Visitors should use care if visiting the Many Glacier Valley and drive slowly to avoid dips and potholes.
The road is in poor condition due to historic and ongoing soil movement at specific locations along Sherburne Reservoir. There are six “slide” areas along the road within the park boundary, and five additional slide areas on the Blackfeet Reservation between Babb and the park boundary that make the road difficult to navigate.
Between 2017 and 2022, the park, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and the Blackfeet Nation, has launched an effort to evaluate and rehabilitate the road where it is possible to do so, taking into account the significant geologic and hydrologic conditions at play.
Slides occur when water saturates the soils underneath the road bed, resulting in the earth slipping towards the reservoir, causing depressions or “slumps” in the road. Some slumps can extend dozens of feet below the ground, and hundreds of feet in length.
The movement along the roadway dates back to the construction of the Sherburne Dam between 1914 and 1921. The Many Glacier Road was constructed in 1927-28 and three slides immediately formed. Over the years, attempts to fix the slump areas have resulted in significant pavement placed on the road, adding to its weight and exacerbating the problem.
The Vancouver-based office of the Federal Highway Administration has been monitoring specific slide areas by drilling (boring) deeply into the earth to determine how deep the groundwater is, and installing sensitive instruments to monitor movement in the soil. Over the years, these instruments have been damaged and lost in less than one season due to how much the ground moves. Results from nine vertical borings between the park boundary and park entrance station revealed that one of the deepest slides had slipped in excess of 90 vertical feet since the road was constructed in the late 1920s.
In 2017, Federal Highway Administration contracted to have over 70 horizontal drains installed into the slope at the worst slump along the road, approximately 1.5 miles west of the park boundary. These drains were placed in the fall of 2017 just above the normal high water mark of the reservoir and were intended to remove excess groundwater with the hope that continued sliding would be stopped.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, the park and Federal Highway Administration will monitor their effectiveness. The results to date are very promising, indicating that the drains may be a viable solution to halt the sliding at the other slump areas. Various solutions have been studied and proposed for the past six decades and this is the first time a cost-effective solution has shown promise.
This year, the park is also using a "durapatcher" to fill some potholes in non-slump areas. The $77,500 machine was a donation from the Glacier National Park Conservancy, and is being used on different roads throughout the park. It's expected that it will also be used on the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, reducing construction delays that would otherwise be needed for larger paving initiatives.
In the fall of 2019, the park will mill up asphalt from the park boundary to just east of the entrance station, creating a gravel surface. This will allow the road to be graded, which is not possible right now given the amount of asphalt present. Adding additional asphalt to the road surface in slump areas is no longer an option, as it adds to the overall weight of the road and contributes to further slumping.
In 2019 through 2020, road and parking area improvements within the park will be undertaken with funds from the Federal Lands Transportation Program. This road work will not address the slump areas, which will continue to be graded.
Concurrent with that work, the Federal Highway Administration in partnership with the Blackfeet Nation will rehabilitate the 4.8 mile road segment from Babb, Montana to the park boundary, funded under the Federal Lands Access Program.
In the early 2020s, depending on the success of the horizontal drains, additional drain systems would be installed. Ultimately, additional road sections would be rehabilitated in the slump areas if the drains prove effective.
Jeff
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Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Rangers Recover Body of Deceased Climber
Grand Teton National Park rangers responded Sunday night and Monday morning to recover the body of a deceased climber and rescue his stranded partner. The climber fell approximately 300 feet while rappelling down Guide’s Wall on the north side of Cascade Canyon.
Rangers first became aware of the incident around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, when two hikers contacted Teton Interagency Dispatch Center via 911. The hikers were exiting Cascade Canyon shortly after sunset when they saw light from a headlamp and heard calls for help.
A team of two rangers responded by foot to the location, about two miles west of Jenny Lake, to assess the situation. The rangers made limited verbal contact with the stranded climber and learned that she was uninjured, able to spend the night at her location, and alone. Based on this information and darkness, the stranded climber remained at her location for the night and the rangers returned to the valley.
A second team of two rangers responded early Monday morning and began to climb at first light. Once the rangers accessed the stranded climber, they learned that she had a climbing partner and he had fallen the previous day. The rangers scanned the terrain below and located the body of the deceased climber. The rangers assisted the stranded climber down the wall and back to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache while a third team of three rangers prepared to recover the body of the deceased and conduct an investigation.
The three rangers climbed one pitch and located the deceased in a gully just west of Guide’s Wall. After assessing the condition of the deceased and conducting a preliminary investigation, the rangers prepared the body for extraction by helicopter long line. The deceased was flown to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache around noon and transferred to the Teton County Coroner.
The name of the individuals involved in the incident will not be released until next of kin notifications have been completed. The individuals involved were capable climbers and had appropriate equipment and gear for the climb. The incident continues to be under investigation. Rangers are investigating the condition and position of the climbers’ gear, the configuration of the rappel, and other factors that may have contributed to the fall.
Jeff
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Rangers first became aware of the incident around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 22, when two hikers contacted Teton Interagency Dispatch Center via 911. The hikers were exiting Cascade Canyon shortly after sunset when they saw light from a headlamp and heard calls for help.
A team of two rangers responded by foot to the location, about two miles west of Jenny Lake, to assess the situation. The rangers made limited verbal contact with the stranded climber and learned that she was uninjured, able to spend the night at her location, and alone. Based on this information and darkness, the stranded climber remained at her location for the night and the rangers returned to the valley.
A second team of two rangers responded early Monday morning and began to climb at first light. Once the rangers accessed the stranded climber, they learned that she had a climbing partner and he had fallen the previous day. The rangers scanned the terrain below and located the body of the deceased climber. The rangers assisted the stranded climber down the wall and back to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache while a third team of three rangers prepared to recover the body of the deceased and conduct an investigation.
The three rangers climbed one pitch and located the deceased in a gully just west of Guide’s Wall. After assessing the condition of the deceased and conducting a preliminary investigation, the rangers prepared the body for extraction by helicopter long line. The deceased was flown to the Lupine Meadows Rescue Cache around noon and transferred to the Teton County Coroner.
The name of the individuals involved in the incident will not be released until next of kin notifications have been completed. The individuals involved were capable climbers and had appropriate equipment and gear for the climb. The incident continues to be under investigation. Rangers are investigating the condition and position of the climbers’ gear, the configuration of the rappel, and other factors that may have contributed to the fall.
Jeff
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Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Female Grizzly Euthanized After Apparent Fall on Going-to-the-Sun Road
On July 15th, at approximately 11:30 pm, rangers discovered a partially paralyzed grizzly bear that had apparently fallen about 20 feet onto the road near Rim Rock, one mile west of Logan Pass.
The bear had sustained severe traumatic injuries. Rangers, after consulting with the park’s wildlife biologist, euthanized the bear.
On Sunday, July 15, the National Park Service conducted a necropsy and found significant trauma to its thoracic vertebrae, broken ribs, and a dislocated hip. The non-lactating female bear was estimated to be 5-7 years old and appeared to be in otherwise good health. Rangers initially thought the bear had been hit by a car, but evidence at the scene showed that the bear had slipped off an overhanging precipice and landed on its back in the road.
Park officials notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as required since the grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, and informed Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks of the incident.
There are an estimated 300 grizzly bears in Glacier National Park. Numerous state and federal agencies have worked together to manage and recover the grizzly bear population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), including Glacier National Park.
The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) encompasses about 9,600 square miles of northwestern Montana, and includes Glacier National Park, parts of the Flathead and Blackfeet Indian Reservations, parts of five national forests (Flathead, Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo), Bureau of Land Management lands, and a significant amount of state and private lands.
Jeff
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On Sunday, July 15, the National Park Service conducted a necropsy and found significant trauma to its thoracic vertebrae, broken ribs, and a dislocated hip. The non-lactating female bear was estimated to be 5-7 years old and appeared to be in otherwise good health. Rangers initially thought the bear had been hit by a car, but evidence at the scene showed that the bear had slipped off an overhanging precipice and landed on its back in the road.
Park officials notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as required since the grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, and informed Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks of the incident.
There are an estimated 300 grizzly bears in Glacier National Park. Numerous state and federal agencies have worked together to manage and recover the grizzly bear population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), including Glacier National Park.
The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) encompasses about 9,600 square miles of northwestern Montana, and includes Glacier National Park, parts of the Flathead and Blackfeet Indian Reservations, parts of five national forests (Flathead, Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo), Bureau of Land Management lands, and a significant amount of state and private lands.
Jeff
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Scientists Monitor Rock Buttress near Jenny Lake, Conduct Risk Assessment
Grand Teton National Park staff are monitoring a crack in a rock buttress above the Hidden Falls viewing area near Jenny Lake. To ensure visitor safety, the information is being used to develop a risk assessment of the potential for rockfall. While the Hidden Falls viewing area is currently closed out of an abundance of caution, the Jenny Lake area, including Cascade Canyon, the loop trail around the lake, the shuttle boat, and a scenic hike along a cascade and up to a Jenny Lake viewpoint, is open.
On July 10, climbing guides alerted park rangers to movement in the rock buttress that was believed to have recently occurred. After evaluating the situation, park rangers closed the area out of concern that the rock—which is about 100 feet long, 20 feet high, and 20 feet wide—could come loose and fall onto the highly visited Hidden Falls viewing area.
Rockfall is a common occurrence in the Teton Range, and is a part of the naturally dynamic environment of mountains. As a relatively young mountain range, the Tetons are still rising and actively eroding. Over long periods of time, water flowing through minute fractures decomposes rock in a process called weathering. Once a rock has been weathered, triggers such as freeze-thaw cycles, flowing water, temperature variations, vegetation growth, and other factors can cause cracks in rock to grow rapidly and possibly break free and fall.
Park staff are using multiple methods to monitor the situation. Time-lapse cameras have been installed which allow the scientists to view growth in the crack as well as any changes to the buttress at 15-minute intervals. Scientists are also working with park rangers to manually measure the width of the crack at multiple locations at least once each day.
Scientists are using an additional monitoring technique called structure-from-motion, which has recently become popular in the geosciences field. This photogrammetry technique involves taking numerous photos and high-accuracy GPS readings to develop three-dimensional models of an object. Scientists are able to use structure-from-motion to assess how the rock may be moving and in what direction.
Since July 10, staff have not observed significant change in the crack on a scale they can detect. After additional investigation and discussion with climbing guides who routinely visit the area, it is believed that the crack may have begun to expand last fall, and it is uncertain whether additional expansion occurred recently, as initially thought, or over the winter and spring when freeze-thaw cycles may have contributed.
Park scientists are consulting with subject matter experts from the National Park Service Geologic Resources Division, Yosemite National Park, and United States Geological Survey Landslide Hazards Program to develop a risk assessment for the area as well as additional high-precision monitoring methods.
It is unknown how long the closure at Hidden Falls will be in effect.
Jeff
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On July 10, climbing guides alerted park rangers to movement in the rock buttress that was believed to have recently occurred. After evaluating the situation, park rangers closed the area out of concern that the rock—which is about 100 feet long, 20 feet high, and 20 feet wide—could come loose and fall onto the highly visited Hidden Falls viewing area.
Park staff are using multiple methods to monitor the situation. Time-lapse cameras have been installed which allow the scientists to view growth in the crack as well as any changes to the buttress at 15-minute intervals. Scientists are also working with park rangers to manually measure the width of the crack at multiple locations at least once each day.
Scientists are using an additional monitoring technique called structure-from-motion, which has recently become popular in the geosciences field. This photogrammetry technique involves taking numerous photos and high-accuracy GPS readings to develop three-dimensional models of an object. Scientists are able to use structure-from-motion to assess how the rock may be moving and in what direction.
Since July 10, staff have not observed significant change in the crack on a scale they can detect. After additional investigation and discussion with climbing guides who routinely visit the area, it is believed that the crack may have begun to expand last fall, and it is uncertain whether additional expansion occurred recently, as initially thought, or over the winter and spring when freeze-thaw cycles may have contributed.
Park scientists are consulting with subject matter experts from the National Park Service Geologic Resources Division, Yosemite National Park, and United States Geological Survey Landslide Hazards Program to develop a risk assessment for the area as well as additional high-precision monitoring methods.
It is unknown how long the closure at Hidden Falls will be in effect.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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HikingintheSmokys.com
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Sperry Chalet Reconstruction Begins
Glacier National Park recently announced that reconstruction of Sperry Chalet began last week. The Notice to Proceed was issued to Dick Anderson Construction on Thursday, July 5. Construction is anticipated to last through the end of October. Bids for a phase 2 construction contract are expected to be solicited in the fall of 2018.
Dick Anderson Construction will begin by constructing temporary platforms for crew sleeping facilities. This summer’s work will include new foundation work to stabilize and level the interior structure, with the ultimate goal of supporting a roof. After the foundation is constructed, the main work will include seismic stabilization through the construction of the interior walls, floors, and roof framing. The roof constructed in 2018 will be a temporary membrane to protect the structure through the 2018-2019 winter. Materials will be delivered via helicopter and mule train to support reconstruction activities.
The Sperry Chalet Dining Room will begin operating to serve construction crews and visitors to the area. Lunch and a la carte services are available from 11 am – 5 pm. Breakfast and dinner will be available to the public via reservation with Belton Chalets, Inc. by calling (888) 345-2649.
Earlier this summer, Glacier National Park trail crews, conservation corps, and the Flathead National Forest Hot Shots successfully cleared thousands of trees that had fallen on trails throughout the Sprague Fire burn area and improved trail tread. Though all trails within the Sprague Fire burn area are cleared, hikers along the Gunsight Trail to the chalet (commonly referred to as the Sperry Trail) will notice that very limited shade is available following the fire. Though the hike up to Sperry Chalet has never been recommended as an up and back one-day hike, the park is now advising hikers to be particularly careful if they attempt it due to extreme heat from the sun following the burn. The hike is approximately 6.5 miles each way with over 3400 feet in elevation gain. The National Park Service considers it a strenuous hike.
Mule train and helicopter flight activity may necessitate temporary closures of adjacent trails including the Gunsight Trail and the Sperry Chalet complex. Visitors who wish to monitor trail status around the chalet should consult the Glacier National Park Trail Status Webpage and Area Closures page.
Park concessioner Swan Mountain Outfitters will offer horseback rides to the chalet on a limited basis. More details and reservation information can be found on their website.
Due to potential temporary significant adverse impacts on grizzly bear habitat, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the park will temporarily close some areas near the area anticipated to be impacted by helicopter flights delivering materials to the Sperry Chalet construction site. The areas will be set aside for grizzly bears as a way to create additional space away from areas of high helicopter use. Those areas are the Snyder Basin above the Sperry Trail Junction, including Snyder Lakes and Campground; and the Upper Lincoln Creek Drainage, Lincoln Lake, and Lincoln Campground. The duration of the closures may impact backcountry campground reservations at Snyder and Lincoln Backcountry Campgrounds. Visitors with reservations will be contacted as the season progresses if trip itineraries must be altered.
When the majority of construction materials have been delivered to the site and helicopter operations return to average administrative levels, grizzly bear habitat closures will be lifted.
The Sperry Chalet dormitory building was badly burned in the Sprague Fire in late August 2017. Earlier this year, the National Park Service awarded a design contract to Anderson Hallas Architects of Golden, CO, and a phase 1 construction contract to Dick Anderson Construction of Great Falls, MT. The project is being managed by the Denver Service Center, the construction branch of the National Park.
Jeff
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The Sperry Chalet Dining Room will begin operating to serve construction crews and visitors to the area. Lunch and a la carte services are available from 11 am – 5 pm. Breakfast and dinner will be available to the public via reservation with Belton Chalets, Inc. by calling (888) 345-2649.
Earlier this summer, Glacier National Park trail crews, conservation corps, and the Flathead National Forest Hot Shots successfully cleared thousands of trees that had fallen on trails throughout the Sprague Fire burn area and improved trail tread. Though all trails within the Sprague Fire burn area are cleared, hikers along the Gunsight Trail to the chalet (commonly referred to as the Sperry Trail) will notice that very limited shade is available following the fire. Though the hike up to Sperry Chalet has never been recommended as an up and back one-day hike, the park is now advising hikers to be particularly careful if they attempt it due to extreme heat from the sun following the burn. The hike is approximately 6.5 miles each way with over 3400 feet in elevation gain. The National Park Service considers it a strenuous hike.
Mule train and helicopter flight activity may necessitate temporary closures of adjacent trails including the Gunsight Trail and the Sperry Chalet complex. Visitors who wish to monitor trail status around the chalet should consult the Glacier National Park Trail Status Webpage and Area Closures page.
Park concessioner Swan Mountain Outfitters will offer horseback rides to the chalet on a limited basis. More details and reservation information can be found on their website.
Due to potential temporary significant adverse impacts on grizzly bear habitat, in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the park will temporarily close some areas near the area anticipated to be impacted by helicopter flights delivering materials to the Sperry Chalet construction site. The areas will be set aside for grizzly bears as a way to create additional space away from areas of high helicopter use. Those areas are the Snyder Basin above the Sperry Trail Junction, including Snyder Lakes and Campground; and the Upper Lincoln Creek Drainage, Lincoln Lake, and Lincoln Campground. The duration of the closures may impact backcountry campground reservations at Snyder and Lincoln Backcountry Campgrounds. Visitors with reservations will be contacted as the season progresses if trip itineraries must be altered.
When the majority of construction materials have been delivered to the site and helicopter operations return to average administrative levels, grizzly bear habitat closures will be lifted.
The Sperry Chalet dormitory building was badly burned in the Sprague Fire in late August 2017. Earlier this year, the National Park Service awarded a design contract to Anderson Hallas Architects of Golden, CO, and a phase 1 construction contract to Dick Anderson Construction of Great Falls, MT. The project is being managed by the Denver Service Center, the construction branch of the National Park.
Jeff
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Sunday, July 15, 2018
Bowman Lake Road in Glacier to Undergo Repairs
Glacier National Park will begin a significant road grading and gravel replacement project on the Bowman Lake Road beginning July 17. The work will fix potholes and drainage on roadways and in ditches, and improve the overall road surface. The construction will occur on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each week, and is expected to last through late summer. Visitors will be able to access Bowman Lake except for the following times:
Morning road closure: 10 am - 12 pm
Afternoon road closure: 1 pm - 3 pm
The closure times were selected based on current traffic patterns to minimize impacts on day users and backcountry hikers. Typically the area fills by mid-morning, with very few vehicles exiting the lake before the end of the day. Closure times and days of the week may be adjusted due to unforeseen repair challenges. Access restrictions may occasionally be lifted during planned closure periods while the park awaits additional gravel deliveries. Visitors arriving at the Polebridge Entrance Station will be advised of the restrictions each day.
The project is funded through fees collected at park entrance stations, and is part of a suite of summer maintenance initiatives that the park’s road crew accomplishes after spring opening is complete on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Jeff
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Morning road closure: 10 am - 12 pm
Afternoon road closure: 1 pm - 3 pm
The closure times were selected based on current traffic patterns to minimize impacts on day users and backcountry hikers. Typically the area fills by mid-morning, with very few vehicles exiting the lake before the end of the day. Closure times and days of the week may be adjusted due to unforeseen repair challenges. Access restrictions may occasionally be lifted during planned closure periods while the park awaits additional gravel deliveries. Visitors arriving at the Polebridge Entrance Station will be advised of the restrictions each day.
The project is funded through fees collected at park entrance stations, and is part of a suite of summer maintenance initiatives that the park’s road crew accomplishes after spring opening is complete on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
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Friday, July 13, 2018
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop set for Aug. 3-5
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ popular Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program will host a weekend workshop Aug. 3-5 at Birch Creek Civilian Conservation Corps Camp near Dillon.
Women are encouraged to sign up with a friend and learn a new activity or improve existing skills. Participants get to choose four of these activities: hiking, backpacking, survival skills, how to use a map and compass, bird identification, plant identification, sausage making and more!
Anyone 18 years of age or older may participate. This is a popular workshop and will fill quickly, so register today!
To download the registration form visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov, click “Education,” then click “Becoming an Outdoors Woman.” For more information, call Sara Smith at 406-444-9948 or email sarsmith@mt.gov.
Jeff
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Women are encouraged to sign up with a friend and learn a new activity or improve existing skills. Participants get to choose four of these activities: hiking, backpacking, survival skills, how to use a map and compass, bird identification, plant identification, sausage making and more!
Anyone 18 years of age or older may participate. This is a popular workshop and will fill quickly, so register today!
To download the registration form visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov, click “Education,” then click “Becoming an Outdoors Woman.” For more information, call Sara Smith at 406-444-9948 or email sarsmith@mt.gov.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Emergency Closure for Safety at Hidden Falls Area of Jenny Lake
The National Park Service has implemented an emergency closure in the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas on the west side of Jenny Lake for human safety. Some recently expanding cracks and fissures have been identified in a large rock buttress above the Hidden Falls viewing area.
Superintendent David Vela said, “Human safety is our number one priority, and with an abundance of caution we are temporarily closing this area until we can properly assess the situation.”
Those familiar with the site, specifically park rangers and personnel with Exum Mountain Guides, identified the cracks and fissures and determined the situation to be a possible safety hazard. The notable changes in the rock over the past 24 hours spurred park rangers to implement a temporary closure and initiate a risk assessment with subject-matter experts.
Exum Mountain Guides are relocating their practice school services to another location, and shuttle boat and scenic cruises with Jenny Lake Boating will continue to operate. Visitors are able to ride the boat to the west shore, hike Cascade Canyon or around the lake, and enjoy some areas of the west shore as well as the front country areas of the Jenny Lake Complex.
It is unknown how long the closure at Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas will be in place.
Jeff
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Superintendent David Vela said, “Human safety is our number one priority, and with an abundance of caution we are temporarily closing this area until we can properly assess the situation.”
Those familiar with the site, specifically park rangers and personnel with Exum Mountain Guides, identified the cracks and fissures and determined the situation to be a possible safety hazard. The notable changes in the rock over the past 24 hours spurred park rangers to implement a temporary closure and initiate a risk assessment with subject-matter experts.
Exum Mountain Guides are relocating their practice school services to another location, and shuttle boat and scenic cruises with Jenny Lake Boating will continue to operate. Visitors are able to ride the boat to the west shore, hike Cascade Canyon or around the lake, and enjoy some areas of the west shore as well as the front country areas of the Jenny Lake Complex.
It is unknown how long the closure at Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point areas will be in place.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
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HikingintheSmokys.com
Smoke may be visible from the Hayden Fire in Yellowstone
Smoke from the lightning-ignited Hayden Fire may be visible from the Grand Loop Road between Canyon Village and Mud Volcano.
The fire lookout on Mount Washburn spotted the 0.1-acre wildland fire Tuesday morning, July 10, and will monitor it daily. The Hayden Fire does not pose a threat to park visitors. Public and firefighter safety is the first priority for park managers.
All roads leading into and through the park are open. If fire activity increases, more information will be announced. This is the first fire in the park this season. Last year, eight fires burned less than 1 acre in total.
Stay informed about current fire activity in Yellowstone.
Jeff
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The fire lookout on Mount Washburn spotted the 0.1-acre wildland fire Tuesday morning, July 10, and will monitor it daily. The Hayden Fire does not pose a threat to park visitors. Public and firefighter safety is the first priority for park managers.
All roads leading into and through the park are open. If fire activity increases, more information will be announced. This is the first fire in the park this season. Last year, eight fires burned less than 1 acre in total.
Stay informed about current fire activity in Yellowstone.
Jeff
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Saturday, July 7, 2018
Glacier Hosts First Alpine Bird BioBlitz
To celebrate the “Year of the Bird” and the array of birds in Glacier's alpine areas, the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center (CCRLC) will host its first Alpine Bird BioBlitz. Participants will work alongside expert birders to document and learn about twelve of Glacier’s alpine bird species.
The Alpine Bird BioBlitz will be held on Friday, July 27 at designated locations within the park. The event begins at 6:30 a.m. for most hiking destinations. Event end times will be variable with some hikes lasting into the late afternoon or early evening.
This a free event and is open to the public. Participants should be able to hike moderate to strenuous trails and have some prior birding experience. Registration is required. Visit https://www.nps.gov/rlc/crown/bioblitz.htm to register. Contact CCRLC at (406)-888-7986 or email glac_citizen_science@nps.gov for more information.
In advance of the BioBlitz, all interested members of the public are invited to attend a brown bag presentation by park wildlife biologist, Lisa Bate, on Wednesday, July 25 from 12:00-1:00pm at the West Glacier Community Center. The presentation will include an overview of the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Alpine Bird BioBlitz, a guide to identifying the focal alpine bird species in the field, and a brief look at the survey protocol to be used during the BioBlitz. No registration is required to attend the brown bag presentation. BioBlitz participants are encouraged, but are not required, to attend the Wednesday presentation.
The Year of the Bird is a year-long celebration of birds and marks the significance of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, signed in 1918. Organizations like the National Park Service have joined with the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, Bird Life International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to celebrate birds and encourage actions to protect birds and their habitats.
Visit the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center events page for more information on other learning opportunities offered this summer.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
This a free event and is open to the public. Participants should be able to hike moderate to strenuous trails and have some prior birding experience. Registration is required. Visit https://www.nps.gov/rlc/crown/bioblitz.htm to register. Contact CCRLC at (406)-888-7986 or email glac_citizen_science@nps.gov for more information.
In advance of the BioBlitz, all interested members of the public are invited to attend a brown bag presentation by park wildlife biologist, Lisa Bate, on Wednesday, July 25 from 12:00-1:00pm at the West Glacier Community Center. The presentation will include an overview of the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Alpine Bird BioBlitz, a guide to identifying the focal alpine bird species in the field, and a brief look at the survey protocol to be used during the BioBlitz. No registration is required to attend the brown bag presentation. BioBlitz participants are encouraged, but are not required, to attend the Wednesday presentation.
The Year of the Bird is a year-long celebration of birds and marks the significance of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, signed in 1918. Organizations like the National Park Service have joined with the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, Bird Life International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to celebrate birds and encourage actions to protect birds and their habitats.
Visit the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center events page for more information on other learning opportunities offered this summer.
Jeff
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Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Fire Danger Has Increased to Moderate in Grand Teton
Teton Interagency fire managers announce the fire danger rating has been elevated to moderate for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, National Elk Refuge, and remaining portions of the Teton Interagency Dispatch area. The potential for fire activity has increased due to summer curing of vegetation combined with warmer, drier conditions.
A moderate fire danger rating means fires can start from most accidental causes. Unattended campfires and brush fires have potential to escape, especially on windy days in dry, open areas.
When determining fire danger, fire managers use several indicators such as the moisture content of grasses, shrubs, and trees; projected weather conditions including temperatures and possible wind events; the ability of fire to spread after ignition; and availability of firefighting resources both within the region as well as other parts of the country.
In areas where campfires are allowed, fires should never be unattended and must be completely extinguished. Simply pouring water on the remains of a fire is not sufficient. The charred remains must be repeatedly doused with water and stirred into the campfire ring. All embers and logs, not just the red ones, should be broken up and covered with dirt. Before leaving the area, the campfire remains must be cold to the touch.
Visit the Teton Interagency Fire web site at https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/wy-tdc to learn more about fire safety and what fire regulations may be in place. To report a fire or smoke in the immediate area, call the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630.
Jeff
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A moderate fire danger rating means fires can start from most accidental causes. Unattended campfires and brush fires have potential to escape, especially on windy days in dry, open areas.
When determining fire danger, fire managers use several indicators such as the moisture content of grasses, shrubs, and trees; projected weather conditions including temperatures and possible wind events; the ability of fire to spread after ignition; and availability of firefighting resources both within the region as well as other parts of the country.
In areas where campfires are allowed, fires should never be unattended and must be completely extinguished. Simply pouring water on the remains of a fire is not sufficient. The charred remains must be repeatedly doused with water and stirred into the campfire ring. All embers and logs, not just the red ones, should be broken up and covered with dirt. Before leaving the area, the campfire remains must be cold to the touch.
Visit the Teton Interagency Fire web site at https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/wy-tdc to learn more about fire safety and what fire regulations may be in place. To report a fire or smoke in the immediate area, call the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630.
Jeff
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Hard-sided Camping Only at Many Glacier
Effective immediately, the Many Glacier Campground will temporarily be limited to hard-sided camping. This means that tents and soft-sided campers will not be permitted until further notice. Camper vehicles such as VW buses and pickup trucks with small canvas pop-ups are allowed as long as the canvas is not exposed.
On Friday morning at 10:30 am, a small grizzly bear weighing approximately 150 pounds, entered the Many Glacier Campground. It crossed a stream, entered a campsite, and compelled two campers to move away from a picnic table where they were cleaning two recently caught Brook Trout. One of the campers sprayed the bear with bear spray from a distance of 15 feet. The spray was unsuccessful in deterring the bear’s approach, and it proceeded to climb on top of the picnic table and consume the fish. It also sniffed, pawed, and bit two nearby backpacks.
Park rangers responded and used hazing techniques to encourage the bear to move out of the campground. Prior to its departure, it dug into two fire pits, sniffed picnic tables, a tent, and an RV with visitors inside.
The park is attempting to trap the grizzly bear for further management action. The bear exhibits numerous signs of food-conditioning and meets the definition of a conditioned bear in Glacier National Park’s Bear Management Guidelines. A non-conditioned bear would typically not enter a campsite with people present and resist human attempts to scare it away. Conditioned bears are usually removed from the population by being placed in zoos or euthanized.
Once bears have successfully obtained unnatural food from people or become accustomed to foraging in developed areas, it is very difficult to change their behavior to return to wild areas and natural food sources. Once they have received a human food reward, they often become a safety hazard as they become increasingly aggressive seeking out and obtaining subsequent food rewards. In 1976, a conditioned grizzly bear dragged a camper from her tent in the Many Glacier Campground and killed her.
Glacier National Park has a proactive bear management program that seeks to prevent conditioning through public education, bear-wise waste management, aggressive enforcement of food storage regulations, and application of hazing and aversive conditioning techniques to teach bears to avoid humans and developed areas.
Visitors and residents are urged to learn more about the importance of food storage while living and recreating in bear country for bear and human safety.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
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On Friday morning at 10:30 am, a small grizzly bear weighing approximately 150 pounds, entered the Many Glacier Campground. It crossed a stream, entered a campsite, and compelled two campers to move away from a picnic table where they were cleaning two recently caught Brook Trout. One of the campers sprayed the bear with bear spray from a distance of 15 feet. The spray was unsuccessful in deterring the bear’s approach, and it proceeded to climb on top of the picnic table and consume the fish. It also sniffed, pawed, and bit two nearby backpacks.
Park rangers responded and used hazing techniques to encourage the bear to move out of the campground. Prior to its departure, it dug into two fire pits, sniffed picnic tables, a tent, and an RV with visitors inside.
The park is attempting to trap the grizzly bear for further management action. The bear exhibits numerous signs of food-conditioning and meets the definition of a conditioned bear in Glacier National Park’s Bear Management Guidelines. A non-conditioned bear would typically not enter a campsite with people present and resist human attempts to scare it away. Conditioned bears are usually removed from the population by being placed in zoos or euthanized.
Once bears have successfully obtained unnatural food from people or become accustomed to foraging in developed areas, it is very difficult to change their behavior to return to wild areas and natural food sources. Once they have received a human food reward, they often become a safety hazard as they become increasingly aggressive seeking out and obtaining subsequent food rewards. In 1976, a conditioned grizzly bear dragged a camper from her tent in the Many Glacier Campground and killed her.
Glacier National Park has a proactive bear management program that seeks to prevent conditioning through public education, bear-wise waste management, aggressive enforcement of food storage regulations, and application of hazing and aversive conditioning techniques to teach bears to avoid humans and developed areas.
Visitors and residents are urged to learn more about the importance of food storage while living and recreating in bear country for bear and human safety.
Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com