That gives park officials hope that the road – currently restricted to one lane, and open only to National Park staff, visitors already in campgrounds or with reservations at Lake McDonald Lodge, and the few people who still own private property inside the park – can be re-opened to all traffic before Memorial Day weekend.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to clean it up by then,” Steigerwald said. Earlier Wednesday, prior to the mystery-solving helicopter flight, Steigerwald had warned the road might have to remain closed through the holiday weekend.

“We’re at Mother Nature’s whim, and this is what we’re being dealt,” Steigerwald had said.

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More than 4 inches of rain fell in the area in 48 hours earlier in the week.

The road was closed near the foot of Lake McDonald on Monday after flooding initially occurred. It re-opened Tuesday morning at 10 a.m., only to have a mudslide at noon shut it down again.

It was re-opened later to one lane of essential traffic before the 3 a.m. slide, and by Wednesday afternoon was again limited to one lane as crews work to remove debris. Flaggers are turning back all but the traffic labeled essential.