Outdoor news

The Flathead National Forest will host an open house for river recreationists who want to learn more about the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork of the Flathead River at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell on Monday, June 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. River managers will answer questions about river recreation activities, river use and management, and rules and regulations. For more information, call 406-387-3800 or 406-758-5376.

Lake volunteers

The Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network is looking for lake property owners and/or homeowners, summer cabin owners, recreationists and other people interested in becoming lake monitors. There are 41 lakes in the program. Volunteers will receive training and equipment to assist in data collection but need their own boat. To learn more visit online at www.nwmtlvmn.org or call the Whitefish Lake Institute at 862-4327 or e-mail josh@whitefishlake.org.

Eureka birding

Flathead Audubon and wildlife biologist Lewis Young will lead a birding trip in the Tobacco Valley near Eureka on Saturday, June 6. Participants could see Lewis’ woodpeckers and long-billed curlews and will visit a riparian area along the Tobacco River where species expected include black-headed grosbeaks, lazuli buntings, catbirds and various warblers. Meet near Eureka at 8 a.m. and return around noon. For more information, call 406-889-3492 or e-mail llyoung@interbel.net.

Firewood cutting

The Hungry Horse Ranger District will open sections of the west-side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road for firewood cutting and gathering for about 12 miles from the dam to Lid Creek from May 26 through June 26. Gathering may still be restricted in areas clearly signed along the road. Permits cost $20 for four cords. For more information, call 387-3800 or visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/passes-permits.

Photo talk

Japanese photographer Sumio Harada will be the guest speaker at Montana House, in Apgar Village, in Glacier National Park, on Saturday May 30, at 1 and 3 p.m. Reservations are required by calling 888-5393.

Outdoor classes

The Glacier Institute will kick off its 32nd summer by offering many educational courses and camps in Glacier National Park. Janet Paul Bones will lead “Spring Wildflowers” on June 12, Steve Wirt will lead “Orchids - Glacier’s Precious Beauties” on June 13, and photographer Tom Ulrich will lead “Glacier Up Close: Macrophotography” also on June 13. A course on the common loon will be offered on June 14, and the “Montana Master Naturalist Course” multi-day residential workshop will take place on June 12-16. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or e-mail register@glacierinstitute.org.

Road closure

The Spotted Bear River Road No. 568 will be closed to public use at milepost 0.2 for at least two days beginning June 3. The road provides access to the Beaver Creek Campground and several popular trailheads. A contractor will be installing a new culvert at this location. For more information, call the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 758-5376.

National Trails Day

The Bob Marshall Foundation will celebrate National Trails Day on June 6 with a family event at the Indian Meadows trailhead near Lincoln on the south side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Volunteers will perform trail maintenance. The Foundation will join the Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead for a family event with horsepacking demonstrations, nature walks and Dutch oven barbecue and desserts. For more information, visit online at www.bmwf.org.

Local geology

The Montana Wilderness Association will host a free class about the geology of Flathead Valley taught by Lex Blood, a geology teacher at Flathead Valley Community College who helped found the Glacier Institute. The 40-minute class followed by a stroll outside will take place at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to register, visit online at www.wildmontana.org/walks.

Fire lookouts

The Forest Fire Lookout Association will host Jeanne Kellar Beaty, author of the “Lookout Wife” at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier on Saturday, June 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. Published in 1953, “Lookout Wife” is about Beaty’s experiences staffing lookouts with her husband Chip on the Salmon National Forest in 1949 1950. The event is a fundraiser for the FFLA. Raffle tickets for the “Standing Watch” giclée are two for $5 or five for $10.

Muzzle loading for women

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will offer a muzzle loading and primitive skills workshop for women on June 13-14 as part of their Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. Participants will experience an 1800’s style mountain man camp about eight miles west of Thompson Falls and learn to shoot a muzzle loader, throw tomahawks, cook in a Dutch oven and start a fire with flint and steel. The registration fee of $85 includes two nights camping and some meals. To register or for more information, contact Ginger Ward at 406-827-4597. Deadline is June 1.

River meeting

The Flathead National Forest will host an open house for river recreationists who want to learn more about the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork of the Flathead River at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell on Monday, June 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. River managers will answer questions about river recreation activities, river use and management, and rules and regulations. For more information, call 406-387-3800 or 406-758-5376.

Lake volunteers

The Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network is looking for lake property owners and/or homeowners, summer cabin owners, recreationists and other people interested in becoming lake monitors. There are 41 lakes in the program. Volunteers will receive training and equipment to assist in data collection but need their own boat. To learn more visit online at www.nwmtlvmn.org or call the Whitefish Lake Institute at 862-4327 or e-mail josh@whitefishlake.org.

Eureka birding

Flathead Audubon and wildlife biologist Lewis Young will lead a birding trip in the Tobacco Valley near Eureka on Saturday, June 6. Participants could see Lewis’ woodpeckers and long-billed curlews and will visit a riparian area along the Tobacco River where species expected include black-headed grosbeaks, lazuli buntings, catbirds and various warblers. Meet near Eureka at 8 a.m. and return around noon. For more information, call 406-889-3492 or e-mail llyoung@interbel.net.

Firewood cutting

The Hungry Horse Ranger District will open sections of the west-side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road for firewood cutting and gathering for about 12 miles from the dam to Lid Creek from May 26 through June 26. Gathering may still be restricted in areas clearly signed along the road. Permits cost $20 for four cords. For more information, call 387-3800 or visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/passes-permits.

Photo talk

Japanese photographer Sumio Harada will be the guest speaker at Montana House, in Apgar Village, in Glacier National Park, on Saturday May 30, at 1 and 3 p.m. Reservations are required by calling 888-5393.

Outdoor classes

The Glacier Institute will kick off its 32nd summer by offering many educational courses and camps in Glacier National Park. Janet Paul Bones will lead “Spring Wildflowers” on June 12, Steve Wirt will lead “Orchids - Glacier’s Precious Beauties” on June 13, and photographer Tom Ulrich will lead “Glacier Up Close: Macrophotography” also on June 13. A course on the common loon will be offered on June 14, and the “Montana Master Naturalist Course” multi-day residential workshop will take place on June 12-16. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or e-mail register@glacierinstitute.org.

Road closure

The Spotted Bear River Road No. 568 will be closed to public use at milepost 0.2 for at least two days beginning June 3. The road provides access to the Beaver Creek Campground and several popular trailheads. A contractor will be installing a new culvert at this location. For more information, call the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 758-5376.

National Trails Day

The Bob Marshall Foundation will celebrate National Trails Day on June 6 with a family event at the Indian Meadows trailhead near Lincoln on the south side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Volunteers will perform trail maintenance. The Foundation will join the Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead for a family event with horsepacking demonstrations, nature walks and Dutch oven barbecue and desserts. For more information, visit online at www.bmwf.org.

Local geology

The Montana Wilderness Association will host a free class about the geology of Flathead Valley taught by Lex Blood, a geology teacher at Flathead Valley Community College who helped found the Glacier Institute. The 40-minute class followed by a stroll outside will take place at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to register, visit online at www.wildmontana.org/walks.

Fire lookouts

The Forest Fire Lookout Association will host Jeanne Kellar Beaty, author of the “Lookout Wife” at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier on Saturday, June 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. Published in 1953, “Lookout Wife” is about Beaty’s experiences staffing lookouts with her husband Chip on the Salmon National Forest in 1949 1950. The event is a fundraiser for the FFLA. Raffle tickets for the “Standing Watch” giclée are two for $5 or five for $10.

Muzzle loading for women

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will offer a muzzle loading and primitive skills workshop for women on June 13-14 as part of their Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. Participants will experience an 1800’s style mountain man camp about eight miles west of Thompson Falls and learn to shoot a muzzle loader, throw tomahawks, cook in a Dutch oven and start a fire with flint and steel. The registration fee of $85 includes two nights camping and some meals. To register or for more information, contact Ginger Ward at 406-827-4597. Deadline is June 1.