Cabinet Back Country Horsemen secure LOR grant for trail work

Cabinet Back Country Horsemen (CBCH) volunteers have assisted the Kootenai National Forest with keeping trails open for hikers and pack and saddle stock for 40-plus years.

This year’s catastrophic wind events have pushed the Forest Service and all volunteer partners beyond capacity. The LOR Foundation has stepped up to provide funds that CBCH can use to award contracts to clear trails on Libby Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest. Glacier National Bank has also contributed funds for the contracts.

CBCH will be awarding two hourly trail clearing contracts for $8,500 each to clear trails to allow safe passage for foot and equine travelers. Bidding will be in the form of an hourly rate for sawing and a separate hourly rate for swamping. 

Trails to be cleared will be in the South Cabinet area including Silver Butte Creek, West Fisher and potentially Granite Creek areas. This contract will not require clearing in wilderness, but could have trails cleared to the wilderness boundary. 

Potential trails and additional information on insurance requirements are available with the bid sheet. Contact Leslie Ferguson ([email protected]) or 406-291-9917 for more information and a bid sheet.

The bids will close on June 15 and be awarded on June 18.