Wild Horse Plains Back Country Horsemen

Tales from the Bob Marshall Wilderness
2026-05-09 15:00 - 17:00 UTC
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

Monthly Meeting, 7pm
2026-05-11 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-06-08 19:00, 2026-09-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-10-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-11-09 19:00 - 20:30 | 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: 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

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

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.
