Latest 2020 Season Opening News

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Jay w
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by Jay w »

I think making the GTTSR hike, bike or horseback might be a good idea for this year, and I'm a scientific type, so I could bike all the way to St. Mary and back. :D

If they're going to have the GTTSR open to cars, they should have a lottery or some way to limit the cars. If it's first come, they'll be lined up at the entrance at 2 am. Two weeks later they'll line up at midnight.

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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by risingwolf »

The good old days with the good old boys love it Pete.
Yes, SW Florida. I’m a carpetbagger from Chicagoland, moved here a year ago. There’s not a hill in the whole state but I’ve seen bear in my backyard. Thanks for the tip on Little Gasparilla, will definitely check it out.

I agree with your talking points. The logistics are a nightmare. There will be more trails and BC sites opening up this year but at a snails pace.
Get ready for a reservation system to drive on GTTSR.
Fingers still crossed for this year but looking at Plan B very hard.
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by davidwayne »

I've been an advocate for somehow limiting access to the park in order to keep it from being overrun, but certainly not to the extent of closing it down for most people. Hike the entry fee, go with some type of reservation system , and plow more money into park maintenance. If you can afford traveling to Montana, making lodging reservations a year in advance, have an IPhone, cable tv, etc, you can manage making a reservation for park entry in advance and can afford to pay more to help maintain out national parks for the next generation.
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by zozeppelin »

Wow tough crowd ..... but realistic and probably right.

GTTSR opens Monday to Rising Sun.

https://flatheadbeacon.com/2020/07/09/g ... d-opening/

Trail status all updated to 'closed' for everything east of the divide.

Kintla backcountry site just opened, and based on trail status I expect Camas and Arrow to follow shortly.
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by PeteE »

Well finally some good news ! :D

One question is what time will they allow cars in to line up at Avalanche?
Or will they "hold" traffic at the West Glacier entrance gate so as to collect entrance fees and get a better count on cars entering?
A "count" would enable them to better control traffic and reduce the almost certain parking problems.

My guess is they'll wait to 0800 to begin allowing traffic past Avalanche--maybe 0700.
I don't believe they want a mad dash of traffic heading up the mountain in marginal lighting.

Anyone have thoughts on that?

I plan to go as early as possible assuming I can play hooky from work 8)
The question I'm asking myself is : Where to park?
I'm guessing that parking will be crazy and once I park, I should remain there for the duration.
I'm not a fan of driving around in circles in Logan Pass's parking lot.
And trying to find a space later in the day at a spot like Sunrift Gorge or one of the small "pull offs" along the GTTS road will be hopeless imo.
I ain't doing that.

It'll be an interesting day for sure.
I'll let you know how it turns out Monday night or Tuesday morning.

pete :wink:
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by zozeppelin »

You're going to love this:

https://www.kpax.com/news/local-news/fl ... r-entrance

"However, Kerzman says if the public strongly dislikes the system then the park will consider not moving forward with it."
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by PeteE »

zozeppelin wrote: Fri Jul 10, 2020 6:14 am You're going to love this:
YEAH, LIKE AN INGROWN TONAIL!! :twisted:

Note to self...
Find my Bob Marshall/Spotted Bear Wilderness books and maps.

pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by Fairbanks142 »

I just submitted this suggestion on the Glacier NPS site:

Here is very easy way to significantly increase awareness of the traffic and congestion issues that you're experiencing at the west side entrances: On the main Glacier NPS page, instead of the banner saying only that part of the park is closed, also include that the open entrances to the park have heavy congestion and delays.

For example: "Portions of Glacier National Park Are Closed; Limited Open Areas Are Heavily Congested; Expect Delays".)

Make it so that you can't miss this information within seconds of opening the main page. Otherwise, many visitors to the site in its current state will not go to the sub-page to carefully read the information, and they will continue to be unaware of the situation. Thanks for your consideration of this.


I'm sure that many visitors to Glacier don't even look at the NPS site....but for those that do, why not state it clearly at the top of the main page, rather than burying references to the traffic and congestion on a sub-page that most won't read?
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by Selkie »

Fairbanks142
Much easier for an individual Park to make contemporaneous changes to social media -- see Twitter for hourly updates on GttSR closures -- than to make changes to a site overseen by an agency of the federal government.
I would also expect many users to go first to the Park's social media, and may have signed up for feeds.
But thank you for a good idea, and trying to effect helpful change.
:arrow:

(Not many uses for dancing bananas this year!)
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by zozeppelin »

New map:
https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... July13.pdf

Includes Siyeh and Gunsight east of the divide.
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by orin »

The Firebrand Pass trail will also open the 13th. Pete can now reschedule.
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by Fairbanks142 »

Thanks for the heads up with today's update zozeppelin.

Starting Monday, July 13, vehicles will be able to access Logan Pass and Rising Sun, from the West Entrance.

https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/statusupdate.htm

Selkie, do we have more reasons for the dancing banana today? Thanks for your kind response as well!
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by PeteE »

orin wrote: Fri Jul 10, 2020 3:17 pm The Firebrand Pass trail will also open the 13th. Pete can now reschedule.
I will if that part park actually opens on the 13th.
Anyone have definitive information.
Last I saw EVERYTHING East of the Divide in that area was closed. :(
Is there a new revised map?

As for the park service(GNP) posting the latest info...
WHY post on Twitter and/or Fakebook and not on their own website.
That irritates the hell out of me.
I don't have a Fakebook account and never will.
I do have a Twitter account(ClydetheRaven) 8) but don't like Jack Dorsey who is a treasonous SOB along with Zuck on FB... imo. 8)

let me know. I'll do Firebrand if it's allowed.

pete :wink:
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And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by orin »

I'm just going by the July 13 map that zoezeppelin posted about 3 posts back. It shows that the Firebrand Pass trail will open on the 13th.

https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... July13.pdf
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Re: Latest 2020 Season Opening News

Post by PeteE »

orin wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2020 12:11 am I'm just going by the July 13 map that zoezeppelin posted about 3 posts back. It shows that the Firebrand Pass trail will open on the 13th.

https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ ... July13.pdf
OK I see.
The trouble is that just because the trail crew has cleared the trail, or the trail is scheduled to be cleared doesn't mean squat.
The most recent information from the National Park Service(the map Al_in_Al posted) shows that EVERYTHING East of the Divide will be closed all season.
That could change of course, and probably will for trails along the GTTS road.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Maybe GNP posted something on Fakebook. 8)
Someone may want to check that.

I'm leaving home at around 0300 this morning to drive to Avalanche to get an early start hiking to the lake.
I want to see if I can get a sunrise shot at the lake.

Cheers

pete :wink:
"If you are not curious, you will learn nothing" -Goethe-

"When you're born in this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show.
And when you're born in America, you're given a front row seat."

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