The winter of 2023/2024 brought a ton of sunshine and blue skies to Seeley Lake, and it also brought a ton of challenges for the ROCKS team as we struggled to keep our winter recreational areas functional and fun. No strangers to adversity, we who rely so heavily on the weather, everyone persevered. While our winter activities looked a wee bit different from normal years, we skated and we skied whenever we could.
As we maintained the yurt with the Nordic Ski Club, we marveled at the ingenuity with which they forged ahead with a paltry amount of snow. The Club leaned on their collective years of expertise to devise ways to deliver on all that they had scheduled, from the OSCR ski race to the biathlon. One event required trucking snow from across the road to pack the trails to deliver on their promise. The above and beyond efforts of the Club volunteers supported many fun winter activities for visitors and local residents.
The skating rink at the elementary school was much the same. Mild temperatures and lack of snow delayed the launch from the typical December start well into January. Our week of below zero temperatures made for great rink setup when the team could brave the elements long enough to thaw out the hoses to spray the frigid ground. The rink was glorious if short-lived. Like the ski club, the rink crew put in triple overtime to deliver their own brand of outdoor fun.
The ROCKS crew is somewhat relieved and excited to be turning to spring, where the trails crew has great plans for further improvement at The Lakeview and All Abilities trail system by Placid Lake. For background, this is a joint project of Seeley Lake ROCKS and The Nature Conservancy, who owns the land. We started building trails about five years ago and now have approximately 10 miles of trails and repurposed logging roads. ROCKS has also worked with Summit Independent Living in Missoula to build an All Abilities trail near the Placid Lake State Park. There are two new kiosks at the trail heads that will have maps of the trails, and maps will also be available at Placid Lake State Park and soon, online.
Many groups of volunteers have helped ROCKS to maintain the trails over the years. There is always something to do on any trail to keep it open and accessible. To help with this year’s trail maintenance, ROCKS is excited to work with the Montana Conservation Corp. During the last week in May, the MCC will work on erosion control, trail drainage contouring, tree and brush clearing and improving the accessibility to hikers and non-motorized bicycles.
National Trails Day is May 30, so the timing allows the MCC to celebrate that day in coordination with their work on our trail system. This aligns well with their mission, which is “inspiring young people through hands-on conservation service to be leaders, stewards of the land and engaged citizens who improve their communities.”
National Trails Day is celebrated throughout the United States, during which the American Hiking Society branches and various private organizations host multiple events and activities to celebrate hiking and promote awareness about the trails people can use. In addition to hiking, the trails offer plenty of opportunities, like birdwatching and mountain biking, for those who ordinarily do not hike.
These pristine trails and pathways are maintained by a group of very passionate volunteers. To celebrate their efforts, we encourage you to enjoy the trails and to share your appreciation on social media to honor the volunteers and to build interest in hiking. It may even encourage you to volunteer with our fun-loving team yourself. We would welcome you with open arms.
For more information, please contact Garry Swain, President of Seeley Lake ROCKS, at garryswain@gmail.com.
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