Glacier Guides/Montana Raft Trails and River Report for July 10th, 2009

Good morning folks, this is Denny with your hiking and rafting report for July 10th. The Glacier National Park forecast for this weekend is:

West Glacier

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 79. North northeast wind at 8 mph becoming south southwest.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind at 9 mph becoming south.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 7 to 10 mph becoming south.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

St. Mary’s

Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 70. Southwest wind between 3 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. West southwest wind between 8 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 75. West wind around 8 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Current water level is 3.46 feet or about 3,500 cfs in West Glacier, creating an awesome wet adventure. We have been running Bear Creek down to Blankenship on the Middle Fork and the border down on the North Fork. Remember we only put a maximum of 8-9 people per boat so everyone can have a window seat!

Roads

Logan Pass – Is completely open! Expect 5-20 minute delays for construction.

Other roads – All roads are open except the Inside North Fork Road. The Inside North Fork Road is currently closed at Logging Creek RS and Fish Creek due to construction. Hiker/biker access is not allowed during the construction on this section of road.

Trail Reports

Closed Trails and Areas

Head of Kintla Lake – Eagles Nesting

Head of Bowman Lake – Eagles Nesting

Lake McDonald Shore along Fish Creek Road – Eagles Nesting

Lower Quartz Lake – Between trail and west of outlet – Loons

Oberlin/Reynolds area – Resource Protection

Hidden Lake – 300yrds from outlet – Fish Spawning

Posted Trails and Areas

Apgar Bike Path – Bears

Current Conditions – Expect Snow Above 5500 Feet.

Lake McDonald Valley

Higline Trail - Logan Pass - Granite Park Chalet/ 7.6 mi.

Safety handline cable - Installed as of 6/23/09.

As of 7/2/09, hikers should be able to traverse any remaining stretches of low-angle but snow-covered trail. High-angle drifts in the section from Logan Pass to Haystack Butte have been blasted and / or shoveled. In addition, hikers should be aware of a possible overhead hazard with snow sliding down from above the trail in the Triple Arches area. It is recommended that hikers should have vibram-soled boots. Snow Cover: 5%

Avalanche Lake trail is open. Please be mind full of “Restoration Area” signs along the trail and around the campground and try to prevent/reduce resource impacts by staying on the trail or walking on durable surfaces (ex: lakeshore, rocks, logs, etc.).*

Sperry Chalet Trail - Lake McDonald Lodge - Sperry Chalet/ 6.4 mi – Some lingering snow cover.

St. Mary’s Valley

Hidden Lake Trail - Snow covered after the first 1/2 mile to the Hidden Lake Overlook, then intermittent snow cover from the overlook to the lake Snow Hazard at the moraine, slick conditions on 7/6/09. Oberlin / Reynolds area closure for Resource Protection. But trails to Oberlin and Reynolds are accessible to climbers. HIDDEN LAKE FISHING CLOSURE: 300 yards from outlet.

St Mary’s Falls and Virgina Falls are open.

Siyeh pass trails - Snow cover: 50% Large segments of trail completely snow covered. Route finding skills needed.

SNOW HAZARD: Switchbacks towards pass are mostly snow-covered. Ice axe would be helpful if snow is firm.

Many Glacier Valley

Iceberg Lake Trail is open but expect some snow after plank bridge (last 1/2 mile). Route marked through snow with orange wands. The lake is still frozen. Little snow reported towards Ptarmigan Tunnel. The tunnel opened on July 8th.

Grinnell Glacier Trail - SNOW HAZARD- no snow for 1.5 miles; then, above “snow hazard” sign, est. 60% snow cover with likely 100% from upper picnic area to the glacier. Dangerous snow bridges and steep snow chutes across trail exist; travel not recommended.

Two Medicine Valley

Trails in the Valley are in Summer conditions.

Dawson Pass to Pitamakin Pass - Snow cover: 2% - SNOW HAZARD- One steep snow slope close to Pitamakin pass may be avoided by skirting below it. A shorter snow slope with steep 30 ft runout cannot be avoided among cliffs. Some other short steep snow drifts cross the trail but have very short run-outs.

North Fork

Trails in valleys are in summer conditions.

Expect snow above 6,500 feet. 100% in the Boulder Pass and Hole in the Wall area.

Backpacking

Backcountry campgrounds – Most CGs above 6,000 feet are either closed for emerging vegetation or in winter conditions. Backpackers should expect snow over most passes and be prepared with ice axes and crampons.

McDonald Lake CG is open and has been reconstructed, the Belly River, Two Medicine, Waterton, Cut Bank, Bowman Lake, and Kintla Lake Valleys’ are all open to backcountry camping. Conditions are changing daily, please call the backcountry office for more details – 406 - 888-7859

Use caution around wildlife, there may be young of the year hidden near by and their parents are very protective. Remember, we sell bear spray at cost ($27)

Before a long day of adventuring in Glacier please stop by the Bonecrusher Bistro for a coffee, breakfast burrito or sandwich (open 8 am to 6 pm). Or stop by after for a smoothie, homemade cookie or ice cream cone.

We will have a raft trip for 8 give away at Moose’s Saloon on Wednesday July 15th. Beer specials from Coors.

Stop by Super One Foods in Kalispell or Whitefish and register to win a two person Hyside Kayak from Montana Raft Company. Drawing to be held July 25th.