Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead saw a big increase in volunteer service last year, continuing a tradition of working in the backcountry since 1973.

The non-profit organization is dedicated to protecting stockowners' use of wilderness and backcountry trails, education of horse owners on Leave No Trace principles, and providing volunteer services and support to backcountry agencies.

According to club member Rick Mathies, work hours provided by BCH volunteers increased by 146 percent over 2008 to 3,428 hours; community service hours increased 219 percent to 8,886 hours; vehicle driving and stock-hauling miles increased 57 percent to 32,779 miles; and packed tonnage increased 112 percent to 29,330 pounds.

Fifty-nine club members attended the Meadow Creek camp out on Memorial Day weekend, including eight new members. Crews erected a new kiosk and worked on clearing downfall on Mid Creek, Spotted Bear, Harrison, Gorge Creek, Sergeant Creek and Lost Jack trails, but an avalanche across the Gorge Creek Trail made work there impossible.

On July 14 and 18, club members Gary Dalen, Ron Trippet, Tony Sadino and Don Holman helped pack supplies in and out to the Black Bear Ranger Station, 13 miles south of the Meadow Creek trailhead, for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation.

In August, club vice president Andy Breland, his daughter Sydney and club member Chuck Allen helped Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist Matt Boyer pack 3,000 westslope cutthroat trout to Pyramid Lake, in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

"I was picturing 18-inch fish in my mind," Breland recalled thinking when he asked how many pack horses would be needed.

But Boyer said they'd only need two horses at most because the fish were all "guppy-sized" fry stored in plastic bags inside an ice-packed cooler. FWP's plan is to keep stocking the lake in hopes of 'swamping out" nonnative fish.

Nine Flathead BCH members joined four more Back Country Horsemen from Eureka on Labor Day weekend to do trail-clearing work out of Tuchuck Campground, up the North Fork. They included Mathies, Gary and Annette Dalen, Bruce Bungay, Kevin Kerwan, Mary Westphal, Jona Libsack, and Don and Frankie Holman.

On Saturday, the crew cleared Trail 22 to the top of Seemo Creek and two miles of Trail 106 along Antley Creek. The next day, they cleared the trail up Tuchuck Ridge. Altogether, they cleared 24 miles of trail and removed about 200 trees.

On Sept. 19, Ron Trippet and Janet Holter took four pack horses out to Spruce Cabin, near Vinegar Mountain in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, to help pack out gear for a Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation trail crew.

Mathies recently took over the BCH training coordinator position after Breland volunteered him following the death of David Moore.

"Andy has been really good in volunteering me for lots of things this year," Mathies said.

The Forest Service requires club members to take a Defensive Horse Safety course before working on trail projects, and at least one member of a group in the backcountry must have Basic First Aid and CPR training. In addition, anyone handling a saw must be "crosscut-certified."

"My recent experience as a volunteer with the Flathead County Search and Rescue unit opened my eyes on how ill-prepared many people are when they go into the backcountry," Mathies said. "After speaking with Deb Mucklow, at the Spotted Bear Ranger District, the Wilderness First Aid would be a great thing for our members to have.

A Defensive Horse Safety and Packing Clinic is planned for a weekend in April, and BCH member Ed Langlois was recently certified as the club's crosscut and chainsaw instructor.

Club members also rode in the Whitefish Winter Carnival and Northwest Montana Fair parades, and they volunteered at the Family Forestry Expo and The Event At Rebecca Farms.

A horsepacking class will be offered at Flathead Valley Community College from April 18 through May 13 from 6-9 p.m. The hands-on course will cover Leave-No-Trace camping, saddle fitting, pack saddles, balancing loads and choosing equipment. Cost is $94.

For more information, visit online at www.bchmt.org/flatbch/default.htm or write to BCH of the Flathead, P.O. Box 1192, Columbia Falls MT 59912.