Outdoor news
Trail opening
Trail 80 in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was repaired and reopened to horse and foot traffic on July 25. The popular trail runs along the South Fork of the Flathead River and is one of the main routes through the wilderness. It was closed this spring and early summer on the south side from Helen Creek to Damnation Creek because of a large slide. The slump was blamed on higher snowpack and spring runoff. Crews installed gabions to shore up the trail, Spotted Bear District Ranger Deb Mucklow said.
Outdoor photo contest
The Montana Wilderness Association will offer $1,000 in prizes in its sixth annual Picture Wild Montana outdoor photo contest. Categories this year will be divided by the seven MWA chapter areas to help promote regional chapters, specific landscapes and campaign areas. The focus this year is the importance of family (especially children) in the outdoors. Winning photos may be published in MWA’s 2015 calendar or other MWA publications. Photos can be submitted online at http://wildmontana.org from Aug. 15 to 31. Qualifying photos will then be displayed online, and the winners will be determined by popular vote online. For more information, visit wildmontana.org/photocontest on Aug. 15 or call Amanda Hagerty at 406-443-7350 ext. 108.
Forest Plan modeling
The Flathead National Forest will host an open house on “Use of vegetation modeling in forest planning” on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Flathead National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell. Members of the Forest Plan revision team will present some preliminary outputs and answer questions about the computer-based analytical modeling processes used to evaluate vegetation conditions across the Flathead Forest. Key questions required as part of the Forest Plan revision are: What did the landscape look like in the past? What is the desired future condition? What are the expected trends in the future? How might management activities influence the future landscape? For more information, contact Forest Plan revision team leader Joe Krueger at 406-758-5243.
Bat viewing trip
Flathead Audubon’s Lewis Young and Alissa Anderson and Kaitlyn Farrar of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will lead an evening field trip to view, listen and capture bats on Friday, Aug. 15. Participants will learn about bats, put out capture nets and bat detectors and then wait until dark to capture both bats and bat sounds. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Foy’s Bend fishing access near the junction of U.S. 2 and Highway 35 to carpool to the site. The field trip will end about 11 p.m. Bring headlamps, insect repellent and footwear for wet areas. Participation is limited. For more information and to sign up, contact Lewis Young at 889-3492.
Raft for land
Glacier Guides and Montana Raft Company will donate 50 percent of all proceeds to the Flathead Land Trust for the 4:15 p.m. half-day whitewater trip on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River along the southern border of Glacier National Park on Sunday, Aug. 10. To reserve a spot, call 406-387-5555 or 1-800-521-7238.
Outdoor courses
The Glacier Institute will offer three outdoor courses in August — “Beavers: The best dam habitat builders,” Thursday, Aug. 7, cost $65; ”Pika patrolling in Glacier National Park,” Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 16-17, cost $80; and “Of Bears and berries,” Sunday, Aug. 17, cost $65. For more information or to sign up, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org.
Bear fair
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and the Montana Outdoor Legacy Foundation will host the 2014 Bear Fair at the Northern Lights Saloon, in Polebridge, on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring presentations by wildlife biologists, bear spray demonstrations, electric fencing tutorials, bear proof storage, educational booths and a free lunch will be provided. In the past, more than 200 people have attended this event. The family-friendly event will provide a good opportunity for the public to learn about Montana’s bears and how to responsibly live in bear country. For more information, contact FWP grizzly bear conflict technician Lindsey Stutzman at 406-212-1803 or Lindsey.a.stutzman@gmail.com.
Big Mtn. run
The Glacier Nordic Club will hold its 32nd annual 3.8-mile long Big Mountain Run on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10 a.m. starting at the Danny On trailhead at Whitefish Mountain Resort and ending at the summit. Runners will compete for the title King and Queen and Prince and Princess of the Mountain. Dogs, with a runner, will compete for Dam and Sire of the Mountain. Registration will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Cost is $15 per individual, $35 per family, $8 for 16 and under. For more information or to register, visit online at www.glaciernordicclub.com.