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| Triple Falls, aka Twin Falls or Colliding Falls, in Glacier National Park is now CLOSED! ©tonybynum.com |
Logan Pass is at the top of the Going to the Sun Road, arguably one of the most impressive and attractive alpine area for visitors in Glacier National Park (at least in August).
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| Logan Pass parking lot at the top of the Going to the sun Highway. ©tonybynum.com |
After over 100 years of open access, Glacier National Park officials closed several popular areas including, Reynolds Creek, Oberland, and Clements Mountain to off trail travel. The closure applies to everyone but certain park officials, or other people with proper permits, but as far as going anywhere off the Hidden Lake Trail to take photographs, or just walk, forget it.
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| The large area in light yellow or light green - (I can't tell which I'm partially color blind) - that covers most of the central map area, is the closed portion of Logan Pass. Source: 2014 Glacier National Park Compendium. |
The Following is taken directly from the Glacier National Park Compendium.
B) The following areas are closed, as posted, to ALL OFF-TRAIL TRAVEL for the
protection of revegetation projects, existing resident vegetation and seasonal habitat for
congregating bighorn sheep and mountain goats:
1) The Logan Pass area, which consists of all areas within the following exterior
boundaries: Oberlin Peak climber trail, from the trailhead, to Oberlin Peak;
Oberlin Peak to Clements Peak; Clements Peak, along Clements Ridge, to the
first switchback on the Hidden Lake Trail; first switch back on the Hidden Lake
Trail, along the first bench above Hidden Lake, to Reynolds Pass; Reynolds Pass,
along the southern edge of the Hanging Garden area, to the cliff wall above the
Reynolds Creek valley; and bound by the remainder of the cliff wall, above
Reynolds Creek valley, and Going-to-the-Sun Road. Refer to map section at end
of chapter. Exceptions:
i) The following trails are not included in this closure: Logan Pass
Visitor Center walkways, Hidden Lake Trail, Oberlin Peak climber route,
Clements Peak climber route and Reynolds Peak climber route.
ii) Over snow travel is not included in this closure, so long as travel is
NOT conducted over bare ground, rock, or vegetation and all travel is on
contiguous snowpack immediately accessible from established trail
corridors [see 36 CFR 1.5 (a)(1)(iii)(H) for wildlife distance
requirements].
iii) Administrative functions and special use or research permitted
activities are not included in this closure (Glacier National Park 2014 Compendium).
I called Glacier National Park Officials and asked if there was a way to get a permit to photograph the Triple Falls, they said no. In fact, they said no and sounded surprised I would even ask (I think almost every park employee I've ever met or come across dislikes photographers).
Thousands of photographs of Triple Falls, (aka, Twin Falls, Colliding Falls), the meadows of around Rynolds Creek, various other unnamed waterfalls, and wildlife have been used to “show off the park,” and the state of Montana for decades. Who know’s how many lives have been changed and how many forever lasting memories have been made possible around the Logan Pass area and at Triple Falls.
One of the best known, modern day landscape photographers, Galen Rowell (deceased August 2002) first made the Triple Falls image famous when it appeared on the cover of Outdoor Photographer. Although many of us had been there, and photographed it over the years, Galen managed to make it one of Glacier National Parks most iconic photographs.
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| Two people photographing Triple Falls (Twin Falls) in Glacier National Park. ©tonybynum.com |
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| Triple Falls (Twin Falls) black and white, Glacier National Park. I took this photograph many years ago when the area was open. Notice that shortage of water falling over the rim. In most photographs taken of this location, you'll notice much more water colliding and flowing over the rock faces. The area was historically open when the water was mostly gone in order to protect the delicate nature of the place. I always restrained from following the crowds of people who would go to this location when it was prime for photography, because it was closed. Admittedly, I would have preferred to have a photo of this location that's as good as the thousands of others that have been made of it in the past - I choose to use my judgement. ©tonybynum.com |
Interestingly enough, Galen was known to think, and discuss the impacts that nature lovers like himself had on the health of our environment. He was somewhat conflicted by the commercialization of our places due to his own actions, but always did his best to follow the rules, and make the protection of a place his priority. I believe he did think we were capable, as photographers, of overdoing it -- by loving our places to death. Well Galen, if you can hear me now, we've loved Glacier National Park to death. Sorry bud.
Here's a real example of a heart warming story made possible by Triple Falls. Two kids journeyed to Glacier National Park to find this magical place that they'd only seen in pictures. Turns out they were looking for Triple (Twin) Falls - this is their story.
As you watch the video notice how trampled the area already is. I’m not sure of the exact date this video was made, but It looks too early for this area to be open. There’s to much water and the area is much to wet.
In the past it was open only after the soils had dried out and the plants had gone to seed. In some years it would not open at all. So, I suspect these kids either ignored the closer, or did not realize they the area was off limits. Nonetheless, their story is one that will no longer be possible unless others choose to break the law by trespassing.
What's important to note is that to my knowledge, no public impute was ever gathered. People were not asked about this closure and not included in any discussion that I'm aware of as to the potential for closures. Obviously few people likely even recognized that there was a problem, yet the park service decided to close it anyhow. Is there not a solution to this problem that might include the people who own the land, you and I?
The truth is, parts of Glacier National Park are being managed by a standard not even known in the most protected landscapes, our nations wilderness areas. At least in wilderness areas people are allowed. I'm not saying rules are unimportant or that this area of Glacier National Park should not have tighter restrictions, but to make the executive decisions to just close it for good is disturbing.
I'd like to know if this closure matters to you. If it does, please comment or give the Glacier National Park a call (maybe comment on their facebook page too).
