Outdoor news
Reservoir road closed
The east side road on the Hungry Horse Reservoir will be closed temporarily about five miles south of Hungry Horse from May 7 through 9 stopping access to the Abbott Bay boat launch. Spring weather conditions with warming temperatures and snowmelt caused a large slump and resulted in narrowing of the roadway. Crews will remove material to widen the road and restore proper drainage. For updated information on temporary road restrictions, campgrounds, and spring access on the Flathead National Forest, call the Hungry Horse/Glacier View District at 387-3800, the Tally Lake District at 758-5204, the Swan Lake District at 837-7500 or the Spotted Bear District at 387-3800 until May 15 or 758-5376 after May 15. For more information, visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/flathead.
Hunters found
Two brothers hunting for bears in the South Fork of the Flathead River drainage were unable to return home April 30 after their truck got stuck in mud in a bay along the Hungry Horse Reservoir. North Valley Search and Rescue personnel were dispatched about 6 a.m. on May 1 and located the pair about two hours later.
Burn permits
People wanting to do outdoor open burning in Flathead County will need permits from May 1 through June 30. Applications for free permits are available online at www.firesafekalispell.com. For more information on getting permits, call the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation at 751-2268. No open burning will be allowed from July 1 through Sept. 30. Open burning is not allowed inside the city of Columbia Falls. Burners must call the Flathead County Air Quality Hotline at 751-8144 before burning. They are also responsible for any fire suppression costs.
Harlequin ducks
The Glacier Institute will offer a course on “Glacier’s Harlequins” in Glacier National Park on Saturday, May 18. The class will follow McDonald Creek for 2-3 miles beginning at 9 a.m. Instructor John Ashley earned his bachelor’s in biology from the University of Montana. He has worked for many years to conserve harlequin ducks in Montana, Alberta and British Columbia. To register, call 755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Course fee is $65.
MWA walks
The latest edition of the Montana Wilderness Association’s “Wilderness Walks” can be downloaded online at www.wildmontana.org/walks. This is the group’s 51st year in leading hikes around the state. The newest edition includes 150 free, guided day hikes, backpacking adventures, field trips and trail maintenance projects. New this year are walks designed for families with young children. For more information, visit online at www.wildmontana.org or call 406-443-7350.
Lake monitors
The Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network is looking for lake property owners and/or homeowners, summer cabin owners, recreationists and just people who are interested in lakes to become volunteer monitors. There are currently 41 lakes in the program, and many are in need of a volunteer. Volunteers will receive training and equipment to assist them in data collection. However, volunteers will need their own boat. To learn more, visit online at www.nwmtlvmn.org, call the Whitefish Lake Institute at 862-4327, or e-mail josh@whitefishlake.org.
Family forestry
The 24th annual Family Forestry Expo will take place two miles north of U.S. 2 at F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co.’s Trumbull Creek Education Forest site at Tamarack Lane and Halfmoon Road on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Demonstrations by the Flathead Valley Community College logging sports team, mule strings and logging equipment will take place at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Hands-on activities all day will include cross-cut saw use and paper making. A free logging camp lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Exhibits will be set up along a forest walk. For more information, visit online at www.stoltzelumber.com.
Outdoor youth
The Montana Conservation Corps is looking for teens 15-17 years old to participate in their Youth Service Expedition program this summer. Two sessions of outdoor adventure and volunteer service will take place in the National Bison Range, southeastern Montana and the Rocky Mountain Front. Deadline to apply is June 7 and July 12 for the two sessions. For more information, visit online at www.mtcorps.org.
RAC meeting
The Flathead Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the Flathead National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell, on Tuesday, May 14, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Written comments on RAC funding and projects can be sent to Flathead National Forest, Attn: RAC, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell MT 59901 or e-mailed to ewmuehlhof@fs.fed.us. For more information, call Wade Muehlhof at 406-758-5252.
Park birding
The Flathead Audubon will host a birding trip in Glacier National Park limited to 20 people on Saturday, May 25, from 8 a.m. to noon. The focus will be on migrants, including harlequin ducks, vireos, warblers, black-backed woodpeckers, olive-sided flycatchers and northern hawk owls. For more information, call Steve Gniadek at 892-7406.