In our travels we have gone thru several burn areas and, although it takes a long time, it is - as has been said - so good to see the renewed growth. I remember coming up to Glacier years ago along the 89 and seeing burn area; not sure how that looks now but sure a lot better than it did those years ago. (We come up the 464 now so have not seen it on the 89 for several years).
Interesting from one of the updates :
Farmer said given the current low relative humidity and strong winds, the Reynolds Creek blaze has potential to double in size every day that it burns. He pointed out that officials only call in a Type 1 Incident Management Team in the most extreme situations.
"It's in a an area that has to be totally suppressed," said Farmer. "The misnomer is the 'let it burn policy'. That does not exist on the east side of Glacier National Park, so, they are very behind about putting it out," explained Farmer.
Interesting from one of the updates :
Farmer said given the current low relative humidity and strong winds, the Reynolds Creek blaze has potential to double in size every day that it burns. He pointed out that officials only call in a Type 1 Incident Management Team in the most extreme situations.
"It's in a an area that has to be totally suppressed," said Farmer. "The misnomer is the 'let it burn policy'. That does not exist on the east side of Glacier National Park, so, they are very behind about putting it out," explained Farmer.
Sorry, Sandi. I thought I made myself clear and was in line with what is reported on the news.
brownie_bear - please do not misquote me.
I did not say the whole east side is closed; I said the whole east side is closed, evacuated or - as best - very, very smokey.
We have friends who were there and left Wed morning due to the smoke. And my heart goes out the KOA on the east side as it is a great place; we have been there 3 times.
"We're kind of in the direct line right now," said Susan Brooke, who owns the St. Mary Glacier Park KOA. "It's raging down the ridge toward St. Mary."
BTW, the West Glacier KOA (a beautiful place) is 2.5 miles west of West Glacier so I would expect it to not be too smokey there with the westerly winds.
I did not say the whole east side is closed; I said the whole east side is closed, evacuated or - as best - very, very smokey.
We have friends who were there and left Wed morning due to the smoke. And my heart goes out the KOA on the east side as it is a great place; we have been there 3 times.
"We're kind of in the direct line right now," said Susan Brooke, who owns the St. Mary Glacier Park KOA. "It's raging down the ridge toward St. Mary."
BTW, the West Glacier KOA (a beautiful place) is 2.5 miles west of West Glacier so I would expect it to not be too smokey there with the westerly winds.
Crowe wrote:
As of yesterday the majority of the park was operating as normal.
In all due respect I think this is a bit misleading.
"Operating as normal"? About half of the GTTS Road is closed including the Logan Pass at the summit and the whole east side. The whole east side of the park is closed, evacuated or - at best - very, very smokey. Yes, the trails and some of the things MIGHT be "operating" but would be so smokey breathing would be difficult.
And I would guess the west side is even a little smokey but do not know that.
When we lived in Estes Park we were around wildfires and the air quality is very disconcerting.
Again, not sure of all the ramifications going on there but probably the town of West Glacier and even up to Lake McDonald are going ok - but would hardly classify that at "normal".
And emergency people might be coming in from the west as well; they don't need crowds anyplace near where they are trying to do their jobs.
