Photo: Tony Bynum Photography
If you cross country ski or snowshoe in Glacier’s Two Medicine Valley this winter, you might notice a pleasant convenience in this rugged wilderness. A new, fully accessible double-stall vault toilet is now available year-round.
Your generous donations to the Glacier Conservancy funded this new restroom facility near the camp store in Two Medicine. The area is a popular winter destination for cross country skiers.
The new facility provides more convenience for visitors during winter and preserves the beautiful scenery and watersheds of Two Medicine Valley.
Protecting The Wilderness In Two Medicine
Year after year, visitation to Glacier National Park consistently reaches record numbers during the summer and winter months.
Two Medicine experiences some of the highest winter visitation rates on the east side of the park. Its wild beauty provides wonderful winter recreation opportunities for any adventurous and prepared traveler. However, to experience its beauty comes with some sacrifice during winter, when services and facilities are extremely limited.
“The most important goal of this project is to provide a usable restroom facility to one of the most visited areas of Glacier during the winter months of October through April.”
– John Lucke, Facilities Manager, Glacier National Park
Photo: Tony Bynum Photography
The Scoop On Poop In Glacier
You might think toilets are funny – okay, we all do – but managing human waste in Glacier is an important, often unseen challenge.
From October until early May each year, the water supply in Two Medicine is shut off so park staff can winterize facilities and prepare for the long winter season.
Before the park installed the new restroom facility, the only available restroom during winter was located in the Two Medicine campground. The facility provided a great challenge for anyone trying to access it in deep snow. Park staff also tried to implement temporary facilities, but these often filled up quickly and were difficult to maintain throughout the season. Inevitably, park staff had to clean up quite a messy situation each spring. Finding human waste outside the restrooms is always unpleasant and also neglects Leave No Trace principles.
Map: NPS
Thanks to your support, the new loo is greatly improving visitor satisfaction and resource protection in the Two Medicine Valley. The park is now able to better protect this pristine area’s watersheds and the beautiful scenery all visitors expect to experience when venturing out into the wilderness.
When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go
You can help keep Glacier wild by using a designated restroom facility in the park whenever possible. That being said, there may not always be a facility available when you’re in Glacier’s wilderness.
Prepare for any situation by educating yourself on minimizing your impact before heading into the park. Learn how to dispose of all waste properly while in the backcountry, including human waste, via Leave No Trace’s website.
Winter Recreation In Glacier
Interested in learning more about winter recreation in Glacier National Park? Consider your skiing ability, and check in with park rangers for local weather and snow conditions. Read more about skiing and snowshoeing in Glacier National Park via the park’s webpage.
Photo: NPS, Jacob W. Frank
Your Support Makes A Difference
Learn more about how your donations are making other preservation projects possible in Glacier National Park!
