Over three days, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers staff, board members, and local volunteers from the Flathead Valley came together in the Flathead National Forest for a weekend of trail work, public lands stewardship, and plenty of time around the campfire.

The project focused on more than six miles of trail, where volunteers completed extensive tread improvements along Trail #171 (Ingalls–Mt. Conner). The work primarily involved moving and redistributing material with hand tools, including McLeods, Pulaskis, and pick mattocks, to even out low spots, improve areas with poor drainage, and reduce the impact of rootballs necessitated trail diversion. The result was a more even and sustainable trail tread while addressing problem areas that can become more difficult to navigate over time due to usage and erosion.

A second major component of the project was installing multi-use trail guideline signs to help hikers, horseback riders, and bicyclists share the trail. Volunteers broke into groups to tackle different signage needs. One group traveled along the interior of the trail by bicycle, installing signs at locations where the Forest Service had identified a need. Another group worked at trailheads and junctions, digging post holes and installing larger signs where they would be visible to trail users before entering the trail.

This project was held in collaboration with the US Forest Service and Funded through MT FWP grant dollars, demonstrating the value of local participation in maintaining and improving public lands. On Saturday the 26th, the crew celebrated Public Lands Day on the trail, boots on the ground, contributing to the lands and recreation opportunities that BHA stands for.

Volunteers fished Sylvia Lake, catching both trout and grayling, while evenings were spent around the fire with campfire-cooked dinners served potluck-style. Several dogs joined their owners on the project as well, happily roaming the trail and keeping an eye on the crews putting in the hard work.

After three days of digging, grading, hauling, riding, and hanging signs, the project left more than six miles of trail in better shape and added clear multi-use guidance at important points along the route. It was a productive few days of stewardship, made even better by good food, good company, and the opportunity to enjoy the public lands we were there to improve.