News From Your Community Trail |
|
We did it! 27,345 miles logged on the Whitefish Trail during May |
With a long, sunny weekend to end the month of May, the community rallied to surpass our month-long goal. 27,345 miles were logged, raising $27,345 for our local trail and protected lands! We are so thankful to everyone who participated and are especially thankful to our sponsors who supported the match fund and invested in the health and wellness of our community. With 5,880 trail users visiting Lion Mtn this May, it's easy to see how the miles added up across all 14 WT trailheads.
"We are so excited to see the community connecting to our local lands this spring. 27,345 miles logged in May is an amazing accomplishment that shows how access to local trails increases our community's health, wellness, and quality of life." Alan Myers-Davis, WLP Director of Development
Full results are below and thanks to Hammer Nutrition and Sportsman Ski Haus for donating prizes! Top male and female in each category will receive a Black Diamond day pack, Nalgene water bottle, and a jar of Hammer Recoverite.
Workplace Teams:
The Wave - 55.9 points
Glacier Nordic Club - 52.6 points
North Valley Hospital - 48.2 points
Project Whitefish Kids - 45.5 points
Whitefish Middle School Challenge
6th Grade - 876 miles
5th Grade - 498 miles
7th Grade - 243 miles
8th Grade - 188 miles
|
|
|
|
Male Running:
- Tristan Scott - 216
- Nick Cornell - 92
- Bo Matson - 85
Female Running:
- Audra Tasa - 153
- Phoebe Bright - 99
- Jessica Craig - 66
|
|
Female biking:
- Bess Matson - 253
- Lacy Eccles - 134
- Katie French - 131
Male Biking:
- Geoff Gibb - 640
- Steve Qunell - 199
- Eric Greenberg - 196
|
|
Male Hiking:
- Noel Huettich - 167
- Chris Crumal - 134
- Jim McIntyre - 94
Female Hiking:
- Wendy Dolph - 128
- Darcy Shulz - 102
- Whitney Geiger - 87
|
|
Welcome New WLP Board Members and Trail Coordinator! |
|
Mike Meador
WLP Board Member
Mike has been living in Whitefish and exploring our local trails for over 20 years. He is Co-Owner of Glacier Cyclery & Nordic and thinks access to local trails is invaluable to our quality of life. He's excited to give back to a project that brings so much to his family and community.
Welcome Mike!
|
|
Somer Treat
WLP Board Member
Somer was born in Whitefish and has seen the changes to our community first-hand. She is Co-Owner of Old Montana Building Company and hasn't missed a day of running in 13 years! Somer whole-heartedly believes in public access and conservation and is excited to help Close the Loop.
Welcome Somer!
|
|
Sam Bracken
Trail Coordinator
Sam has worked for 5 years building and maintaining backcountry trails in the Bob, has a degree in Recreation Resource Management, and has many years experience in the forestry industry. We are excited to have such an experienced, hard working Trail Coordinator this year!
Welcome Sam!
|
|
Whitefish Legacy Partners' 2020 Community Report is hot off the press! Read about how your donations, volunteerism, and partnership bring tremendous value to our community. We deeply appreciate your support to make the Whitefish Trail, our local conservation lands, and our free educations programs possible.
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed Spencer Mountain Timber Salvage Sale - Submit your Comments!
The Montana Department of Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is considering a timber salvage sale at Spencer Mountain to harvest downed trees from a 2021 winter blowdown event. The salvage sale is being proposed to take place this summer. The DNRC expects up to a 30-day closure of the Twin Bridges trailhead, Whitefish Trail north loop, and the Freeride Trails - if the sale proceeds as planned. We are hopeful that your public comments could change the State's plan.
Whitefish Legacy Partners works with the City of Whitefish and Flathead Area Mountain Bikers (FAMB) to develop and maintain recreational trails and amenities at Spencer Mtn. We currently have a 10-year Special Recreational Use Permit and pay over $11,000/year in fees for the public's right to access these MT School Trust Lands.
On behalf of the community, WLP and FAMB have invested a great deal of money, time, and energy at Spencer to create a free community recreation asset. We ask that you join us in submitting comments requesting that the DNRC include mitigations in the salvage sale to protect and minimize impacts on the recreation infrastructure including trails, trail signs, and built trail features. We are also requesting that they do not close the Twin Bridges trailhead, Whitefish Trail, and Freeride Trails during the apex of summer use, and instead consider delaying the sale until the fall when trail use is less and/or consider allowing public access during the evenings and weekends. Finally, we are concerned about trail user safety during logging operations, increased logging traffic, and increased dust. We support the need to remove the down trees before a bark beetle infestation harms the living trees and we support the DNRC's objective to generate revenue on behalf of MT schools and universities - we simply want to ask that they also support existing recreation.
Your comments are important!
Comments must be submitted to the DNRC by Monday, June 14.
Email comments to the DNRC addressed directly to project manager Riley Stevenson:
|
|
We need your help in 2021! |
|
Be a WT Friend or WT Family this year and make an investment
in the future of our local lands.
|
|
|
|
Lion Mountain Dog Monument
Pet Tags for Sale
|
You can order a pet tag to be printed and installed on the Skyles Overlook Dog Monument celebrating your dogs past and present who love the Whitefish Trail!
You must place your order by this Sunday June 6th, and WLP will install your pet's tag by the end of June.
The Dog Monument at Lion Mountain is made possible by the Matarazzo Family in memory of their pup Greta.
|
|
Whitefish Trail Report
June 2021
|
May brought beneficial rains to NW Montana which inspired a flourish of plant growth and wildflower blooms on the Whitefish Trail. Native grasses and woody shrubs are bright green as every plant competes for rays of sunlight.
The Whitefish Trail continues to be in great shape for all types of non-motorized recreation. The Haskill Trail is fully melted out and only a few wet spots remain. Wildflowers continue their show, and we'll be picking huckleberries in just over a month. Now is the time to enjoy the trail before summer heat arrives.
As you get out on the trail, remember to carry bear spray and practice proper trail etiquette. The Whitefish Trail is open to the public, and we ask for your mutual respect when interacting with other trail users. Did you know a downhill hiker still has the right of way to an uphill biker? Policy states that bikers must yield to hikers and both must yield to horseback riders. In certain unique situations, however, it might make more sense for a hiker to step off the trail or a horseback rider to voluntarily let a trail runner pass. When you encounter another trail user, it's important to stop and communicate.
When I am out biking and come across a hiker for instance, I always pull over and stop, say hi, and ask if they would like to come through as they have the right of way. Sometimes hikers wave me through anyway, but I always respectfully ask and try to leave feeling positive about the interaction. After all, we are both out enjoying this amazing free community resource. Be a leader and help practice responsible recreation to your fellow trail users.
Swift Creek Timber Management Update
The DNRC is expected begin salvage sale logging operations at Swift Creek on Monday June 7. Logging will take place inside the Swift Creek loop and along the northeast edge of the loop, and equipment and decked logs will be staged in the rear of the trailhead parking area. Short closures of the east side of the loop are expected, but the west side, including access to the Swift Creek Overlook will remain open. Please use caution around the logging operations and see trailhead signage for more up to date information.
|
|
|
|
2021 WT Education Programs
This year, we are excited to get back to our regularly scheduled Education programs on the Whitefish Trail. We are limiting group size and requiring pre-registration for upcoming programs to ensure social distancing and Covid protocols for all participants. More information can be found on our website.
|
|
June 14 - 6pm
Join WLP and MT Native Plant Society at Lion Mountain to enjoy and identify wildflowers along the Whitefish Trail. Pre-registration is required and spots are limited.
|
|
June 17 - 10am
Calling all kids! Join WLP to learn about the critters that live on our conservation lands surrounding the Whitefish Trail. Pre-registration is required and spots are limited.
|
|
June 23 - 10am
Calling all kids! Explore the trail at Lion Mtn with WLP and collect items in nature to make clay impressions and art. Pre-registration is required and spots are limited.
|
|
Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors!
The Whitefish Trail relies on the generosity of trail users,
conservation-minded supporters, and local businesses to create a year-round, sustainable asset for future generations.
|
|
Dr. Sara Boilen of Sweetgrass Psychological joined the team as a Corporate Sponsor in 2016 and then adopted the Woods Lake Overlook Loop in 2017. Sweetgrass offers therapy and psychological assessment for anyone on the journey of becoming the brightest version of themselves.
|
|
Whitefish Animal Hospital has been a Corporate Sponsor of the Whitefish Trail since 2013 and have since adopted trails at Lion Mountain. They play an integral part in the relationship between their clients and pets by providing the highest quality veterinary care possible, so consider a local vet who gives back!
|
|
Whitefish Legacy Partners
406-862-3880
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
