Driftriders focus grooming trail efforts

SEELEY LAKE – Despite the salvage logging activities on the Seeley-Monture and West Morrell trails and significantly less snow than last year, the Seeley Lake Driftriders have been out keeping the trails groomed and ready for recreationists.

Driftriders Groomer Chair Bruce Friede said they are focusing their efforts on the high use areas on the west side of Highway 83. They are actively grooming Deer Creek and Lake Elsina Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and the Lake Marshall Loop and Mount Henry area as often as needed.

Westside Bypass, Archibald Loop, the North Fork, the Jocko back to Fawn Creek and around to the heliport have also been groomed. This past week they groomed up Rice Ridge to Richmond and around to the Marshall hookup and back to the groomer shed. Friede said they are trying to tie the rest of the roads in on the west side for the Driftriders Fun Run, Jan. 20.

"There is not a lot of snow that first couple of miles," said Friede. "The trails, from what we are told, are smooth. We are trying to groom [that get hit hard] every day but there is some limitations of what we can do down low because of the lack of snow."

Areas the groomers have not been able to go include Gold Creek, Seeley Lake – Monture and West Morrell. This is due to the roads being plowed for salvage logging operations. Friede recognized that the salvage operations are important. However, the sales are having more impact on winter recreation than originally thought. He said the Driftriders were told they could start grooming in Gold Creek by mid-January. However, they are still hauling logs. Friede said he doesn't expect that they will be able to be in there for a few more weeks.

Friede added that there are units in the Monture area that could have been harvested in the summer but instead they are being logged over the snow and keeping the trail plowed.

"It is obviously hurting the Rich Ranch and it's hurting our ability to reach out and connect with Ovando and Lincoln," said Friede. "This town needs the business that the snowmobilers bring in."

Snowmobilers can still park at the east side parking area. However, due to the recent closures on West Morrell and Seeley-Monture, snowmobilers must go back to the trail along Highway 83 and behind the Missoula County Satellite office to get to Rice Ridge. Even before the closures, Friede said the Driftriders don't encourage riding out of there because the trails are plowed and have not been groomed.

Friede said that until there is a need to keep snowmobiles off the highway and the snowpack demands it, they will not begin grooming the trail through town.

"It is $100 per hour and we have limited funds so we are going to stretch things as far as we can," said Friede.

The Driftriders annual Fun Run will be held on the west side this year instead of the traditional route over Rice Ridge due to the salvage logging. Riders will start Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Westside Grooming Shed off Fawn Creek Road between 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. The Fun Run ends at 3 p.m. at the Westside Grooming Shed. Maps will be available at the start.