Author Archives: Bill Walker

Trail condition reports for September 10 posted

View East from Coal Ridge

View East from Coal Ridge

The September 10, 2019 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

The lack of major wind events and below average snowfall last winter left trails in remarkably decent condition this year. So, trail crews are making really good progress.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Bear Fair on Saturday, Aug 24 at noon!

2019 Bear Fair PosterAs an answer to two Grizzly bear cubs being euthanized last fall, Polebridge is hosting a Bear Fair next Saturday, August 24th, from noon-3pm behind the Northern Lights Saloon. If persuasion of proximity to a delicious watering hole (and bakery) isn’t enough, there will be opportunities to practice your shot with inert bear spray cans, meet Karelian Bear Dogs, sample products for living with bears, enjoy presentations by a few local bear experts and games and prizes for the entire family! Join us in Polebridge, Saturday, August 24th from noon-3pm.

Trail condition reports for August 13 posted

Inuya Creek Trail No. 79, Flathead NF, July 23, 2018 - W. K. Walker

Inuya Creek Trail No. 79, Flathead NF, July 23, 2018 – W. K. Walker

The August 13, 2019 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

The lack of major wind events and below average snowfall last winter left trails in remarkably decent condition this year. So, trail crews are making really good progress.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Please note that the fire danger is now “Very High”!

Smokey - Fire Danger Very High

Cutting the switchbacks: Bitterroot Forest trail crew’s work undermined by errant hikers

Coal Ridge, July 21, 2018 - W. K. Walker

Coal Ridge, July 21, 2018 – W. K. Walker

Hikers and bikers cutting switchbacks is a problem just about anywhere trails climb steep terrain. Here’s a timely reminder, originally posted to the Ravalli Republic, of why it is a bad idea . . .

A hiker’s decision to save a few steps by cutting between switchbacks may be endangering the future of some of the Bitterroot National Forest’s most scenic trails.

Last summer, the Bitterroot Forest’s five-person trail crew spent a day and a half building a rock wall and hauling in forest debris to cover the user-created trails between switchbacks on the popular Blodgett Overlook Trail west of Hamilton.

Nearly all of that work has been undone by new trails created this summer by hikers who opt to head straight down the mountain rather than staying on the trail designed to keep erosion in check with a walkway that’s safe for public travel.

Read more . . .

Trail condition reports for August 9 posted

Pearly everlasting blooms along Antley Tepee Cr Trail No. 106, Aug 4, 2019 - W. K. Walker

Pearly everlasting blooms along Antley Tepee Cr Trail No. 106, Aug 4, 2019 – W. K. Walker

The August 9, 2019 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

The lack of major wind events and below average snowfall last winter left trails in remarkably decent condition this year. So, trail crews are making really good progress.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Please note that the fire danger is now “Very High”!

Smokey - Fire Danger Very High

Trail condition reports for August 2 posted

Waterfall along trail to Thompson-Seton, Sep 10, 2017 - photo by Dick Leigh

Waterfall along trail to Thompson-Seton, Sep 10, 2017 – photo by Dick Leigh

The August 2, 2019 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

The lack of major wind events and below average snowfall last winter left trails in remarkably decent condition this year. So, trail crews are making really good progress.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Trail condition reports for July 23 posted

Trail Clearing with 'Silky' Saw

Trail Clearing with ‘Silky’ Saw

The July 23, 2019 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

The lack of major wind events and below average snowfall last winter left trails in remarkably decent condition this year. So, trail  crews are making really good progress.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Trail condition reports for July 16 posted

Coal Ridge, July 21, 2018 - W. K. Walker

Coal Ridge, July 21, 2018 – W. K. Walker

The July 16, 2019 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

The lack of major wind events and below average snowfall last winter left trails in remarkably decent condition this year. So, trail  crews are making really good progress.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

NFTA 2019 Schedule Posted

Coal Ridge, July 21, 2018 - W. K. Walker

Coal Ridge, July 21, 2018 – W. K. Walker

The 2019 North Fork Trails  Association schedule  is available in the Calendar section of the web site.

As usual, the schedule of events is subject to change as the season progresses. Fire season is the big unknown, but trail conditions, weather and shifting priorities will likely force a few modifications as well.

Last trails report for 2018 posted

Moran Creek Trail #2 Trailhead, Oct 6, 2018 - W. K. Walker

Moran Creek Trail #2 Trailhead, Oct 6, 2018 (Note nice new sign!) – W. K. Walker

The final Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger District have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page. Note that the Glacier View entries for trails 2, 3, 19, 26, 40 and 377 list work by the North Fork Trails Association.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.