Posted: Jun 16, 2011 9:51 AM by Laura Wilson
Updated: Jun 16, 2011 9:59 AM
Snowplow crews are working to get Glacier National Park's famous Going To The Sun road open for the season.
Park officials had originally hoped to have the full road ready for business by Friday, but that deadline has now been pushed back.
Road crews have been hard at work since November plowing the Going to the Sun Road, but clearing off the entire road has been a challenging task.
"We usually stay way ahead. But the problems we've had are just the normal slide areas, the rock debris, all of the debris, and the amount of snow this year," Glacier National Park Road Supervisor Stan Stahr explained.
"Every year, the road has a little different twist to it. Each year, we get surprised in different places along the road," added engineer equipment operator Carl Thomas.
This year's surprise was ice - and lots of it, especially along unexpected areas of the road.
Veteran crew members estimate the snow is twice as deep as it has been in recent years. They've plowed within three miles of Logan Pass, where they expect to encounter snow depths of up to 90 feet.
A date has not been set on when the entire road will be opened up, though one crew member says they could still be working on it in early July.
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