What Just Happened to Stoney Indian Campsite?

[sbosecker]

I have an itinerary (GAB-MOL-GLH-GAB) in early September that I'd like to modify to (GAB-MOL-STO-KOO) if I got the chance. So I'm checking Rec.gov with alarming frequency.

Until this morning, STO had had walk up availability most days in September & August if not every day... this morning from August 1st to September 30th Stoney Indian is showing NO availability. What is going on with that?

Scott

[sbosecker]

With nothing heard here, I sent an email to Glacier NP yesterday to see if they have an explanation.

Scott

[liketohike]

That is a good idea! I'd be curious what you find out.

[sbosecker]

Just received the following email from the Glacier Backcountry Office:

Hello Scott,

The recreation.gov website is showing the correct number of available sites. The reason that nothing is showing available past August 1st has to do with a damaged food pole in the site. This issue makes it so that we cannot put more than 2 groups in the site at a time as there is not enough space to store scented items. Until this is fixed only two groups can be put in the campground at a time.

Prior to August 1st, one site is allocated to advanced availability and one site is available on a walk-in basis. After August 1st (the traditional opening date for this campground) two sites are available to be booked in advance and usually one site is available as a walk-in. Since we can only put two groups in at this time, both would be given to those that have already booked in advance.

There is a small chance of an advanced reservation cancelling. If this happens, that site will be put back into advanced availability on Rec.gov and can be booked online.

Backcountry Permit Rangers
Glacier National Park

I inserted the bold face font in the above to highlight the "issue".

Best regards,

Scott

[orin]

It is not a very satisfying explanation. I wonder what about the damaged food pole makes it satisfactory for 2 but not 3 groups? They could also make the site available but require the 3rd group to use a bear can. Or they could even fix the pole.

[paul]

I'm pretty sure the Stoney Indian lake camp does not have a food hanging pole. Instead it has a bear box. Last time I was there the bear box was used by all campers with plenty of room to spare. So unless something has changed since then, this answer from the park service doesn't make sense. By the way the bear box seemed to be in good shape then and I don't see why they would want to change it out.

[zozeppelin]

Agree that’s pretty lame, especially with plenty of time to fix it.

ELF is the only site I’ve seen with multiple boxes, so I don’t see the issue with 3 sites working with one box. For instance fifty mountain had one for 5 sites (until they tore it out last year). Wonder if it was something else (mule deer)?

Here is a picture from last year showing the remnants of the pole base, but pole missing.

[liketohike]

Interesting...Here's a quote from the nps trail status report site for Stoney Indian camp:
"Notices: Nuisance deer in area. Public health issue."
I've been wondering about the nature of this public health issue - I mean other campgrounds have nuisance deer, but are not considered a public health issue.. not sure but perhaps it is somehow linked to the food storage concern?

[orin]

Last time I was there Stony did have a pole. Think really tall hat rack with 3 or 4 hooks. But it has has been a few years so Paul is probably right. I also had a hiking pole stolen by a deer there. After chasing the deer around for awhile I got the well slobbered pole back. Not sure whether deer slobber is a health hazard but if so I survived it.

[paul]

Orin,

I had the same issue with a deer stealing my hiking pole. The deer boldly stole my pole from under my tent vestibule at night while I was sleeping. I finally found it the next morning in some trees with slobber all over the handle. It was slimy but I don't think it was much of a health risk.

I was there in 2018 so maybe the changed out the bearbox since. I don't know, it seemed perfectly fine at the time.

-Paul

[llholmes1948]

I am assuming that the deer must be after the salt left by sweat on the hiking pole handles. Would that be correct? I wonder if putting some insect repellant on the handles would discourage thefts by deer.

[paul]

Yeah, they like the salt on the handles. Insect repellant might help with that. I never tried it but I also never had that issue before. It's probably the same deer doing all the slobbering.

[sbosecker]

It's been a couple of days since I looked at rec.gov to see if anything had changed...

As of today, STO now has walk-up availability in August & September again.

Perhaps the deer have been dealt with using extreme prejudice.

Scott