The Montana Experience: The Polebridge Mercantile

Nestled in a remote mountain valley at the foot of Glacier National Park, the historic Polebridge Mercantile dutifully endures as one of the last outposts of its kind in the American West. The Mercantile, a short film by Brian Bolster, steps into the working lives of Flannery Coats and Stuart Reiswig, the young couple whose search for the ideal marriage location yielded them the most unforeseen and rewarding challenges of their lives - proprietorship and preservation of a century-old, unchanged business enterprise in a modern and ever-changing world.

Although most park visitors never make it up to Polebridge, located just outside of the northwest corner of the park, this film will give them a good idea of what they're missing when they visit the Glacier area. You have to admit, those pastries sure look awesome!



Maybe now Polebridge will be on your itinerary for your next visit! If you do plan to visit Glacier this summer, now's a good time to begin your planning. In addition to detailed hiking trail information for Glacier National Park, HikinginGlacier.com also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings and other things to do to help with all your vacation planning.





Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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Entire Inside North Fork Road Anticipated to Open This Weekend

All 28 miles of the Inside North Fork Road between Fish Creek Campground and Polebridge is anticipated to open this weekend. Glacier National Park road crews are currently completing temporary repairs, including utilization of existing gravel to fill holes in the road due to annual spring runoff flooding. The section of the road between Polebridge and Logging Creek opened in May of this year to vehicle travel.

Flooding and road washout has caused significant damage to the Inside North Fork Road, particularly near the Anaconda Creek and Logging Creek areas. Yearly spring floods cause recurring damage to these areas of the road. A third location on the road between Quartz Creek and Logging Creek converges with the North Fork of the Flathead River. The river is beginning to undercut this section of the road due to sloughing of the riverbank, posing safety concerns and potential road loss issues.

Planning is needed for long-term solutions to the continual damage occurring on the Inside North Fork Road. When planning efforts begin, public input will be sought for long-term solutions that would ensure visitor safety and best protect park resources. An announcement will be released once the planning effort begins. Future temporary repairs to the road will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Inside North Fork Road was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It is a narrow, gravel road and use of recreational, towed, and low-clearance vehicles is strongly discouraged. In ideal conditions, at least two hours are needed to travel the entire length of the Inside North Fork Road. Visitors are advised to prepare for travelling this road by carrying plenty of water and food. Also be prepared to encounter possible downed trees.

For more information on the current status of roads within the park, please click here or call 406-888-7800.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Segment of Inside North Fork Road Anticipated to Open This Weekend

Approximately six miles of the Inside North Fork Road between Fish Creek Campground and Camas Creek Bridge is anticipated to open this weekend. Glacier National Park road crews are currently completing temporary repairs, including grading of the area and laying surface gravel to improve road conditions after continuous flooding. The section of the road between Polebridge and Logging Creek opened in May of this year to vehicle travel.

The road will remain closed between Camas Creek Bridge and Logging Creek due to flooding and road washout. Road crews will focus work near the Anaconda Creek and Logging Creek areas over the next few weeks. The entire length of the Inside North Fork Road may open later this season, dependent upon scope of damage found and resources needed to ensure vehicle travel can occur safely.

The Inside North Fork Road is a 28-mile narrow, gravel road between the Fish Creek Campground and Polebridge. Use of recreational, towed, and low-clearance vehicles is strongly discouraged on the road.

For more information on the current status of roads within the park, click here or call 406-888-7800.


Jeff
Hiking Glacier National Park