Tag Archives: Flathead National Forest

Collaborative stewardship agreement with Flathead Forest completed!

Clearing Glacier View Mountain Trail #381, May 16, 2022 - W. K. Walker

Clearing Glacier View Mountain Trail #381, May 16, 2022 – W. K. Walker (full res version)

It’s done! Finally! Here’s the official announcement . . .

The North Fork Trails Association (NFTA) and the Flathead National Forest now have a Challenge Cost Share Agreement wherein we plan to do collaborative stewardship for the trails system in the North Fork of the Flathead area. North Fork Trails will cooperate with the Flathead Forest to track conditions of trails, maintain trails and trail signs, and provide trail awareness and education to visitors to the trail system, including the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. The forest is providing funding to NFTA so that its members can perform this trail stewardship work in coordination with the forest. We are really proud of the work we have done together and want to share this success with others.

Flathead Forest Supervisor leaves for position at regional headquarters

Kurt Steele, Flathead National Forest Supervisor has moved to a position with Region 1 Forest Headquarters. In the meantime, Deputy Flathead Forest Supervisor Tami McKenzie is holding the fort . . .

Flathead National Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele has accepted a new position at the U.S. Forest Service’s Northern Region headquarters in Missoula, capping a three-and-a-half-year stint overseeing 2.4 million forested acres in northwest Montana that in the past year had become beset in controversy.

According to an agency spokesperson, Steele “was offered and accepted” a new post as deputy director at the regional office that involves “environmental planning,” although the details of the position are still being worked out.

“I think it’s just a lateral move to a position at the regional office level,” Dan Hottle, the federal agency’s northern region public information officer, said Friday afternoon, when details about the transition were still scant. “It’s a new role and he will work closely with the regional leadership team on a number of different projects across the region as deputy director. His start date is still being negotiated right now.”

Continue reading at the Flathead Beacon . . .

Spotted Bear District trail conditions report for Aug 11 posted

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station - Michael Hodge

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station – Michael Hodge

The Aug 11, 2022 Forest Service Trail Conditions Report for the Spotted Bear Ranger District has been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

Trail 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.

The current fire danger for the Spotted Bear District is VERY HIGH.