Hike to Crow Creek Falls set for July 11

The U.S. Forest Service Townsend Ranger District is leading a guided hike to a local treasure, Crow Creek Falls, on Friday, July 11.

The hike will leave at 9 a.m. from the Townsend Ranger District in Townsend. The Ranger District office is located at 415 S. Front St., just north of the U.S. Postal Service office on Highway 287. The hike hosts will be Beth Ihle, Helena Forest geologist, and James Buscher, a seasonal employee and avid rock climber.

The hike is moderately difficult and is approximately 7 miles round trip. Hikers should bring a lunch, plenty of water, sturdy shoes and dress for the temperatures. Return time to Townsend is estimated at about 4 p.m. The Ranger District asks hikers to RSVP so it can plan for the number of hikers and coordinate vehicles. Call Bonney at (406) 266-3425.

Volunteers sought for trail restoration project

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is looking for volunteers to join its trail restoration project Aug. 1-5.

This trip has a little bit of everything — trail work, backpacking, cabin use, hiking, weed eradication and ending with a float trip down the Middle Fork River.

Volunteers will backpack their personal gear and tools into Granite Cabin where they will camp around the area. Since thimbleberry has overtaken the trail, you will spend a day clearing heavy brush from the Castle Lake trail. The next two days will be spent eradicating the invasive weed yellow toadflax, from around Castle Lake.

Finally, each volunteer will have an inflatable kayak to paddle out of the backcountry. Glacier Raft Company will also provide a guide for support and water safety. Snowy Springs Outfitters will pack out all gear and meet volunteers at the original trailhead.

Prospective volunteers must answer the following question — “What do you love about the Bob?” Submit your answer by July 8, and the most intriguing answers will be awarded the trip.

For more information, visit the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation online at www.bmwf.org or contact Shannon at (406) 387-3808 or shannon@bmwf.org. Look for the “Castle Lake Weeds & Float Trip.” You can also find information for Glacier Rafting Company at www.glacierraftco.com or (800) 235-6781/(406) 888-5454 and Snowy Springs Outfitters at www.snowysprings.com or (406) 226-9225.

Nature walk, history program at caverns set

There will be a nature walk at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park Saturday at 9 a.m.

Participants will gather at the park’s main visitor center and then proceed to the upper picnic area at 9:15 a.m.

The walk will cover the nature loop and beyond to compare a wet riparian area with the typical desert type habitat found throughout the park. This walk will have an easy part for everyone and a more strenuous section for the more adventurous.

The park also has a program based on its own history scheduled for July 11, 8 p.m., at the park amphitheater.

“Every Now & Then” will be an unusual history lesson as former and current staff share their love, knowledge and extension collections of memorabilia of the park.

Gun dog club snake break clinic on tap

The Helena Valley Gun Dog Club will host a snake break clinic July 12, 2:45 p.m.

The cost will be $30 for club members and $40 for nonmembers.

The clinic will be conducted by Butch Nelson, a professional gun dog trainer. The training consists of adverse conditioning with a defanged snake to teach dogs to avoid snakes in the field.

The clinic will be held at 3630 Harmony Road. Harmony Road is about one mile north of York Road between Valley Drive and Lake Helena Drive. The clinic will be held just west of the creek that crosses Harmony. For additional information call Pete Test at 449-3688.

Mountain bike rides slated for this month

The Helena Bicycle Club is holding a pair of mountain bike rides this month.

On July 12, the club is hosting a Flesher Pass to Stemple Pass ride. The 15-mile route is for advanced and intermediate riders.

Riders will meet at 9 a.m. at Bob’s Valley Market, Lincoln Rood and Montana Avenue, to carpool. A shuttle will be arranged between the two passes.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Joe Hamilton at 227-3318.

The club will hold the Bangtail Divide ride on July 26. The ride contains 23 miles of the longest, best single-track in Montana with spectacular views of Bridger Bowl and the Bridger and Crazy Mountains.

Meet at the Helena Albertson’s parking lot on 11th Avenue at 7 a.m. to carpool or at Panda Sports in Bozeman at 8:45 a.m.

Count on about a five-hour ride so bring plenty of food and water.

Contact Mark Reinsel at 459-2776 for more information or to RSVP.

Bike-ped path meeting set for Wednesday

The Montana Department of Transportation is conducting a public meeting to present preliminary findings of a study to determine the feasibility of a bicycle/pedestrian path between Helena and Great Falls within public road right-of-ways.

The meeting will start with an open house at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Wedsworth Hall in Cascade, followed by a presentation at 7 p.m. Doug Brown from the HBC has participated in preliminary meetings.