Үерийн улмаас АНУ-ын Глейшер үндэсний цэцэрлэгт хүрээлэнгийн зарим хэсгийг хааж, жуулчдыг нүүлгэн шилжүүлж байна.
Зургаадугаар сарын 28-наас эхлэн тус хүрээлэнгийн гол маршрут болох 50 милийн урттай Going-to-the-Sun Road замыг аадар бороо, хөрсний нуралтаас үүдэн тодорхойгүй хугацаагаар хаалаа. Мөн Many Glacier Valley бүс, Swiftcurrent Motor Inn болон Many Glacier Campground зэрэг олон зуун хүн хүлээн авах хүчин чадалтай газруудыг түр хугацаагаар үйл ажиллагааг нь зогсоов. Үндэсний цэцэрлэгт хүрээлэнгийн албанаас жуулчдыг үерт автсан газарт зорчихгүй байх, анхааруулгыг чанд мөрдөхийг зөвлөж байна.
Глейшер хүрээлэнгийн түнш байгууллага болох Glacier Institute-ийн захирал Энтони Нелсоны мэдээлснээр, одоогоор үерийн хохирлын хэмжээ тодорхойгүй байгаа бөгөөд хаалттай бүсүүдийг хэзээ нээх нь тодорхойгүй байна. Хүчтэй аадар борооны улмаас олон тооны явган аяллын зам хаагдаж, уулархаг бүсэд хөрсний нуралт үүсэх, гол мөрний усны түвшин огцом нэмэгдэх эрсдэлтэй байгааг албаныхан анхааруулж байна.
Хэрэв та тус хүрээлэнгээр аялахаар төлөвлөж байгаа бол ачаалал багатай, өөр чиглэлүүдийг сонгохыг мэргэжилтнүүд зөвлөж байна. Тухайлбал, хүрээлэнгийн өмнөд хэсэгт байрлах Firebrand Pass, St. Mary’s орчмын Jackson Glacier Overlook, мөн баавгай, хандгай тааралдах магадлалтай Beaver Pond Loop зэрэг маршрутууд нь аялахад тохиромжтой. Мөн уулын ямааг ажиглахад тохиромжтой Goat Lick Overlook-ийг зорьж болох юм.
Аялагчид цаг агаарын нөхцөл байдал болон хүрээлэнгийн мэдээллийг байнга хянаж, аливаа анхааруулга, хаалтын тэмдэглэгээг дагах нь аюулгүй байдлын үүднээс нэн чухал. Усны түвшин ихэссэн гол мөрөнд сэлэхээс зайлсхийж, баавгайтай таарсан тохиолдолд ашиглах шүршигч бэлдэх, өндөр уулын бүсэд аялахдаа биеийн дулаанаа хадгалах арга хэмжээ авахыг санууллаа. Одоогоор Ptarmigan, Swiftcurrent, Piegan Pass, Red Gap Pass, Cracker Lake зэрэг олон бүс, явган аяллын замууд үерийн улмаас хаалттай хэвээр байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүйг эх сурвалжаас харах
↓Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
Heavy flooding in Glacier National Park prompted officials to evacuate visitors and close areas across the park beginning in late June. Now, the National Park Service (NPS) is asking the public to avoid specific areas of the park due to rising floodwaters and the potential for rockslides.
On June 28, park officials closed Going-to-the-Sun Road, the park’s iconic 50-mile scenic highway bisecting the park, until further notice due to heavy rain and debris. In the northeastern part of the Montana park, officials have closed the entire Many Glacier Valley area, including the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn and Many Glacier Campground—which together can host hundreds of people on any given day.
“The park urges visitors to practice responsible visitation during this weather event. Flooded areas should never be crossed, and all posted closures must be followed. Travelers should check current conditions before arriving and remain flexible with plans as weather and access may change quickly,” wrote the National Park Service in a statement.
Anthony Nelson, executive director of the park-partnering nonprofit Glacier Institute, toldOutside that officials haven’t announced when the closures will be lifted, and that the extent of the flooding damage is not known at this time.
“There is a lot of water,” Nelson said. “It’s definitely a downer when Going to the Sun Road is closed, and you’ve planned your entire trip around the drive.”
Heavy rainfall swept through northern Montana on June 28, prompting dozens of additional trail closures. At the time this story was published, the NPS has closed access to hikers and cyclistsbeyond any road closures, and park staff tells visitors to avoid all closure points. Heavy rain in steep terrain could cause rockslides, and water from small streams can rise quickly.
Where to Go With Closures in Place
If you’re planning a visit to the park, Nelson advises stopping at lesser-known trails, which are also home to wildlife that showcases the picturesque Rocky Mountain landscape.
Nelson recommends visitors check out Firebrand Pass on the south side of the park. The six-mile-long trail begins south of East Glacier Park Village and threads through aspen groves and willow thickets before merging onto the Continental Divide Trail.
Another favorite of Nelson’s is to drive along the southern side of the park and head through St. Mary’s on the east entrance.
“Right now you can get into the Jackson Glacier Overlook, and there are plenty of great wildlife opportunities to see over there,” Nelson said. “There is also a lesser-known trail outside of the St. Mary entrance called the Beaver Pond Loop. This is a 3.3-mile trail where you can see bears and moose; nobody knows it’s there. That’s a pro tip.”
If viewing Rocky Mountain goats is high on the agenda, Nelson recommends the Goat Lick Overlook, a natural mineral seep where goats guzzle naturally formed salt.
Stay Aware and Listen to Warnings
No matter where your trip takes you, Nelson says that visitors need to keep their eyes peeled and stay alert.
“Closures can happen quickly, and it can sometimes be easy to miss the signage. Be on the lookout for closures, stay aware, and take it seriously. As we’ve seen, flash flooding is a huge deal, and you can find yourself in a dangerous situation quickly if you don’t follow posted guidelines and warnings,” he said.
Take extra precautions around water, and think twice before jumping into fast-moving streams and rivers. Also, carry bear spray—and know how to use it, Nelson said.
Authorities say they will continue to evaluate and reopen areas when conditions improve.
“Visitors are advised to expect disruptions from rain, including dangerous or impossible travel conditions. Backcountry hikers may have difficulty navigating high elevation trails and should take steps to prevent hypothermia,” wrote NPS in a statement.
Current Closures
As of June 30, the NPS closed parts of the following areas due to flooding:
Ptarmigan
- Ptarmigan Cutoff
- Ptarmigan Falls, motel parking lot to the junction above Ptarmigan Falls
Swiftcurrent
- Swiftcurrent horse trail cutoff and horse loading spur trail
- Swiftcurrent Pass, Swiftcurrent Motel Cutoff Trail and to Granite Park Chalet
- Swiftcurrent Lake Loop, around the Swiftcurrent Lake and Grinnell Glacier Trailhead to Swiftcurrent Lake Junction
- Swiftcurrent Pass, campstore parking lot to Swiftcurrent Pass and Redrock Falls
Piegan Pass
- Piegan Pass Cutoff
- Piegan Pass, from the hotel to Featherplume Falls Junction
Red Gap Pass
- Trailhead to foot of Poia Lake
- Sherburne Cutoff, Red Gap Pass Trail to Sherburne Ranger Station
Cracker Lake, trailhead toCracker Lake Campground
Saddle Horse Corral
South Shore Josephine Lake, hotel to Oastler Shelter andJosephine Walk
Grinnell Lake, Horse Trail and Foot Trail,Oastler Shelter to Grinnell Lake
Running Eagle Falls, Two Medicine Road to Running Eagle Falls
Iceberg Trail, Iceberg Lake Trailhead spur trail
The post Heavy Flooding Forces Mass Evacuations and Major Road Closures in Glacier National Park appeared first on Outside Online.
