Bike path history, explained

I’d like to refresh our memories about a proposed Bike Path coming through the Canyon to West Glacier. Indeed, Glacier National Park was considering extending the path to Apgar and Lake McDonald.

Back in the late 1970s, many children were riding bikes and horses after school to activities. Then, with parental help, some children got together and formed the Canyon Mountaineers 4-H group.

The children were from 9-16 years, and they came up with a community project: to give the highway department some info that would help our area.

Yes, at the time local children were riding horses and bikes all over the place. The roads had far less traffic back then and speed was slower. The children learned that the road in our area was going to be upgraded and wondered what could be done to improve the area.

Each 4-H member presented a diagram of a bike and horse path. The first proposal was to have a path on both sides of the road, but the 4-H group decided there would be too many accidents with horses, cars, and bikes. So, both proposed paths were located on the same side of the highway.

Perhaps, at least one path would be built, perhaps something would be learned about how the political world works. Helping the 4-H was our County Agent Derral Fenner and our good local Sheriffs Joe Donahoe and Art Sorlley, and from out of the area, Park Ellis. They worked and helped and kept the children safe all the time. We owe these four people a lot because they cared for the children and kept them busy and safe. They encouraged the children to work on the project. Parents helped in the background and encouraged them to do good work and to learn about the political process.

Val Parson, I want to thank you for revitalizing the project and making their 1970s dream come true.

The Canyon Mountaineers got praise from the Federal Highway Department, from President Ford, Mike Mansfield, Dick Shoup and many others. Money was allocated for the bike path.

However, an environmentalist complained to the Ninth Circuit Court in San Francisco, and no one went to support the project. Many of us still wonder why no one went to defend the project. Were the 4-H members ahead of the thinking of officials such as the county commissioners and the local and state highway departments? Where were you then? These were children 9 years to 16 years old. What an effort they gave. They won and then were ignored.

Nowadays, many of you may wonder why many children don’t take part in activities. Is it because too many “leaders” want the glory and are less inclined to help children learn?

Is the fate of the first bike path proposal the example we want to teach our children? Why do so many get into trouble? Is it because they are seldom given credit, rarely helped to achieve?

Hope we can all learn from this and bring children into the project.

Catherine Richter

West Glacier