Park backcountry slowly opening up

After a long, cold winter and equally cold spring, all but four of Glacier National Park's backcountry campgrounds are now open.

As of presstime, Brown Pass, Hole-in-the-Wall, Sperry Chalet and Beaver Woman Lake were the only campgrounds that remained closed.

The four are closed "due to sensitive environmental conditions," which usually means they're too wet, have snow or may have seen other winter damage. Hole-in-the-Wall in particular usually opens late due to snow.

While many backcountry campgrounds are open, finding a spot may prove challenging. Many of the most popular camps fill quickly this time of year. Campers must have a permit to stay in the Park's backcountry camps. High-country trails are also opening up, although an ice ax and crampons may still be necessary in some high-country locations.

For example, the popular Dawson-Pitamakan Pass route in Two Medicine is largely free of snow, save for a drift along the northeast side of Mount Morgan, where the Park recommends hikers know self-arrest techniques.

The Gunsight Pass Trail took a beating last winter after a massive avalanche wiped the path off the map about a quarter-mile before Gunsight Lake. Crews will wait until the debris and snow pile melts before they attempt to clear a path.

The footbridge crossing the creek at the outlet of Gunsight Lake is missing because of damage from heavy snow loads, a snowfield high above the lake near Gunsight Pass is stopping unprepared hikers in their tracks, and the pass itself is still snowed-in.

The Piegan Pass Trail reopened after a grizzly bear bit a hiker last week. The sow that bit the man has left the area. The trail was closed up to Feather Plume Falls.

Crews have been shoveling out the Grinnell Glacier trail, but it is now closed because of bears frequenting the area.

To check on trail conditions, visit online at www.nps.gov/glac/index.htm, click on "things to do" and follow the links.