Winter's remnants block many high-elevation trails

Persistent snow is rendering some higher elevation trails and backcountry camp sites in Glacier National Park inaccessible - or at least extremely hazardous to navigate.

For example, the popular Highline Trail, which begins at Logan Pass, is usually cleared during the last week in June. But as the middle of July approaches, heavy snowcover has yet to melt or be cleared off.

"This year we're quite a ways behind," said Corey Shea, the trails foreman for the park's west side. "I'm not sure when we're going to get to it."

Shea estimates progress on higher-elevation trails, both in terms of spring maintenance and snow removal, is three weeks behind schedule - a situation only worsened by a long, cool spring, severe windstorms last fall, and personnel reductions in trail-clearing crews.

Snowpack in the Flathead River basin, which includes areas both inside Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest, is at more than 250 percent of average for this time of year, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Even though snow is now estimated to be melting at about a foot a day, most of the boardwalk to Hidden Lake near Logan Pass is still covered.

"There's still quite a bit of snow there," Shea said.

When crews on July 2 blasted a large snow drift about a mile below the Sperry Glacier on the Sperry Trail, five feet of snow remained.

Much of the snow is hanging in the lee side or shadows of mountains, where sunlight doesn't often reach - places such as Iceberg Lake.

"Routinely you go up there in the middle of August and there are icebergs in the middle of it, hence the name," said Shea. "But it was still 90 percent frozen over Sunday."

Rivers and streams inside the park also are running swiftly.

"Normally we'd be able to ford the Middle Fork this time of year, but right now it's impossible," Shea said.

The situation on the east side of the park doesn't appear much better.

In the Many Glacier area, snow covers 70 percent of the Grinnell Glacier trail above Thunderbird Falls. Ptarmigan Tunnel isn't scheduled to be opened until July 18.

Ice axes, crampons and route-finding skills are recommended for hikers taking trails through Pitamakin, Firebrand and Triple Divide passes in the Two Medicine area.

On the Flathead National Forest, many higher-elevation trails and backcountry campsites are still snow-covered or inaccessible. Besides deep snow, hikers may encounter downed trees and damaged, wet or muddy trails and high, swift water for creek or river crossings.

In the Spotted Bear Ranger District, many of the trails crossing the Continental Divide are inaccessible because of deep snow, particularly along mountain passes.

High and fast-moving water is preventing hikers and stock animals from safely fording the main South Fork and Middle Fork of the Flathead River.

Visitors interested in floating the rivers, hiking, or traveling with stock are encouraged to contact the Spotted Bear Ranger District for current conditions and alternate travel routes.

Significant snow covers the north- and east-facing slopes of the Mission Mountains in the Swan Lake Ranger District and along several lakes, including Cedar, Piper, Ducharme, Heart, Crescent, and Turquoise lakes.

The snow cover makes travel difficult for hikers and unsafe for people traveling with stock, according to a press release from the Flathead Forest.

Overnight camping is prohibited at the lower-elevation Glacier Lake, Upper Cold Lake and Lower Cold Lake in the Mission Mountains.

Trails on the west slope of the Swan Range are mostly cleared of snow, except for connector trails leading to the Alpine No. 7 Trail and Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Hikers will encounter snow-covered trails in the Jewel Basin Hiking Area.

Hikers are encouraged to contact a local Flathead National Forest office to obtain current information about trail conditions and access - or ideas for alternate travel routes.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com