As tree covered disappeared there was nothing to stop the blowing snow from piling up on the road. I blasted through the first several drifts without an issue, but right at the main entrance I encountered a drift too big to make it through. I tried taking a couple running starts at it, but there was no easy way through it. While I may have been at the park entrance, there was nobody around. Despite having a season national park pass there wasn't anyone around asking to see it.
Knowing I was stuck I knew the only way forward was with a shovel. I always keep one in the car and in full gear I set out to dig my way out of this mess. The drift was about 3 feet deep but it was getting worse. The wind was brutal and delivering snow very quickly. I'd make a couple feet of progress and the drift would grow by about the same amount. About half-way through the drift a ranger came by. There was no denying I was an idiot now. He asked what my plan was and then started helping me shovel. After getting enough snow out of the way he was able to tie a rope to my car and his truck and pull me through two large drifts. Seems they were the worse right at the ranger station. He told me they were not that bad the last time he had been through and he was on his way to close the road. I just got to this spot a bit late. It was a good thing for the rangers that helped or I don't know how long I might have been there. As it stands I was there at least an hour. Kudos to the rangers of Glacier national.
Now on the road and not wanting any more problems I followed the ranger's suggestion to take a route north before heading east and south. Only the Going-to-the-Sun Road was drifted shut and while there was blowing snow on the other roads I drove I didn't encountered any more problems. The remainder of my drive to Neihart, Montana was windy but otherwise uneventful. In Neihart I met up with my old friend Shane at the place he has been staying while working at a ski resort. We went for dinner and chatted the remainder of the night. Tomorrow I see if I can remember how to use a snowboard.