Glacier National Park has begun stabilization work at the Sperry Chalet dormitory building to prepare for winter. The Park calls it a critical first step in preserving the original structure and rebuilding the historic building.
The Sperry Chalet dorm building burned and suffered extensive damage in the Sprague Fire on August 31. Earlier this week Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ordered an independent investigation into the disaster and expedited the inspection of the remaining structure.
Zinke said rebuilding Sperry is one of his top priorities.
The purpose of the stabilization work is to protect the walls and chimneys from excessive snow and weather damage. Next spring and summer, the park will conduct additional structural analysis and a review of the site area to help inform decisions about the future of the chalet complex.
The Glacier National Park Conservancy paid a Missoula engineering firm to evaluate the dorm and come up with stabilization. The firm had previously done work at the chalet when it was heavily damaged in a 2011 avalanche.
Park Superintendent Jeff Mow said the park would have been unable to get the work done without help from the Conservancy.
