The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is adapting its trips this summer 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,” said Ian Bartling, field coordinator for the foundation, earlier this month.

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, but instead they’ll likely end up helping clear trail up Gordon Creek, one of the main routes in the wilderness. 

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 sent trees toppling over. In addition, many forests are suffering from years of drought, fires and diseased trees.

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 trail work 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 handsaws and Pulaskis.

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

If interested, visit the foundation’s website at bmwf.org or contact the organization at [email protected] by email or call 406-387-3822.