Outdoor news
Weed-pulling rodeo
Wild River Adventures, in West Glacier, will hold its 10th annual weed-pulling rodeo on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River on Friday, June 22. The event will begin with a brief educational talk about weeds by an expert from Glacier National Park at the rafting company’s offices on U.S. 2 at 4 p.m. Work will take place at the Moccasin Creek river access, followed by a barbecue at the rafting company’s offices. Participants are asked to bring leather gloves. The event is sponsored by local raft companies, government agencies, GNESA, Rocky Mountain Outfitters and Sportsman Ski Haus. For more information, call 387-9453.
River clean-up
The Montana Raft Company will host their 16th annual Rafting for Refuse Day on Saturday, June 23, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Montana Raft Company, 11970 U.S 2, in West Glacier. Pre-registered volunteers 12 years or older will help clean up trash along the river and at public river access points on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. This year, they are helping to promote the national Leave No Trace program, a non-profit organization that teaches and encourages minimal impact while participating in outdoor activities. Volunteers should bring work gloves, a water bottle and change of clothes. A complimentary barbecue will be held after the clean-up. For more information or to make a reservation, call 387-5555 or e-mail info@glacierguides.com.
River gear available
Floaters on the North and Middle forks of the Flathead River can now check out gear free of charge that will make their trip more environmentally and bear-friendly.
With a $4,100 grant from the National Parks Foundation, Glacier National Park recently bought gear that floaters can use on their next trip. The items include biodegradable, puncture-resistant human waste bags, five fire pans and eight Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee-approved bear-resistant coolers.
All of those items are necessary for trips on the rivers, particularly multi-day trips. The items are available at the Park’s backcountry permit office.
The Flathead River has seen increased visitor use within the last 10 years. Associated impacts include numerous fire rings, poor or improper food storage in grizzly and black bear habitat, and improper human waste disposal.
Many private river users lack the gear needed to minimize their impact on the river environment due to expense.
Park officials say making this gear available to river users, along with Leave-No-Trace education already provided by Park staff, will help reduce impacts along the river corridor.
For more information, call 888-7857.