Big Creek buried, but Parsons Tractor comes to the rescue

By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

In a show of winter goodwill, Parsons Tractor hauled two big snowblowers up to the Glacier Institute's Big Creek educational center and cleared it of snow last Friday.

"We're up here doing some fine volunteer work," said Larry Parsons as he operated a high-powered Bobcat snowblower that chewed through the three to five foot drifts like candy. Parson employee Burt Nelson also worked another blower through the deep drifts.

Parsons said his son has taken classes with the Institute, so when they asked for a little help, he was glad to give it.

The Institute's snowplow truck blew a clutch in December, said Maggie Doherty, who runs the campus at Big Creek.

Through the winter she's been able to gnaw away at the snow in order to get in and out of the place, but the place recently saw two feet of snow in a couple of days.

Doherty found herself buried.

Several of the Institutes board members also came up and helped shovel and snowblow the areas Parson couldn't get at.

Big Creek traditionally is in a bit of a snow shadow, but not this winter. While there is deeper snow at McGinnis Creek, Big Creek still has its fair share, too.

Snow depths ranged from two to six feet. Doherty said the deer were using her trails because the snow was so deep elsewhere.

On the east side of Glacier National park, snow closed down U.S. Highway 89 and the Duck Lake Road because of snowing and blowing over the weekend.

The Duck Lake fishing derby was canceled and Glacier Park closed the Sun Road at the Park entrance because of deep drifts and high winds.

The Park will clear out the road to the St. Mary campground once the winds subside.

As of Monday, however, the winds were still howling, though Highway 89 had reopened.

The weather in the valley actually turned to rain last weekend, though with slightly cooler temperatures, it looks like we could get more snow or a rain mix this weekend.