Portions of Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and Ot
Incident: Ahorn Wildland Fire
Released: 9/18/2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joint Information Center, Toll-free 1-866-831-7450
Portions of Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and Other Public Lands Opening in Time for Hunting Seasons
Choteau, MT - At 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, September 13, 2007, the Bob Marshall Complex Ranger Districts, the Bureau of Land Management and Region Four of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks opened a number of areas that had been previously closed due to the Ahorn, Amphitheatre, Calbick, Conger Creek, Corporal, Felix, Fool Creek, Railley Mountain, Skyland, Table Mountain, Turtlehead and other smaller fires.
Specifically, the Rocky Mountain Ranger District opened three strategic areas between the fires. One opening occurred south of the Ahorn Fire over Observation Pass and provides access to the Flathead National Forest. Other openings include an area between the Ahorn and Fool Creek Fires and an area between the Fool Creek and Skyland Fires. These areas are being opened to allow recreational use in limited areas of the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and to provide access for hunters and others to cross the Continental Divide and enter the Flathead National Forest. Additionally, an access route from the South Fork Sun River Trailhead at Benchmark to White River Pass has opened with special restrictions. Travelers on that route must first obtain a special access permit, well in advance of any intended entry, from the Rocky Mountain Ranger District Office in Choteau at 466-5341. The Benchmark Airstrip, Benchmark Campground and the South Fork Sun River Campground will remain closed. Campgrounds will remain closed until necessary water testing for public use is completed.
Concurrent with the openings on the Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks opened the Sun River, Ear Mountain and Blackleaf State Wildlife Management Areas.
The Bureau of Land Management also rescinded a temporary closure on several parcels it manages along the Rocky Mountain Front in Teton County. These parcels are commonly known as the Blind Horse Outstanding Natural Area (ONA), Indian Head Rock, the Ear Mountain ONA (and the 13-acre BLM-managed trailhead adjacent to this ONA), the North Fork of the Sun River Wilderness Study Area, the Chute Mountain ONA, the Deep Creek-Battle Creek ONA and those BLM lands in T.22N. R.8W. Sec.31, S1/2. These BLM parcels total slightly less than 14,000 acres.
On the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest, there have been several areas opened to allow access - especially in support of the early big game season. Near the Calbick Fire, only Calbick Creek Trail #391 remains closed. Related to Fool Creek Fire there are several complete and partial trail openings. Some of the affected trails are Strawberry Creek Trail, Winter Creek Trail, and Big River Trail in the Middle Fork Flathead River. The Meadow Creek Trailhead on the north, Owl Creek Trailhead on the west, and the route over Limestone Pass into the Danaher is open. Most of the Spotted Bear River drainage is closed above Trail Creek due to the Corporal Fire. Access remains on the Trail Creek and Schafer Creek Trails to Whitcomb Peak and Gunsight Lake, but there is no access to Dean Creek. The very upper end of Spotted Bear River south of Pentagon is open, but it must be reached from the upper White River. In the very south end of the South Fork Flathead River, the very upper end of upper Youngs Creek is open over Pyramid Pass. For complete information on all the trail openings and closures, contact the Spotted Bear Ranger District at 758-5376. Additionally, Hungry Horse Ranger District reports that Trail #740 Mule Ridge Trail is still closed but the Skyland Road (F.R. #569) is open for travel through the fire area to access the Morrison and Granite Trailheads.
Closures on the Seeley Lake Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest have been amended to allow additional access for hunters during the early rifle season. Pyramid Pass is open to allow access into the Flathead National Forest. Lodgepole and Dunham Creek drainages are open; however closures associated with the Railley Mountain Fire are in place from Monture Mountain to Moser Mountain and to the north, including Youngs Pass and Hahn Creek Pass. The Monture Creek drainage and Limestone Pass are
open. The Conger Fire remains active in the North Fork of the Blackfoot, so the trail is only open from the North Fork Trailhead to the first pack bridge, just beyond the wilderness boundary. Please call the Seeley Lake Ranger District at 677-2233 for additional information
The public is reminded that until a season ending event occurs, the threat of wildfires is still very real. The public is asked to use care when recreating in the National Forests and on all public lands and to remain alert for all hazards. Stage I fire restrictions remain in effect within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. On lands outside the Wilderness on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, on State Wildlife Management Areas and on Bureau of Land Management Lands adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front, the restrictions changed from Stage II to Stage I at 12:01 a.m. on September 13, 2007. Fire behavior, forest conditions, weather projections, restrictions and closures will continue to be re-evaluated on a regular basis.
For additional information on these closure updates, contact the local Ranger District or the Joint Information Center toll-free at 1-866-831-7450. Copies can also be viewed at the Ranger District offices in Lincoln, Augusta, Choteau, Great Falls, Seeley Lake, Bigfork, Hungry Horse, and Spotted Bear. The public is encouraged to periodically check in with local resources and the Activefires website to obtain the most current information.
