Welcome to the 2021 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.
(Had enough talk? Jump straight to the ctivities list.)
Scheduled Project Days
Unless there is a conflict with a significant North Fork event, most major projects are scheduled on the second Saturday of each month through October. The exception is the May project day, which is on the third Saturday.
Monthly Meetings
Regular NF Trails organizational meetings from late spring through fall are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm. (Early and late-season meetings may be held “down-valley” in order to encourage attendance by people who are not North Fork residents.) All meetings are potlucks, with the host providing the main course and everyone else chipping in with sides and desserts. The meeting in October is the NFTA annual meeting. Given the heavy overall North Fork summer activity schedule in July, there is no membership meeting that month.
“Trails Project Days”
The third Wednesday is designated as a “Trails Project Day.” These are typically events that require more flexible scheduling and will likely be announced with less lead time than the weekend projects. Basically, it means that if people show up on those days, there will be something interesting going on.
Training
Training activities (first aid, chainsaw usage, GPS, etc.) are listed as they firm up.
Short-Notice Activities
Finally, a number of additional activities may be organized on short notice — a week or less — in response to events and personnel availability. (Yes, some of us have real lives — but only some of us.) Currently, these short notice get-togethers are announced on the email list but don’t necessarily show up on the calendar or Facebook page.
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.
June
Saturday, June 5 – National Trails Day
Wednesday, June 30, 6:00pm – monthly meeting at the Walker’s, 11233 N Fork Rd, about 3 (5km) north of Polebridge. This is, as usual, a potluck, with the host providing the main course and everyone else chipping in with sides and desserts. lease let Bill Walker know if you are coming: wkwalker@nvdi.com or 406-407-2764.
July
Saturday, July 3, 9:00am – Moran Basin Trail (Trail 2) maintenance in preparation for hike on the 17th. Will continue on Saturday, July 10, if necessary.
Saturday, July 10, 8:00am [if needed] – Finish up Moran Basin Trail (Trail 2) maintenance in preparation for hike on the 17th.
Wednesday, July 14, 1:00pm-4:00pm – Summer Interlocal meeting at Sondreson Hall, sponsored this year by North Fork Preservation Association.
Thursday, July 15, 9:00am – Repair the signage at the Trail 26 trailhead on Red Meadow Road, just past the pass, on the Kootenai Forest side. The signpost has been shattered, so we need to replace the post and mount a complete set of new signage. Done! Wednesday, July 14.
Saturday, July 17, 9:00am – Wild Montana/NFTA sponsored Coal Ridge Lookout hike. Meet at the Polebridge Mercantile. Co-leaders: Bill Walker and Randy Kenyon. You must preregister for this hike through the Wild Montana web link.
August
Pending…
September
Pending…
Saturday, September 25 – National Public Lands Day.
October
Pending…
November
Pending…