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Weitas Creek #20 is a main trail in the North Fork District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. The north end of the trail is found where Weitas Creek dumps into the North Fork of the Clearwater on the FS250 road. The trailhead is in Weitas Campground. The south end of the trail begins at 12 Mile Saddle on the Lolo Motorway. Being just under 30 miles, this trail hosts many adventures and many flowers.
An absolutely stunning, eye-catching saprophyte (loves on dead organic matter). Can grow tall, up to three feet, towering over most other undergrowth. The stem is a dark red with silvery and STICKY hairs. Flowers are small white globe-shaped bells that line the plant all the way up. The white of the flowers with the red stalk truly sets them apart. Found in lower elevation, dense woods.
Actually part of the iris family, this plant is simple, with long, thin, grass-like leaves. Flowers grow from the end of the leaf either singly, or in groups of multiple. Having six purple/blue pointed petals, with a long central anther, and a yellow center, flowers are small but attractive. Typically found in meadows.
Five round petals that are a deep to light pink (depending on the species) with yellow stamens. Leaves are small, toothed and round, growing opposite of each other. A heavily thorned plant, with thorns lining the stems and undersides of leaves. After the flower, red rose hips develop. These are edible and are also able to overwinter.
Clarkia (Clarkia pulchella) is a very unique flower. Found on open hillsides in early summer, this four-petaled, three-lobed flower is a vibrant dark pink that lights up the open hillsides. There is a small white stigma in the middle that resembles a small, four-petaled flower. The flower sits at the top of an 18in plant with very thin, long leaves.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is your trail best friend. The unmistakable ferm-like leaves and inflorescence of small white flowers at the top should not be overlooked. Yarrow can be used in the treatment of bleeding, burns, colds, and toothaches. It can even help regulate menstruations!
A very tall orchid, 1-3 feet. This is a tricky orchid as it’s not as “typical” looking upon first glance. Has many lance-shaped leaves going up the single stalk. The top of the stem hosts a group of small, white flowers that at first glance resemble a thin beargrass plume. Grows in wet ground. (Found in drainage ditches on trails).
A five-petalled, bell, star-shaped flower. Petals fuse together to form a bell and then separate to form pointed tips. Flowers are held singly or in several at the top of a long, thin stem. Leaves are small, skinny, and sparse up the stem. Can grow up to 18 inches. Flowers are almost the same color as a bluebell. Can grow in multiple elevations, blooming at different times. Usually in more open areas and side hills.
Can also be known as wintergreen. Flowers sprout from a long, bare stem. Drooping and waxy, flowers have five white-pink petals with long protruding stamens. Blossom from the bottom up. Leaves are leathery and round, being dark green. Only two at the base of each plant. Found in wet soil, around streams, and in dense forests.
You’re on a hike with your dog, and he does his duty. You pick it up, tie the bag, then set it on the side of the trail to “pick it up when you come back.” That night you’re driving home and realize you forgot the doo bag on the trail. Not again!
Let’s be honest, is there anything more frustrating or more avoidable than dog doo bags on the trail? Here’s some ideas to help you out:
There’s lots of awesome ways to improve the hike for both you and your dog (and everyone else)! There’s no need to go out and spend a bunch of money — make a DIY holder on the leash with an old peanut butter jar.
Pack out your doggie doo and be a doo do-gooder on the trail.
Happy Trails, Enjoy!
By Kalyn Nash
May has been a busy month for our Restoration Program Director, Chris Prange. The GBCA has been getting out into local public schools to share insight into the world of conservation, land management, and the partnerships involved in applying these concepts. With some help from our Backcountry Ranger/ Stewardship Coordinator, Joelle, he has been visiting students of all ages to discuss a wide range of topics! GBCA school visits also seek to get students outside to practice various skills involved in everything from backcountry travel to restoration, providing a spectrum for students to see how they can apply these skills in their personal lives as well as possible future careers in conservation.
Noxious to Native
Chris visited Target Range school in Missoula, MT to help 7th grade students start to develop a plan for their native plant garden. Currently, this garden is more of a “noxious weed garden” and needs some restoration! Students got out into the garden to learn more about what it means to be a noxious weed and how to identify the primary noxious weeds in their garden. The students worked with dichotomous keys to identify common tansy, spotted knapweed, leafy spurge, Canada thistle, and tumble mustard. In June, GBCA will be working with students to count the weed populations for pretreatment monitoring purposes. The class will then hand-pull their weeds,Chris will follow up with chemical treatment going into summer vacation, and the class will perform post treatment monitoring using the methods they learned when they return to school in August as 8th graders. The goal is to introduce the students to one process used in restoration (in this case weed management) and allow them to collect and analyze data from start to finish using the scientific process.
Wilderness Workshop
Chris visited students at Alberton High School to discuss wilderness and how the various public land designations differ during their Environmental Science class. Students were able to learn what it takes for public lands to be recommended for wilderness protection. This subject is all the more relevant now, with the ongoing process of Lolo National Forest Plan revision happening in their own backyard.
When talking about conservation and land management, it is important to GET OUTSIDE and have hands-on experience. Chris and Joelle, GBCA stewardship coordinator, organized a Field Day for the class where the students were able to learn backcountry camping skills. Joelle shared her extensive knowledge about the gear she utilizes in her job and how to choose proper backcountry campsites. Along with how to set up tents, students learned how to best set up camp when staying overnight in bear country. Bear hangs are an essential part of staying safe while camping where bears may be present. Joelle shared her tips and tricks on placing a bear hang and what key aspects should be met to create safe food storage. Once Joelle made it look easy, the students gave it their best shot. It was fun to watch them try to throw their ropes over the tree limbs and see what strategies they utilized.
GBCA hopes to expand our educational offerings to all of our gateway communities in the coming years. If you are interested in partnering reach out to Chris, at chris@greatburn.org.
beep beep beep — It’s 0445 and time to start the day. I wake up, slide out of my sleeping bag into the chilly morning air of my tent. Shoving everything to the foot of the tent, I grab my work pants and wiggle into them trying to keep the dirt from the day before out of my sleeping area. I throw on a jacket and beanie and force myself out into the fresh morning air.
Walking over to the kitchen area, I’m delighted to see that our crew lead already has a fire started - what would we do without him? Oatmeal for breakfast and a safety meeting as the crew finally gathers together on our log seats. Today, we’ll be building a retaining wall around a culvert. Safety meeting subject: Moving rocks.
0600 and we gather our gear to hike out. I sling my pack over my shoulder which is dirty with bar oil from the previous days, but holds my most valuable items: PBJ and an apple. We begin our hike down the road to the trail while my boot is already rubbing on my blister. I look over into the meadow and am greeted by the familiar sight of Mr. Moose browsing in the meadow. Sometimes being out here feels like a dream.
0730 we make it to our project site. I throw my pack on the ground, walk over to the place I was yesterday, and begin my time of crushing rock to make fill for the wall. wack wack wack — the monotonous sounds drown out my thoughts. Crew mates are moving rocks and carefully placing them like puzzle pieces in the hole we’ve made. Rocks need to be about 100 lbs to be a good candidate, so this can get clunky.
0900 I whip out my apple for a snack. It’s already starting to warm up and I’ve shed my extra layers. It’ll be another smoky, hot summer day. 0915 back to work. We switch it up and I begin hauling in dirt to top off the finished side of the wall.
1200 I almost dropped a rock on my toe earlier, but I moved out of the way just in time… thinking back on it, I almost wish it dropped on my boot… maybe it wouldn’t have broken in half if I cushioned its fall. Eh, well, that just means I have to go find another rock to drag and shimmy back to our work space.
1430 I’m thinking back to those days at the beginning of the season, wishing it would stop raining or snowing for just 30 minutes. Now I’m looking up at the sky during my afternoon break pleading to find just a single cloud offering a little bit of shade. No such luck today. And my sunscreen spilled all over inside my backpack. At least my PBJ survived the mess. I don’t know if my arms can even pick up one more rock.
1500 The culvert is finished! The feeling of pounding that last bit of dirt on top of the culvert is indescribable. This was such a big project, and there were so many times when I was losing hope or just wanted to sit and rest for a while. But look at it! Isn’t it amazing?
1630 We made it back to camp. My turn to cook tonight, but at least that means I don’t have to do dishes! I wash my hands with the bucket water and begin preparing the meal. We’re having burritos tonight. With cheese - lots of cheese. Each night during dinner, we have a question of the day. Today’s question was a mindbender - “Which ice cream flavor do you think should NOT exist?”
1830 We sit in a circle around our empty fire ring. We’re at Stage II fire restrictions this week. Journal time, reading time, or joking time. Each night it varies.
2100 I always stay up the latest. Tonight, it’s just me and the stars. I look up for a bit, but the smoke and clouds cover most of the view. Getting up, I grab my journal and make my way back to my tent. Outside the tent, I shed the work pants and climb in. I wrap myself up in the sleeping bag and reach over to set my little alarm “0445.” I can’t wait for another day in the field. What a life this is.
Hey all! I just got back from a great trip out for the past several days. I covered a few different areas, encountered a lot of snow, but also found a lot of wildflowers. If you’re getting out recreating, remember to be prepared for those unpredictable conditions, take lots of pictures, and take a second to smell the flowers.
I hiked into Burdette Creek which is about a 9.5 mile out and back. There was no snow, but the creek was running high! There were plenty of Glacier lilies along the path and I found a lot of moose scat.
Cache hasn’t been accessed much yet this season as there are many downed trees across the trail. I made it about 5 miles up before there was too much snow to continue on.
The road to the Schley mountain trailhead is snowed in about 5.5 miles up.
Clearwater crossing is clear of snow and ready for campers! The campground is in good condition, so remember to practice Leave No Trace principles when you visit.
This trail is open to Greenwood Cabins, and after that there is too much snow to continue. Hunters have been frequenting the area, so be mindful while recreating!
I only went about a mile back on the trail, but that part was open with beautiful views of the 2015 burn and the raging West Fork of Fish Creek.
I did not hike on this trail as the Fish Creek crossing at the beginning is rolling pretty fast at this time of year.
This trail is open for the first mile and a half and then you are tasked with increasing patches of snow all the way up to the peak. The views are incredible and the wildflowers are just starting to peek out, so keep your eyes peeled.
The gorgeous fields (or pastures!) of Arrowleaf balsamroot just cannot be topped at this time of year. This trail is clear of snow all the way up to the junction of Petty Mtn #8. Do note, however, that there is a slide about two miles up the trail that is passable by foot, but would be difficult on stock.
The spring is an awesome time to get out in the Great Burn area, even if there are still snow patches. Just remember when hiking in these areas to travel on the trail (durable surfaces) and don’t try to walk around snow or wet patches. This leads to unwanted erosion and vegetation damage.
Cheers and Happy Trails!
We’ve compiled a short list of just a few of our favorites for World Book Day. Enjoy, and let us know what you think! Are any of your favorites missing?
A cautionary tale of survival and death on the Lochsa, plus a special guest appearance by curmudgeonly fur trapper (and hot springs namesake) Jerry Johnson. This true story that can still raise an argument with people today. About young hunters traveling the Lolo Trail in 1893 who encounter record snows.
A Great Burn essential, this book recounts the worst forest fire in American history. More than 10,000 men were assembled against the fire, but no one knew how to subdue flames like that. The book goes on to narrate the even larger story of Teddy Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot and their idea of creating public land.
This story divulges into the natural history of the wolverine and the many ways that its future is threatened. Following a five year study in Glacier National Park, Chadwick writes about the plight of the wolverine and the importance of connected habitat giving the animal the Freedom to Roam. We recommend this book because wolverines are the coolest animals ever, and there's some fun Montana backcountry adventure woven into the story.
A true story told by the man himself, Yahr became a lookout at the Bungalow Ranger Station in the North Fork of the Clearwater NF in the 1940s. 16 years old at the time, he describes how he adapted to the isolations and provided for himself in the middle of the wilderness. A must-read, especially for anyone who is familiar with the Nez Perce-Clearwater.
Written by Pierce resident Greg Gerot, this beautiful novel tells the story of the life in the little company town of Headquarters, ID. Taking into account the history of the Great Depression and pre-World War II, the protagonist looks for a new start with a job and love that ultimately turns to war. This page-turner will keep you reading until you finish.
A true Montana standard, A River Runs Through It narrates the story of two brothers who live in rural Montana spending much of their time fly fishing. This story tells about the separation and coming together again of a family and brothers. Keeping you in touch with the Montana landscape and raising many personal questions along the way, Maclean has created a classic.
The spring weather is finally starting to roll around here in the Missoula valley. As you’re out and recreating, you’ll start to notice that the flowers are bursting at the seams ready to show their colors for you this season!
Have you ever wondered why most of the early bloomers are yellow or white? Well, you’re not crazy… this actually is the case. These colors help out the pollinators of these plants. Most times, flies are one of the first pollinators of the season, and flies have pretty bad vision - “color blind” as one may call them. The yellows and whites help to reflect the greatest amount of light and attract any pollinator that may be around to help out these plants. They’re not picky, they’ll take any help they can get in this early season.
Wondering what you’re encountering on the trails? Here’s a few that we’ve found on our recent hikes:
This is a very early flowering plant, the flowers are actually rarely seen since sometimes it actually blooms when the area is still covered in snow. An endemic species to the Northern Idaho and Western Montana area which is pretty awesome! A very delicate little plant, found in coniferous forests, so be sure to check before you step!
Such an exciting sight at the beginning of the season, especially when you run across an open side slope covered in them. These guys are super important forage for bears as they begin to emerge for the season. Their bulbs are also edible to us, but please be mindful of the area if you forage this season and always double check your ID.
Also known as a snowdrop, these flowers look similar to the Glacier lily, except they have rounded petals and don’t curl back toward the sky. Found on open slopes and sometimes near streambanks. Another very important food source for early-season bears and ground squirrels.
Like buttery popcorn, this flower is always a welcome sight, even on the hillsides surrounding Missoula. Often seen growing in patches and close to the ground, it can pepper the hillsides as early as March (although we’re just starting to see it around here this year).
Found on a tall, slender, leafless stem, these small white flowers look like a starburst - especially when first opening. Flowers are mostly white, and sometimes pale pink as the season progresses. Keep an eye out for these in the meadows and on sideslopes and the snow recedes.
Spring flowers help to give us so much hope for the warmer season ahead! These plants serve as important food sources for many different animals as the days begin to lengthen. Keep an eye out for these and any others you find as the snow melts and the season progresses. Let us know if you find anything awesome out there, and as always please share pictures and stories!
As you may have heard, Lolo National Forest has started its forest management plan revision. Outcomes from this process will guide land use decisions in our mission area for decades to come.
The forest’s upcoming planning events are all about wild rivers and wildlife – which means that this is an especially important month for the Great Burn!
Wild and scenic rivers safeguard healthy fisheries and provide clean drinking water for our communities. To learn more about Lolo’s wild rivers, we recommended reading this excellent report by our friends at American Rivers.
This week, the Lolo Planning Team is hosting a series of virtual workshops on the Wild and Scenic River eligibility process. These workshops will be held nighty from 6-8pm on March 14, March 15, and March 16.
Each workshop is the same. Although you are welcome to attend all three, you only need to attend one to make your voice heard. Please register for these events using this link: https://forms.office.com/g/UDFA7J8NEz.
We are fortunate that nearly all the same species that Lewis and Clark encountered in the Great Burn are still alive in the area today.
However, many species are struggling from the effects of climate change, habitat fragmentation, and other human impacts. Lolo’s forest plan must ensure our most vulnerable species have an opportunity to recover and thrive.
In an informational webinar on March 21 from 6-7pm, planners will discuss how the revision considers and addresses the needs of all plant and animal species native to Lolo National Forest. You can join the event using this link.
When I was on a trail crew, someone once told me, “You know Joelle, all of us have our lives during work, and then at the end of the week we go home and live our city life. But you, you just live the same life all the time.”
So hey, I’m Joelle and I spent most of my time in the forest. I grew up on a tree farm where I began to learn how to care for the natural areas and be a steward of the land. My dad inspired my love for all of the relations around me and helped to grow me into who I am today. I hope to spread his gentle and caring touch on the land to those in the Great Burn area.
If you don’t spot me among the trees, then I’m probably in the water. I recently graduated from Northern Michigan University which is right on the shores of Lake Superior, so whenever I needed a study break, I would go for a swim (yes spring, summer, fall, and winter)! My favorite places to hike are along rivers or to an alpine lake, so watch out, I’m known to jump in at any moment!
Those that are crazy enough, bundle up and surf the waves of the Lake in the winter.
I recently graduated with a Bachelor’s in Ecology and minor in Native American Studies. I published a regional field guide on Midwestern flora and fauna and I am in the works of a Northwestern wildflower guide. I believe that education is a huge part of caring for the land. When it comes down to it, most people aren’t trying to destroy the ecosystem, they just don’t know how to properly care for it.
Over the years, I have worked on four trail crews in Colorado, Michigan, and Idaho. I built mountain bike trails in Michigan, worked on desert trails in Colorado, and maintained miles of trails in Idaho. Last year, I was employed by the GBCA as part of their seasonal crew on the North Fork RD of the Clearwater National Forest. This will be my third year in this area and I just keep coming back for more!
I am very excited to be your new Stewardship Coordinator. I feel as though I will be able to combine my passion for backpacking, education, fauna and flora knowledge, my photography skills, and my excitement of sharing stories with others. This year, you will be able to find me in the backcountry doing patrols, wildlife inventories, scouting for weed problem areas, leading volunteer trips, and assisting on some trail crews.
Cheers and Happy Trails!
Joelle
Hello, my name is Kalyn and I will be completing my service year with Big Sky Watershed Corps at GBCA. I arrived in Montana this past week and just started working this week at the office.
I am originally from central Florida, from the little town of Tavares. As many of us do, I changed my major three times before settling on something in natural resources. My whole life I thought that I wanted to become a teacher. I have always loved educating people on subjects that I am truly passionate about, which at the time were biology and environmental science. After taking some education classes I soon found that teaching in a classroom was not for me. So I switched to my other passion: Biology. After hitting a wall with organic chemistry and physics I took some time for myself to figure out what I wanted to do, rather than wasting more credit hours on classes I was not sure about.
During that time I traveled to seven national parks in the US, three national parks in Iceland, and three protected natural areas in France. Through that I realized that my place was in these wild spaces, and I knew that I wanted to protect and manage them so that future generations could enjoy them just as I did.
I completed my Bachelors degree at the University of Florida’s School of Forests, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. My specialization is in Forest Resource Conservation and Management and I graduated in the spring of 2022. Many of my classmates got jobs as county foresters and timber consultants in Florida, but I knew that was not the path that I wanted to take. Even though I called Florida home since birth, I have always known that my place was somewhere out west.
I have always had a love for mountainous landscapes and all of the wildlife call them home. After graduation I applied to absolutely every job that I qualified for east of the Mississippi. I packed up my husband and dogs in our camper and we embarked on a big bucket list item: driving through the Yukon to spend the summer in Alaska. We worked in the Kenai Peninsula for the summer. When the end of the season rolled around, we got an opportunity to work as a resort in Death Valley National Park and so we headed to the desert.
Meet the Family (left to right): Moose, Chris, Tucker, and Kalyn
This opportunity through Big Sky Watershed Corps was something that presented itself through several random Google searches, and it couldn't have been more perfect. This position is going to allow me to gain priceless job experience that I was not able to obtain through education alone. In addition, I will be able to utilize my love of teaching during my 10 month assignment, where I will be coordinating volunteer trips as well as other community outreach activities.
I was able to attend the Mineral County Resource Coalition with Skye yesterday (2/7/2023), where the group shared relevant updates about ongoing projects. It was very interesting to see all of the different groups involved in the coalition and see how they interact with each other, especially when all groups may not agree on all fronts. I am excited to attend more stakeholder meetings and see how these relationships will pay off when hard decisions are made.
There are a few projects that I will be working on during my term that I am especially excited to start. One of those projects will be in collaboration with GBCA’s Restoration Program Director, Chris Prange, to launch a pilot educational program at Alberton schools. Teaching our youth about all of the amazing nature that surrounds them and fostering an appreciation and respect for those wild spaces is something that is close to my heart.
I hope that my enthusiasm will inspire others to take an interest in the wilderness and become a part of the community that strives to protect it. I cannot wait to start volunteer trips, and I am looking forward to meeting others with a love of wild places and sharing my knowledge on the subject!
