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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 4, 2020 9:10:01 GMT -8
Cancels and refunds the entire 2020 backcountry permit season. They cite seasonal staffing issues. Rather the opposite of a lot of places that are so far leaving developed, labor intensive things closed in the front country while leaving the backcountry open. A month or two at the start to see where things go, but the entire season seems rather sweeping. “ Due to current and anticipated staffing and operational limitations related to the COVID-19 outbreak, combined with the uncertainty of trail and backcountry campground availability, all backcountry camping advance reservations for the 2020 season have been cancelled. This cancellation includes reservations previously processed. All advance reservation application fees will be fully refunded by May 31. The park will not accept or process advance reservations for backcountry camping for the remainder of 2020. This web page will be updated when the park reopens and we can safely provide backcountry experiences. The park expects to issue overnight backcountry camping permits when conditions allow. Please monitor www.nps.gov/glac and park social media channels for updates on current park conditions.” www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/backcountry.htm
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Post by cweston on May 4, 2020 11:02:10 GMT -8
That kind of jibes with the NPS model of the backcountry experience, which is that there is a staff of backcountry rangers keeping tabs on hikers, that there are developed camps (with privies, in many cases), and so on. All of that requires staffing, maintaining, etc.
I'm not saying that approach is wrong, to be clear. It's almost surely necessary at least in many national parks, where the population of hikers would overwhelm the more hands-off administrative philosophy of the USFS in designated wilderness areas, in ways that would damage the ecosystem, etc.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 4, 2020 14:26:52 GMT -8
Maybe the Rockies backcountry NPS though, but not California where Yosemite, Sequoia Kings Canyon are dispersed wilderness camping parks. Maybe grizzly bear country?
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zeke
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Post by zeke on May 4, 2020 14:40:50 GMT -8
I'm still waiting to see if I can grab a Canyon permit for Sept. So far, the entire park is closed, but I still check daily.
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Post by absarokanaut on May 4, 2020 17:10:14 GMT -8
I've seen several folks get confirmations for GTNP and YNP, but they could of course ultimately choose to not issue permits on the ground. As of now Lodging is going to be very limited in the two Parks and grab and go food only.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 4, 2020 17:29:43 GMT -8
I've seen several folks get confirmations for GTNP and YNP, but they could of course ultimately choose to not issue permits on the ground. As of now Lodging is going to be very limited in the two Parks and grab and go food only. Yah, Sequoia Kings Canyon and Yosemite are all issuing wilderness permit reservations, pending conditions of course. The sweeping deletion of an entire season so early is striking. My only guess is Glacier's backcountry staffing policy is stringent enough that their not being able to meet it has raised a safety concern they can't deal with. Parks and places with more "it's wilderness: you take responsibility for your own experience" (which is almost a direct quote from Yosemite lol) might not be caught by staffing problems to the same degree.
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rangewalker
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Post by rangewalker on May 5, 2020 5:56:40 GMT -8
That kind of jibes with the NPS model of the backcountry experience, which is that there is a staff of backcountry rangers keeping tabs on hikers, that there are developed camps (with privies, in many cases), and so on. All of that requires staffing, maintaining, etc. cweston nails the crux of the difference between NPS management across the large back country parks. The 2020 Yellowstone group from this forum has been informed our reservations are a go when/if Yellowstone opens up but the backcountry office will be closed or done remotely. From the area press, the biggest restraint the NPS faces is housing the seasonal staff in the Park with COVID 19 guidelines. Yellowstone manages 90% of the land in teh Park as NPS wilderness, very few privies, no huts, and limited services. Glacier does not have the capacity to house every seasonal in a private room and bath. Yellowstone and Yosemite only a half to a third. Where is those FEMA trailers moldering in the Gulf states?
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Post by oldbill on May 6, 2020 6:51:52 GMT -8
Good to hear that this decision is linked to different management strategies for the parks. Still hoping for my September group permit in the Winds and am happy that's a wilderness and not a national park.
Do have reservations for a night in Colter Bay cabin (shared bath). Hope that remains open. Needed a room the night before a flight and Jackson motel prices have become ridiculous. Motel 6 wants almost $200 for a night.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 6, 2020 13:28:29 GMT -8
Yah, Jackson has gotten insane. I like Pinedale as a good option. Though for a morning flight it’d be a long drive. Cabins with bath are opening in Yellowstone though by Xanterra a different company, so later in the season cabins without is a reasonable gamble. Though their current webpage doesn’t look promising. www.gtlc.com/lodges/colter-bay-village
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Post by absarokanaut on May 6, 2020 19:56:32 GMT -8
******SHARED BATH AT COLTER BAY is probably not happening if they share Yellowstone's COVID-19 season model
Sux there probably will not be any 50th Anniversary Party for the Climbers Ranch. I was at the 40th, it was a blast.
I also will probably not be able to get my nicely cheap "Grizzly Cabin" at Lava Mt. Lodge for after hiking the Divide. Like Climbers Ranch not private bathrooms. First world problem, just drive the hour home or sleep in the truck. Bar will likely be closed anyway.
Jackson is an incredibly sought after tourist destination. Rooms this odd summer of ours could be a lot cheaper than you might think. Normal years I know a couple of nice, clean but dated hotels in town that were under $150 for two queens last summer.
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Post by Lamebeaver on May 7, 2020 8:27:30 GMT -8
My initial reaction was "the backcountry is the one area that should remain open....where people can safely social-distance.
But people get lost, and hurt, and the ones put at risk are the rangers and emergency personnel.
It's going to be a long summer.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 7, 2020 17:43:38 GMT -8
My take from various mentions is the new safety standard for safely housing employees, one per room, has rendered the usual dormitory group housing unusable. So the number of staff that can be accommodated has been dramatically cut.
Backcountry staff are still largely rotated from front country bases: bases that now can’t safely house the previous numbers. That’s also impacting front country lodging as maintenance and operations staff numbers get pinched.
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LMG
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Post by LMG on May 12, 2020 10:30:01 GMT -8
Glacier Boat company has also suspended their operation for 2020.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on May 12, 2020 13:42:28 GMT -8
I am coming from out-of-state to fish/hunt/camp/recreate. Do I need to quarantine? • Yes. The Directive for travelers coming from out-of-state has been extended through the end of the emergency (unless modified by a subsequent Directive). • Travelers coming from outside of Montana must self-quarantine for 14 days. (See section above for additional information.) • Outfitters, camp hosts and other outdoor businesses should communicate to potential customers about the 14-day mandatory quarantine for those coming from out-of-state. General Questions Montana Opening Phase 1Phase 2 is the same. Phase 3 is essentially back to normal. I have a flight scheduled to Butte. MT on July 7th to finish the CDT, from where I left the trail in '18. Fortunately, my daughter and I did the GNP portion last summer. Thus far I have booked rooms and drivers, with a couple of exceptions. One motel told me I needed to do the 14 day self-quarantine before they would book. Lucky for me it will take me about 18 days to hike there. The other issue I have is cab service. The taxi service is reluctant to drive me from the airport to Anaconda. Trail Angels are shutting down for the year. I've already postponed an AT 500 mile section hike and visit to daughter and granddaughter. Had Maze Permit cancelled twice. Postponed planned PCT section hike which was to follow CDT, due to uncertainty. Have a 50th high school reunion October 1st. ITMT hiking/bushwhacking in an obscure mountain range within 60 miles of home. Not in any guide book, nor on the All Trails app. Best of luck to all for your 3-season plans.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on May 13, 2020 15:11:07 GMT -8
Yellowstone has anointed their partial reopening. Southern and western entrances only as Montana stays closed with that 14 day barrier.
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