Park plows should rev up on east side

The surest sign of spring?

Plows hitting the pavement in Glacier National Park.

Park spokeswoman Amy Vanderbilt said Park plow crews were expected to start on the Chief Mountain Road this week. The Chief Mountain Road is gated at the

Park boundary and runs up to the border. It doesn’t open to vehicles until later in the spring.

After that, plow crews generally hit the Many Glacier Road and then Two Medicine before starting on the east side of the Sun Road.

On the west side, plows are expected to hit the Sun Road on April 1 at Lake McDonald Lodge.

It takes about eight to 10 weeks to plow the complete length of the Sun Road.

Last year was the latest peacetime opening of the Sun Road ever — July 2.

That was due to a cold snowy spring, with snow well into June.

This month has been cold and snowy as well. The high country of Glacier has seen about 10 inches of snow in the past few days and dipped to 11 below zero at West Glacier last Wednesday and Thursday.

Temperatures have since moderated, and this week expect highs in the 40s to 50s with rain or snow possible every day.