Back Country Horsemen
of the Flathead
Montana
nce again this year the Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead gathered at the Meadow Creek trailhead on Memorial Day Weekend for our first official project of the summer. We had a great turn out, got a bunch of work done cutting out most of the
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The Back Country Horsemen organization was founded in the Flathead Valley of Montana in 1973
It was then that the US Forest Service had a plan to ban stock from the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the premier stock Wilderness in the US. In an effort to be different from other organizations, we were founded not as a pressure group but as a service group to our back country resource. Our plan was that we can certainly disagree with the Forest Service but at all times we will treat them with respect. The very first Back Country Horsemen volunteer project used the Meadow Creek trailhead to access the Salmon Forks bridge.
trails that lead out of the trailhead, and fun was had by all. Along with the trail work we had a professional photographer, Mandy Mohler, take pictures to help in our ongoing marketing campaign. With the help of Mandy we had a nice article about the Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead published in the summer edition of the Flathead Living Magazine. If you have not seen that article you can find it here >>
38 / Sport and Trail Magazine
Loess Hills State Forest Public Ride 2018
Loess Hills State Forest Work Day after Public Ride
organizations, we were founded not as a pressure group but as a service group to our back country resource. Our plan was that we can certainly disagree with the Forest Service but at all times we will treat them with respect. The very first Back Country Horsemen volunteer project used the Meadow Creek trailhead to access the Salmon Forks bridge.
The Back Country Horsemen began to focus on a Forest Service decision to remove a suspension bridge at Salmon Forks, spanning a dangerous creek-crossing deep within the Bob Marshall. Horsemen pointed to the agency’s listed rationalization that bridges were not appropriate in designated Wilderness as justification for removal. Other groups and individuals joined the charge led by Back Country Horsemen, and after a tough battle, the agency reversed its decision.
All told, the group packed over thirteen thousand pounds of cement and bridge planking nearly 20 miles into the Bob Marshall.
Immediately, the Horsemen offered their help in rebuilding the deteriorating structure.
All told, the group packed over thirteen thousand pounds of cement and bridge planking nearly 20 miles into the Bob Marshall.