2005 Completed Events and Projects
 

Feb 12                         6:00pm   BCH Potluck at Creston Grange
Feb 18-20                    Farrier Clinic at Majestic Arena
Mar 11-13                    MT Hunting and Fishing Show at Majestic Arena

Apr 1-3                        BCHM State Convention in Great Falls
Apr 9                            Forest Service LAC meeting in Seely Lake 10:00a.m.

Apr 29-May 1              Mane Event at Majestic Arena

 May 14 (Saturday):  Pack in Water Bars, Holland Lake Trail #21 (Swan Range)

·        Access:  At the junction of Hwy #35 and #83 (which is approximately 2 miles N of Bigfork) turn east onto Hwy #83 (Little Brown Church on left Exxon on right) continue on 83S past Swan Lake and past Condon to the Holland Lake Entrance.  You will pass Condon about 65 miles from Kalispell and the Holland turn off is 6 miles past Condon on your left.  Take this road back to the owl packer camp corrals.

·        Facilities:  Plenty of parking, good corrals and feed bunks.

·        Description:  We will be helping the Forest Service to pack water bars up the first three miles of the main Holland Lake trail.  This is a major Trailhead into the Bob Marshall and is well traveled and in excellent shape.

·        Please Note:  We will have about 7-8 horse loads of 5’ to 6’ waters bars and possibly enough time to go to upper Holland for a little fishing afterwards.

·        Additional Information:  Contact Ron Stuber at 837-0360

May 28, 29 & 30 (Saturday, Sunday & Monday):  Meadow Creek, Memorial Day (Upper South Fork)

• Access:  Take Hwy 2 East going towards Glacier Park, turn right at Martin City and take the east road around Hungry Horse Reservoir.  After traveling 60 miles on F.S. Rd #38, stay right at the junction, DO NOT TAKE the Spotted Bear River Road.  Go two miles, cross the concrete bridge over the South Fork River and take a left onto the Meadow Creek Road.  Take this road for about 12 miles and you will see the Meadow Creek horse campground on your left.
• Facilities:  There are outhouses, hitch racks and stock water (but no people water).  Everyone is encouraged to come, even just to camp.  It’s a large impact resistant area and a beautiful place to camp.

• Description:  BCH did their very first work project out of Meadow Creek in 1973, clearing the west side trail to Black Bear, for hikers.  We have basically been there every Memorial Day since.  As usual, we will have great food; breakfast will be cooked for us and there will be potluck suppers in the evenings.  We will be opening trails out from the Meadow Creek area - Harrison Creek, Sunburst Lake, Spotted Bear Station and some others to be announced.  We will work Saturday and Sunday, leaving Monday for R&R or a ride if you still have enough energy.  Weather can be unpredictable at this time of year, please bring your raingear. Please remember we would love to have your dog if he is on a leash and not on the trail.

·        Additional Information:  Contact Greg Schatz at 892- 0200

June 4 & 5 (Saturday & Sunday):  Elk Mountain Trails #252, #258 and #182 (Tally Lake District)

• Access #1:  From Kalispell take Farm to Market Rd or go thru Whitefish taking Hwy 93 North, after mile marker 132 watch for Twin Bridge Rd on your left (also Tally Lake sign).  Turn left and continue on Twin Bridges Rd until you "T" with Farm to Market.  Take a right and stay on Farm to Market Rd.  After the Big Cattle Ranch, turn left on F.S. Rd #539.  This is a paved road and you will stay on it for about 17 miles, then it will become #113 and will narrow and become gravel.  Right at #538 and watch for BCH signs marking the rest of the route.
• Access #2:  From Marion, take Marion turnoff and 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 onto #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 so please bring your raingear.

·        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.  We are hoping to be camping with some folks from the Libby Club.

• 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

June 11 (Saturday):  Ed Quigley Memorial Poker Ride & BBQ (Lonesome Dove Ranch, 1205 Haywire Gulch Rd.)

·        Directions:  Take Hwy 2 West from Kalispell for 6 miles, turn South onto Bighorn Drive to Smith Lake Road.  Turn right on to Smith road and then left on to haywire Gulch Road, watch for Lonesome Dove Ranch sign.  Coming from West of Kalispell on US #2, turn just East of mile marker #113 onto Bighorn Drive.

·        Facilities:  Plenty of parking, toilet facilities, hitch racks, teepee, Bed and Breakfast and camping.

·        Description:  We will be riding on gentle terrain in the surrounding forestlands.

·        Please Note:  The ride will be from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM with the BBQ at 6:00 PM.  Sponsored by the Flathead BCH.  Non-members and families welcome.  There will be 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 and entertainment provided by the Lonesome Dove.  The BBQ features two meats, dessert, punch, and coffee, for $17 (also includes entertainment) per adult, ½ price for children.  In accordance with Ed's and 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 5^th.  Call Lonesome Dove and ask for Sharon, 756-3056, for reservations.  No dogs or stallions please.

·        Additional Information:  Contact Dave Moore at 858-2224

June 18 (Saturday):  Whale Creek Road (North Fork Area) (cancelled due to road and weather conditions)

• Access:  Go North of Columbia Falls approximately 43 miles on the North Fork Road to Pole Bridge, and then continue on approximately 7 miles to the Whale Creek Road turn off.   Turn left onto Whale Creek Road #118.  It’s a level road of approximately 13 miles to the road end and trailhead.
• Facilities:  There is parking for 3 or 4 rigs.  There is water in the creek until late July.

• Description:  We will be building a high line or hitch rail at road end and maybe some trail signs also. More information to follow.
• Please Note:  We will work on Saturday and maybe take a pleasure ride on Sunday.  Huntsberger Lake and Whale Lakes both have Cutthroat Trout, which I would like to get to know.

·        Additional Information:  Leader Needed

June 25 (Saturday):  Strawberry Lake Trailhead cleanup

• Access:  To get to this project, take Hwy 35 to Lake Blaine road or Foothills Blvd and proceed to the Strawberry Lake access sign and turn left onto access road.

• Facilities:  There is good parking in a loop next to the road about 50 yards from the trailhead on the right, there are no toilet facilities.

• Description:  We will be using hand tools to clean up the area.
• Please Note:   
• Additional information:  Contact Diane Johnson at 270-5156

July 9 (Saturday) (Date is Tentative):  Clear Baptiste Trail #63  (South Fork of the Flathead)

• Access:  To get to this project, take Hwy 2 East going toward Glacier Park.  Turn off the highway at Martin City and 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 on #1632 take a left turn and then drive about 2 miles to the trailhead and 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 using hand tools and chainsaws to clear the trail to the Lookout.
• Please Note:  The distance is about 6 miles of fairly good trail.  The view from the lookout is really worth the ride.  We hope to one day find funds to restore and weatherize it.
• Additional Information:  Contact Ken Ausk, 892-4673, or Steve Barker, 756-0234

July 16 & 17 (Saturday & Sunday):  Tuchuck (North Fork Area)

• Access #1:  Take Hwy 93 North towards Eureka – some signs that you're getting close to the turn off are a 7-11 on your left and a sawmill on the right.  After the next bridge, which goes over Graves Creek, turn right.  This is Graves Creek Road.  At about 2.7 miles the road splits to the right and to the left but stay on the main road, you will pass Birch Creek Campground – at 7 miles you’ll pass a sign to Therriault Lake, turn right at this sign, you will go over Clarence Creek. At the 14 mile marker the sign will say, To the North Fork of the Flathead 17 miles, turn right again and cross another bridge over Graves Creek.  Continue on this road approx. 6 miles until you reach Tuchuck Campgrounds and Garvin Horse Camp.  Once the road turns to gravel it is rough and narrow in spots please drive carefully.
• Access #2:  Go north, through Columbia falls to the North Fork road #486. Take this road approx. 40 miles to Pole Bridge, and then go north 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.  This road turns to gravel after the first 10 miles and its condition varies greatly depending on the year.  We will have more information as the project gets closer.
• Facilities:  Plenty of parking, bathrooms and the river is adjacent to the camp.  There are numerous hitch rails, feed bunks and campsites.
• Trails:  Review Mt #23+#113 - 11 miles, Tuchuck Ridge #114 - 8 to 9 miles.
• Please Note:  We will work Saturday and either ride or work part day Sunday, potluck Saturday night.

·        Description:  These trails are moderately used and maintained each year.  Several loop rides are possible, with the need being to clear winter blow-down. This country is quite remote and parts of it are very scenic with some views and into Canada.

·        Additional Information:  Contact Jumping Jim Bailey (#755-5464)

August 6 & 7 (Saturday & Sunday):  Work with BMF Trail #151 (Middle Fork Area)

• Access:  Take Hwy 2 East approx. 25 miles past West Glacier.  Make a right turn off the Hwy onto road #1639 Essex Creek, you will be right behind Walton Lodge.  The road crosses the railroad tracks and divides. .  The road to the left Essex Creek Rd. takes you to the trailhead for Almeda Lake.  The road to the right takes you to the South fork of Dickey Creek Trailhead.

• Facilities:  This is a very pristine area with some beautiful open canyons once you get up the trail. The trailhead camping options need to be explored.
• Description:  We will be working with the BMF crew to try to clear and open this entire trail. The trail goes from the Essex Creek Trailhead, past Alameda Lake and makes a half loop over the ridge and comes down the South fork of Dickey Creek to the Dickey Creek Trailhead.
• Please note:  The trail to Alameda Lake needs brushing and the rest of the loop need more major clearing.
• Additional information:  Leader Needed

August 6 & 13 (Saturdays):  Spruce Park Cabin Moving (Middle Fork Area)

• Access:  Take Hwy 2 East 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 and is followed by the Big River Trail into the wilderness.
• Facilities:  There is plenty of parking, feed bunks, a FS outhouse and water from the creek.
• Description:  The trail is about 5 easy miles to reach the cabin. This is a packing project, taking supplies and tools, to be used by the FS and Bob Marshall crew, to the cabin on 8/6 and returning 8/13 to return with them.
• Please note:  There is a pack bridge by the Hwy which crosses Bear Creek. The trail is a well-maintained and quite safe.  Need is for approx (3-5) packhorses to pack on each day.
• Additional information:  Contact Don Holman at 862-6955

August 22 & 31 (Monday and Wednesday):  Morrison Creek Trail (Middle Fork Area)

• Access:  Take Hwy 2 East to mile marker #195.7 and turn right on to the Skyland Creek Road, just west of Marias Pass. Follow this road for approximately 10 miles, staying on the main road (going past Challenge Cabin and past the turn for Granite Creek) the road ends at Morrison Creek Trailhead.
• Facilities:  There is plenty of parking, feed bunks, hitch racks and water from the creek.

• Description:  The Morrison Creek Trailhead Has some boggy spots in the first few miles which the Montana Conservation Corps are planning to fix with some gravel turnpikes.  They would like for us to pack them in and out of their camp about 4 or 5 miles up the trail.
• Please note:  We will have Additional information from the FS and MCC when we get closer to this project date.
• Additional information:  Leader Needed

The Bob Marshall Foundation is partnering with us on the Almeda Lake, S. Dickey Creek project.  Their help is much appreciated. They are very hard working and quite excellent at clearing brush and tread work. This gives us more time for clearing some of the big stuff (and horse riding); also they are very enjoyable to camp with.

On most of these projects that are very far from town, workers will camp on Friday and Saturday nights and leave Sunday afternoon.  The individual project leaders will help coordinate workers for each project. Miles and trail conditions are approximate as they can change and 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 and it also gives the project leader the phone numbers to call in case the date or other situations change for that particular project.