Chalet Plans Too Upscale, Opponents Say

Three environmental groups say Glacier National Park should scrap its planned $4.6 million upgrade of two backcountry chalets in favor of more rustic accommodations.

The park proposal would continue offering restaurant-style meals and housekeeping services at the chalets, for which visitors would likely pay $100 per night.

The improvements would include a six-hole composting outhouse as well as a new sand filter and drainfield for kitchen and washing water.

“In this time of governmental belttightening, we consider the existing proposal for the backcountry chalets to be welfare for the rich,” said Stormy Good, local Montana Wilderness Association president.

The MWA, the Sierra Club and Wilderness Society propose ending the meals and housekeeping services, which they say would eliminate the need for the drainfield and sand filter.

Instead, they propose charging campers $10-$20 a night to sleep and cook in the chalets. The outhouse would still be built.

The two opposing philosophies emerged Tuesday at an open house on the chalet issue.

Park officials hope to start improvement work at Granite Park Chalet this summer. It, along with Sperry Chalet, has been closed since 1992 because of sewage problems.

Kathy Phillips of Helena, who organized the group Save the Chalets, said the environmental groups’ proposal could make the chalets inaccessible to some.

“It does not serve all the people. It only serves the fittest,” said Phillips, who noted that the chalet has hosted families with children too small to pack gear.