Digging out the Highline

One of Glacier National Park's most popular trails opened last week, but it took several dozen shovelers and some explosives to make it passable.

Last Thursday members of Over The Hill Gang and Glacier Park trail crew members went to work shoveling out the Highline Trail from Logan Pass to Granite Park Chalet.

The route is one of the most popular hikes in Glacier, as it follows the Garden Wall 7.5 miles to the chalet and beyond. It usually takes some shoveling to clear out the trail, but this year Glacier's high country has seen more snow than normal, as May and June were wet and snowy.

Park trail crews had blasted out bigger snowdrifts earlier in the week. The Gang, which is a group of mostly retired local businessmen and women that hike in the Park each Thursday, took to the trail with shovels to further clear the path.

Even with all the shoveling, there still are some significant snowdrifts in spots and hikers are urged to take hiking poles and wear sturdy shoes.

Another popular high country trail in the Park has also opened. The route through the Ptarmigan Tunnel from Many Glacier to the Belly River has opened. The tunnel goes through the Ptarmigan Wall. Each fall the doors to the tunnel are closed and each spring trail crews dig them out and reopened the tunnel to foot traffic.

Many other Glacier Park passes that don't see as much attention are still snow covered and treacherous. Travel over many routes requires an ice ax and or crampons.

Still, the warmer weather is rapidly melting Glacier's snows. Visitors can get updates on trail conditions at visitor centers as well as online at: http://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/trailstatusreports.htm.