Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 260
SEELEY LAKE - After being open daily from Memorial Day, the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitor Center closed for the season on Labor Day. Visitors often commented that the little visitor center provides an impressive amount of information about the area, region and state. Many are impressed with collections in the museum featuring Norman Maclean, The Big Burn, Wilderness Epicenter, Earliest Logging, Seeley Business, and personal utility and leisure items. 2016 visitation to the Seeley Lake Historical Museum and Visitor Center by U.S....
Alpine Artisans' Tour of the Arts once again offers a feast for the eyes – featuring the artwork of more than 25 artists in four studios, three historical museums and two galleries from Condon through Seeley Lake to Ovando. Driving this free, self-guided tour Oct. 8 and 9, takes you through miles of Tamaracks in full color to enjoy the latest work created by our local artists. There will also be the screening of the documentary "Unbranded" Saturday evening, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Seeley Lake C...
SWAN VALLEY – More than 100 concerned citizens attended the Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) special meeting Sept. 14 to discuss and gather more information on the Flathead National Forest (FNF) Draft Forest Plan. US Forest Service representatives from the Revision Team including team leader Joe Krueger presented the four proposed Alternatives A, B, C and D. Swan Valley resident, Swan Valley Fire Service Area board member and Swan Valley Emergency Services (SVES) volunteer Jimmy Boyd spoke about the safety concerns he sees with the plans a...
SWAN VALLEY - I would like to offer a response to the Pathfinder’s Sept. 1, 2016 article “Swan Valley Emergency Services Expresses Concerns with Forest Plan Draft.” In 1989 I lost my home to fire and am grateful for the response by the Swan Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Since then I have made monetary donations (when I can) and in-kind donations. I appreciate and value the efforts of local volunteers who donate time to help homeowners like me. However, I feel compelled to address some of the misinformation and half-truths that are being...
SWAN VALLEY - Swan Valley Connections hosted an Open House with the Flathead National Forest (FNF) Forest Planning Team and Swan Lake Ranger District (SLRD) Rich Kehr Aug. 31. Nearly 50 people attended the event to better understand what is being proposed in the draft forest plan, what can and cannot be done on the ground and clear up misinformation. Comments on the proposed draft forest plan are due Oct. 3. The FNF began forest plan revision in the summer of 2013. The planning team did field...
MISSOULA - Senator Jon Tester met with a coalition of timber workers, ranchers, small business owners and conservationists Aug. 30 to discuss potential legislation that could complete the land management reform efforts in the Blackfoot Clearwater watershed. For nearly a decade, Tester and the coalition have been working to finalize the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project (BCSP) — a land management reform effort that consists of timber harvest, forest restoration, conservation and recreation south and west of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. T...
SWAN VALLEY – Monday night's storm system that passed through NW Montana produced thunderstorms that sparked several new wildfire starts on the Flathead National Forest in the Swan Lake Ranger District. The Cold Lake fire is located on the ridge just south of Lower Cold Lake and is approximately 10 acres in size, in sub-alpine fir, and has several small spot fires. There are 7 smoke jumpers and a 21 person Initial Attack crew assigned to the fire. A Type 1 helicopter and a Type 3 helicopter h...
Seeley Lake Elementary's (SLE) Outdoor Program immerses students in our local heritage, culture, landscape and outdoor adventure, using these as a foundation to study language arts, social studies, science, math and other subjects across the curriculum. Fortunately, we have the support of community members and local experts who willingly contribute to the program and enable us to offer diverse, well-rounded educational and recreational experiences. Hopefully, this spring and summer Outdoor...
SWAN VALLEY – Swan Valley Connections (SVC) will release a new Swan Valley Trails Interpretive Map mid-September. Their goal for the interpretive map is to help educate visitors and residents about the human and natural history of the area while providing a resource that helps people think about the various recreation available in the Swan, where they can do it and what kind of an experience they can expect. The idea for the map started in 2014 when Northwest Connections (NwC) recognized the need to produce a map to foster the connections betwe...
SEELEY LAKE - First, good on Chris Stout for taking the initiative and organizing the Bob Marshall Wilderness Music Festival. Work the bugs out and get the business community on board and you will have a nice annual event which will advertise and promote Seeley Lake as the wonderful recreation area it is. Second, good on Curt Friede for raising many valid concerns about the event and identifying some of the bugs. Brick and mortar businesses always take a hit of sorts when outside food and beer vendors come to town for the big weekends but the...
SEELEY LAKE - When I first heard about the Bob Marshall Music Festival, I wondered how the champion of wilderness and solitude would feel about using his name for that event. The long distant races would be appropriate for his legendary 50-miles hikes with a knapsack and tennis shoes. He probably wouldn’t mind a little music. Beer?? The conflict about the festival location is a reminder that the community should pay attention and be involved in the County proposal to sell off the Drew Creek County Park located at the southeastern edge of the Do...
SEELEY LAKE – Twenty-two bands filled Seeley Lake with music for three days July 14-16 during the Bob Marshall Wilderness Music Festival. Coupling the afternoon and evening music with morning yoga, group activities and races captured the attention of a wide range of people all looking for some fun. While the official numbers are not in, Event Organizer Chris Stout estimated, based on the revenue, that there were 2000 tickets sold. He said there were many more people that participated since 12 a...
SEELEY LAKE - After returning from a family reunion and placing the garbage in their open shed, Kathy and Bruce Graham never expected to wake up to a grizzly sow and three cubs in their trash. Living on Highway 83 south of Seeley Lake, the Grahams are typically very careful about not attracting bears to their property. However, this time Kathy wants this to be a lesson to others in the community to not be complacent. The Grahams hauled the garbage home from their family reunion at Lindberg Lake...
SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Ranger District (SLRD) is bustling with activity this summer! With the arrival of summer visitors and residents and more activity on your National Forest (NF) lands that surround the communities of Seeley Lake and extend to the upper Blackfoot, it seemed timely to provide another update on the happenings at the SLRD. It is an exciting time for us because our short field season is when all the planning for logistics and budget finally pays off in work on the ground! We are actively conducting programs and projects,...
Directions: Turn east off Highway 83 near mile marker 35 onto Holland Lake Road. Stay to the left at all road junctions. After passing the Day Use Area and Campground, the road comes to a dead end at the trailhead, about four miles from the highway. Length: 1.6 miles one way Elevation: Trailhead: 4,050 feet; Falls: 4,800 feet. Usage: Heavy: Hiking. No motorized, stock or mountain biking. Services: Parking and vault toilet at trailhead. Holland Lake Campground and Day Use Area is just down the...
SEELEY LAKE - Every year search and rescue crews are called into the backcountry to find recreationists who have gone missing or found themselves in trouble. Carrying a SPOT™ tracker offers peace of mind beyond the boundaries of cell service for the user and their loved ones and increases the ability of search and rescue crews to locate individuals in a timely manner if they need help. The device and service is available at Rocky Mountain Adventure Gear (RMAG) in Seeley Lake to rent or own. SPOT...
Bandit is the true story of a dog that walked 96 miles across the Bob Marshall Wilderness in two days through the 2007 Ahorn Fire near Augusta, Mont. Bandit's family, Tucker and Amy Mills and their sons, Bryar and Turk of Mills Wilderness Adventures (www.millswildernessadventures.com) were on a wilderness trip with guests when the fire blew up behind them blocking their way home. After crossing the wilderness to end their trip at the Holland Lake Trailhead near Condon, Mont., Bandit went...
I fell in love with Montana during a pack trip in the Bob Marshall wilderness when I was eight years old. Twenty years later, I’m still finding new streams, lookouts, forests and ridgelines that amaze me every time I head out. One of the best parts about living and working on the land (as I do during the summers) in Missoula County is that you don’t have to go too far out your front door to access this beauty. In the face of expected development and a changing climate, though, we need to elect a county commissioner devoted to conservation and...
HELENA – The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project (BCSP) announced a monthly video series to showcase the conservation, recreation and forest restoration plan the community has spent a decade vetting. The goal of the increased communication efforts is to influence the Montana delegation to move forward with a plan to see the citizen proposal completed through federal legislation. The first video in the series can be viewed at www.blackfootclearwater.org. “Enough is enough. Some of us are nearing the end of the trail and we can’t wait anoth...
Missoula County is a great place to live and raise a family, but to keep it that way we need leadership with a clear vision for the future, rooted in stewardship for this place, which is why I'm running to become your next Missoula County Commissioner. As a former wildland firefighter, I know a thing or two about hard work and leadership, even amidst sharp differences of opinion-attributes that are desperately needed in county government and throughout our community. I'm running for my two child...
SWAN VALLEY - Three candidates running for two vacant Swan Valley Community Council (SVCC) seats spoke and responded to a question during the SVCC regular meeting Tuesday, April 19. The Swan River’s eligibility to become a Wild and Scenic River under the Wild and Scenic Act of 1968 was also discussed. Candidates Elda (Ellie) Greenough, Lacey McNutt and Henry S. Westra spoke about why they were qualified to win a seat on the SVCC. Greenough moved to the Swan Valley in 1978 from the Midwest where she was raised on a farm. She has held many j...
Lacey McNutt - Swan Council I have lived in the Swan Valley for nearly 10 years. I grew up in Helena and am a fifth generation Montanan. I first came here to work for an outfitter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. It was there that I met my husband, Todd. We have one son and we all live, work and play here. I am a licensed real estate professional here in the valley, a volunteer with the Swan Valley Emergency Services and have served the past two years as vice president of the Swan Valley PTA. I am running for a seat on the Council because...
GREAT FALLS - The first wildfire of the season in the Bob Marshall Wilderness was reported Saturday morning, April 9. The Elk Hill Fire was estimated at 1,086 acres on April 11 and 40 firefighters were staffing the fire. It appears to have been human caused from a warming or campfire but is still under investigation. The Elk Hill Fire is located on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, Lewis and Clark National Forest. When the fire was first reported its estimated size was 500 acres. By the end of...
Swan Valley AARP Meeting April 4 SWAN VALLEY - Come and enjoy a fascinating trip to Antarctica is the program planned for the Monday, April 4 meeting of the Swan Valley AARP. Local residents Mary Meistner and Doug Anderson will share photos of their recent trip. Members are to meet at noon for a potluck at 1:30 p.m. The program will begin at 1:45 p.m. The hosts are Joe and Barbara Raibel. The public is invited. Annual Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Public Meeting KALISPELL – The public is invited to the annual Bob Marshall Wilderness C...
SEELEY LAKE – Each year the Montana Pilots' Association (MPA) recognizes a member who has exhibited outstanding support to the MPA and made a significant contribution to aviation in Montana. That recognition and appreciation culminates in the Pilot of the Year Award. The 2015 award was presented to Seeley Lake resident Scott Newpower. Newpower served as MPA's Eastern Director for three years and then president of the organization for another three years, from 2013-2016. He took on those r...
