Voice of the Glacier Park Foundation ☐ Winter 2013 ☐ Volume XXVIII, No. 1 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATINGSaving GLACIER’S the HUNDREDTHReds, again... (Photo courtesy of Bret Bouda) The public rallies to prevent retirement of Glacier’s historic bus fleet – probably the oldest in the world Also In this issue: • The Bear Attacks of 1967 • Hiking Gunsight Pass • Tales of the Many Glacier Boat Dock • The Buying and Selling of Glacier Park • The Pending Long-Term Concession Contract • The GPL Reunion • In Memorium • Youth and Maturity in Glacier The Inside Trail ◆ Winter 2005 ◆ 1 Editorial: The Importance of Public Involvement The National Park Service generally groups and public meetings, and resources in the park. In the pres- does well-considered and admirable eventually issued a moderate plan ent case, however, it made a major work in managing Glacier National that enjoyed almost universal sup- decision without public input – and Park. On rare occasions, however, port. almost everyone now recognizes that the decision was wrong. We com- it makes a major misjudgment, and A similar episode just has trans- mend Acting Superintendent Kym the public has to call for a change of pired. (See “Saving the Reds,” p. Hall and her colleagues for promptly course. 3) Prompt public objection and a and graciously changing course. A notable instance occurred in 1996. change of course by the Park Service At that time, the Park Service re- has resolved the situation. But it The lesson of 1996, repeated here, leased a draft General Management shows the importance of active con- is for the Park Service to solicit Plan for Glacier. It proposed remov- sultation between park managers and public comment. Consulting the ing longstanding visitor facilities, users of the park. experience, the perspective, and the common sense of park users is a safe- such as Avalanche Campground and The Park Service generally holds guard against such very rare manage- Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. public comment periods before it rial misjudgments. The Hungry Horse Newsran an makes significant decisions affecting editorial attacking the draft plan, which bluntly stated that “the public The lesson of 1996, repeated here, is for the Park shouldn’t stand for it.” And the Service to solicit public comment. Consulting public didn’t. The Glacier Park Foundation and hundreds of citi- the experience, the perspective, and the common zens spoke out about the issue. A sense of park users is a safeguard against such survey showed that more than 90% very rare managerial misjudgments. of the public opposed the plan. The Park Service withdrew it, held focus Glacier Park Foundation Officers: P.O. Box 15641 John Hagen, President Minneapolis, MN 55415 Carol Dahle, Vice President www.glacierparkfoundation.org Mac Willemssen, Secretary [email protected] Tessie Bundick, Historian Jim Lees, Treasurer Board of Directors: The Inside Trail takes its name Laura Chihara, Webmaster Tessie Bundick Rolf Larson, Inside Trail Editor from the famous old trail Laura Chihara which connected Glacier Janet Eisner Cornish Park Lodge with the vanished Carol Repulski Dahle The Glacier Park Foundation was Joyce Daugaard formed by Glacier Park employees chalets at Two Medicine, Ray Djuff and visitors who have a deep love for Cut Bank, and St. Mary. The this special place. The Foundation is John Hagen commited both to the importance name thus emphasizes the Paul Hoff of wilderness preservation and to publication’s focus on the Ron Kolb the importance of places like Glacier Mark Hufstetler as classrooms where people can lore and history of Glacier Jeff Kuhn experience wilderness in intense National Park. We invite meaningful ways, learning not only a Linda Young Kuhn submission of historical, love for the land, but also a respect Rolf Larson that nurtures the skills necessary to scientific, or anecdotal ar- Leroy Lott preserve that land. The Foundation ticles, commentary, poetry, Greg Notess has a special interest in Glacier Park’s John Sauer history, traditions and visitor facilities. or artwork for publication in Rick Taylor future issues. Mac Willemssen 2 ☐ Spring 2013 ☐ The Inside Trail SAVING THE REDS, Again. By John Hagen (Many Glacier 1970- contract, to run for 16 years. (See A grassroots effort quickly was orga- 80) “Concession Contract Pending,” p. nized to preserve the historic fleet. 4.) A complex prospectus of terms Ray Djuff, a journalist and author of Glacier National Park’s storied red and expectations was posted online numerous books on Glacier’s history, bus fleet almost certainly is the oldest in December. (See www.concessions. was one of the first to read the pro- operational fleet of buses in the world. nps.gov/prospectuses.htm.) spectus and recognize the threat to the The 33 vehicles, with their striking fleet. Djuff contacted fellow direc- grills and canvas tops and running Under the terms of the prospectus, tors of the Glacier Park Foundation, boards, were built by the White more than half of the historic fleet as well as Bruce Austin, an expert in Motor Company between 1936 and was likely to be retired. The prospec- historic buses who took part in the 1939. For some sixty summers (with tus stated as follows (at pp. 21, 24 1999 inspection. a brief hiatus during World War (emphasis added)): Two) the sturdy buses chugged over The Foundation’s Board of Directors “At the current use level … the Red Glacier’s mountain roads with their sent a letter to the Park Service. The Bus fleet will begin to fail at some “gearjammer” drivers at the wheel. letter (which also was sent to mem- point during the term of the draft bers of Congress and to the media) In 1999, the buses had to be taken contract. … The Concessioner will stated in part: off the road because their chassis rehabilitate a minimum of 15 buses were wearing out. The National over the first twelve years of the Draft “The unanimous view of our Board of Park Service and the concessioner, Contract term. The Concessioner will Directors (and, we think, of virtually Glacier Park, Inc. (GPI), proposed replace the remaining 18 non-rehabil- all of our members and of the general retiring the fleet and building new itated Red Buses with alternative fuel public) is that this action is unaccept- buses. Public opinion, however, very vehicles … able, barring the most compelling strongly favored finding a way to reasons. The red bus fleet is a unique “The concessioner will undertake and renovate the historic fleet. (See “Are historic resource, probably the oldest complete the rehabilitation/replace- They History?” in the Fall 1999 Inside operational fleet in the world. Re- ment of the Red Bus fleet as follows: Trail, online at www.glacierparkfoun- placing half the buses when all could dation.org.) “Rehabilitate a minimum of 15 Red be renovated at almost the same cost is Buses over the first twelve years of the inappropriate on its face. The Glacier Park Foundation rallied Draft Contract term costing not less support for the buses and helped or- “We’re astonished that this decision than $4,110,000, per the following ganize a systematic inspection which was made with no input whatsoever schedule: showed that they could be preserved. from the public. The Park Service • A minimum of five by the end of (See “A Look Beneath the Hood” in properly establishes public comment 2020 the Fall 1999 issue.) The Ford Motor periods for all sorts of minor infra- • A minimum of six more by the Company then generously invested structure-related and environmental end of 2023 $6.5 million in renovating the fleet. decisions. But here, on a major deci- • The remainder (if any) by the end The historic bodies were remounted sion affecting a priceless historic and of 2025 on new chassis, with new power cultural resource, the public was not trains, braking systems, and other “Replace the remaining 18 Red Buses consulted at all!” equipment. with alternative fuel vehicles, costing “We ask that the Park Service not less than $4,025,000, per the fol- The buses returned to service in 2002, promptly release all data supporting lowing schedule: with the expectation that they would its decision, and that public meetings • A minimum of two in 2025 operate for decades to come. In De- be held to discuss the issue before the • A minimum of four per year, until cember 2012, however, a new crisis as pending contract is signed. We ask the Concessioner has rehabilitated to the buses’ future suddenly arose. that the Park Service address the fol- or replaced the entire Red Bus lowing points: The National Park Service solicited fleet by the beginning of the 2029 bids for a new long-term concession season.” (Continued on page 17) The Inside Trail ☐ Spring 2013 ☐ 3 New Glacier Concession Contract Pending By Mac Willemssen (Swiftcurrent those locations, retail stores, trans- percentage). The new concessionaire 1967; Many Glacier 1968-70) portation, public showers at Rising will also be required to provide an Sun and Swiftcurrent, the public annual maintenance fee of 2.35% The National Park Service (“NPS”) laundry at Swiftcurrent and ATM of gross revenues to be used for the is now accepting bid proposals for and vending machines at the various maintenance and improvement of the award of a new concession Con- locations. facilities within the Park. tract to provide lodging, food, retail and other visitor services at Glacier The concessionaire can be authorized The main component of the al- National Park. The new Contract to provide lodging at the Stewart most $33,000,000.00 initial in- will begin January 1, 2014, and con- Motel at Lake McDonald, provide vestment will be payment to GPI tinue until December 31, 2029. The historic hotel tours, implement of $22,000,000.00, which is the current concession contract, held visitor entertainment programs and amount of the Possessory Interest by Glacier Park, Inc.