Howe Ridge still stubbornly burning, as each day gets a little drier

The Howe Ridge Fire continued to skunk in the trees in Glacier National Park in the past week, while most of the park, aided by a brisk breeze, stayed relatively smoke free, at least during the day.

It’s closest point to the Going-to-the-Sun Road is near McDonald Falls. It has not crossed the trail or McDonald Creek. Hose lays and sprinklers are set up on the McDonald Creek Trail, should the fire awaken.

On the east end, the fire has reached the Inside North Fork Road. It’s been pretty active just east of McGee Meadow, burning in the old 2003 Robert Fire, a mess of downed timber and thick lodgepole pine and brush.

Firefighters on Monday set a small burnout near the Inside Road to contain the blaze there.

It’s currently listed at 12,423 acres and is 12 percent contained. The cost to date is $8.18 million.

To the west, it’s burned both Mount Stanton and Mount Vaught to the top of the treeline and a small spot fire burned on Mount McPartland, but has since gone out. The fire on both slopes burned very hot in some areas — a complete stand replacement, while in other areas was mosaic, with large stands of trees remaining.

Despite the fire, most of Glacier appears to be back to its old pleasant late summer self for the time being, with high temperatures in the 70s and partly cloudy skies. Perfect weather for a hike or sightseeing expedition.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road, however, remains closed as of presstime from the foot of Lake McDonald to Logan Pass.

The pass is accessible from St. Mary on the east side.

There is still no word on whether the road will reopen this summer on the west side. It’s been closed since Aug. 11.

Conditions regionwide are still very dry. Save for a few sprinkles, there hasn’t been any rain and this week is expected to be warmer with only a slight chance of rain through the weekend.

The Paola Ridge Fire near Essex is 45 percent contained a little more than 740 acres and the Whale Butte Fire north of Polebridge is about 515 acres and 75 percent contained.

The Boundary Fire in the north end of Glacier Park is about 1,700 acres. It’s been downsized after better mapping. Chinook helicopters were used last week to hit hot spots in the interior, but it’s shown little growth.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes reported a new fire in the Rattlesnake area near the town of Hot Springs southwest of Kalispell last Thursday. It was listed at 1,200 acres and 50 percent contained.