Moose Creek Trail Project

June 8-9, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box: Jim Johnson led a crew of seven on the Moose Creek Trail project, June 8-9.  The trailhead is about 19 miles up the East Fork.  Moose Creek Trail (#168) intersects with the Bitteroot Rock Creek Divide Trail (#313), which goes from the Chain of Lakes to the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness.  From there riders can loop back on Sign Creek Trail (#40) and end up about 100 yards from the Moose Creek trailhead.  That loop is approximately 18 miles long.   The crew cut more than 80 logs from the MooseCreek trailhead to the second ford on the trail.  Eight of those logs were 24 inches in diameter or larger, and several had fallen lengthwise on the trail which required multiple cuts.  Jim thinks that a microburst blasted through the canyon because so many large trees went down.   “This was a good project,” said Mike Costanzo, “because the trail was impassable before we cleared it.”  In many places where trees were down, the only way to get around was on foot, crawling over trees.  In addition to sawing trees, crew members cut back brush and small trees, removed large rocks, and retreaded a section of the trail.   On Friday night, Bobbi Johnson cooked a shrimp pasta dinner with all the fixings for the hungry crew at their cabin, which is about five miles from the Moose Creek trailhead.   Many thanks to Jim and Bobbi for organizing and leading this project and cooking a great meal, and to their crew members Mike Costanzo, Chuck Miller, Chuck’s mules Joe and Rosie, Earl and Karen Philips and Nick Hazelbaker, Wilderness Resource Specialist (Trails) with West Fork Ranger District.  This hardworking crew accomplished miracles on the Moose Creek Trail!

 

 

 

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