Artist in Residence ...

Two more press releases from the park today. The NPS "Artist in Residence" program is definitely very cool, and those who get to do it are extremely lucky.

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Artist-In-Residence Applications Available

Pursue Art Skills Surrounded by Inspiring Landscape

WEST GLACIER, MONTANA- Artists are encouraged to apply for the 2014 Artist-in-Residence Program at Glacier National Park.

The program offers professional artists the opportunity to pursue their artistic discipline while being surrounded by the park’s inspiring landscape. The program seeks professional artists whose work is related to the park’s interpretative themes and supports the mission of the National Park Service.

The program provides an artist with uninterrupted time to pursue their work and the opportunity to engage and inspire the public through outreach programs. Park housing is provided for a four-week session during the summer or fall season.

The artist is required to present several public programs during their residency. The programs must be related to their experience as the artist-in-residence and can be demonstrations, talks, exploratory walks, or performances. Digital images of selected work produced as a part of the residency may be used in park publications, websites and presentations for education and outreach.

Artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applications are available online at https://www.callforentry.org. The deadline to apply is January 30, 2014. For more information contact the park at 406-888-7800.

 -NPS-

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Carolin Recognized for Her Work in Research

Research Learning Center Director Receives Regional Award

WEST GLACIER, MONTANA-Glacier National Park Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center Director Tara Carolin was recently awarded the 2013 National Park Service Intermountain Region Director’s Award for Professional Excellence in Natural Resource Research.

As center director since 2009, Carolin has created and nurtured science and research partnerships; communicated science results to natural resource managers, the academic community, teachers and the public; served in the Rocky Mountain Inventory and Monitoring Network and communicated its monitoring results; encouraged and assisted student research and intern mentorship; been a leader in climate change research, communication and adaptation planning; provided leadership for the park’s citizen science program for more cost-effective monitoring and science education; and disseminated research results.

In addition to Glacier National Park, Carolin’s work supports Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said, “We are pleased with Tara's leadership at the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center. The center provides leadership across the National Park Service through their success in facilitating research and communicating research results."

In response to the recognition, Carolin said, “I was both very surprised and honored to receive the award. I want to thank all of the incredible staff at the Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center who carry out many of the projects that were included in the award nomination. All of these accomplishments couldn't have happened without their dedication and hard work."

Carolin’s career includes 22 years with the National Park Service. She has a master’s degree in wildlife and range resources from Brigham Young University. She serves on the board of the Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society, and lives in Creston with her husband.

As a regional recipient of the award, Carolin is eligible for a national award that will be presented at a later date.

 -NPS-

Forty-five summers ...

As with many employers, the Park Service likes to mark the retirement of its longest-serving employees with a commemorative press release. Fred Reese's 45-year tenure at Glacier was certainly longer than almost anyone's, though there are at least a couple of Glacier seasonal employees who are older.

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Career Included 45 Summers at Glacier 

Familiar Face at the Park’s West Entrance Retires 

 WEST GLACIER, MONTANA- After 45 seasons at Glacier National Park, plus a few years working at other sites of the National Park Service, Fred Reese retired this fall.

Reese, 75 years old, began working as a seasonal park ranger at the Rising Sun Campground in 1966.  He continued working summers at Glacier National Park until accepting a permanent position at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio for about three years, before returning to seasonal duties at Glacier National Park in 1982.  He also worked several winter seasons at Death Valley National Park in California. 

From 1990 – 2010 Reese worked as an elementary special education teacher for the Columbia Falls School District during the school year.  The combination of working for the school district and the park was ideal for Reese, allowing for two careers. 

Reese was born in Sulphur, Oklahoma.  Chickasaw National Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service, is located nearby and Reese believes that perhaps his connection to national parks was created when he was very young.  Reese traveled to Montana for the first time when he was about seven years old.  He would join his grandfather and uncles on annual fishing trips, including visits to Glacier National Park.  Reese said that he thought that someday he would travel back to Montana and perhaps work at the park.

He served his country with the U.S. Army, and in 1966 he began his career with Glacier National Park and the National Park Service.  Over the years Reese worked as a campground ranger, backcountry ranger, visitor-use assistant, fee collector and entrance station supervisor.   Since 1990 he has been a familiar and friendly face at the West Glacier Entrance Station.

Reese says the favorite part of job was the people he worked with and the visitors he met, and being on the many trails in the park.  He really enjoyed being a backcountry ranger.  His knowledge of the backcountry and the trail system is extensive, and greatly served the visitor and other employees over his tenure at the park.  When asked what he won’t miss about his job, he smiled and said, “long lines at the entrance station.

Reese was recently recognized for his many years of contributions to Glacier National Park.   He lives in Columbia Falls with his wife and son.  He hopes that his health sustains him and he is able to enjoy some of the backcountry trails in his retirement.

 -NPS-

Glacier reopens ...

As everyone knows by now, the recent budget squabbles in Congress forced the Park Service into an almost-complete shutdown this month.  Along with the other National Parks, Glacier was closed to nearly all public access from the first of October until early this morning, when a temporary truce was declared on Capitol Hill.

By all accounts, the closure at Glacier went as smoothly and gracefully as it could have ... no major incidents and no trespassing citations.  Visitation is normally pretty light this time of year, and Logan Pass and the concession properties were already closed, but visitors were allowed to go into the park as far as Apgar to visit the privately-run gift shops there.  It's really unfortunate that the west side of the Sun Road and the North Fork country were inaccessible, though, because it's a great time of year in that part of the park.

Here's the press release issued by the park this morning, announcing the reopening and updating the status of the Going-to-the-Sun Road:

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Glacier National Park Is Open After Shutdown 

Going-to-the-Sun Road Access to Big Bend Through Sunday 

 WEST GLACIER, MONT. –Glacier National Park is open and welcoming visitors after a 16-day Federal Government shutdown that closed all national parks across the country.

Approximately 250 park employees were furloughed during the shutdown. Approximately 20-30 park employees continued to work during the shutdown to manage the park closure and provide for protection of federal lands, waterways, buildings, equipment and other property owned within park.

Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said, “We are pleased to have the park open for visitors and continue with our responsibilities of managing and protecting the resources.”

As of Thursday morning, the park’s website and social media sites were active, after being inactive or removed during the shutdown. Barricades at park entrances and throughout the park were removed early Thursday morning. Park road crews began monitoring roads, including conducting a sweep of the Going-to-the-Sun Road to clean debris/rocks from the road. When the road is clear of debris, public access will be available to Big Bend through Sunday, October 20.

Mow said, “Weather systems have been consistently bringing rain, snow, and winter conditions through the upper elevations of the park, including the alpine section of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.” The first seasonal closure of the Going-to-the-Sun Road due to poor weather conditions this fall was September 23 when the road was only accessible to The Loop. Between September 23 and October 1 ( Federal Government Shutdown and closure of the park), the Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed and reopened seven times due to weather conditions.

There is approximately two feet of snow in the Logan Pass Parking Area and snow slides of six to eight feet along the inside of the road in the Rim Rocks area located just below Logan Pass.

Park road crew employees are implementing winterization activities along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, including the removal of more than 400 guard rails and installation of approximately 600 snow poles. Implementing winterization activities along the Going-to-the-Sun Road is instrumental in protecting the historic road and numerous improvements made during the on-going road rehabilitation efforts. Proper and responsible winterization activities help maintain employee safety and aid in the opening of the road in the spring.

Apgar, Bowman Lake, Kintla Lake, Quartz Creek and St. Mary Campgrounds are open to primitive camping. Campgrounds in primitive status have pit toilets available, no potable or drinking water, limited number of sites, and fees are reduced to $10 per night. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and reminded that any water taken from streams or lakes requires treatment before use. Current campground status is available at http://home.nps.gov/applications/glac/cgstatus/cgstatus.cfm.

The Apgar Visitor Center is open every weekend, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the park please visit http://www.nps.gov/glac or call 406-888-7800.

 -NPS-

Welcome ...

Welcome to The Glacier Goat, a personal website hosting news, information, and observations about Montana's Glacier National Park. The site will slowly be under construction for the next few months, and things will likely evolve as we go ... but Glacier's a wonderful place, and always a fascinating topic, so it should be fun.