Glacier Guides/Montana Raft Trails and River Report for August 7, 2009
Good morning folks, this is Denny with your hiking and rafting report for August 7, 2009. Huckleberries are out, the river is a great place to be (all splash gear, river booties and wetsuits are always free), and Iceberg Lake still has Icebergs. Do not forget your rain gear this weekend.
The Glacier National Park forecast for this weekend is:
West Glacier
Friday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. High near 63. Northeast wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers likely. Low around 49. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 78.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.
Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 78.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
St. Mary’s
Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, then showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. High near 58. North northeast wind between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Friday Night: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then rain likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 45. North northwest wind between 7 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 68.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Monday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 69.
Monday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Current water level is holding steady at 2.52 feet or about 1520 cfs in West Glacier, creating a great wet adventure. We are currently running Rafts,Thrillseekers and Duckies. We have been running Paola down to Blankenship on the Middle Fork and Ford down on the North Fork. Remember we only put a maximum of 8-9 people per boat so everyone can have a window seat and the best ride!
Roads
Logan Pass – Is completely open! Expect 5-20 minute delays for construction.
Other roads – All roads are completely open.
Conditions are changing daily and sometimes hourly, please call the backcountry office for more details – 406 - 888-7859
Trail Reports
Closed Campgrounds and Trails
Morning Star Campground - Bears
Closed 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
Clements Area – Resource protection
Posted Trails and Areas
Apgar Bike Path – Bears
Swiftcurrent Pass Trail from Fisher Cap Lake to Bullhead Lake – Bears
Sperry Trail to Chalet – Bears
Iceberg Lake Trail from Many Glacier Trailhead to Ptarmigan Falls – Bears
Ptarmagin Tunnel Trail from the trail junction to the Tunnel – Bears
Conditions are changing daily and sometimes hourly, please call the backcountry office for more details – 406 - 888-7859
Current Conditions
Lake McDonald Valley
Highline Trail - Logan Pass - Granite Park Chalet/ 7.6 mi.
Safety hand line cable - Installed as of 6/23/09.
Snow Cover: 0%
Granite Park Chalet - Fifty Mtn. Campground/ 11.9 mi.
Ahern drift was blasted on 7/21/09. The Cattle Queen Drift (about 2.5 mi. north of Ahern) forms a classic snowbridge which may not be apparent thus it is recommended that hikers take the faint alternate trail that crosses the stream course approx. 120′ below the drift.
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 – Sperry Chalet to Comeau Pass - Two plank foot bridges and the handline at Comeau Pass installed 7/7/09 Snow Cover: 6% SNOW HAZARD: Possible snow bridges covering portions of the trail between the summit of Comeau Pass and the Sperry Glacier Overlook. All of the snow cover for this trail is located in this section. 08/03/2009
St. Mary’s Valley
Hidden Lake Trail – 0% snow cover. Oberlin / Reynolds / Clements 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: 0%
Many Glacier Valley
Iceberg Lake Trail is open. TRAIL POSTED: bear freqenting as of 7/22/09 The lake has great icebergs. The tunnel opened on July 8th.
Grinnell Glacier Trail - Snow cover: 0%
TRAIL POSTED: Bear frequenting
Two Medicine Valley
Trails in the Valley are open and in Summer conditions.
Dawson Pass to Pitamakin Pass - Snow cover: 0%
North Fork
Trails are in summer conditions.
Backpacking
Backcountry campgrounds – Morning Star is the only closed CG due to Bears.
McDonald Lake CG is open and has been reconstructed. Conditions are changing daily and sometimes hourly, 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.
Remember all equipment is included for free on our rafting trips (Splash gear, wet suits and river booties)
Conditions are changing daily and sometimes hourly, please call the backcountry office for more details – 406 - 888-7859
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