Outdoor news
Trail fundraiser
The Gateway To Glacier Trail group will host their second annual Pedal & Paddle for Paths event on Saturday, June 20, starting at 1:30 p.m. at The Coop, next to O’Brien’s Wine and Liquor, in Columbia Falls. The family bike ride will head up the North Fork Road to Blankenship Bridge, about 14 miles, where riders will be treated to ice cream. They will then float down the Flathead River to U.S. 2 with Glacier Raft Co. Bikes will be shuttled back to The Coop, where Teakettle Cafe will offer refreshments. Cost is $25 adults, $15 kids 8-17, and free under 8. Registration closes June 18 at 6 p.m. Day of event registration is $10 more. Register online at www.gatewaytoglaciertrail.com, at Freedom Bank or at Hungry Horse Liquor Store.
Raptor center
Flathead Audubon will host a free trip to the Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center on Sunday, June 14 to see eagles, hawks and owls at the only federally-permitted rehabilitation facility in the Flathead. Participants will tour the recently remodeled facility and visit with “ambassador” raptors commonly used for education. The field trip is limited to 25 persons. To sign up, contact Beth Watne at 406-250-1070.
Native plants
The Montana Native Plant Society will hold its 2015 annual meeting at the Loon Lake 4H Camp just outside Bigfork on Friday through Sunday, June 26-28. This year’s gathering will highlight several fens and peaks around the Swan Valley. Register by June 10. Visit online at www.mtnativeplants.org. For more information, visit online at www.facebook/MTNativePlantSociety or contact the Montana Native Plant Society’s Flathead Chapter at mnps.flathead@gmail.com or call Betty at 892-0129.
Park classes
The Glacier Institute will host “Birding by Ear” in Glacier National Park on June 16 and 17, with instructor Denny Olson leading students into the wetland and burn areas, and “Glacier’s Birds of Prey” on June 20 and 21, with instructor Dave Shea teaching about the life histories, habits, ecology and management policies of all 29 species of birds of prey in Glacier Park, with special focus given to the bald eagle. An art class called “Glacier Institute’s Field Sketching” will take place on June 19, with instructor Bethann Merkle, and Justin Barth will lead a hike to the Apgar fire lookout on June 20 in the first installment of the “Fire Lookouts of Glacier.” For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or e-mail register@glacierinstitute.org.
River meeting
The Flathead National Forest will host an open house for river recreationists who want to learn more about the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork of the Flathead River at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, in Kalispell on Monday, June 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. River managers will answer questions about river recreation activities, river use and management, and rules and regulations. For more information, call 406-387-3800 or 406-758-5376.
Lake volunteers
The Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network is looking for lake property owners and/or homeowners, summer cabin owners, recreationists and other people interested in becoming lake monitors. There are 41 lakes in the program. Volunteers will receive training and equipment to assist in data collection but need their own boat. To learn more visit online at www.nwmtlvmn.org or call the Whitefish Lake Institute at 862-4327 or e-mail josh@whitefishlake.org.
Eureka birding
Flathead Audubon and wildlife biologist Lewis Young will lead a birding trip in the Tobacco Valley near Eureka on Saturday, June 6. Participants could see Lewis’ woodpeckers and long-billed curlews and will visit a riparian area along the Tobacco River where species expected include black-headed grosbeaks, lazuli buntings, catbirds and various warblers. Meet near Eureka at 8 a.m. and return around noon. For more information, call 406-889-3492 or e-mail llyoung@interbel.net.
Firewood cutting
The Hungry Horse Ranger District will open sections of the west-side Hungry Horse Reservoir Road for firewood cutting and gathering for about 12 miles from the dam to Lid Creek from May 26 through June 26. Gathering may still be restricted in areas clearly signed along the road. Permits cost $20 for four cords. For more information, call 387-3800 or visit online at www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/passes-permits.
Outdoor classes
The Glacier Institute will kick off its 32nd summer by offering many educational courses and camps in Glacier National Park. Janet Paul Bones will lead “Spring Wildflowers” on June 12, Steve Wirt will lead “Orchids - Glacier’s Precious Beauties” on June 13, and photographer Tom Ulrich will lead “Glacier Up Close: Macrophotography” also on June 13. A course on the common loon will be offered on June 14, and the “Montana Master Naturalist Course” multi-day residential workshop will take place on June 12-16. For more information, visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org or e-mail register@glacierinstitute.org.
Road closure
The Spotted Bear River Road No. 568 will be closed to public use at milepost 0.2 for at least two days beginning June 3. The road provides access to the Beaver Creek Campground and several popular trailheads. A contractor will be installing a new culvert at this location. For more information, call the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 758-5376.
National Trails Day
The Bob Marshall Foundation will celebrate National Trails Day on June 6 with a family event at the Indian Meadows trailhead near Lincoln on the south side of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Volunteers will perform trail maintenance. The Foundation will join the Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead for a family event with horsepacking demonstrations, nature walks and Dutch oven barbecue and desserts. For more information, visit online at www.bmwf.org.
Herron Park run
In its fourth year, the Herron Half and 10K run will take place at Herron Park in Kalispell on Sunday, June 7. Proceeds will benefit the Foys To Blacktail Trails organization.
Fire lookouts
The Forest Fire Lookout Association will host Jeanne Kellar Beaty, author of the “Lookout Wife” at the Belton Chalet in West Glacier on Saturday, June 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. Published in 1953, “Lookout Wife” is about Beaty’s experiences staffing lookouts with her husband Chip on the Salmon National Forest in 1949 1950. The event is a fundraiser for the FFLA. Raffle tickets for the “Standing Watch” giclée are two for $5 or five for $10.