RAC Trail Clearing - Falls Flat Trail - Completed 2/6/26 je, ce & am
2026-01-31 - 2026-03-15 | HWY 135 – Cascade Campground/Ferry Landing
Clear the 7.1 miles Falls Flat Trail of winter debris, fallen trees, etc. Clear the entire Falls Flat Trail, including from its junctions with the River Trail (#223) and the Iron Mountain Trail (#242) to each trailhead.
Track your time/mileage and report to John

Falls Flat Trail from Ferry Landing to Cascade Campground via the River Trail and Iron Mountain Trail. Approximately 7.1 miles.

Monthly Meeting 7pm
2026-02-09 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT
Our meetings are on the second Monday of each month. Visitors and potential new members are always welcome. Occasionally meetings ae held at alternative locations, such as a members’ home or other local public facilities and may be proceeded by a potluck meal.

Poker Ride Planning Committee Meeting
2026-03-02 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-04-06 17:00 - 18:30 | Wild Horse Bar and Grill
Meet to discuss/work out the details of the poker ride. Who’s doing what and how things are progressing.

Monthly Meeting, 7pm
2026-03-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-08 19:00 | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT

2026 Montana State Convention
2026-03-27 - 2026-03-29
2026 BCHMT State Convention: Historic Trails and Campfire Tales
Hosted by Gallatin Valley Back Country Horsemen
Online Registration and Convention Information: Convention – Gallatin Valley Back Country Horsemen

Prepare for Our Poker Ride - Ready to Ride @ 10am
2026-04-11 10:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch
Description: Begin clearing poker ride route and roads of down material/rocks so EMS vehicles can access all card stations. Poker Ride will be held 5/16.
READY TO RIDE @10am
What to Bring/How to Help: Stock, hand loppers, hand pruners, hand saw, gloves, food, water, flagging, etc.

Monthly Meeting, Plains/Paradise Senior Center (205 W. Meany, Plains, MT.) at 7pm.
2026-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Errecarts’ Residence, 17 Baldy View Lane, Plains, MT., 59859
Our meetings are on the second Monday of each month. Visitors and potential new members are always welcome.
The meeting will be held at the Plains/Paradise Senior Center (205 W. Meany, Plains, MT.) at 7pm.

RAC Road Clearing (Road 887) - Completed 4/14 je
2026-04-17 - 2026-04-25 | Forest Service Road 887, Mile Marker 68.5 Highway 200
Description: Clear road 887 (Weeksville) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
As a result of the rain/wind events in December 2025 and another snow/wind event in March 2026, there are moderate-to-heavy debris loads on roads. Debris for the first 3.25 miles has been cut to facilitate removal with equipment set to occur on 4/17. Members can help by slightly moving material to enable equipment to grasp debris. Some minor sawing may also be necessary.

Track your hours and mileage, report to John Errecart

Miles: Approximately 3.25 miles on road 887.

RAC Road Clearing (Road #5587) - Completed 4/17
2026-04-18 | Forest Service Road 887, Mile Marker 68.5 Highway 200
Description: Clear road 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
As a result of the rain/wind events in December 2025, expect moderate-to-heavy debris loads on roads. Clearing may need use of wheel/tracked equipment to remove large debris accumulations.

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 miles on road 5587.

Trail Boss: All members

Continue to Prepare for Poker Ride - Ready to Ride @10am
2026-04-18 10:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch
Description: Continue clearing poker ride route and roads of down material/rocks so EMS vehicles can access all card stations. Poker Ride will be held 5/16.
READY TO RIDE @10am
What to Bring/How to Help: Stock, hand loppers, hand pruners, hand saw, gloves, food, water, flagging, etc.

RAC Road Clearing (Road 5587) - Completed 4/17 je
2026-04-19 - 2026-05-16 | Forest Service Road 887, Mile Marker 68.5 Highway 200
Description: Clear road 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
As a result of the rain/wind events in December 2025, expect moderate-to-heavy debris loads on roads. Clearing may need use of wheel/tracked equipment to remove large debris accumulations.

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 switchback just above the 6 mile marker on road 5587 to the pedestrian Big Hole Lookout trailhead just above the 9 mile marker on road 5587.
Track your hours and mileage, report to John Errecart
Miles: Approximately 3.1 miles on road 5587.

Trail Boss: All members

Carrie helps clears the last three miles of the road to the Big Hole Trailhead of debris.

Lolo National Forest, Forest Plan Revision Community Meeting 4/21/26
2026-04-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Thompson Falls High School, 601 Golf Street, Thompson Falls,
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will host a series of community meetings in April 2026 to discuss the Lolo National Forest’s land management plan revision. Lolo National Forest Supervisor Ben Johnson will outline the current efforts to create the draft plan and draft environmental impact statement. Johnson will also explain what the public can expect from the revision process this year. Events will be hosted in communities across the forest and online. The following events will be held in April.

April 21, 2026: Lolo National Forest Plan Revision Community Meeting, Thompson Falls High School, Thompson Falls, Montana, 5:30-7 p.m.

RAC Road Clearing (Road #5587) - Completed 4/17 je
2026-04-25 | Forest Service Road 887, Mile Marker 68.5 Highway 200
Description: Clear road 5587 (Big Hole Lookout) of winter debris (rocks, fallen and bent over trees and brush).
As a result of the rain/wind events in December 2025, then snow/wind event in March 2026, there are moderate-to-heavy debris loads on roads. As of 4/11 the road is passable but needs many rocks removed and fallen trees total removed from the road prism. Currently numerous trees have only been partially removed (wide enough for a pickup to pass).

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 miles on road 5587.
Trail Boss: All members

CANCELLED - Prepare for Our Poker Ride - Next prep day May 2nd
2026-04-25 10:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch

Continue to Prepare for Poker Ride - Ready to Ride @10 am
2026-05-02 10:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch
Description: Continue to clear and flag trail, clear roads of down material/rocks so EMS vehicles can access all card stations. Poker Ride will be held 5/16.
READY TO RIDE @10am
What to Bring/How to Help: Stock, hand loppers, hand pruners, hand saw, gloves, food, water, flagging, etc.

Continue to Prepare for Poker Ride - Ready to Ride @ 10am
2026-05-06 10:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch

Tales from the Bob Marshall Wilderness
2026-05-09 15:00 - 17:00
Tales from the Bob Marshall Wilderness with Smoke Elser and Eva-Maria Maggi,
May 9, 2026 at 3:00pm MTN
Register Soon @ https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation_v2?permalink_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fconta.cc%2F4dbuAmn&image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe75b0703801%2F4a5e4c17-8bcb-40bf-806d-a759f8337426.png

Poker Ride: Pre-Ride, Ready to Ride @ 10am
2026-05-15 10:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch
Description: Ride Poker ride 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.

Wild Horse Plains BCH Poker Ride
2026-05-16 07:00 - 17:00 | Jones Ranch
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.
To access a Poker Ride Registration form please click on the following link:
https://bchmt.org/wp/plains/files/2026/02/WHPBCH-Poker-Ride-Registration.pdf

Savenac 6th Graders Outdoors Days
2026-05-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Savenac Nursery
Hands-on experience for 6th graders at their Outdoor School demonstrating packing-in, setting-up, breaking down and packing up a wilderness camp utilizing stock.

Equine First Aid Seminar
2026-05-30 13:00 - 17:00 | Reads’ Shop, 10 Marsh Lane, Plains, MT, 59859, United States
Join us May 30th at 10 Marsh Lane in Plains, MT from 1pm-5pm for FREE Equine First Aid Seminar presented by Jack Gillette DVM.

FREE EQUINE FIRST AID SEMINAR FLIER

Big Hole Area Trail Clearing, Lookout Opening and Campout. Celebrate National Trails Day.
2026-06-05 - 2026-06-14 | Big Hole Lookout – Gravel Pit Trailhead
Participate one or multiple days from June 5th to June 14th as we campout at the gravel pit (also known as the new equine Big Hole Lookout trailhead) and clear area trails, open up the lookout and to get it ready for the rental season beginning June 10th.
Chapter provides weed seed free hay and 200 gallons of potable water (could use help 6/4 towing trailers (2) with hay and water to the gravel pit. Also, back down when we’re finished).
How to help: Clear the two roads behind the yearlong gate closures of woody debris and rocks using stock, ATVs, UTVs or pickups for access. Help with clearing the other several trails in the area. Help open and clean the lookout.
The work is directly related to our Challenge Cost Share agreement and the RAC grant we renewed the fall of 2023.

Annual State BCH Rendezvous - Register by June 5th
2026-06-18 - 2026-06-21 | Monture Guard Station, Seeley Ranger District, Lolo, NF, Seeley Ranger District
Rendezvous Schedule
Coffee will be available every morning.
If you bring stock, weed free hay is required.
Please use bio security for your stock i.e. water troughs.
The Monture Guard Station complex will be available on Wednesday, June 17th and some people will arrive then.
Wade Murphy’s horsemanship clinic is scheduled for Friday June 19 at 1-4pm
Fun rides at your leisure.
Saturday night Community Dinner
Supper/Potluck at 6:00pm ($15 per meal)
Pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw and paper products/utensils provided.
Bring your favorite dessert to share after dinner.
Please mail the names and meal payment to:
BCH of Missoula
P.O. Box 2121
Missoula, Mt 59806
Mail No later than June 5 to ensure enough food
Monture Guard Station Pasture Fencing Project
The objective for the Fencing Project is to support the Forest Service Packing Program by assisting Seeley Lake Ranger District in fencing a new proposed pasture.
History: The area was evaluated and a report done in 2020 by Rachel Fiegley, former Seeley Lake Ranger.
The project of clearing the acreage was started in 2024 by Keith Guschausky, a Forest Service Packer and former BCH member. Keith used a Skid steer with a timber grabber to start the process of making burn piles. At that time materials for the fencing project were purchased by Seeley Lake Ranger district and stockpiled until the project could be started. Since then the Forest Service has had major layoffs with seasonal employees. The project was looked at as a three-year project to fence, remove slash and treat weeds and non-native grasses.
Note: Keith Guswchausky passed away April 28, 2025, of cancer.
Back Country Horseman proposed Volunteer work project would involve putting up barbless fence wire and “T” posts. The Forest Service is going to put in ”H” braces at corners and specified distances along the fence line.
Tools that volunteers could bring if they have them (but not required) are fencing pliers, “T” post pounders, tape measure, wire puller and any other tools you may have that would be helpful.
Personal protection clothing recommended such as boots, long sleeve shirts, and work gloves along with eye and ear protection.
Note: This fencing project is completely voluntary.

Cabin Lake Trail Clearing
2026-06-19 | Cabin Lake Trailhead
Join the Cube Iron – Cataract Coalition as they clear the trail to Cabin Lake.
WHPBCH and CICC ford the outlet of Cabin lake where one of the 3 pedestrian is to be installed by MCCs

Cabin Lake bridge installed Sept 2025

Foundational Horsemanship Clinic
2026-06-26 - 2026-06-28 | Sanders County Fairgrounds, 30 River Road, Plains, MT, 59859, United States
Join us in Plains, Montana for a three-day horsemanship clinic at Sanders County Fairgrounds, June 26-28th, 2026. Choose from a morning groundwork session or an afternoon in-the-saddle class, each designed to strengthen confidence, leadership, timing, and feel. Limited to 10 riders. Both mules and horses welcome. Two separate session per day, over three consecutive days. Morning sessions from 9-12 covers fundamental groundwork. Afternoon sessions, 1-4, will be in the saddle.

Monthly Meeting,7pm
2026-07-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT

Monthly Meeting, 7pm
2026-08-10 19:00 - 20:30
