Sperry Chalet Update

Last week my wife and I had the privilege of hiking up to Sperry Chalet during our visit to Glacier National Park. In case you're unaware, the historic stone dormitory on the west side of the park was tragically lost during the Sprague Fire in August of 2017. At approximately 6:00 p.m. on that afternoon, a hot ember from the valley below entered the structure near a second story window. Despite a dedicated group of firefighters at the site, specifically working to protect the chalet complex, the ember ignited the wooden portion of the structure and proceeded to burn the entire interior of the building. Fortunately for hikers, history lovers and Glacier enthusiasts, the national park immediately made the decision to re-build the historic chalet, which was originally constructed in 1913 by the Great Northern Railway.

Hikers and park enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that the reconstruction project is scheduled to be completed by early October, which is much earlier than originally anticipated. The chalet is also expected to open at the start next season. In fact, the chalet will likely begin accepting reservations sometime in December. You'll be able to find more information about this process on their website at that time.

In addition to seeing first-hand progress on the reconstruction efforts, we also wanted to enjoy a hot lunch at the nearby dining hall, which received only minor damage during the fire. After climbing more than 3300 feet on a cool, blustery day, we both enjoyed hot soup and a grilled roast beef and cheese sandwich - probably the best meal you could ever have on a hike! We were very fortunate to have sat next to the Park Project Inspector during our meal, who has been on the site throughout the entire project. After eating our lunch he provided us with a fairly detailed update on the project, and showed us dozens of photos of the beautiful, handcrafted woodwork being done on the interior. If any of you have ever stayed at Sperry you’ll likely remember that the walls used to be paper thin. Construction crews have addressed this issue, based on public comments, by constructing thicker interior walls with improved insulation. Not only will this cut down on noise from neighboring guests, but it will also be in compliance with current fire code.

As of our visit the interior was nearing completion, with the installation of exterior windows remaining as the only major phase left on the project.

Although post-fire photos showed the stone wall exterior standing, the walls still sustained damage during the blaze. As a result, some of the stones cracked or disintegrated due to the intense heat, and had to be replaced. To conform to its original design, workers from the Dick Anderson Construction Company replaced all damaged stones with newly hand-cut stone. These were quarried just up the mountain from the chalet, just like the original stones. The inspector also mentioned that the new interior steps that lead to the second floor have been designed to wrap around so that they won't be as narrow and steep as they were in the past.

Like the inspector, the construction workers also stay on the site, working on rotating, 8-day shifts, and camp in nearby tents. To show their appreciation, some of the largest donors to contribute to the reconstruction efforts hiked up the 6.1-mile trail earlier this summer to provide the workers with fresh steaks and cold beer!

Throughout the entire day we heard and saw helicopters flying back and forth from the work site. Because the project is nearing the end, many of the helicopter runs were removing supplies from the site, although there were a few runs that brought in new materials. In several instances the helicopters simply moved gear and supplies from one spot on the site to another. As we hiked above the chalet we literally had a birds-eye view of the operations:

Amazingly, there was virtually no fire damage to any of the trees surrounding the chalet complex. The burning ember that floated up from the valley below truly had to be a million-to-one shot.

Despite sporadic fire damage, and several "dead zones", the fire did relatively little to impact the overall beauty of the trail. In my opinion, it’s still a very beautiful hike!

For more information on the hike to Sperry Chalet, please click here. To inquire about reservations this coming December, please visit the chalet website. For more information on the history of the chalet you can visit the National Park Lodge Architecture Society website.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Public Review Begins for Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor Management Plan

Glacier National Park is proposing a plan to guide management of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) Corridor. The plan identifies strategies and actions for improving transportation, visitation, trails and access during peak season. The plan is available for public review and comment on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. The park will also hold a public meeting that will be scheduled in mid-September.

The strategies in this plan improve access to public lands, promote a safe and enjoyable visitor experience and protect sensitive resources. The plan’s proposed action includes the following management options (subject to certain thresholds):

• Expanding the shuttle system with additional buses, extended hours of daily service and six new stops

• Extending visitor center hours at Apgar and St. Mary Visitor Centers

• Adding approximately five miles of hiking trails, one-and-a-half miles of bike trails, and pit-toilets at a number of popular day-use areas

• Enhancing opportunities for bicycle use through the addition of bike trailers to shuttles, installing bike racks, and promoting bicycle-only events

• Improving circulation at Avalanche Campground by restoring a historic exit and converting camping to parking during peak season

• Managing traffic and parking using day-use parking permits for a portion of popular locations such as Logan Pass, St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trailhead, and prohibiting overnight parking in the corridor

• Constructing a new, 100-car parking lot on the west side of the park and expanding parking on the east side

“The public, local businesses, and elected officials have played an important role in this project from the beginning,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow. “Maintaining a quality experience while sustaining the park for generations to come will continue to be a community conversation as we develop tools and implement strategies to address substantial increases in visitation to our park and surrounding local areas.”

Between 2015 and 2017, visitation to the park grew by forty percent to 3.3 million visitors. Visitation growth in areas like Logan Pass and Avalanche has led to vehicle closures and restrictions to prevent traffic gridlock and ensure emergency vehicle access. During peak periods throughout the summer, visitors may wait up to two hours to board shuttles, and are frequently unable to find parking along the Going-to-the-Sun Road Corridor. Visitors are also faced with long lines for basic facilities such as restrooms and access to information desks. Complaint letters from visitors have increased describing crowding, lack of parking, and congestion conditions on the GTSR. There have also been more vehicle accidents in 2019 than prior years on the GTSR, and keeping up with disposing human waste has become a challenge.

Visit the National Park Service's Planning, Environment, and Public Comment webpage to see the complete GTSR Corridor Management Plan. Comments can be posted on this website, or sent by mail to Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: GTSR Corridor Management Plan, PO Box 128, West Glacier, Montana 59936. The plan may also be requested by calling 406-888-7995. The plan will be available for public review for 30 days; comments are due October 6, 2019.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Bureau of Reclamation Intermittent Closures of Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam

The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Snake Field Office, is temporarily closing the Teton Park Road across the Jackson Lake Dam in Grand Teton National Park on an intermittent basis beginning Tuesday September 24 through Friday October 25 to perform crane work on the dam.

Crane work will take place to set and move the bulkhead gate to inspect and perform maintenance work on multiple reservoir release gates at the Jackson Lake Dam.

Closures will occur on the Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday for a period of up to four hours for each closure. No evening or weekend work is planned at this time.

During this time, travelers will not be able to make a through-trip on the Teton Park Road. Those wishing to access the northern part of Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park may want to take U.S. Highway 89/191/287. Access to the Snake River, including the boat launch and fishing area below the dam will be available north of Jackson Lake Dam during this time.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

Tuesday September 24 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday October 1 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday October 7 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
Tuesday October 8 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday October 15 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
Wednesday October 16 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Variable message boards advising visitors of the closures will be operational 24 hours in advance, staged at Jackson Lake Junction and near Signal Mountain Lodge. Flaggers will staff hard closures north of Jackson Lake Dam and south of Catholic Bay Picnic Area.

Work schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

Electric bicycles in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and the National Elk Refuge

In line with the National Park Service’s new electric bicycle (e-bike) policy and a Department of the Interior Secretary’s Order, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier national parks, along with the National Elk Refuge, will expand recreational opportunities and accessibility.

E-bikes are now allowed everywhere traditional bicycles are allowed in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier. E-bikes are also allowed on the pathways in the National Elk Refuge that connect to Grand Teton National Park. Similar to traditional bicycles, e-bikes are not allowed in designated wilderness, in areas managed as wilderness, or on oversnow roads in the winter.

E-bikes are low-speed electric bicycles with power assistance. The operator of an e-bike may only use the motor to assist pedal propulsion. The motor may not be used to propel an e-bike without the rider also pedaling, except in locations open to public motor vehicle traffic. Motor bikes with a throttle are not e-bikes. All bicyclists must obey speed limits and any other state traffic laws.

The managers of these public lands retain the right to limit, restrict, or impose conditions of bicycle use and e-bike use in the future in order to ensure visitor safety and resource protection.

If members of the public have questions or comments, they can contact each park individually. You can read more about the new NPS e-bike policy here.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking

National Park Service Releases Howe Ridge Fire Video From Glacier National Park

Last month the National Park Service (NPS) released a video documenting the first 36 hours of the Howe Ridge Fire, which took place at Glacier National Park (see video below). The fire destroyed private homes and publicly-owned historic structures on August 12, 2018.

The video documents steps firefighters took to attack the wildland fire initially, and the combination of factors that made initial attack unsuccessful. The video also documents evacuation and structural firefighting efforts. The goal of the video is to share these efforts and raise awareness about this incident to other public land management agencies, people who visit and recreate on public lands, and residents who live in wildland fire prone areas.

Summary of Events:

August 11, 2018, was a Red Flag day when a weather system moved through the region bringing little moisture and widespread lightning, 19 fires ignited across the Northern Rockies Fire Zone. Three of these fires ignited in Glacier National Park, requiring interagency fire managers to prioritize by considering values at risk. The Howe Ridge Fire was detected at 7:18 pm - all three park fires were deemed high priority fires. Firefighters caught the other two fires on initial attack due to a combination of factors, including access and weather conditions.

In the last 10 years, there were three other reported fires on Howe Ridge. Because the area is relatively close to developed infrastructure, all three fires were managed with full suppression tactics. One was suppressed at .1 acres, another at 2.3 acres, and the third was never found after the initial report. We presume that fire went out without firefighter intervention. In all cases, these previous fires were relatively straightforward to control.

Once the NPS detected the Howe Ridge Fire on August 11, they immediately attempted to access the area and prevent the fire from spreading. Unfortunately, given the time of day and location of the fire, crews were unable to access the area immediately on foot or via a helicopter. The park placed an order for a Type 1 helicopter for the next morning and developed an action plan. The park successfully secured two CL-215s (super scoopers) due to the high priority nature of the fire within the northern Rockies fire zone, and 14 firefighters attempted to access the fire by ground.

The two CL-215s arrived the morning of August 12, and worked four hours (one fuel cycle), dropping tens of thousands of gallons of water on the fire. High winds made it impossible for them to fly close enough to the fire to be effective. The CL-215s then went to other priority fires outside the park.

Firefighters again tried to hike to the fire, but were not able to engage directly because of fire behavior.

By that afternoon, the fire had burned approximately 20 acres, escaping initial response.

Early that evening, the fire grew rapidly and exhibited extreme behavior, including tree torching, crown runs, wind-driven fire, and fire spots up to ½ mile away. The behavior prompted emergency evacuations on the night of August 12. Between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m, approximately 1,000 visitors, employees, and local residents were evacuated from campsites, North McDonald Road (private residences and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station), Lake McDonald Lodge Complex, and private residences along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Interagency emergency services and wildland and structural firefighting units responded from across Flathead Valley.

The fire grew from 20 acres to an estimated 2,500 acres overnight, spreading down the lakeshore at Kelly’s Camp, the historic Wheeler Residence, and the Lake McDonald Ranger Station.

In total, the fire grew to more than 14,000 acres and firefighting efforts cost $13.6 million. The fire continued to raise smoke until significant snow fell in winter 2018. Owing to firefighting efforts, previous fuel reduction, and containment strategies, the main historic Wheeler cabin residence and Lake McDonald Ranger Station were saved, and firefighters prevented it from reaching Going-to-the-Sun Road and private residences along Grist Road and Apgar.

“August 12 was one of the most challenging and heartbreaking nights in Glacier’s history,” said Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow. “Words cannot do justice the thanks we give to our local county, state, and federal firefighting partners who arrived the night of August 12 in our time of great need.”

“While 2018 fire recovery efforts are well underway for both the park and private homeowners, we can’t lose sight of future fire seasons. These events and others we have seen throughout the West show us that we must continue fuels mitigation efforts, strengthen our wildland fire response capabilities, and as residents and visitors in this forested region, enhance our own personal firewise and evacuation strategies,” Mow continued.





Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
HikingintheSmokys.com
Ramble On: A History of Hiking