FSPW continues work on area trails

This year's trail season is nearing an end, but there are still two chances to join the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) all-stars in the stewardship of local hiking routes that are part of the National Trails System, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The volunteer crew from FSPW have been working to help keep trails open and useable in the west Cabinets since 2010, and so far this year have worked on Scotchman Peak Trail #65, Big Spar Lake Trail #143A, Spar Peak Trail #324 and Star Peak Trail #999.

 The two remaining projects for 2018 are a three-day work weekend on Napoleon Gulch Trail #1035 and the National Public Lands day event on Morris Creek Trail #132 and Regal Creek Trail #556. The Napoleon Gulch project, September 7, 8 and 9, will concentrate on rebuilding tread that was eradicated by the 2015 fires in Bull River. Crew members will camp at trail crew leader Sandy Compton's place (in Montana) on Friday and Saturday nights. FSPW will provide dinner on those nights and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. The FSPW group also provides tools and safety equipment for trail work, as well as training in traditional tools and trail building.

 "We have a three-day work party each year, and they are always a good time," said Compton. "We get a lot done, and we get to spend some social time together as well." Last year's three-day event was spent building new tread on Big Spar Lake Trail #143A.

 The National Public Lands Day event will be on Saturday, September 29, after which FSPW will host a picnic for the trail crew as well as Clark Fork Friends nearby. "Trails #132 and #556 are inside the fire closure area, as well," said Compton, "but that should be removed by then. If not, we will go work on Trail #65 if we can't get up Lightning Creek."

Volunteers for the work weekend are welcome to help out on any or all of the days, as they can.

"I'd like to see a big turnout for these days," Compton added. "We see lots of people using trails we work on. It's nice to hear them say a heartfelt thanks. If each one of them turned out for just one day of trail work every summer, the Scotchman Peaks would have one of the best maintained systems in the U.S."

For more information or to sign up for one of the FSPW trail projects, visit http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/stewardship/trail-projects.