Forum Discussion

yr2017's avatar
yr2017
Explorer
Aug 14, 2019

Going to the Sun Road

The Going to the Sun road in Glacier NP was closed for a few hours on Monday to clean up a boulder slide at the East Tunnel. The resulting slide struck a vehicle killing a 14 year old girl and injuring four family members. The boulders some the size of basketballs fell a considerable distance.

The road is open, but caution must taken when traversing that area - esp after rain/snow storms.

https://dailyinterlake.com/breaking_news/20190813/girl_killed_by_falling_rocks_in_glacier_park
Roads and Routes
  • yr2017's avatar
    yr2017
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2019
    I have driven that road three times this year, but not after a snow or rainstorm. As a comparison the Wind River canyon is far more dangerous than the Glacier roads/ I was pulling a double thru the canyon when a giant boulder landed squarely on a car - flattening it. Four died. Took several days, three wreckers, a rotator and a helo to move the boulder. I was stuck there for two days.
  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Aug 14, 2019
    Ozlander wrote:
    Dick_B wrote:
    We have debated, on this Forum, the desirability of driving that road with the usual pros and cons. This story illustrates a con.

    Well, you can always stay home under the bed.
    But, there's no guarantee in that either.


    There's always risk of a meteorite coming through the roof . . . . Or a brain aneurysm, heart attack, etc.

    This is indeed a sad, sad story. My heart goes out to the family of that youngster. My religious friends would say, evidently God needed her in heaven.
  • Ozlander's avatar
    Ozlander
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2019
    Dick_B wrote:
    We have debated, on this Forum, the desirability of driving that road with the usual pros and cons. This story illustrates a con.

    Well, you can always stay home under the bed.
    But, there's no guarantee in that either.
  • Jayco-noslide's avatar
    Jayco-noslide
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2019
    I agree but how can you use "caution" about rocks falling from above. I think you either have to stay off or take your chances with nature. We've driven it dozens of times. Just one of thousands of things that can go wrong on the road.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Aug 14, 2019
    I drive it but understand there is risk. Most don’t have any idea.
  • bobsallyh's avatar
    bobsallyh
    Explorer II
    Aug 14, 2019
    You know Dick B, as a frequent visitor and driving the "Going To The Sun" road, I'm a whole heck of a lot more worried about driving to and from Glacier National Park with all the brain dead drivers on public roads.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2019
    We have debated, on this Forum, the desirability of driving that road with the usual pros and cons. This story illustrates a con.

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