A blog focused on the outdoors
|
It's time once again for the Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited Annual Fundraising Banquet! Please join us on Saturday, May 18 at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish for all the festivities. There will be live and silent auctions, lots of raffle and door prizes and a good time had by all. The festivities begin at 6pm with a meet-and-greet happy hour, followed by a sumptuous dinner at 7pm.
Our grand-prize raffle this year features a 14-foot, full-wrap, self-bailing NRS raft package complete with rowing frame and oars. Everything you need for fun days on the river this summer. For information, or to purchase banquet tickets or raft-raffle tickets, please call Dan at 250-5064 or Chris at 260-1198.
For more information about Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited and what we do, please visit our website at www.flatheadtu.org.
This event is sure to be the social highlight of the season and is our only fundraiser of the year. Your participation will help Flathead TU to conserve, protect and restore wild fish populations in Northwest Montana. We hope to see you all there. You'll be sorry if you miss this one!
Our grand-prize raffle this year features a 14-foot, full-wrap, self-bailing NRS raft package complete with rowing frame and oars. Everything you need for fun days on the river this summer. For information, or to purchase banquet tickets or raft-raffle tickets, please call Dan at 250-5064 or Chris at 260-1198.
For more information about Flathead Valley Trout Unlimited and what we do, please visit our website at www.flatheadtu.org.
This event is sure to be the social highlight of the season and is our only fundraiser of the year. Your participation will help Flathead TU to conserve, protect and restore wild fish populations in Northwest Montana. We hope to see you all there. You'll be sorry if you miss this one!
Comments (0) TotalThe Hungry Horse Dam Visitor Center opens for the summer season beginning Memorial Day weekend.
Hours for the Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the remainder of the summer season, the visitor center will be open Wednesday through Sunday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting May 29.
The access road to the dam is off Highway 2 past the Hungry Horse/Glacier View Forest Service building.
Hungry Horse Dam stands 564 feet tall and was completed in 1953. It is located on the south fork of the Flathead River, 15 miles south of the west entrance to Glacier National Park and 20 miles northeast of Kalispell. For additional information call (406) 387-5241.
Hours for the Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the remainder of the summer season, the visitor center will be open Wednesday through Sunday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting May 29.
The access road to the dam is off Highway 2 past the Hungry Horse/Glacier View Forest Service building.
Hungry Horse Dam stands 564 feet tall and was completed in 1953. It is located on the south fork of the Flathead River, 15 miles south of the west entrance to Glacier National Park and 20 miles northeast of Kalispell. For additional information call (406) 387-5241.
Comments (0) TotalGlacier National Park is hosting two community meetings to share information about park activities and provide an opportunity for personal dialogue between management and local community members. A west-side meeting will take place Wednesday, May 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Teakettle Community Hall in Columbia Falls. An east-side meeting will be Thursday, May 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier.
Acting Glacier National Park Superintendent Kym Hall and other park members will give presentations featuring updates on summer park programs and the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation and spring plowing.
Acting Glacier National Park Superintendent Kym Hall and other park members will give presentations featuring updates on summer park programs and the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation and spring plowing.
Comments (0) TotalBree Fuqua logged over 172 miles in the first eight days of her trek along the Pacific Crest Trail. Fuqua was approaching the desert stretch near Palm Springs, Calif., last weekend and about to encounter Joshua Tree National Park. Her eighth day of hiking included 22 miles and 3,000 feet of elevation climb.
“The end of the day today was challenging, but incredibly beautiful,” she reported afterward.
Fuqua has been battling a cold and some sleep deprivation, but she cited some helpful advice that was given to her by a fellow coach at Glacier High — the only two things you can control are your effort and your attitude.
Fuqua, a 31-year-old special education and math teacher at Glacier High School, is attempting to walk 2,650 miles along the PCT. Over the next four months, she plans on following the rugged trail that winds north through California, Oregon and Washington before ending in British Columbia’s Manning Park. Except for a short stretch her sister plans to join, Fuqua is traveling solo.
RELATED: Journey of a Lifetime
“The end of the day today was challenging, but incredibly beautiful,” she reported afterward.
Fuqua has been battling a cold and some sleep deprivation, but she cited some helpful advice that was given to her by a fellow coach at Glacier High — the only two things you can control are your effort and your attitude.
Fuqua, a 31-year-old special education and math teacher at Glacier High School, is attempting to walk 2,650 miles along the PCT. Over the next four months, she plans on following the rugged trail that winds north through California, Oregon and Washington before ending in British Columbia’s Manning Park. Except for a short stretch her sister plans to join, Fuqua is traveling solo.
RELATED: Journey of a Lifetime
Comments (0) TotalMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment for the Bass Lake Restoration Project.
The project includes a proposal to remove northern pike from Bass Lake and Mud Creek in Northwest Montana using a combination of netting, trapping and electrofishing, and restocking the lake with native westslope cutthroat trout, according to FWP.
This project would be conducted within the Mud Creek watershed located approximately six miles southeast of Eureka. According to FWP, the removal of northern pike would help restore native fish populations in the Tobacco River and Lake Koocanusa, which Bass Lake and Mud Creek feed. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is proposing to fund the project. The draft is out for a 30-day public review through June 8.
Copies of the draft environmental assessment are available at the FWP office, 490 N. Meridian Rd. in Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6th Ave., Helena; Lincoln County Libraries, 220 W 6th St., Libby, 207 N 3rd, Troy, and 318 Dewey Avenue, Eureka; and the FWP website.
The project includes a proposal to remove northern pike from Bass Lake and Mud Creek in Northwest Montana using a combination of netting, trapping and electrofishing, and restocking the lake with native westslope cutthroat trout, according to FWP.
This project would be conducted within the Mud Creek watershed located approximately six miles southeast of Eureka. According to FWP, the removal of northern pike would help restore native fish populations in the Tobacco River and Lake Koocanusa, which Bass Lake and Mud Creek feed. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is proposing to fund the project. The draft is out for a 30-day public review through June 8.
Copies of the draft environmental assessment are available at the FWP office, 490 N. Meridian Rd. in Kalispell; Montana State Library, 1515 E 6th Ave., Helena; Lincoln County Libraries, 220 W 6th St., Libby, 207 N 3rd, Troy, and 318 Dewey Avenue, Eureka; and the FWP website.
Comments (0) TotalOn May 9, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission tentatively approved a proposal to waive the daily and possession bag limits for Lena Lake in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area through Aug. 31 pending public comment. The public comment period will extend from May 10 to May 21. Comments must be provided in writing either through the FWP fishing email address (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)) or addressed to Don Skaar, Fisheries Office, FWP, 1420 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT 59620. The FWP Commission will evaluate public comments and consider final approval of this proposal at their June 5 meeting.
Lena Lake is 74 acres and located at the headwaters of the Big Salmon Creek drainage. It is moderately popular with backcountry anglers, who have asked for bag limit waivers prior to previous rotenone treatments to allow more harvest of fish that would otherwise be wasted. Lena Lake is scheduled for rotenone treatment In September 2013. This project is part of the South Fork Cutthroat Conservation Plan.
FWP initiated the South Fork Flathead Cutthroat Conservation Plan to replace nonnative fish with pure westslope cutthroat in 21 lakes in the South Fork Flathead drainage to maintain genetic purity. Replacement involves either chemical treatment or genetic swamping (heavy stocking of pure westslope cutthroat to dilute the nonnative genes). A number of lakes have been successfully treated to date. Lakes are restocked after treatment to restore recreational fishing.
Lena Lake is 74 acres and located at the headwaters of the Big Salmon Creek drainage. It is moderately popular with backcountry anglers, who have asked for bag limit waivers prior to previous rotenone treatments to allow more harvest of fish that would otherwise be wasted. Lena Lake is scheduled for rotenone treatment In September 2013. This project is part of the South Fork Cutthroat Conservation Plan.
FWP initiated the South Fork Flathead Cutthroat Conservation Plan to replace nonnative fish with pure westslope cutthroat in 21 lakes in the South Fork Flathead drainage to maintain genetic purity. Replacement involves either chemical treatment or genetic swamping (heavy stocking of pure westslope cutthroat to dilute the nonnative genes). A number of lakes have been successfully treated to date. Lakes are restocked after treatment to restore recreational fishing.
Comments (0) TotalGetting out into the woods to hike in the spring can be great fun, but unfortunately, it only takes one wood tick to ruin a great adventure.
Now that it's officially tick season, here are some effective ways to enjoy your time outdoors and remain wood tick-free, courtesy of the Confederate Salish and Kootenai Tribes information office.
Wood ticks are dark colored arachnids found in wooded areas, brush and fields. Ticks feed on the blood of animals and humans. Most ticks are relatively harmless, though several types are carriers of diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. There are many ways to prevent a wood tick bite and limit your exposure to ticks in general.
Follow these guidelines for a safe outdoor experience:
— When hiking in heavily wooded areas, stay on paths and walk down the middle of trails to avoid rubbing against bushes and picking up waiting ticks.
— Wear light colored clothing, which will make it easier to spot a tick. Wear shirts and sweatshirts with tight collars and cuffs.
— When spending extended periods outdoors, check yourself often for ticks. Many ticks can be captured before biting. Ticks tend to travel toward areas of warmth, such as the scalp, skin folds and under arm pits.
— Check outdoor dogs and cats for ticks, too. It is not uncommon for a tick to crawl off an animal and on to you. Dogs and cats should wear flea and tick collars during heavy tick seasons.
— Insect repellents, especially those containing 100% DEET, are the most effective means of protecting yourself against tick bites. Apply liberally before dressing and reapply after exposure to water.
— Trim back large bushes near homes, which are popular areas for all types of ticks from Spring-Autumn.
How to Remove a Tick
The goal of tick removal is to get rid of the live insect in one piece. While the squeamish at heart may be tempted to give the little bugger a quick yank and be done with it, leaving parts of the tick embedded in your flesh will most likely cause an infection. With patience in mind, follow these simple steps:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers. This can be done with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab or by running a lit match beneath them.
3. Grab the tick as close to your skin's surface as possible and pull slowly. Do not jerk! You want the tick to help you, by backing out as you're pulling. If the tick does not back out on its own, stop pulling, and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, cooking oil, or petroleum jelly to the surface of the skin. The added moisture will begin to drown the tick, causing him to back out.
4. Wait. Within five to ten minutes, the tick should begin to loosen its hold.
5. Pull again. Using the tweezers again, gently pull the tick from your skin.
6. Examine the tick. Make sure you both remove the head and body of the tick. If you suspect the tick is a disease carrier, preserve the tick in a ziplock bag for examination by your physician.
7. Cleansing. Once the tick is out, wash the skin area with antibacterial soap or swab affected area with an antiseptic. Any itching, rash or irritation can be treated with hydrocortisone or antiseptic creams.
Now that it's officially tick season, here are some effective ways to enjoy your time outdoors and remain wood tick-free, courtesy of the Confederate Salish and Kootenai Tribes information office.
Wood ticks are dark colored arachnids found in wooded areas, brush and fields. Ticks feed on the blood of animals and humans. Most ticks are relatively harmless, though several types are carriers of diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. There are many ways to prevent a wood tick bite and limit your exposure to ticks in general.
Follow these guidelines for a safe outdoor experience:
— When hiking in heavily wooded areas, stay on paths and walk down the middle of trails to avoid rubbing against bushes and picking up waiting ticks.
— Wear light colored clothing, which will make it easier to spot a tick. Wear shirts and sweatshirts with tight collars and cuffs.
— When spending extended periods outdoors, check yourself often for ticks. Many ticks can be captured before biting. Ticks tend to travel toward areas of warmth, such as the scalp, skin folds and under arm pits.
— Check outdoor dogs and cats for ticks, too. It is not uncommon for a tick to crawl off an animal and on to you. Dogs and cats should wear flea and tick collars during heavy tick seasons.
— Insect repellents, especially those containing 100% DEET, are the most effective means of protecting yourself against tick bites. Apply liberally before dressing and reapply after exposure to water.
— Trim back large bushes near homes, which are popular areas for all types of ticks from Spring-Autumn.
How to Remove a Tick
The goal of tick removal is to get rid of the live insect in one piece. While the squeamish at heart may be tempted to give the little bugger a quick yank and be done with it, leaving parts of the tick embedded in your flesh will most likely cause an infection. With patience in mind, follow these simple steps:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Sterilize a pair of tweezers. This can be done with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab or by running a lit match beneath them.
3. Grab the tick as close to your skin's surface as possible and pull slowly. Do not jerk! You want the tick to help you, by backing out as you're pulling. If the tick does not back out on its own, stop pulling, and add a few drops of rubbing alcohol, cooking oil, or petroleum jelly to the surface of the skin. The added moisture will begin to drown the tick, causing him to back out.
4. Wait. Within five to ten minutes, the tick should begin to loosen its hold.
5. Pull again. Using the tweezers again, gently pull the tick from your skin.
6. Examine the tick. Make sure you both remove the head and body of the tick. If you suspect the tick is a disease carrier, preserve the tick in a ziplock bag for examination by your physician.
7. Cleansing. Once the tick is out, wash the skin area with antibacterial soap or swab affected area with an antiseptic. Any itching, rash or irritation can be treated with hydrocortisone or antiseptic creams.
Comments (0) TotalThe Hungry Horse Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is requesting comments on the proposed Heinrude Fuels Reduction Project.
Mechanical treatments would be used on approximately 70 acres to reduce tree densities and remove downed wood and slash, primarily focused near the Heinrude cabin sites on NFS lands along the west-side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir, according to the Forest Service. Hand thinning would be used to reduce sapling-sized tree densities on approximately 550 acres. All treatment acres are within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and within an area that has been identified as high priority for treatment due to the concentration of private homes on National Forest System (NFS) lands, according to the Forest Service.
Forest officials say the purpose for this project is to lower the risk of severe and intense wildfire, should a fire occur in the future; improve the ability to initial attack and control fires; protect human life by providing a safer environment for firefighters and the public should a fire occur; and protect identified private property and natural resource values in the event of a future wildfire.
District Ranger Rob Davies encourages public comments on the proposed project. Provide comments during the 30-day scoping/comment period, which ends Monday, May 20. Comments should be sent to the Hungry Horse Ranger District, P.O. Box 190340, (10 Hungry Horse Drive), Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Depending on the level of interest, a public fieldtrip may be scheduled to the project area this summer.
For more information about the project contact Amanda Smiley at 406-387-3837 or visit here for more information.
Mechanical treatments would be used on approximately 70 acres to reduce tree densities and remove downed wood and slash, primarily focused near the Heinrude cabin sites on NFS lands along the west-side of the Hungry Horse Reservoir, according to the Forest Service. Hand thinning would be used to reduce sapling-sized tree densities on approximately 550 acres. All treatment acres are within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and within an area that has been identified as high priority for treatment due to the concentration of private homes on National Forest System (NFS) lands, according to the Forest Service.
Forest officials say the purpose for this project is to lower the risk of severe and intense wildfire, should a fire occur in the future; improve the ability to initial attack and control fires; protect human life by providing a safer environment for firefighters and the public should a fire occur; and protect identified private property and natural resource values in the event of a future wildfire.
District Ranger Rob Davies encourages public comments on the proposed project. Provide comments during the 30-day scoping/comment period, which ends Monday, May 20. Comments should be sent to the Hungry Horse Ranger District, P.O. Box 190340, (10 Hungry Horse Drive), Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Depending on the level of interest, a public fieldtrip may be scheduled to the project area this summer.
For more information about the project contact Amanda Smiley at 406-387-3837 or visit here for more information.
Comments (0) TotalRead More Mountain Exposure
HRH Prince Michael said: "Capitalism must always be the fuel for a powerful Democracy - never in-reverse. Today, marks the fifth-annivesary for one of the -verifiably- most powerful and…
mooseberryinn said: "Speaking of unions. Suddenly several unions are finding out that “obama/demo-dummy care” is a scam. They’re even saying Obama lied???!!! OMG!!!! Hmm, oh well, file…
terryt said: "No weight you clearly know nothing about griz bear recruitment and populations. One has to look no furthur than two populations in the northwest part…
HRH Prince Michael said: "I humbly invite Everyone, to please pray for the survivors, families, and children afflicted by this catastrophe. Not unlike the sheer Hardship and Devastation that…
reggie said: "Oh, the citizens have representation, it is just the 7000 or so in the doughnut who are denied their right of representation. At the national…
mooseberryinn said: "Speaking of unions. Suddenly several unions are finding out that “obama/demo-dummy care” is a scam. They’re even saying Obama lied???!!! OMG!!!! Hmm, oh well, file…
GATE said: "From Camelot to Scamalot in just a few generations! The good news is that the Progressive Bug in search of a Windshield has finally found…
bocephusj57 said: "I see. terryt is what rightwingnuts call a “union thug” living that life of leisure on a sweet, sweet pension funded by money stolen, STOLEN…
GATE said: "I’m sorry terryt but this new mutated strain of Deadbeatism expects you to care for them, clean up their messes, and will proclaim you a…
Flathead Opinion said: "This is a project that is worth every penny spent on it… That part of the downtown area is almost useless as it is. It…