Retrospective: Sperry Chalet in photos

[Ptah]

Built in 1914, Sperry Chalet has been a popular destination in Glacier National Park for more than a century. On August 31, 2017, the the historic building was destroyed by wildfire. We don't know what the future holds for the site, but you can look at the history of Sperry in these photos.



http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/retrospective-sperry-chalet-in-photos/collection_4bac9654-2a9b-51e9-a010-f65fa870f15c.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Really? It burnt? I hadn't heard that. I spent the night there back in 1989.

[Ptah]

2. Looks pretty bad

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Heart breaking.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. Sperry Chalet lost in Sprague Fire

Hat tip, NastyWomenofNPS: https://twitter.com/NastyWomenofNPS

We just lost the historic Sperry Chalet in @GlacierNPS due to the #SpragueFire

Link to tweet

Sperry Chalet lost in Sprague Fire

August 31, 2017 at 7:52 pm | Daily Inter Lake



In the Aug. 27 photo, firefighters work to protect the Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park. On Aug. 31, the chalet was lost to the Sprague Fire. (Photo courtesy of Glacier National Park via Facebook)

At about 6 p.m. Thursday, the main building at the Sperry Chalet was lost to the Sprague Fire, according to the Glacier National Park Facebook page and an update on InciWeb. A group of firefighters that were staged at the Sperry Chalet are still reportedly on site and safe.

The firefighters had an extensive hose lay, sprinkler and pump system installed to protect all of the structures associated with the Sperry Chalet, but the high winds Thursday afternoon pushed the fire to the east. The firefighters, supported by three helicopters, were unable to save the main Sperry Chalet, according to the post.
....

Fire managers are still protecting other structures at risk, including the Mount Brown Lookout, backcountry cabins and campgrounds, structures in the Lake McDonald area and trail infrastructure such as footbridges.

Evergreen, Bad Rock, West Valley, and Coram-West Glacier fire depts assist to protect Lake McDonald Lodge. The fire has NOT reached there.

Link to tweet

[Ptah]

5. Sperry Still Standing Despite Heavy Snow

Five months after the Sperry Chalet was nearly destroyed in a wildfire, the remains of the iconic wilderness lodge in Glacier National Park are still standing.

This week, Glacier National Park and the Glacier National Park Conservancy flew over the chalet to see if efforts to prepare the building for winter had been successful. A photo shows the remaining four walls covered in snow but otherwise upright.

Park officials noted that avalanches have not impacted the building. In 2011, the structure was damaged by a slide that busted open a door and blew open windows, filling the chalet with snow and debris.

Glacier Park has received funding from the conservancy to do two more flights later in the winter and spring to check the building’s status. Those flights are tentatively planned for March and April.

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2018/02/17/sperry-still-standing-despite-heavy-snow/