Wild Horse Plains Back Country Horsemen

National Trails Day
2023-06-03 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | Wayside Bar and Grill, Trout Creek, MT.
Kick off the spring/summer hiking/biking/riding/camping season with a celebration of the outdoors at the Wayside Bar and Grill in Trout Creek, MT.

Wild Horse Plains BCH Poker Ride
2023-05-20 07:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch
WHPBCH-Poker Ride Registration: (click the link below the image to save and print form)

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WHPBCH-Poker Ride Flyer

https://bchmt.org/wp/plains/files/2023/03/2023-poker-ride-scaled.jpg

Description: Poker Ride
What to Bring/How to Help: Participants should bring all-weather gear. Chapter members can help by staffing registration table, card stations, setup tables, chairs, etc.

Poker Ride: Pre-ride – Ready to ride at 10am.
2023-05-19 10:00 - 17:00
Description: Ride Poker route to ensure flagging is still up and intervisible, install route arrow signs and paint arrows on ground with landscaping paint.
What to Bring/How to Help: Stock, flagging, signs, stakes, staples, landscaping paint, etc.

RAC Road Clearing (Roads 887 & 5587)
2023-05-15 08:00 - 2023-05-31 17:00
Description: Clear roads 887 (Weeksville) and 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
How to help/What to bring: Complete the clearing of road 5587 from the 6-mile switchback to the Big Hole Lookout trailhead. Clear roads by yourself or with others, remove all material from roadway.
Help is also needed with roadside weed spraying by towing water trailer for sprayer refills.
Track your hours and mileage, report to John Errecart
Miles: Approximately 3.2 miles on road 5587.
Trail Boss: All members

Continue to prepare for our Poker Ride
2023-05-13 10:00 - 17:00
Description: Clear and flag trail, clear access roads of down material/rocks for the 5/20 club sponsored poker ride. Ready to ride at 10am.
What to Bring/How to Help: Stock, hand loppers, hand pruners, hand saw, gloves, food, water, flagging, etc.

Monthly Meeting - 7pm @ Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen's Center
2023-05-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT
Meet at the regular place (Senior Citizen Center in Plains) at 7pm.
Our monthly meetings are on the second Monday of each month.
Visitors and potential new members are always welcome.

Prepare for our Poker Ride
2023-05-07 10:00 - 17:00
Description: Clear and flag trail, clear access roads of down material/rocks for the 5/20 club sponsored poker ride. Ready to ride at 10am
What to Bring/How to Help: Chainsaw, hand clippers, hand saws, etc.

RAC Road Clearing (Roads 887 & 5587)
2023-05-01 08:00 - 2023-05-15 17:00
Description: Clear roads 887 (Weeksville) and 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
How to help/What to bring: Continue earlier clearing of roads 887 and 5587 by yourself or with others, remove all material from roadway from the 3-mile switchback on road 5587 to the switchback just above the 6-mile marker.
Track your hours and mileage, report to John Errecart
Miles: Approximately 3.1 miles on road 5587.
Trail Boss: All members

Spring Ride – limit seven horse trailers
2023-04-22 10:00 - 17:00
Description: Provide folks an opportunity to get out for an early 5-10 mile ride and introduce them to our BCH chapter.
How to Help/What to Bring: Help out by heating up a pot of beans, bring a dessert, setup/cook for barbecue hot dogs, build/tend to campfire at lunch site.
Trailboss: John Errecart

BCH of Montana State Convention
2023-04-14 11:00 - 2023-04-16 12:00 | Majestic Valley Arena, 3630 US Highway 93 N, Kalispell, 59901, United States
Attached is the information for folks so you can explore the website with the information on this year’s convention at the Majestic Arena in Kalispell.

| Welcome to Back Country Horsemen of the Flathead (bchmt.org)

There’s information on block hotel rooms, dry camping with/without power, etc.

The National Board Meeting will be at the Red Lion in Kalispell April 19-21st and there is information at the website for that too if you’re so inclined.

Monthly Meeting @ 7pm
2023-04-10 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-03-13 19:00 - 20:30, 2023-02-13 07:00 - 20:30 | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT
Our monthly meetings are on the second Monday of each month.
Visitors and potential new members are always welcome.
Occasionally meetings are held at alternate locations, such as members’ homes or other local public facilities and may be proceeded by a potluck meal.

Spring Trail Ride Prep
2023-04-08 09:00 - 2023-04-16 17:00
Ride/Clear trail(s) in the Little Thompson area to prepare for the spring trail ride on 4/22 as weather permits. Tools: Chainsaw, hand clippers, hand saws, etc.
What to Bring/How to Help: hand clipper, hand saws, help by holding stock, clear trail of cut material, etc.
Riding Miles: 5-10
Trailboss: John Errecart

RAC Road Clearing (Roads 887 and 5587)
2023-04-01 08:00 - 2023-04-30 17:00
Description: Continue earlier work by clearing road 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush) from the junction with the 887 road (Weeksville) to the switchback on the 5587 just above the 3-mile marker.
How to help/What to bring: Clear roads by yourself or with others, remove all material from roadway.
Track your hours and mileage, report to John Errecart
Miles: Approximately 3.2 on Rd 5587.
Trail Boss: All members

Horse and Mule Packing Clinic
2023-03-25 09:00 - 16:00 | Kristy Sheehan’s Arena, 128 River Road East, Plains, MT, 59859, United States
All-day, hands-on packing clinic with decker pack saddles.
Stock, equipment and lunch provided by Wild Horse Plains Back Country Horsemen
Includes:
Saddling and adjusting a decker saddle
Building a manty load
Loading and unloading a mantied load onto/off of stock
Putting up a decker saddle
Taking care of manty and sling ropes
Other packing tools and methods

RAC Road Clearing (Roads 887 and 5587)
2023-03-15 08:00 - 2023-03-31 17:00 | Forest Service Road 887, Mile Marker 68.5 Highway 200
Description: Start by clearing road 887 (Weeksville) from the junction with Highway 200 to the junction with road 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
How to help/What to bring: Clear roads by yourself or with others, remove all material from roadway.
Track your hours and mileage, report to John Errecart
Miles: Approximately 3.2 miles from Highway 200 to the junction with road 5587.
Trail Boss: All members

Supporting Public Lands - Feb. 23, 2023
2023-02-23 12:00 - 13:00 | Helena State Captial Building, 1301 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT, 59601, United States
There are 50-60 bills in the current legislature (2023) that will influence the management of public lands in Montana. BCHMT donated up to $500 to hang our banner at the gathering of public lands advocates at the State Capital in Helena. The goal of the gathering is to show our elected officials just how important public lands are and that public lands remain in public hands.

Bruce Smith Book Tour
2023-01-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge, 2519 Industrial Way, Thompson Falls, MT, 59873, United States
Folks might be interested in attending the Mountain Goat presentation at the Elks in Thompson Falls January 22nd. See attached poster.

Lolo National Forest - Forest Plan Revision
2023-01-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar, n/a, MT, United States
The Lolo National Forest is starting the process of revising its Forest Plan. Each National Forest has a Forest Plan that outlines the goals and objectives which guide the activities on the National Forest between revisions. The current Forest Plan for the Lolo was completed in 1986 so it’s been quite a while and emphasis have changed since then.

Folks that are interested in how the Lolo will be managed for the next 15-30 years should be involved though the entire process.

January 10th there is a webinar for those interested in getting in at the beginning of the revision process. The link is:

Lolo National Forest – Planning (usda.gov)

It will be up to all of us to participate, provide input and stay informed during this lengthy process in order to ensure our interests are heard and protected.

Please check out the website above and plan to participate in the January 10th meeting.

January 10, 2023 at 6-7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time

Monthly Meeting - 7pm
2023-01-09 07:00 - 20:30 | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT

Potluck Christmas Party - Monthly Meeting@ 5:00pm
2022-12-10 17:00 - 20:00
Saturday, December 10th, 5pm: Annual Potluck Christmas Party and monthly meeting at the Plains Senior Center, 205 W. Meany, Plains MT.
Bring an exchange gift of $20 or less if you’d like to participate in the gift exchange.
Chapter will provide a meat, members provide side dish, desserts, etc.

Potluck and Monthly Meeting @ 6pm
2022-11-30 08:00 - 17:00
WEATHER DEPENDENT: Potluck and monthly meeting at Errecarts’
17 Baldy View Lane, Plains, MT.

Monthly Meeting and Potluck @ 6pm
2022-11-30 08:00 - 17:00

Monthly Meeting@ 7:00pm
2022-11-14 19:00 - 20:30
Plains Senior Center, 205 W. Meany, Plains MT.

Monthly Meeting@ 6:00pm @ Errecarts'
2022-10-10 18:00 - 19:30
Barbeque/Potluck at Errecarts’, 17 Baldy View Lane, Plains MT.
Note the earlier than normal start time, 6:00pm, since it’s dark before 8pm these beautiful fall days.
See you there!

Close Big Hole Lookout
2022-10-08 09:00 - 19:00
Meet at Highway 200 and Weeksville at 9am to close down and winterize the lookout.

BCHMT Board Mtg.
2022-09-24 10:00 - 15:00
Elks Lodge, Deer Lodge MT. 10am-3pm

POSTPONED - Big Hole Lookout Maintenance Day
2022-09-22
Stay tuned for rescheduling once the incoming weather events has passed.
Pack in at least 10 gallons of water to add to the pit toilet, scrape and paint blisters in the interior of the lookout (dark green, at the lookout), thorough cleaning of the lookout and inventory all supplies and furnishings.
Contact Sherry Caldwell or Cheryl Burt if you’d like to participate.

MCC Pack-out Big Spring Camp
2022-09-21 09:00 - 17:00
Return to the Cabin Lake trailhead to pack out the MCC crew we packed in last week. Same route we took in, up the South Fork of Four Lakes to Cube Iron pass then easterly to Big Spring where their camp is located.
