20/35 Year Look Back

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: Jan. 29, 1987 issue

The "pros" ski Mount Henry

Story Suzanne Vernon

What do you get when you mix backcountry skiers with 18 inches of dry powder on three feet of packed base? You get great skiing, that's what.

The men who skied Mount Henry north of Seeley Lake last week are not only qualified Nordic and downhill skiers, they are professional consultants specializing in ski area management, development and marketing.

They see some tremendous possibilities for our mountain.

"I think you've got a great mountain," John Porterfield said on Saturday. Among his other credentials, Porterfield worked for the Big Mountain Ski Resort last year.

Mount Henry has 2,200 feet of vertical drop and could support downhill runs up to two miles long. That compares favorably with resorts at Big Sky, Big Mountain, Red Lodge and Snowbowl, for example which all have nearly identical statistics except that last weekend's preview indicates Mount Henry may have better snow conditions than many other areas resorts.

"If you can push the idea that your snow quality is much superior to anywhere else, then you'll have a big marketing advantage," according to Michael Wolfe, who also skied Mount Henry last week. "This mountain has a great potential for a destination resort."

The northeast aspect of most of the "slope" area is a big advantage on Mount Henry," he said...

To read more visit https://www.seeleylake.com/home/customer_files/article_documents/1987-01-29.pdf

20 years ago: Jan. 31, 2002 issue

Carey recognized for work on Seeley Nordic Trail System

Story Donna Love

On Saturday, Jan. 26, Lynn Carey of Seeley Lake received a National Forest Service Volunteer of the Year Award for ten years of service managing the Seeley Creek Nordic Ski Trails on the National Forest System near Seeley Lake, Montana.

Almost single handedly Carey clears the 18 kilometers (11 miles) of cross country ski trails of downed trees and grooms the trails as necessary during the ski season with grooming equipment he acquired through grants from Polaris, Inc. and the Federal National Trails Program administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.

In addition, he organizes the annual O.S.C.R. (Over Seeley's Creeks and Ridges) Nordic Ski Races in January. The Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club (SLNSC) of which Carey is the president, organizes the race. The race attracts over 100 entries each year in 10, 25 and 50K races with various age events for men and women.

Carey's work benefits Seeley Lake's winter tourism industry and fosters cooperation between Nordic skiers and snowmobilers. Seeley's ski and snowmobile clubs lend equipment and manpower to each other's trails and events at a time when these groups are quarreling in some communities.

Carey also coordinates equipment demonstrations and a citizens' race every year in an effort to introduce more people to Nordic skiing. This year on the first weekend of Seeley Lake Winterfest, Carey organized a free cross country ski clinic provided by The Trailhead in Missoula. Demonstrations and instruction were given in both classic and skate skiing, the new rave in the cross-country ski world.

Bruce Johnson, Resource Management Assistant and Karen Linford, Recreation Forester on the Seeley Lake Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest in Seeley Lake, nominated Carey for the Award. "Lynn Carey is the driving force behind the Seeley Lake Nordic program," Johnson said. "The Club's partnership with the Forest Service is outstanding."

To read this article and more visit https://www.seeleylake.com/home/customer_files/article_documents/2002-01-31.pdf