Senators, Sec. Zinke support Sperry Chalet rebuild

The effort to eventually rebuild the Sperry Chalet got bipartisan backing last week from Montana’s two senators.

“Sperry Chalet was one of the most unique and treasured places in the entire Park. Although we can never fully replace the original Sperry Chalet and its rich century of history, I strongly support rebuilding it so a new generation of visitors can experience this one-of-a-kind destination,” Sen. Jon Tester said in an email last week.

Montana Sen. Steve Daines had similar sentiments.

“The loss of the Sperry Chalet is a tragic result of one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory, and I’m grateful for the brave firefighters who fought so valiantly to save it. For more than 100 years, people from all over the world enjoyed the chalet as a world class hiking destination. It was truly one of the icons of our national parks. I look forward to working with the National Park Service to rebuilt the chalet,” Daines said.

Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke also supports rebuilding the chalet, spokeswoman Heather Swift said Friday.

“The Secretary more than supports rebuilding Sperry, he has already begun the process,” she said in an email to the Hungry Horse News.

Tester said Wednesday that he hoped to secure some fire relief funding in upcoming bills that would provide relief for Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. He said he needed to hear from Zinke on whether funds for the chalet could be covered in the current budget, or if it would need additional funds.

The chalet was gutted by the Sprague Fire on Aug. 31 as high winds shot embers into the eaves of the 104-year-old building perched at the base of Gunsight Peak in Glacier’s backcountry.

Firefighters tried to fight the blaze, even breaking safety protocols to fight the fire from inside the structure, but it was simply too hot and smoky.

Rebuilding the chalet has brought a groundswell of national support, noted Doug Mitchell, the executive director of the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the nonprofit fundraising arm of the Park.

The Conservancy immediately started a campaign to gauge interest in helping the chalet by soliciting emails from potential donors. So far, about 500 have signed up, he said Monday, though no dollars have actually been raised until the Park can get a better handle on what’s actually needed.

Those answers will likely come in the next few weeks as Park personnel can get a better look at the chalet. While the building is gutted, the stone structure still remains.

Whether it can be stabilized to make it through winter — and an avalanche season — remains to be seen.

The Conservancy stands ready to help, Mitchell noted. He said they have a contingency fund that can be used to pay for stabilization costs.

Superintendent Jeff Mow said the Conservancy will be critical in that role, noting that federal funds would be hard to obtain that quickly.