A new chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen has formed in the Flathead Valley and it didn’t take them long to get boots on the ground. The Northwest Montana Backcountry Horsemen have just under 100 members, including 13 young people. It formed last March and was sanctioned by the state organization of the Backcountry Horsemen in May, said Andy Breland, trail project coordinator for the group.

By summer, they were hitting the woods, supporting a host of Forest Service districts, Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation and many others. In its first year the nonprofit, which donates its time, horses and mules to support projects in the backcountry, hauled 41,692 pounds of materials and supplies over 16,252 miles of trails.  All told they donated more than 1,600 hours to various projects valued at more than $210,000.

The organization is also reaching out to youth to get more young people involved in packing, Breland said. They’re working with local 4-H chapters to start a youth packing class and are also running adult packing classes through the continuing education programs at FVCC. Youth are the future of the organization, Breland notes.

For more information on the group or to learn more about the program contact club president Chip Beck at (406)-899-4461. The club also meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Flathead National Forest Service offices at Wolfpack Way in Kalispell.