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Whether by natural lightning or by human hands, the landscape in Swan Valley has been shaped by fire. Only in the past hundred years or so have there been organized, concentrated efforts to suppress forest fires. During the historic forest fire of 1910, over three million acres burned in the course of a few days, primarily in Washington, Idaho, and Montana, drastically changing the way the U. S. Forest Service dealt with wildfire. Pushed by strong winds, several small fires grew together,...
5/25 4:32 p.m. Trespassing Holland Lake Road 5/25 12:58 p.m. Civil Hole in the Wall Road 5/26 7:46 a.m. Accident with Injury Hwy 83 5/26 10:19 a.m. Suspicious Activity Holland Lake Road 5/26 12:44 p.m. Theft Leota Peak Road 5/27 12:23 p.m. Civil Oak Lane 5/27 5:04 p.m. Trespassing Woodworth Road 5/28 4:47 p.m. Civil Hwy 83 5/30 1:02 p.m. Theft Holland Lake Road 5/30 2:51 p.m. Civil Riverview Drive 5/30 6:06 p.m. Suspicious Activity Old Barn Road 5/31 10:26 a.m. Suspicious Activity Glacier Drive 5/31 4:40 p.m. Civil Grizzly D...
SEELEY LAKE - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Missoula Region Supervisor Randy Arnold advised the Seeley Lake Community Council at their April 11 meeting that the RV Dump Station at Clearwater Junction won’t be operational again this year. The RV Dump Station has been managed by FWP for close to 20 years, Arnold said. Several years ago, issues began to develop with the dump station pump. The pump is an effluent pump which moves waste from the holding tanks to the drain field. “With some challenges to those pumps, we had, a number of tim...
OVANDO – When Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Terry Sheppard opened her office in Ovando in 1981 she was known as "the CPA on horseback." Her first tax season she spent April 15 knitting socks until 5 p.m. "just in case someone had a last minute return. Then I increased my clientele." After 40 years of serving local, national and international clients, Sheppard announced her retirement Oct. 15. She will continue to assist local non-profits for the next couple of years. Sheppard loved w...
SEELEY LAKE - Seeley-Swan High School recognized their senior football athletes and manager along with their families and friends at the Blackhawks' homecoming football game Oct. 15....
In celebration of 35 years of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, each week we will run parts of articles that appeared in the issue 35 years ago and 20 years ago. The entire issue will be uploaded to our website seeleylake.com for you to enjoy. We hope you will enjoy the journey with us as we follow our community through the past 35 years as documented by the Pathfinder. 35 years ago: Aug. 7, 1986 issue Local teacher computerizes track meets Art Sikkink, science teacher at Seeley Swan High School, has...
The story of the first homesteaders and the first working ranch in the upper Swan Valley begins in the 1880s with the arrival of Benjamin B. Holland and his son, Charles. According to family accounts, Ben Holland, his wife, and children crossed the Great Plains in a covered wagon. They lived a nomadic life, moving from one place to another, traveling from Missouri to Iowa to Utah to Idaho before settling in Montana. Ben Holland, the patriarch of the family, was born in Missouri in 1841. He...
HELENA, MONTANA – On Nov. 23 Missoula County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Richard Maricelli and Sergeant Robert E. Parcell traveled to Helena to present four members of the 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion, Montana Army National Guard, with Certificates of Commendation for their efforts in an Oct. 5 rescue of two hikers near the summit of Holland Peak. "Congratulations on a job well done!" wrote the Sheriff's Office in a press release. A narrative of the events: On Oct. 5, a 5...
SWAN VALLEY- A 56-year-old man and his 31-year-old hiking partner were rescued from Holland Peak Monday, Oct. 5 after one of the men experienced a life-threatening medical condition. The men were airlifted from Holland Peak by the Army National Guard Medevac Team and the patient was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center via ambulance. According to Missoula County Sheriff's Deputy and Incident Commander Ryan Dunster, Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue was called at 1:10 p.m. Monday...
Directions: Drive north on Highway 83 approximately 28 miles from Seeley Lake, or two miles south of Condon (mile marker 39). Turn east onto Rumble Creek Road. Follow the road four miles to the parking area, just past the Cooney Lookout. Elevation: 5,633 foot gain (9,356 total) Distance: Five miles to the peak Difficulty: Advanced Disclaimer: This trail is not a US Forest Service trail and some sections of the trail can change or become hazardous. The hike Holland Peak is truly a must hike for...
Length: 7 miles (5.5 to Upper Holland, 1.5 to Sapphire) 14 miles roundtrip Elevation gain: 3,100 feet (2,100 to Upper Holland, 1,000 to Sapphire) Services: The trailhead is located near Holland Lake Lodge and has a large parking lot as well as a pit toilet. Lot is mainly used for the Holland Falls trail (416) 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...
Dog Park looking for involvement SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake resident Laura Wood is looking for people interested in creating a Dog Park in Seeley Lake. Anyone who has ideas or wants to get involved in the process is invited to contact Wood at seeleylakedogpark@gmail.com. Calming emotions with essential oils class, July 27 SEELEY LAKE – Feeling down and need a boost? Join Mari Bergeson and Marjorie Pelletier Saturday, July 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Seeley Lake Elementary Multi-purpose Room to learn how essential oils can reduce anxious fee...
A legendary advocate for wild country, 27-year-old Bob Marshall hiked an astounding 288 miles in eight days during the summer of 1928. Much of his arduous backcountry trip took place in the wilderness that would later bear his name. Over the years I have explored and hiked much of the area in the Mission Mountains that Bob Marshall visited during the final two days of his trip 91 years ago. I climbed most of the mountains he climbed and camped in the same area he camped. While Bob Marshall...
South of Swan Peak, Lion Creek Pass offers another important route into the Bob Marshall Wilderness by way of Palisades and Little Salmon creeks. The route up the Swan-face side travels through beautiful stands of giant cedars. Farther down range, Smith Creek Pass is another course to the Swan summits and eventually into the South Fork country. The two trails join up with one coming over Lions Creek Pass to Little Salmon Creek. Just east of Condon, the second highest pinnacle in the Bob...
SWAN VALLEY - As the terminus of summer loomed nearer, and my tenure reporting for the Pathfinder approached with equal speed and horror, I knew I needed to get in one last adventure before trading in my lakeside life for one of city streets and lecture halls. For several weeks, I had the idea of bagging Holland Peak, the tallest mountain in the Swan Range, in the back of my head. For those same weeks, I was continuously thwarted in my attempts-first by a lack of adventure buddies, then by the e...
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 - After working for the Condon Post Office for two months short of 31 years, Ellie Greenough is looking forward to her retirement. Greenough has seen a lot of changes and worked through many challenges. Working with her customers has always been her favorite part of the job and what she will miss the most. Greenough moved to the Swan Valley in April 1978. She worked various jobs until being offered the postmaster relief/leave replacement (PMR) position at the Condon Post Office....
SWAN VALLEY - Unsolved Mysteries in the Swan Valley was the topic March 11 at the Swan Valley Museum. Upper Swan Valley Historical Society (USVHS) president Steve Lamar told the stories with the aid of projected photos to a group of more than 60 people. Mysteries in the Swan include persons that did not return home, some who avoided the law or the unknown location of gold mines. Unknown Gold Mines Hall Peak, seen behind the village of Swan Lake, is named for a prospector who in the early 1900s...
Length: 2 to 3 miles to Lower Rumble Creek Lake and another 1/2 mile to a mile to Upper Rumble Creek Lake. Distance varies with route. Elevation: Trailhead at 4,800 feet; Lower Rumble Creek Lake - 7,000 feet; Upper Rumble Creek Lake - 7,900 feet; Holland Peak - 9,356 feet Directions to the Trailhead for East Foothills Trail No. 192: Approximately 28 miles north of Seeley Lake or two miles south of Condon, at mile marker 39, turn east on the Rumble Creek Road across from Condon Community Church....
