On Thursday evening Glacier National Park Rangers rescued a stranded visitor from Upper McDonald Creek.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6th, park dispatch received a report that a rafter had fallen in the water in Upper McDonald Creek near Red Rock Point, and was stranded on a rock in the middle of the creek. Park rangers responded to the scene, and at approximately 6:15 p.m. the 23-year old male from Whitefish, Montana was rescued.
The Flathead County Swift Water Rescue Team also responded to the incident and successfully retrieved the man's belongings that were located downstream.
The visitor was cited for boating in a closed area. Upper McDonald Creek, from the motor vehicle bridge across McDonald Creek inlet at the head of Lake McDonald upstream to the Mineral Creek confluence, is closed to all boating and floating for the protection of nesting harlequin ducks.
Park visitors are reminded to use caution around water. Spring conditions in the park include increased amounts and high levels, fast moving, and frigid cold waters in lakes, streams and creeks. Drowning is the leading cause of death in the park. For information about boating, kayaking or canoeing in the park, please contact the park at 406-888-7800 or click here.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Monday, June 10, 2013
Celebrate the Glacier Park Lodge Centennial on June 22nd
The Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier will be celebrating its 100th year anniversary on Saturday, June 22, 2013.
To help celebrate, there will be a re-dedication ceremony on the front lawn from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, which will include an all-American Bar-B-Q, birthday cake and live music.
The lodge will also offer a Centennial Celebration Dinner, which will feature the same items that were served at the original opening celebration for the Glacier Park Lodge on June 22, 1913. In addition to great food, live music will also be on tap.
Constructed by the Great Northern Railway almost a century ago, the lodge was built around a three-story lobby that measures 200 feet by 100 feet, and is lined with Douglas-fir columns, 40 feet tall, and between 36 and 42 inches in diameter. Each column was brought in by rail from the Pacific Northwest because trees in Montana rarely grow so large. A total of 60 such trees were used, with Douglas-fir in the lobby and cedars for the exterior. The lodge was loosely styled as a Swiss chalet, similar to other lodges and backcountry chalets built by the Great Northern Railway between 1913 and 1917.
Here are a couple of photos from around the lodge:
For more information on the centennial event, please click here. To make reservations for overnight lodging in the area, please visit our accommodations page for East Glacier.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
To help celebrate, there will be a re-dedication ceremony on the front lawn from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, which will include an all-American Bar-B-Q, birthday cake and live music.
The lodge will also offer a Centennial Celebration Dinner, which will feature the same items that were served at the original opening celebration for the Glacier Park Lodge on June 22, 1913. In addition to great food, live music will also be on tap.
Constructed by the Great Northern Railway almost a century ago, the lodge was built around a three-story lobby that measures 200 feet by 100 feet, and is lined with Douglas-fir columns, 40 feet tall, and between 36 and 42 inches in diameter. Each column was brought in by rail from the Pacific Northwest because trees in Montana rarely grow so large. A total of 60 such trees were used, with Douglas-fir in the lobby and cedars for the exterior. The lodge was loosely styled as a Swiss chalet, similar to other lodges and backcountry chalets built by the Great Northern Railway between 1913 and 1917.
Here are a couple of photos from around the lodge:
For more information on the centennial event, please click here. To make reservations for overnight lodging in the area, please visit our accommodations page for East Glacier.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Participation in Outdoor Recreation Activities Reaches Highest Level in Six Years
Participation in outdoor recreation reached a six-year high in 2012 with nearly 50% of Americans ages six and older taking part in at least one of the 43 outdoor activities included in the latest Outdoor Recreation Participation Report. This percentage equates to 141.9 million American outdoor participants, reflecting an increase of nearly a million people compared to 2011. In addition, outdoor participants were more active in 2012 than in past years, taking an average of 87.4 outdoor outings per participant for a total 12.4 billion outings. Overall, more Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2012 than in any year since The Outdoor Foundation began measuring participation six years ago, perhaps signaling a move toward healthier, more active lifestyles.
These findings are part of The Outdoor Foundation's 2013 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report, the leading report tracking American participation trends in outdoor recreation with a focus on youth, young adults, diversity and the future of the outdoors.
Participation rates by age remained consistent in most categories from 2011 to 2012 — a testament to the resilience of outdoor participation in uncertain economic times. Participation rates among younger generations remained steady yet are still significantly lower than they were in 2006. Young participants are also less diverse than the nation’s population as a whole. In 2012, 71 percent of youth and young adult participants were non-Hispanic Caucasian – which is not reflective of the nations increasingly diverse population.
When averaging the year-to-year changes in participation for specific outdoor activities over the past three years, multisport activities, such as triathlons and adventure racing, have experienced the largest average annual increases in participation. Activities such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, camping, RV camping, and rafting have all experienced the largest average annual decreases.
Here are a few stats of interest:
* After showing a sharp decline in 2011 versus the prior year, backpacking made a strong return in 2012. The report shows a 23.6% increase in the number of people participating in the outdoor pursuit. The 2012 numbers were also the highest level of participation in the 7-year history of the study.
* Interestingly, however, camping (within a 1/4 mile of a vehicle or home) declined 9% when compared to 2011.
* Participation in hiking remained relatively flat for 2012. However, the latest figures don't reflect the strong growth in the outdoor pursuit in recent years. Compared to 2006 (the first year of the study), hiking is up 15.7%. Compared to 2010, participation in hiking has increased by 6.3%.
In 2012, the top 5 most popular outdoor activities for adults (ages 25+), based on participation rates were:
1. Fishing - 15.7% of adults
2. Running, Jogging and Trail Running - 14.9% of adults
3. Bicycling (Road, Mountain and BMX) - 12.0% of adults
4. Hiking - 11.7% of adults
5. Camping (Car, Backyard and RV) - 11.5% of adults
The top 5 favorite outdoor activities for adults (ages 25+), based on frequency of activity were:
1. Running, Jogging and Trail Running - 87.2 average outings per runner
2. Bicycling (Road, Mountain and BMX) - 58.4 average outings per cyclist
3. Birdwatching - 40.7 average outings per birdwatcher
4. Backpacking - 33.4 average outings per backpacker
5. Wildlife Viewing - 29.9 average outings per viewer
The report is based on an online survey of more than 42,000 Americans ages six and older and covers over 40 different activities, making it the largest survey of its kind. To download a complete copy of the 2013 Outdoor Recreation Topline Participation Report, visit The Outdoor Foundation website.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Participation rates by age remained consistent in most categories from 2011 to 2012 — a testament to the resilience of outdoor participation in uncertain economic times. Participation rates among younger generations remained steady yet are still significantly lower than they were in 2006. Young participants are also less diverse than the nation’s population as a whole. In 2012, 71 percent of youth and young adult participants were non-Hispanic Caucasian – which is not reflective of the nations increasingly diverse population.
When averaging the year-to-year changes in participation for specific outdoor activities over the past three years, multisport activities, such as triathlons and adventure racing, have experienced the largest average annual increases in participation. Activities such as downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, camping, RV camping, and rafting have all experienced the largest average annual decreases.
Here are a few stats of interest:
* After showing a sharp decline in 2011 versus the prior year, backpacking made a strong return in 2012. The report shows a 23.6% increase in the number of people participating in the outdoor pursuit. The 2012 numbers were also the highest level of participation in the 7-year history of the study.
* Interestingly, however, camping (within a 1/4 mile of a vehicle or home) declined 9% when compared to 2011.
* Participation in hiking remained relatively flat for 2012. However, the latest figures don't reflect the strong growth in the outdoor pursuit in recent years. Compared to 2006 (the first year of the study), hiking is up 15.7%. Compared to 2010, participation in hiking has increased by 6.3%.
In 2012, the top 5 most popular outdoor activities for adults (ages 25+), based on participation rates were:
1. Fishing - 15.7% of adults
2. Running, Jogging and Trail Running - 14.9% of adults
3. Bicycling (Road, Mountain and BMX) - 12.0% of adults
4. Hiking - 11.7% of adults
5. Camping (Car, Backyard and RV) - 11.5% of adults
The top 5 favorite outdoor activities for adults (ages 25+), based on frequency of activity were:
1. Running, Jogging and Trail Running - 87.2 average outings per runner
2. Bicycling (Road, Mountain and BMX) - 58.4 average outings per cyclist
3. Birdwatching - 40.7 average outings per birdwatcher
4. Backpacking - 33.4 average outings per backpacker
5. Wildlife Viewing - 29.9 average outings per viewer
The report is based on an online survey of more than 42,000 Americans ages six and older and covers over 40 different activities, making it the largest survey of its kind. To download a complete copy of the 2013 Outdoor Recreation Topline Participation Report, visit The Outdoor Foundation website.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Glacier Road Crews Currently Working on the Big Drift at Logan Pass
Glacier National Park road crews working on plowing snow off the Going-to-the-Sun Road have finally reached Logan Pass earlier this week. They're currently working on the Big Drift, which is located just east of Logan Pass, and is usually more than 30 feet deep.
Again, this year, the park is posting some incredible photos of the road as they dig out of the snow:
In addition to snow plowing, crews are also re-installing more than 400 guard rails that are removed each fall in order to prevent them from being damaged by avalanches and harsh winter elements:
You may want to note that the latest update on park website states there will be no hiker/biker restrictions on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, beginning this weekend, for those visiting from the west side. Here's some additional information:
For hikers and bikers coming up from the east side, here's the latest from the park website:
Motorists should note that the earliest the entire 50-mile road can be opened to vehicle traffic is June 21st.
You can view many other photos of road crew progress and winter scenery on Glacier's Flickr page.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Again, this year, the park is posting some incredible photos of the road as they dig out of the snow:
In addition to snow plowing, crews are also re-installing more than 400 guard rails that are removed each fall in order to prevent them from being damaged by avalanches and harsh winter elements:
You may want to note that the latest update on park website states there will be no hiker/biker restrictions on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, beginning this weekend, for those visiting from the west side. Here's some additional information:
On Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, there are no hiker/biker restrictions on the Going to the Sun Road and hikers/bikers can (go) as far as they want. On Saturday, the Logan Pass Parking Lot will be closed due to crews working in the parking lot from 7am-1pm.
For hikers and bikers coming up from the east side, here's the latest from the park website:
Hiker/bikers can travel to Siyeh Bend while the road crew is working, Tuesday through Friday, there will be no hiker/biker restrictions this weekend (6/8 and 6/9). On Monday, June 10, the road crew will be working and hiker/bikers can travel 2 miles beyond the vehicle closure to Siyeh Bend.
Motorists should note that the earliest the entire 50-mile road can be opened to vehicle traffic is June 21st.
You can view many other photos of road crew progress and winter scenery on Glacier's Flickr page.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park
Friday, June 7, 2013
Temporary Reroute of Popular South Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Tetons
Beginning Monday, June 10, hikers using the southern portion of the popular Jenny Lake trail to Hidden Falls and Cascade Canyon will need to take an upper trail segment beyond Moose Ponds junction. This reroute will be in place for two to four weeks while significant restoration work is done along the more often used shoreline trail.
Signs and a map will be posted near the east shore boat dock and bridge to alert hikers of the temporary reroute from the shoreline trail to what is locally known as the upper horse trail. The horse trail segment involves a slight elevation rise as opposed to the shoreline trail; however, this reroute does not increase the mileage to Hidden Falls.
In addition, the Leigh Lake bridge between String Lake and Leigh Lake is currently closed while the park's trail crew constructs a replacement bridge. The closure will likely last until mid to late June. This bridge provides access to the west shore of String Lake and the junction to Paintbrush Canyon trail.
For information on trail conditions, closures and temporary reroutes, please stop by the Jenny Lake Visitor Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the Jenny Lake Ranger Station after June 8, its opening date.
Other trail conditions can be found online here.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
In addition, the Leigh Lake bridge between String Lake and Leigh Lake is currently closed while the park's trail crew constructs a replacement bridge. The closure will likely last until mid to late June. This bridge provides access to the west shore of String Lake and the junction to Paintbrush Canyon trail.
For information on trail conditions, closures and temporary reroutes, please stop by the Jenny Lake Visitor Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the Jenny Lake Ranger Station after June 8, its opening date.
Other trail conditions can be found online here.
Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)