Welcome to the 2023 North Fork Trails Association activity calendar! Weather and other circumstances keep things a bit fluid, but the schedule below has most of the principle elements in place — enough for planning purposes, certainly.
All that being said, here’s the fixed part of our calendar through the end of the year. Use the “Contact Us” page if you have questions.
July
Saturday, July 2, 9:00am – Moran Basin Trail (Trail 2) maintenance.
Wednesday, July 5, 5:30pm – Trails meeting (Zoom).
Wednesday, July 12, 1:00pm-4:00pm – Summer Interlocal meeting at Sondreson Hall, sponsored this year by North Fork Trails Association!
Friday, July 21, 8:30am – Scout Moose Creek Trail #9 in preparation for supporting mid-August(?) transport of materials for repairs to Grizzly Inn.
Sunday, July 23, 9:00am – Repair signage at T3/T26 junction and at T26 trailhead on Red Meadow Road.
Saturday, July 29, 9:00am – Update! Project day; Trail 9. Scout and clean up the first four miles of the route to the Grizzly Inn. Depending on circumstances, we may also hike the last 1.5 miles to the Inn itself. Depart from the Walker’s at 9:00am or meet us at the trailhead at the end of Moose Creek Road a little later.
August
Tuesday, August 8, 9:00am – Assist Forest Service crew with Trail 9 navigational markers.
Wednesday, August 9, 6:00pm – monthly meeting at the Walker’s, 11233 N Fork Rd, about 3 miles (5km) north of Polebridge. This is, as usual, a potluck, with the host providing the main course and everyone else chipping in with salads and desserts. lease let Bill Walker know if you are coming: wkwalker@nvdi.com or 406-407-2764.
Saturday, August 12, 9:00am – Project day; likely Trail 4. This mostly a scouting trip, so loppers and Silky saws, but no chainsaws. Depart from the Walker’s at 9:00am.
Saturday, August 26, 9:00am – Project day; first cut at getting the closed section of Tepee Lake Road (Rd 907) opened back up for hiking/biking. This will be the initial step in a long-term project that will eventually include reopening the southern extension of Antley Tepee Creek Trail #106. Loppers and Silky saws, but probably no chainsaws. Depart from the Walker’s at 9:00am.
Note: This is a developing project. We’ll try to get some preliminary scouting done ahead of time — on bicycles, perhaps.
September
Saturday, September 9, 9:00am – Project day: Grizzly Inn site visit to assess conditions prior to maintenance work on or about September 20. The trail is clear so this should be mostly a straightforward through-hike. If you’ve been meaning to see the Grizzly Inn, this would be a good time.
Depart from the Walker’s at 8:45am or be at the Trail 9 trailhead at 9:00am. Contact Bill Walker for details — wkwalker@nvdi.com or 406-407-2764.
Wednesday, September 13, 6:00pm – monthly meeting at the Walker’s, 11233 N Fork Rd, about 3 miles (5km) north of Polebridge. This is, as usual, a potluck, with the host providing the main course and everyone else chipping in with salads and desserts. lease let Bill Walker know if you are coming: wkwalker@nvdi.com or 406-407-2764
Tuesday, September 19 through Wednesday, September 20, 8:45am – Grizzly Inn roof repairs and general maintenance by USFS personnel. This will be a two-day project on their part. Hopefully, we will be able to help out a bit.
Depart from the Walker’s at 8:45am or be at the Trail 9 trailhead at 9:00am. Contact Bill Walker for details — wkwalker@nvdi.com or 406-407-2764.
We will likely head back at around 3:00pm or perhaps a little later. If you are going to stay up there overnight, you should arrange to have a vehicle at the trailhead. In that case, either meet us at the trailhead or get to the Walker’s early enough to coordinate transportation prior to departure.
I plan on the usual day-hike load-out, including my silky saw. Overnighter’s will, of course, need extra food and water, and some sort of shelter (I doubt the Grizzly In will be a shelter option).
October
Saturday, October 7, 9:00am – Coal Creek Coal Ridge Trail #239 & a short segment of Trail 14: This is our traditional season ending hike, weather permitting. We’ll hike from the trailhead on Coal Creek Road to the “Patrol Cabin” on Coal Ridge, a round-trip distance of about 4.5 miles (7.25km). Contact Bill Walker for details.
Wednesday, October 11, 6:00pm – North Fork Trails annual meeting and party at the Rittenburg’s, 1276 Long Bow Trail! No backpacks, Silky saws, loppers, mosquito repellent, leather gloves, safety glasses or clompy boots needed for this event!
The Rittenburgs will supply the main course and dessert, with the rest of us bringing side dishes. (If you can’t manage that part, show up anyways.) Please let Jim Rittenburg know (Jim.Rittenburg@icoptix.com) if you are coming so that they can prepare accordingly!
November
[tentative] Wednesday, November 8, 6:00pm – NF Trails monthly meeting at the Walker’s. As usual, this is a dinner meeting, with the main course being provided by the host and other folks bringing sides. Please contact Bill Walker for details or to verify attendance.