Completed 2004 Projects/Events
January 10, 17, 24 Packing clinic for members only, 9 a.m. until 12:00 noon (you can join the club to be able to attend, see Keni Hopkins - 892-7490)
Leaders: Ken Ausk 892-4673, Ray Knotts 756-9239 and Dave Pierce 755-6531
Call any leader for more information.
May 22 & 23:
(Saturday & Sunday) Elk Mtn.
Trail #252, #258,
#182
(Tally Lake District)
· Access: #1 Coming
from Kalispell take Farm to Market Rd. or go thru Whitefish taking Hwy 93
North, after mile marker 132 watch for Twin Bridges Rd. on your left (also
Tally Lake sign) Turn left, continue on Twin Bridges Rd (it will become
Lodgepole Rd. when it straightens out) until you “T” with Farm to Market. Take
a right and stay on Farm to Market Rd. After the Big Cattle Ranch, you will
come to F.S. Rd #539; you will turn left. This is a paved road and you will
stay on it for about 17 miles then it will become #113, it will narrow and
become gravel. Right at #538 watch for BCH signs marking the rest of the route.
· Access: #2 From
Marion, take Marion turn off, go past Little Bitterroot Lions Camp. Turn right
at F.S. Rd #538, stay on it until you see Sylvia Lake Sign, F.S. Rd #538B, stay
on it until you “T” with #113, turn left on to #538 and watch for BCH signs
marking rest of route.
·
Facilities: Plenty
of parking, no people water or toilet facilities. Weather can be unpredictable
at this time of year, please bring your rain gear.
· Description: Camp
will be in the middle of the 10 mile long trail. This trail is well maintained
and we will be clearing winter debris. Working out of camp each day.
· Please note: Elk
Mountain Lookout is a Kootenai National Forest Fire lookout that sits on a log
tower on top of Elk Mountain in the Salish Mountains. The lookout is accessed
by following FST #107 from the trailhead near Bowen Lake or #109 from the
Forest Road 3500.
·
Additional information: Contact- Dave Moore at 858-2224.
May 29, 30 & 31: (Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
Beaver Creek, Memorial
Day
(Spotted Bear River)
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. going towards Glacier Park, turn right at Martin City and take the
east road around Hungry Horse Reservoir. After traveling 60 miles on FS RD #38,
at the junction, continue going South (do not turn right which would take you
towards Meadow creek), after approx. 1 mile of continuing S. turn left, taking
the Spotted Bear River Rd 68 (The Diamond R guest ranch is at this
intersection). Go approx. 8 miles on this well traveled road, which follows the
Spotted Bear River. The campground will be on your right (Right next to the
Spotted Bear River).
· Facilities: There
are outhouses, hitch racks and stock water (but no people water).
· Description: As
usual, we will have great food; breakfast will be cooked for us & there
will be potluck suppers in the evenings. We will be opening trails out of the
Beaver Creek Trailhead, a few of them include the trail to Pentagon, Dean
Creek, Silver Tip & Trail Creek. We will also be packing gravel on the
trail being rebuilt on the Spotted Bear River. Some of these trail openings will
involve hauling stock a few miles. The forest service will supply rigs &
drivers for this if people are interested in using them.
· Please note: Beaver
Creek is a new campsite for us as a group so we will probably need to do a
little organizing as people
arrive.
This area is beautiful & gives us a good chance to give the Bear DNA group
& the F.S. some help getting started this
year.
We will work Sat. & Sun., leaving Mon. for R&R or a ride if you still
have enough energy. Weather can be unpredictable,
please
bring your rain gear. Please remember we would love to have your dog if he is
on a leash & not on the trail.
·
Additional information: Contact- Greg Schatz at 892- 0200.
June 5: (Saturday) Ed Quigley Memorial
Poker Ride
& BBQ
(Lonesome Dove Ranch, 1205 Haywire Gulch Rd.)
· Directions: Take
Hwy 2 W. from Kalispell for 6 miles, turn S. onto Bighorn Dr. to Smith Lake Rd.
Turn right on to Smith Rd.
& then left on Haywire Gulch Rd, watch for Lonesome Dove Ranch sign. Coming
from W. of Kalispell on Hwy 2, turn just
E. of mile marker #113 onto Bighorn Drive.
· Facilities: Plenty
of parking, toilet facilities, hitch racks, teepees, Bed and Breakfast &
camping.
· Description: We
will be riding on gentle terrain in the surrounding forestlands.
· Please note: The
ride will be from 10 am to 5 pm with the BBQ at 6 pm. Sponsored by the Flathead
BCH. Non-members & families welcome. There is a $10 per adult rider fee,
which can be paid upon arrival. Prizes will be awarded to winning hand holders.
There will be a BBQ & entertainment provided by the Lonesome Dove. The BBQ
is two meats, desert, punch, & coffee for $17 (also includes entertainment)
per Adult, 1/2 price for children. In accordance to Ed & Toni’s wishes, the
price for the BBQ (adults) will be paid for by Toni Quigley, for all local BCH
members who sign up. Cut off to make reservations for the BBQ will be June 1st.
For reservations call Sharon at Lonesome Dove, 756-3056 . No
dogs or stallions please.
·
Additional information: Contact-Dave Moore #858-2224
June 12 & 13: (Saturday&Sunday) Star Meadows Cabin Ride (Star
Meadows, Tally Lake District)
·
Access: #1 From Kalispell go thru Whitefish taking Hwy 93 N., after
mile marker 139 turn Left on Road # 539 & take it for 13 miles to Star Meadows Guard Cabin, (2 miles past Hope
Ranch). This is a paved road & it is open year round.
·
Access: #2 From Marion, take the Marion turn off, go past Little
Bitterroot Lions Camp, turn right on to F.S.R. #538 & stay on it until you see the Sylvia Lake Sign, take F.S.R. #538B,
stay on it until the “T” with #113, turn right & go about 6 miles to the
cabin.
· Facilities: Plenty
of parking, water from creek, no people water. The cabin sleeps six, has
electric heaters & a vault toilet.
· Description: We
will be riding the trails in the area & looking for any way in which the
BCH might be able to help make the facilities more functional for future equestrian renters.
· Please note: Tally
Lake Ranger District has graciously offered this cabin to us rent-free. Check
in time is 1 pm on June 12th and check out time is 12 pm on June 13th.
·
Additional information: Contact - Dave Moore #858-2224
June 12 & 13: (Saturday & Sunday,) Spruce
Park Cabin
Hay Haul
(Middle Fork Area)
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. approx. 25 miles past West Glacier to mile marker #184.8. Make a right
turn off the Hwy to the
Nimrod
Trailhead (Bear Creek). This is where the Middle Fork River turns away from the
Hwy & is followed by the Big River Trail into the Great Bear Wilderness.
· Facilities: There
is plenty of parking, feed bunks, hitching racks & water from the creek.
· Description: The
trail is about 5 easy miles to reach the cabin. This will be a weekend of
fairly easy packing, taking hay to the cabin.
· Please note: There
is a pack bridge by the Hwy which crosses Bear Creek .The trail is
well-maintained & quite safe. There is lots of need for people to both pack & to
ride ahead & help get things ready. This is Father’s Day weekend.
· Additional information: Contact - Gregg or Deb Schatz at 892-0200.
June 21 (Monday) & June 28 (Monday) Pack Retired Smoke Jumpers (Spruce Park)
(Middle Fork Area)
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. approx. 25 miles past West Glacier to mile marker #184.8. Make a right
turn off the Hwy to the Nimrod Trailhead (Bear Creek). This is where the Middle
Fork River turns away from the Hwy & is followed by the Big River Trail into the wilderness.
· Facilities: There
is plenty of parking, feed bunks, a FS outhouse & water from the creek.
· Description: The
trail is about 5 easy miles to reach the cabin. A weekend of fairly easy
packing, taking supplies & tools, to be used by the smoke jumpers, to the cabin on 6/22 and
returning 6/28 to return with them.
· Please note: There
is a pack bridge by the Hwy which crosses Bear Creek .The trail is a
well-maintained & quite safe. Need is for approx. 7+ packhorses to pack on each day.
·
Additional information: Contac t- Don Holman at 862-6955.
June 26: Glacier Park Project
(West Glacier)
·
Access: Take Hwy 2 E. from Kalispell approx. 30 miles till you
reach West Glacier.
· Facilities: Parking
at Trailheads.
· Trails: Members
will be divided into two groups with some members leaving from the Lake McDonald
corrals at the head of Lake McDonald, clearing over the West Lakes Trail,
junctioning into the other group on the Rogers Lake Trail. This trail is
probably 3.5 miles to the junction & a more strenuous climb. The other
group will be cleaning through the Christensen Meadows to Rogers Lake. This
trail is accessed from the Inside North Fork Road, about 7 miles from the Fish
Creek Campground. This trail was damaged by the fires of 2001, and required
much chainsaw use last fall, & we are assuming it will require about the
same this year. The trail into Rogers Lake is moderate in difficulty with some
elevtion change, & probably 5 miles, to the junction of the West Lakes
Trail.
· Description: More
detailed directions to follow.
· Please note: You
need to call Ken Ausk prior to coming so the groups can coordinate
trailers & divide the groups. It should be a fun day to spend in the Park.
Hope to see you there. ALSO, NO DOGS are allowed in the Park. Thank you.
· Additional information: Contact- Ken Ausk - 892-4673
July 3 & 4: (Sat. & Sun.) Assist Smoke Jumpers –
(Challenge Cabin, Elk Calf Mtn.)
(Middle Fork Flathead Area)
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. to mile marker #195.7 & turn right onto the Skyland Creek Rd, just
west of Marias Pass. Follow this road for approximately 7 miles to Challenge Cabin.
Turn right here & camp near the cabin.
·
Facilities: There
is plenty of parking, a new toilet facility & water from the creek.
Description: We
will be packing chainsaws for a crew of retired smoke jumpers & also
helping them with some of the initial clearing. The trail that we will be
clearing is trail #382 starting where it takes off from Skyland Rd and Trail
#251 from its junction with #382 & down to Challenge Cabin. The total
distance is about 8 miles. There is the possibility of the smoke jumpers having
two groups & starting from both ends of the trail.
· Trails: There
are several trails in this area, some are more difficult than others. Please
ask the group leader for more information about a specific trail.
· Please note: We
will pack on Saturday, potluck on Saturday night & ride on Sunday. We will
need 2-3 packhorses & most clearing can be done with a chainsaw. What did
Elk Calf look like on Independence Day in 1776?
·
Additional Information: Contact – Dan Oursland at 752- 3040.
July 10: (Saturday) Pack in MCC supplies
(Baptiste
TR #63, South Fork of the Flathead)
· Access: To get
to this project, take Hwy 2 E. going toward Glacier Park. Turn off the highway
at Martin City & continue on this road along the east side of Hungry Horse
reservoir for 36 miles. Take the first main road to the left after Betty Creek
Ranger Station (approx. 1.5 miles, right after mile marker #35); this will be
Logan Creek Rd. #1632. At the first intersection of #1632 take a left turn
& drive about 2 miles to the trailhead & our camp.
· Facilities: There
is good parking in a loop next to the road, water can be carried from small
creek next to the road (about 50 feet), there are no toilet facilities.
· Description: We
will be packing trail building tools & supplies for an MCC crew which is
working to complete a grant that we applied for & received to upgrade this
trail to Baptiste Lookout.
· Please Note: The
packing distance is about 3 miles each way. We will need about 6-7 pack
animals, or more.
·
Additional information: Contact- Ken Ausk at 892-4673.
July
17: (Saturday) Fix Feedbunks @ Bear Creek & Devil Creek Trailheads
(Middle
Fork Area)
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. approx. 25 miles past West Glacier to mile marker #184.8. Make a right
turn off the Hwy to the Nimrod
Trailhead (Bear Creek). This is where the Middle Fork River turns away from the
Hwy & is followed by the Big River Trail into the
wilderness.
· Facilities: There
is plenty of parking, a FS outhouse, hitch racks & water from the river.
· Description: The
Bear Creek feedbunk is wooden & needs some repairs & small
modifications to make it usable & safer for stock. The Devil Creek feed
bunks are BCH metal fabricated & in good shape but they could use some
gravel to fill in the recess that has developed beneath them to help keep stock
from having to stand in collected water & mud in rainy weather. The FS will
be providing the materials. We will need to bring some basic carpenter tools
& perhaps a small tractor to move the gravel.
· Please note: We
will work on Saturday, potluck Saturday night and a pleasure ride on Sunday.
·
Additional information: Contact
July
18: (Sunday) Pack in BMF Crew (Dirty Face Trail #62)
Middle
Fork Area.
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. approx. 25 miles past West Glacier to mile marker #184.8. Make a right
turn off the Hwy to the Nimrod Trailhead (Bear Creek). This is where the Middle
Fork River turns away from the Hwy & is followed by the Big River Trail
into the wilderness.
· Facilities: There
is plenty of parking, a FS outhouse, hitch racks & water from the river.
· Description: The
Dirtyface trail starts at the Bear Creek Trail head and shortly fords the
Middle Fork River & heads into the Great
Bear Wilderness eventually joining the Logan Creek Trail on the South Fork of
the Flathead. The trail is starting to brush
in the lower reaches & is very brushed in its upper portions. The BMF crew
will work on the clearing of this brush.
· Please note: The
need is for 2-3 pack stock to pack in tools & supplies about 3 miles up the
trail from the Bear Creek Trailhead to where the crew
would like to put their camp.
·
Additional information: Contact - Dan Oursland at 752-3040.
July
30 & 31, August 1: (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Cut Out Alpine Trail #7, Bond
Lake#21
(Swan Range)
· Access: At the
junction of Hwy #35 & #83 (approx. 2 mi. N of Bigfork) turn E onto HWY #83
(Little Brown Church on left Exxon on right) continue on 83S to approx. mile
marker 73 (across from the gas station, before reaching the village of Swan
Lake). Turn left onto Six Mile Road & follow dirt road approx. 3 miles to
trailhead. For Bond Lake continue past the Six Mile turn off & go approx.
3-4 miles further S on HWY 83, Swan Ranger Station will be on your right &
the turn to the Bond Lake Trailhead will be on your left.
Facilities: Parking
at Six-Mile Trailhead, Bond Lake Trailhead.
·
Description: Begin
clearing up Six Mile Trail onto the Alpine Trail #7 to Trinkus Lake &
Cabin. Stay at Trinkus Cabin on Fri. & Sat. nights. We will continue Sat.
& Sun. & going S on Alpine Trail to Crevis Lake. We will need a few
packhorses for the chain saws, camping gear & kitchen supplies for 2-3 days
& most likely 1-2 nights. It sounds like there is enough grass for the
ponies & Deb Pierce is going to be the camp cook.
·
Please note: We
will try to clear the Bond Lake Trail at the same time with one crew coming in
from Bond Lake & one from Six- Mile meeting somewhere near Trinkus Cabin.
·
Additional information: Contact- Ron Stuber at 837-0360.
August
7 (Saturday)
Edna
Creek Trail #489
(Middle Fork Area)
· Access: Take
Hwy 2 E. approx. 25 miles past West Glacier to mile marker #184.8. Make a right
turn right off the Hwy at the Nimrod Trailhead (Bear Creek). This is where the
Middle Fork River turns away from the Hwy & is followed by the Big River
Trail into the wilderness.
·
Facilities: There
is plenty of parking, a FS outhouse, hitch racks & water from the river.
·
Description: The
trail is 4.0 miles total in length completely within the Great Bear Wilderness.
Provides a rigorous day hike or ride to the top of a high ridgeline, just
behind the summit of Mount Furlong, with views of the lakes in the Tranquil
Basin. From the overlook at the top of the ridge, it is possible to see the
whole world, (maybe just some of the best part) with Tranquil Basin and it’s
lakes far below.
Trail is reached by taking the Big River Trail #155 from the trailhead
at the mouth of Bear Creek & the Middle Fork of the Flathead River for
approximately 1.7 miles. When you reach the Wilderness Boundary sign, continue
a short distance across Edna Creek & approximately 300 feet beyond to the trail
junction with the Edna Creek Trail #489. With the help of the Bob Marshal
Foundation, we would like to clear brush, which has started to crowd the trail
in some spots.
·
Please note: We
will work on Saturday and maybe take a pleasure ride on Sunday.
·
Additional information: Contact –
August
21&22: (Saturday & Sunday) Tuchuck
(North Fork Area).
· Access: #1
Take Hwy 93 N. to Trego area. Turn right at Graves Creek & go 9 miles
(pavement ends here). Turn right. Turn right again & go across bridge.
After bridge, there is a sign for Tuchuck Campground. Go 6 miles up over a
ridge & then down again to the Garvin Horse Camp.
· Access: # 2 Go
N. of Pole Bridge approx. 10 miles. Turn left onto Trail Creek (Road #114).
It’s a level road of approx. 9 miles to the Garvin Horse Camp.
· Facilities: Plenty
of parking, bathrooms, the river is adjacent to camp. There are numerous hitch
rails, feed bunks & campsites.
· Trails: Review
Mtn. #23 + #113 - 11miles; Tuchuck Ridge #114 - 8 to 9 miles.
·
Please note: We
will work Saturday & either ride or work part day Sunday, potluck Saturday
night.
·
Description: These
trails are moderately used & maintained each year. Several loop rides are
possible, with the need being to clear winter blow-down.
·
Additional information: Contact- Jumping Jim Bailey at 755-5464.
The Bob Marshal Foundation is partnering with us on the Edna, Elkcalf Mtn.,
Spruce Park & Dirty Face projects. Their help is much appreciated. They are
very hard working & quite excellent at clearing brush & tread work.
This gives us more time for clearing some of the big stuff (& horse
riding), also they are very enjoyable to camp with. The retired smoke jumpers
are a hard working volunteer group that is coordinated by the Bob Marshal
Foundation.
On
most of these projects that are very far from town, workers will camp on Friday
& Saturday nights & leave Sunday afternoon. The individual project
leaders will help coordinate workers for each project.
Miles & trail conditions are approximate as they can
change & are hard to predict. Please keep in touch with the project leader
for individual trail conditions. If you are interested in helping with a project, please
make sure that your name and phone # gets on the sign-up list as soon as
possible. This list is sent to the Forest Service to qualify each worker for insurance & it
also gives the project leader the phone numbers to call in case the date or other
situations change
for that particular project. Thank you everyone for all of your help.