Nat Geo Trail Maps for Glacier National Park

National Geographic now publishes a total of four Trails Illustrated Maps for Glacier National Park. The original map (map 215) encompasses both Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

For much greater detail, National Geographic also publishes three sectional maps: Many Glacier, Two Medicine and North Fork. The original map has a scale 1:100,000, however, the three new sectional maps have a scale of 1:50,000, and provide much greater detail such as backcountry campsite locations, footbridges, fords/stream crossings, points-of-interests, shuttle stops, nature/interpretive trails, as well as water and snow hazard locations.


Many Glacier Sectional Map:

The Many Glacier Map (map 314) includes: the Many Glacier area, Cracker Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, Goat Haunt, Belly River, Upper Kintla Lake, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, and more.



North Fork Sectional Map:

The North Fork Map (map 313) includes: Lake McDonald, Apgar, Avalanche Basin, Sperry Chalet, Kintla Lake, Bowman Lake, Waterton Lake, Flathead River, Pacific Northwest Trail, National Park Headquarters, and more.



Two Medicine Sectional Map:The Two Medicine Map (map 315) includes: Cobalt Lake, Dawson Pass, Logan Pass, Piegan Pass, St. Mary Lake, The Loop, Cut Bank, and more.




If you're looking to purchase all three sectional maps you're much better off purchasing the three-map bundle pack, which provides a fairly steep discount.

The Nat Geo maps provide far more information and detail than the official national park map. Additionally, all Trails Illustrated Maps are waterproof and tear-resistant.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Prescribed Burn Planned in North Fork

A prescribed fire project is planned in the North Fork area of Glacier National Park, approximately four miles northwest of Polebridge. Approximately 125 acres are planned to be burned in the Big Prairie area by the end of September, depending on weather and fuel conditions. This project was initiated this spring with approximately 150 acres successfully managed through a prescribed burn. The entire project includes about 700 acres of prairie that will be managed with prescribed fire over the next several years.

Firefighter and equipment support from the Flathead National Forest was instrumental in the success of the spring burn. It is anticipated that forest personnel will assist with the fall burn as well.

The primary objective of the burn is to reduce lodgepole pine regeneration which is encroaching on the native prairie grassland. Managers hope to remove some lodgepole with fire and improve the growth of native grasses and shrubs.

This prescribed burn will only take place if optimum weather and smoke dispersal parameters are met. For more information, contact the park at 406-888-7800.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com

Storms Impact Glacier National Park

Recent rain and wind storms have created high water, down trees, debris slides, and other challenging situations in Glacier National Park. Impacts are evident throughout the park, and more impacts are being discovered in the back country as crews are able to survey the areas.

Park employees are busy clearing trails of downfall trees from the recent storms. Some front country and backcountry trails may be impacted and hikers should use caution.

Back-country visitors should be aware that most creeks and streams are already running high from snowmelt and have spiked higher with recent rains. Extreme caution or perhaps an alternate route should be exercised for foot or stock crossing of creeks and streams. Some creeks and streams may be impassable at this time.

The North Fork, Apgar and Fish Creek areas sustained the most damage from a storm Tuesday night, June 18th. Numerous trees were blown down blocking access on roadways and trails. The Apgar Backcountry Office building in Apgar Village and a restroom in the Apgar Campground sustained major roof damage from falling trees, and large branches were dispersed on buildings and power lines throughout the area.

The North Fork area of the park received over an inch of rain within a 60-minute timeframe Tuesday evening. The Upper Bowman Creek Bridge has washed out. Water in the North Fork of the Flathead River and most of the creeks and streams in the area has risen from recent storm waters. Additional reports of damage in the area are expected and visitors should travel with care.

The northeast side of the park sustained impacts from a storm that moved through on Wednesday evening, June 19th. More than two inches of rain fell in the Many Glacier area prompting the Swiftcurrent Creek to rise at the bridge that provides access to the Many Glacier Hotel and nearby facilities:

Crews used sand bags to protect park utilities and monitored the situation. The Many Glacier Hotel did not sustain any damage. Park crews and Glacier Park Incorporated employees worked cooperatively to address visitor needs and monitor the situation. Many trails in the Many Glacier, Belly River and St. Mary areas sustained flooding and damage, but the extent of the impacts are not all known at this time.

Visitors are encouraged to report any damage they may find in the park by contacting park headquarters at 406-888-7800. For more information about park trail status, please click here.



Jeff
Hiking Glacier National Park

Prescribed Burn Planned in North Fork

A prescribed fire project is planned in the North Fork area of Glacier National Park, approximately four miles northwest of Polebridge, in the next month. Approximately 175 acres are planned to be burned in the Big Prairie area, depending on weather and fuel conditions.

The primary objective of the burn is to reduce lodgepole pine regeneration which is encroaching on the native prairie grassland. Managers hope to remove some lodgepole with fire and improve the growth of native grasses and shrubs.

This prescribed burn will only take place if optimum weather and smoke dispersal parameters are met. For more information, contact Glacier National Park Fire Manager Dave Soleim at 406-888-5803.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Section of Hay Creek Road Closed in the North Fork Area of the Flathead National Forest

To provide for public safety a section of the Hay Creek Road in the North Fork area of the Flathead National Forest will be closed to all vehicle traffic Monday through Friday from now until March 31, 2013. Logging trucks are operating on this stretch of road during those days as part of the Hay-More Stewardship project.

The section of road which will be closed is National Forest System Road (NFSR) #376 (Hay Creek) from the intersection of County Road #486 (North Fork Road) to the intersection of NFSR #909 (Cyclone Creek Road.)

The road will be open from Friday at 6:00 p.m. to Monday at 12:01 a.m. for vehicle traffic. This stretch of road is being plowed which means it is not open to snowmobiles traffic.

For more information about area road access, contact the Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger District, 406/387-3800.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Cross-Country Skiers Rescued in Bowman Lake Area

This morning's NPS Digest is providing more details on the two cross-country skiers that were rescued after an unplanned, overnight bivouac near Bowman Lake this past weekend.

Glacier National Park, the Flathead County Search and Rescue Mountain Rescue Team, and the Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance responded to and rescued two cross-country skiers who were lost and stranded overnight in the North Fork area of the park.

The married couple from Kalispell sent a 911 message using a SPOT messenger device, reporting that they were lost and stranded in the park. Flathead County dispatch received the message at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday evening and determined that the message originated from a remote location approximately one mile north of the Akokala Creek Trail near Bowman Lake in the North Fork area of park (approximately six miles north of Polebridge). Park rangers were immediately notified and an incident team was organized.

Due to bad weather, downed trees, difficult trail conditions, darkness and overall unsafe conditions for ground or aerial searches, it was determined that a response would need to take place early Sunday morning. Operations resumed that day with rangers and members of the county’s rescue team snowshoeing and cross-country skiing toward their location. A helicopter joined them when weather conditions improved. The crew spotted tracks on the ground, landed briefly, and dropped off two crew members, who hiked a half mile to the couple’s location. They were treated at the scene and flown out. Rangers met them and transported them to the Polebridge Ranger Station. The couple then returned home.

It's a good thing the couple carried the SPOT messenger device with them. Moreover, based on local media reports, the couple was extremely conscientious about using the SOS device. In recent years, technology such as SPOT has been abused by people who aren't really in a search and rescue situation. There has been much controversy around people using the device out of convenience and putting SAR personnel in danger, not to mention the costs involved.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com

Sectional Trail Maps for Glacier National Park

National Geographic now publishes a total of four Trails Illustrated Maps for Glacier National Park. The original map (map 215) encompasses both Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

For much greater detail, National Geographic also publishes three sectional maps: Many Glacier, Two Medicine and North Fork. The original map has a scale 1:100,000, however, the three new sectional maps have a scale of 1:50,000, and provide much greater detail such as backcountry campsite locations, footbridges, fords/stream crossings, points-of-interests, shuttle stops, nature/interpretive trails, as well as water and snow hazard locations.


Many Glacier Sectional Map:

The Many Glacier Map (map 314) includes: the Many Glacier area, Cracker Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, Goat Haunt, Belly River, Upper Kintla Lake, Continental Divide Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, and more.



North Fork Sectional Map:

The North Fork Map (map 313) includes: Lake McDonald, Apgar, Avalanche Basin, Sperry Chalet, Kintla Lake, Bowman Lake, Waterton Lake, Flathead River, Pacific Northwest Trail, National Park Headquarters, and more.



Two Medicine Sectional Map:

The Two Medicine Map (map 315) includes: Cobalt Lake, Dawson Pass, Logan Pass, Piegan Pass, St. Mary Lake, The Loop, Cut Bank, and more.




If you're looking to purchase all three sectional maps you're much better off purchasing the three-map bundle pack, which provides a fairly steep discount.

The Nat Geo maps provide far more information and detail than the official national park map. Additionally, all Trails Illustrated Maps are waterproof and tear-resistant.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com