The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is adapting its trips this summer in the Bob as the 1.6 million acre wilderness, like many forests in Northwest Montana, has seen extreme blowdowns.

“We’ve had to adjust a lot of our trips,” Ian Bartling  field coordinator for the Foundation said Monday.

He said at least one-half to two-thirds of the trips they’ve had so far this year they’ve had to pivot to clearing main trails. He recalled one recent trip up the Big River Trail along the Middle Fork of the Flathead.

The idea was to get to Spruce Park where volunteers would help with work at the cabin. But they couldn’t get there, so they helped the Forest Service clear trail along the route.

Another trip planned for Big Prairie in the heart of the South Fork was due for work in that area, instead they’ll likely end up helping clear trail up Gordon Creek, one of the main routes in the Bob Marshall. 

Almost every trail in the Bob this year has suffered blowdown from December wind events, which came when there was little snow on the ground and trees toppled over. In addition, many forests are suffering from years of drought, fires and diseased trees, which fall over all the easier.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation will take 40 different parties into the wilderness this year. Volunteers are fed and have other essential gear packed in while they volunteer doing trailwork and other maintenance across the massive landscape.

Typically they do trails that are not main routes, Bartling noted, but this year, even the main routes need a lot of work.

All told, about 400 volunteers pitch in to help and this year they’ve been more than willing, knowing what the conditions are like out there.

In addition to volunteers, the Foundation itself has 18 seasonal employees including six crew leaders and three trail technicians along with interns that also do trail work.

The work in the Bob Marshall is all done by hand under the Wilderness Act. They use axes, crosscut saws (they have 20 currently in service and 24 total) and numerous handsaws and Pulaskis.

While most projects are full for the summer, there are openings in some trips. 

The best thing to do is visit the Foundation’s website at bmwf.org or contact the organization at [email protected] by email or call (406) 387-3822.