Land trust's banquet, auction nearing

Helena's Prickly Pear Land Trust is having its annual Harvest Moon Banquet and Auction Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Helena Civic Center in downtown Helena.

There will be appetizers and a no-host bar featuring Blackfoot River Brewing beer, dinner catered by Chili O'Brien's and bread and dessert donated by Park Avenue Bakery. There will also be entertainment by local musicians.

The event focuses on celebrating open lands in and around the Helena Valley. Prickly Pear Land Trust works to maintain and expand the South Hills Trail System and protect agricultural lands and wildlife habitat over a wider landscape.

This year's theme is "Widening Our Horizons," bringing images of our amazing natural landscapes to mind. Auciton items include outdoor equipment, landscape photography, artwork and getaway weekend packages in the Montana outdoors. The silent auction will include fine jewelry and ceramics and other tantalizing items. Auction items will be posted online as they come in at pricklypearlt.org.

In conjunction with the event will be Race to the Top, a challenge between mountain bikers and trail runners in conjunction with the event to see who can get to the top of Mount Ascension first. Mountain bike guru Eric Grove of Great Divide Cyclery and Michele Bazzanella, an accomplished trail-runner, will take their teams of five competitors on the race. Donors can select a team and donate to support the runners or bikers.

Tickets are $65, and go on sale Friday. They are available at pricklypearlt.org or by calling 442-0490.

Talk on Jefferson River fishery's history slated

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park will host The Fishery of the Jefferson River Past and Future Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. in the campground amphitheater.

Noted area specialist and Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist, Ron Spoon will present his information using live fish, research observations and practical applications.

This program is free to Montana residents and those registered to camp that evening in the park's campground. There is a $5 per vehicle entrance fee for any non-residents who would like to attend. For more information, contact Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park at (406) 287-3541.

Hike set to preview new South Hills trail

Next Tuesday, Prickly Pear Land trust will host a hike to preview the new Eddye McClure trail.

The trail, made possible by trail easements granted by private landowners in the South Hills, will be a major new link in Helena's trail system. Hikers and bikers will eventually be able to start at the Beattie Street trailhead, climb to the top of Mount Ascension, and then use the Eddye McClure trail to cross Hobbs Hill and make it all the way east almost to the Interstate.

To preview the new trail, join Prickly Pear Land Trust members at 6 p.m. It will be a moderately difficult hike of about 2.8 miles, with an elevation gain of 700 feet. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes, bring water and dress for the weather. The hike will start from the east trailhead, where there is limited parking on Martinez Gulch, about two-tenths of a mile southwest of South Hills Road.

Friends of Eddye McClure bid on and won the right to name this trail in her honor at last year's Prickly Pear Land Trust Harvest Moon banquet. McClure was an avid trail user who lost her battle with cancer this year. Happy memories live on with this new trail that will continue to inspire visitors and members of the Helena community alike.

For more information, call the Prickly Pear Land Trust office at 442-0490.

Moonlight hike planned for Mount Helena Ridge

The Montana Discovery Foundation is hosting a moonlight hike on Friday on the west end of the Helena Ridge Trail.

Hikers will meet at the Park City Trailhead.

This family-friendly hike will begin at 7 p.m. for a loop hike on the west end of the Helena Ridge Trail, providing great views of the surrounding mountains and watersheds. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes, bring water and be prepared for a moderate trip that includes some uphill hiking. The hike will last about 2 hours. For more information and to register, call Debbie at 495-3711.

The Discovery Foundation has had trouble with its phone system lately, so if you've had trouble getting through, try again today.

Slideshow will highlight Montana birds of prey

A slideshow Saturday at 2 p.m. at the old church at Bannack State Park will highlight the impressive diversity of Montana's birds of prey.

"Montana's Birds of Prey -- A Tale of Two Raptors" is a tribute to the wide array of habitats and the relative health of those ecosystems. The presentation by professor Jack Kirkle of the University of Montana-Western will give an overview of the lives, histories and ways to identify these hawks, falcons and eagles. Kirkley will also provide an in-depth, up-close-and-personal insight into the lives of two of these species, the Swainson's hawk and the northern goshawk, based on his research over the past two decades.

Kirkley has organized and led natural history and birding tours to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Jack is actively involved in the local and state Audubon Society organizations as well as the Montana Wilderness Association.

Fish weir to be placed on Madison River

The Madison River fish weir will be operational this summer and fall north of West Yellowstone between Baker's Hole Campground and the U.S. 191 Bridge. FWP personnel will install the weir during the week of Aug. 18.

The weir is being used to trap and collect data from wild trout during their fall spawning migration. Each trapped fish is measured, weighed, examined for signs of disease and released. Rainbow and brown trout are also tagged with a uniquely numbered tag.

FWP officials are asking anglers to refrain from targeting fish that may be concentrated immediately upstream and downstream of the weir, and boaters should use caution and portage vessels river-right around the weir.

Anglers who catch tagged rainbow and brown trout should report the tag color, number, date caught, and location of catch to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks at (406) 682-7807.