The first section of the Glacier Basin Trail reroute has been completed and is now open to the public. This section of trail, approx. 1 mile in length, is an entirely new section of trail rerouted from a severely damaged section that occurred during the November flood event of 2006. A second secton of approx. 1500 ft. is currently being worked on which, when finished, will complete the Glacier Basin Trail reroute project that has been ongoing for 3 years. The park trail crew along with many, many groups of volunteers and contract trail workers from area corporations such as REI, civic groups, Scouts, Washington Trails Association, Student Conservation Association, Washington Conservation Corps, to name a few, have been working on this major reroute which is the largest trails project the park has seen in recent years.
The crews have done a spectacular job on this first section, building the trail through very rough, rocky terrain in some steep areas. First accounts of those who have a had a chance to walk this section of trail have expressed how much improved this section of trail is in terms of safety, grade, views, and walking surface. This reroute has been funded largely through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The park is anticiapting the late summer/early fall that a public event will be held to acknowledge the grand reopening of the Glacier Basin Trail along with the projected reopening of the Sunrise Visitor Center, which will be getting all new exhibits and having its floor refinished this summer. Stay tuned...
In the meantime, go try out the new section of the Glacier Basin Trail!
Deputy Supt. Randy King test drives one of the bridges on the new Glacier Basin Trail reroute.
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