From the Fire Report

“The spike camp at East Glacier will be relocated following the destruction of two of the firefighter’s tents today by a grizzly bear, while the troops were out on the line.”

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/877/ 

Essex 5 Day Forecast

From the National Weather Service

How about the dog days of July?

From the Missoulian: Missoula July weather stats.

“The sweaty statistics:

An average high temperature of 96.6 degrees through Monday. That was a whopping 2.5 degrees warmer than July 1960, in the heat of the Cold War and the city’s previous hottest month.

Just one day when the thermometer didn’t reach 90. We’ll look back warmly on Thursday, the 19th, when it topped out at a grab-the-parka 87.

Eleven, count ‘em, days of 100-degree (or better) temperatures. The most recent was Sunday, when triple-digit readings mixed with smoke in the valleys from an outburst of wildfires.

An all-time record high of 107 degrees on July 6, so hot the statue of the World War I doughboy at the Missoula County Courthouse was seen fanning himself with his helmet. The previous standard of 105 was reached five times, a couple of them before the official thermometer was moved from a downtown bank building to the comparatively cooler climes near the runway at Missoula International Airport.

The first 18 days of July reached 90 degrees or higher, as did the final 12. The first streak equals a record set in 1960. The second ranks fourth.

Six daily heat records: on July 5, 6, 14, 15, 18 and 29.”

Early weather reports are showing a cool down next week.

Fire Near Glacier (Update #2)

“Hwy 2 will re-open for two way unescorted traffic by 6 PM tonight. There will be speed restrictions in the area of the fire, and traffic will be stopped near Marias Pass while helicopters are working in that area.” From Here

The fire could affect our travel to the park depending on the status of HWY 2.  If the highway remains open, it’ll cut a couple hundred miles and hours off our trip.

Sunday Day Hike

Another good option for a day hike is the Highline/Switchcurrent Pass trails. The mileage is roughly 15.2 miles and there is a side hike to the Grinnell Glacier overlook, which would add around a mile. If I had to choose a day hike right now, this one would be it.

Fire Near Glacier (Update #1)

The Skyland fire has increased to over 10,000 acres.

Here is a map of the fire location

And here is a link to a more news on the fire

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/07/31/news/news01.txt

Fire Near Glacier

There is a 5,000 acre fire outside the south east corner of the park. This doesn’t affect our hike, but does affect our traveling around the park. Hwy 2 was closed, but has now been reopened with restricted travel (i.e. must be escorted).

For more information click this link.

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/877/

Stimson Climb Reports

Here are a couple of links to Mt. Stimson climb reports.

http://www.cohp.org/mt/Flathead_3.html

http://www.cohp.org/mt/Flathead_1.html

 Looks like the roughest the climb will be is a class 3 or easy 4.

Cars, Coolers, and another website.

There should be plenty of room for a cooler since we are renting full size cars. What we’ll plan on doing is as we head out next Friday we’ll stop at Payless and grab some food to stick in there for the trip out. Then on our way back we can stop at a store and fill it back up.

I found another cool/informative website that I’m adding to the links.  It’s a discussion board about GNP.

 http://glacierparkchat.com/chat/index.php

Fire Restrictions Upgraded

Stage II Fire Restrictions
On Monday, July 30, Stage 2 Restrictions will go into effect. All campfires in Glacier will be PROHIBITED. Fires solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels are authorized.

Stage 2 fire restrictions also prohibit smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or while stopped in a

developed recreation site or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. (Visitors cannot clear an area in which to smoke.)