Big Hole Lookout Maintenance Days
2026-08-14 - 2026-08-17 | Big Hole Lookout – Gravel Pit Trailhead
Several projects to complete including:
Enlarge hole for bolt passing through shutter and window on shutter right of door (facing door from exterior). Smooth and paint interior sill where wood has been carved away to facility shutter closure. Shutter very difficult to close currently. Two people for 1/2 day. Battery operated drill with wood bit, flat cutter Dewalt battery tool, green paint.
Scrape, sand and paint LO chipping paint on exterior. 2 people for 1/2 day. White exterior paint, battery operated sander with sandpaper. Due to the harsh environment this is an annual activity.
Scrape, sand and paint inside of lookout. 2 people for one day. Green interior paint, battery operated sander with sandpaper.
Cut dead/down LP located on Spring Crk trail below outhouse for stove size firewood (15″). Cut, stack and cover wood for renters to retrieve.
Cut green trees near the lookout. Limb, skid and stack the cut green trees near the firewood cache where they can dry out and be cut to stove size in the future. After felling and limbing, buck the tree bole (log) into lengths that can be carried by two folks to the cache site.
Camping at the gravel pit or some may choose to stay at the lookout.

Montana Conservation Crew Pack-In
2026-08-25 | To be Determined
Pack-in supplies for a Montana Conservation Crew at the beginning of their nine-day hitch to continue trail work within the Thorn Creek Fire perimeter.
Location yet to be determined.
WHPBCH packs in a MCC crew for their 9 day hitch near Cube Iron Pass.
MCCs were happy to get a delivery of cookies, candy bars and drinks supplied by Dave and Lisa Read

Monthly Meeting, 7pm
2026-09-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-10-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-11-09 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.

Big Hole Lookout Closure
2026-10-15
Help with winterizing the lookout by removing freezable items (paint), closing shutters, wrapping the mattress, taking down the highline, installing storm door, pouring 20 gallons of water into outhouse vault, placing rodent bait stations, return fire extinguisher to district for annual service, return lime container to district for refill, etc.
Encourage Forest Service personnel to accompany our members to familiarize FS with closure procedures.
Mid-October we’ll be heading up to winterize the lookout.
Cheryl removes the struts holding the shutters as we close down the lookout for the winter.

Potluck Christmas Celebration @ 5pm-8pm
2026-12-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Plains/Paradise Senior Citizen’s Center,, 205 W. Meany, Plains, MT
Annual Potluck Christmas Party and monthly meeting at the Plains Senior Center. 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 a side dish, desserts, etc.
