Glacier Park plows at Big Drift
A grizzly bear tip-toes along a freshly plowed section of Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park on May 28. Plow crews have reached Logan Pass and are working to clear the Big Drift. (Glacier Park photo)
Glacier National Park plow crews reached Logan Pass this week and have started clearing the Big Drift, according to a park spokesperson.
The massive drift blankets a stretch of the Going-to-the-Sun Road under 50 to 80 feet of snow and is one of the biggest plowing challenges for crews. The drift is situated east of Logan Pass and full access to the scenic highway is contingent upon removal of the drift.
The Park has previously said that the Sun Road would not open to Logan Pass this year until at least June 22, due to work on the highway.
While west-side crews were clearing Logan Pass and digging into the Big Drift, plow crews working on the east side of the park were just below the east tunnel.
Plow crews reached Logan Pass on May 25 last year.
Going-to-the-Sun Road currently is open to vehicles on the west side to Lake McDonald Lodge for day-use until 4:30 p.m. each day.
The park, however, doesn’t force people to leave, they just don’t let anymore people in after that time.
According to Gina Kerzman, spokesperson for Glacier, hikers and bikers can go as far up the Sun Road as they would like on weekends, and after the road crew leaves for the day. However, they must do so “at their own risk” and the park is discouraging visitors from going past The Loop due to falling rock and avalanche danger.
Kerzman added that, depending on avalanche concerns, park staff may impose a closure on a case-by-case basis.
Inside North Fork Road, Camas Road, Chief Mountain Road, Cut Bank Road, Many Glacier Road and Two Medicine Road all remain closed to vehicles.
All park campgrounds remain closed, as well.
Trails that access Highway 2, however, are open.