Outdoor news
Reservoir road closure
The Eastside Hungry Horse Reservoir Road, Forest Road No. 38, will be closed for one week by the Flathead National Forest beginning Monday, May 7, while snowplowing takes place. The one-week closure will be at Tiger Creek, approximately four miles past Emery Bay. For more information, contact the Hungry Horse Ranger District Office at 387-3800.
Fishing fair
The Flathead Fishing Fair will be held at Snappy Sport Senter, in Kalispell, on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This popular event includes fishing in Snappy’s Pond for kids 12-and-younger. Prizes will be awarded for largest and smallest fish for several age categories. Prizes will also be awarded in first fish categories and casting contests. The Fishing Fair will also provide many educational activities for all ages, including tying flies and spinners, fish identification and information on where and how to fish in the Flathead, with local experts on hand. For more information, contact Jim Vashro at 751-4550.
Glacier Park mountaineering
A reception will be held at the Museum at Central School, 124 Second Avenue East, in Kalispell, on Friday, May 4, from 5-7 p.m. for its new exhibit, “Mountaineering in Glacier Park.” The exhibit features prominent figures in the park’s mountaineering history like Norman Clyde, Dorothy Pilley and Gordon Edwards, photographs by Tony Bynum and Glacier Mountaineering Society members Jim Schroeder, Ralph Thornton and Brian Kennedy, articles from past editions of the Hungry Horse News, mountaineering memorabilia, a rock wall constructed to display outdoor gear, and a video presentation. Call 756-8381 for more information.
FWP trapping course
Registration is now open for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park’s Trapper Education Course for Northwest Montana, which will be held at Lawrence Park, in Kalispell, on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Instructors will emphasize trapper ethics, regulations, trapping heritage and will show actual trap sets and techniques. Instructors include members of the Montana Trappers Association and the Montana Fur Harvesters. To register, stop by FWP offices in Kalispell or call 752-5501.
Climate talk
The University of Montana’s College of Forestry and Conservation’s Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit will host a discussion and video presentation about the impacts of climate change on the archaeology of ice patches in Glacier National Park and other high-elevation areas. The free talk will take place on the UM campus in University Center Rooms 332-333 on Tuesday, May 8, at 4:30 p.m. Ice patches, unlike glaciers, are stable and have the potential to preserve ancient artifacts, as well as the remains of plants and animals for thousands of years. Ice patches are attractive to animals because they are good sources of water and offer cool, insect-free zones. Therefore, hunters have tracked game into these areas for millennia. For more information, call 406-243-2660 or e-mail pei-lin.yu@cfc.umt.edu.
Volunteers needed
The Glacier Institute will hold its annual volunteer work day on Saturday, May 5. Volunteers are needed at the Glacier Park Field Camp, in Glacier National Park one mile north of West Glacier. and the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, Volunteers are needed for cleaning, painting, light carpentry, and outdoor work such as raking, sweeping, and many other tasks. Lunch and dinner will be provided. For more information, call 755-1211 or e-mail register@glacierinstitute.org.