In Western Montana, it’s currently one of the most wonderful times of the year. Why? Because the snowplow crews in Glacier National Park are in the midst of plowing the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Each spring, the plow crews make their way up the road–while it is covered in snow–and start to uncover one of the most scenic drives in the country.
Okay, I know you may be thinking, “How much snow could there possibly be on the road?” Our answer: A LOT.
The “Big Drift,” located east of Logan Pass, can reach depths of up to 90 feet. (To put it in perspective, that’s like taking 15, 6 feet tall men and standing them on top of each other). Every year, the plow crew working on the west side of the road and the plow crew working on the east side of the road meet at the Big Drift and together tackle one of their biggest challenges.
![This photo from spring 2013 shows crews starting to tackle the Big Drift. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/8971743093_ef2b03b98c_b-376x250.jpg)
Here’s a look at plowing photos from this spring…
![Red Rock Slide on April 10. Photo: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/13901023862_207f89bb8a_b-333x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![Clearing slide debris on April 16. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/13784342044_e038c86446_b-333x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![Grizzly Slide (1 mile east of the Loop) on April 24. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14047823362_49635abaf8_b-376x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![Little Granite (2 miles east of the Loop) on April 30. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/13896613038_b65cca6d93_b-376x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![Holy snow. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14084474934_f998fabcd3_b-376x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![Near Haystack on May 7. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14138818535_60daffe1f2_b-376x250.jpg)
![Plow crews 4 miles west of Logan Pass. Photo: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14121979506_9ba2e4c5c8_b-376x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![The view toward Logan Pass and the Going-to-the-Sun Road on May 14. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14035215038_b282d9128f_b-376x250.jpg)
![Near Big Bend on May 15. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14050436370_1f0ecef694_b-376x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![Cutting through the snow near Big Bend on May 20. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14265952723_c296a30e03_b-376x250.jpg)
Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS
![The plows make progress near Siyeh Bend on May 23. Photo courtesy: GlacierNPS](http://www.blog.glaciermt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/14274218183_f7aaf86971_b-333x250.jpg)
And if you thought the only thing that the plow crews have to do is plow the road…think again. After the road is cleared, hundreds of guard rails are installed to make summer road trips on the Going-to-the-Sun Road safer.
PS: If you want to keep up with how many miles of the road are open, you can do so here. To view more plowing photos, visit the Glacier National Park Flickr page.
May 30, 2014
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