Hyalite Canyon cleared for winter frolicking

By JESSICA MAYRER Chronicle Staff Writer

After lining up funding and signing an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, Gallatin County commissioners gave road crews the go-ahead Wednesday morning to start plowing Hyalite Canyon Road through to Grotto Falls.

Winter frolickers are raring to go.

“It was just barely daylight and the phone started ringing,” said Lee Provance, county road superintendent. They want to know when Hyalite Canyon Road will be plowed.

“It could be anywhere from a day to two weeks,” he said. “We’ll get out there as soon as we can.”

Provance said he’s all for clearing the road so climbers, skiers and hikers have better access to Hyalite’s recreational opportunities.

“It’s an awesome deal for the community,” he said.

The 34,000-acre Hyalite Drainage, part of the Gallatin National Forest, is a world-class ice-climbing destination. And people have been clamoring to obtain better access to it for years, said Commissioner Steve White.

“Everybody wanted to get up there,” he said.

But first, the county and Forest Service had to forge an agreement and secure funding. Federal funds funneled through the county and the Forest Service will cover the estimated $18,000 tab this year, said Commission Chairman Bill Murdock. And the county has agreed to use its plows and staff to clear the road.

People will be able to access Hyalite’s creeks, streams, waterfalls and icy inclines with two-wheel-drive vehicles, where snowmobiles were often needed before, said Mike Cooperstein, owner of Montana Alpine Guides, which leads climbing trips in the drainage.

Cooperstein said he expects a boost to business because of the decision. Transportation time will be cut substantially, so more folks will have a chance to enjoy Hyalite during winter season.

“It opens a lot of possibilities for people to go climbing,” he said

And it will be safer, too, he said.

“There’s always cars stuck up there,” he said

It’s been at least 15 years since Hyalite Canyon Road was plowed consistently, said Bozeman District Ranger Jose Castro. But then funding dried up.

So it’s neat to see different agencies and private entities come forward to make access smoother this year, he said.

The road was plowed twice in 2007 and the public response was huge, Castro said.

“People were really excited about it,” Castro said. “Hyalite is basically Bozeman’s backyard playground.”

But others expressed concern because much of Bozeman’s drinking water comes through the Hyalite Reservoir and Hyalite Creek is adjacent to the road. If a car slipped into the creek, drinking water could be contaminated.

But Murdock said road crews will plow snow into cushioning berms. If indeed a vehicle were to slip off of the road, the snow should catch it before it lands in the creek.

And the county is working to find money to pay for installation of guardrails, Murdock said.

This is basically a trial year, Castro said. If folks are safe and conscientious while enjoying the canyon and funding continues to flow, chances are the plows will continue clearing the road.

“It’s going to be a really good winter up Hyalite,” Castro said.

Jessica Mayrer can be reached at jmayrer@dailychronicle.com or 582-2635.

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