Going to the Sun Road spring (summer) opening??.....

Plowing of the Going to the Sun Road continues here in Glacier National Park. Conditions have improved as far as weather is concerned, the sun is out and temperatures are rising.


In talking with members of the opening crew, there is a lot of snow still up high that needs to either melt or come down. Progress has been and will remain to be slow. With all the new snow on top of the old snowpack, conditions for avalanches are ripe. Safety remains to be the primary concern as always with the park work crews and crew leaders. That is a good thing, as I have mentioned previously, politics both local and government has in the past played a big part to the push forward regardless. Perhaps common sense is prevailing and inquiring management minds will see the light....guess time will tell...I for one will not hold my breath..

When one thinks of the amount of money spent to open a road full of snow it is huge. That money perhaps could be better spent on backlogged maintenance and trail projects. Did I mention there is also a multi- million dollar road repair job also trying to go on at the same time. Of course all this snow has to be removed first. Hmmmmm...can anyone say "your tax dollars at work" and global warming in the same breath? Kind of ironic what and how someone sitting in an office far away from here can make decisions that affect so many people. Is it really worth it for visitors to be able to drive through this spectacular place. Some days I wonder if three months of expense and danger is worth maybe 3-4 months of use........Click to view an excellent June 6 video of crew working on clearing the road.

The delays are not only affecting the Going to the Sun Road this year, but also some trails. In talking with one member of the trail crew, they stated that there could very well be some trails which do not even open this summer due to amount of snow in high country. It will all depend on what hot temperatures and moisture we receive. It at best will be an interesting year all over Glacier National Park!

From the land of enchantment where all the people who live here year around.. love it, where the millions of people yearly come to visit and love it, and the wildlife love it for 9 months of the year. Thats my two cents worth for today......Have a great day...