Page 25 - Flathead Beacon // 5.21.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS
MAY 21, 2014 | 25

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normal, and cooler temperatures have
CONTINENTAL DIVIDES
slowed the spring melting process.

There is still much snow and ice on
REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER many lakes, including Two Medicine
CLAIMS GOVERNOR, Lake, located inside the park boundary,
COMMISSIONER TRYING TO according to park oicials.
OUST HIM
Hiking and access opportunities
A Republican Senate leader claims are limited across the park due to snow
in recently iled court documents that conditions. Visitors should be prepared

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, the com- to encounter snow, fast-moving water
FIGH T FORC E
missioner of political practices and two and changing weather conditions. With
others conspired to remove him from some increased snow load, some areas
oice by accusing him of breaking cam- in the park are prone to avalanches and
paign laws.
slides, so caution should be used as trav-
Commissioner Jonathan Motl has eling and recreating in these areas.
iled a civil action against Senate Major- The St. Mary Campground and Bow-
ity Leader Art Wittich that says Wittich man Lake Campground will transition
PRESENTS
coordinated with and took illegal corpo- to non-primitive status by Friday, May
rate contributions from the conserva- 23, as scheduled. Apgar and Sprague
tive group Western Tradition Partner- Creek Campgrounds are open.
ship in the 2010 election campaign.
Hikers and bikers can enjoy unre-
If a judge upholds Motl’s indings, stricted access on the west side of the
Wittich of Bozeman could be removed Going-to-the-Sun Road this weekend.
from oice and struck from the 2014 bal- On May 23, hikers and bikers can travel

lot.
as far as The Loop and there will be no
Wittich iled a counterclaim in restrictions for hikers and bikers on the
state court last week that says Motl’s west side from Saturday through Mon-
goal since being appointed by Bullock, day, May 24-26.
a Democrat, last year has been to re- Visitors can drive the Going-to-the-
move Wittich from oice. Wittich said Sun Road from the West Entrance to Av-
he doesn’t have enough information to alanche, and for about one mile from the
make a determination on Motl’s ind- St. Mary Entrance to the foot of St. Mary

ings, so he denies them.
Lake on the east side. The Camas Road,
He claimed Bullock, Motl, Motl’s Many Glacier Road, Chief Mountain
predecessor Jim Murry, state Sen. Bruce Road, and Two Medicine Road are cur-
Tutvedt, R-Kalispell, and 20 unnamed rently open to vehicle travel. The Inside
people engaged in oicial misconduct by North Fork Road is partially open. From
conspiring to remove him from oice.
the Polebridge Ranger Station, visitors
“Two or more of the third-party de- can drive northeast to Bowman Lake or
fendants communicated with one an- south to Logging Creek. All other areas

other and thereafter had a meeting of of the Inside North Fork Road remain
the minds on their objective and/or closed at this time. The Cut Bank Road
course of action to bring faulty accusa- is currently closed at the park boundary.
tions and legal charges against Wittich,” Snow plowing activities on the Go-
the document said.
ing-to-the-Sun Road continue with the
Motl told Lee Newspapers of Mon- west-side road crew working near Big
tana that he was disappointed to see Bend, about three miles from Logan

Wittich raising issues and defenses that Pass. The east-side crew is working their
don’t relate to the case.
way past Jackson Glacier Overlook.
Several park concessioners and pri-
MOUNTAIN EXPOSURE
vately-owned facilities will begin to ofer
visitor amenities this weekend. Glacier
National Park Lodges, the park’s newest
SNOW CONDITIONS DELAY concessioner, will begin operations of
OPENING OF TWO Lake McDonald Lodge and Camp Store

CAMPGROUNDS AT GLACIER
May 24. Lake McDonald Lodge, Granite
Glacier National Park is ofering an Park Chalet, and Sperry Chalet celebrate
increasing number of services and open their centennial anniversaries this year.
facilities, but park oicials are remind- Bears are currently active within the
ing visitors that some places are making park and visitors are reminded to travel
a slower transition from winter to sum- in groups and make loud noises when
mer.
recreating to avoid surprise encounters.

Two campgrounds on the east side of For your safety, do not approach or at-
the park will have a delayed opening due tempt to feed any wildlife in the park.
to snow conditions. The Many Glacier Glacier Park’s shuttle system is AFTER PARTY
Campground and Two Medicine Camp- scheduled to operate July 1 through
ground are anticipated to open Friday, Sept. 7. The system provides two-way
May 30, rather than this week, accord- shuttle service along Going-to-the-Sun AT THE VFW
ing to the park. Snow levels on the east Road between the Apgar Visitor Center
side of the park are generally more than
and St. Mary Visitor Center.

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