No backcountry permits for summer 2020 are being approved by Glacier National Park due to staff reductions related to coronavirus/NPS, Tim Rains file
An unexpected victim of the coronavirus pandemic has been backcountry permits for Glacier National Park in Montana this year, as the park has canceled all previous reservations for the coming summer months and is not taking any more reservations for the summer due to reduced numbers of seasonal rangers.
Park staff say the move was made because of current and anticipated staffing and operational limitations related to the COVID-19 outbreak. 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.
The park expects to resume issuing overnight backcountry camping permits when conditions allow.
Comments
Neither of you arguing politics on this site should be permitted in the park ... such a waste of air, both of you. I come here to get away from it and here it is again. Go argue on CNN or Fox sites losers.
How the few that commented and are Trump supporters make noise about how the "left" is the reason for this is jaw dropping on so many levels. The Trump administration is the worse thing to ever happen to the National Park system..From gutting the EPA, to decimating National Monument, to trying open up hunting and ORV use on National refuges, etc..
As usual the answer is nuanced-Some parks will not be bringing in summer seasonals because of housing issue (I would think this is the majority)-but others will not be bringing them in because of lack of fee monies. Many parks pay their seasonals from fee monies (as fee monies can not be used,except invery limited cases to pay for permanent employees). Some parks will be able to cover these fee shortfalls because with the shutdowns base spending has been lower-some will not be able to. There generally is no one siZe fits all answer-and there certainly is not when it comes to reopening parks.
Back on topic. Glacier cancelled the reservations, not because of funding, but because it doesn't know when it will open. It is adhering to the State of Montana phased opening plan, which has no set dates (covid 19 driven). When Montana goes to phase 3, which allows travel to Montana without a two quarantine, the Superintendent intends to open to some level. However, the east side of the park is bordered by the Blackfeet Reservation, which has closed access to the park through the reservation. They don't plan to discuss any changes until 31 May. Lots of moving parts with no single easy answer.
I would agree with it as CSchmidtSr stated...well said! In my relatively little experience on this site over the past few years, this site is not intended as the place for political bantering as it relates to the state of our NP's in general. I too come here to get away from the usual political debates and focus on what I like about what we DO have in these NP's. Unfortunately any and all of these otherwise well-intended sites are now increasingly providing an open invitation to these types of blow-hards to ponticate on things for which it is either unseemly for them to speak or upon which they are unfit to judge. This appears to be the case with these two self-endorsed political "geniuses". Nobody came here to here either of you two blab on about who's right. So, if the shoe fits...go pontificate your opinion-based, psychofantic verbal regurgitation on some other forum where there are other dim-witted sheeple who will praise you and pat you on the back for your pointless self-flattery. Thanks to Ranger1 for some great replies to the question in the first place.
specops - I am sorry you are offended by a discussion of COVIDs impact on the parks. I think this forum is perfectly suited to discuss the rationale for park units to be opened or closed. Further, this isnt a "political" discussion. While others ib this thread have thrown in pejoritives and accusations against political parties and officials, I have initiated no such attacks nor based my comments on any particular political position. I asked a question, Ranger1 provided a reasoned response and I acknowledged it. Nothing political in that.
So is the only reason all back country permits are not available is low staff? Every back country trip I have been on by definition has been self isolating. From glacier to the Buffalo river it is all closed for backcountry canping. If it is done to reduce the spread of covid 19 why let people into the area know for overcrowding and masses while closing the by nature self distancing backcountry?