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One of the wonderful things about living in Seeley Lake and the Double Arrow Ranch is the abundance of wildlife in our area. We get to see many critters on a regular basis that most residents of the U.S. are lucky to see in their lifetime. Some of that is due to our rural setting, but it is also due to the fact that we live in a wonderful section of the beautiful state of Montana. I think sometimes we take all of the wildlife around us for granted and need to take a step back and observe what...
SEELEY LAKE - Leon Russell Anderson, known as "Bud", was born on a ranch south of Havre with his midwife grandmother in attendance in April 1926. Bud was the second eldest of nine children born to William H. and Dorothy T. Anderson. He passed away peacefully at his home in Seeley Lake, Montana on March 26 at the age of 95. Fuel for the home in Havre was scarce during The Great Depression. Bud told a story about him and his sister Georgena taking a big tub out on the prairie to gather buffalo... Full story
As someone who has grown up in Montana, the wilderness has always been something that I have found profoundly beautiful. I have witnessed first hand the majesty of landscapes such as the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Mission Mountain Wilderness. As someone who has fished, floated and explored many parts of the Blackfoot River, I find it important to keep the area alive and pristine for every future generation of Montanan. In putting forward the idea of community, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act shows that people with different roots and...
HELMVILLE - "Sitting around crackling campfires and hunting camp dinner tables listening to Jack Hooker tell stories of adventures was a great privilege I had during the years I worked at the Whitetail Ranch," said Rebecca Ondov. "His philosophy on life empowered him to train horses and mules not merely in an arena, where the fence draws a line as to how big the wreck can be, he trained them to be sound work animals in the high country of the wilderness, where the unexpected happens in the...
The Bob Marshall Wilderness is a roadless tract of land that spreads over 1,009,352 acres north of Ovando. South of its designated boundary, Monture Creek, an important tributary of the Blackfoot River, flows through a remarkably roadless area. An area needs to be roadless to be a designated wilderness. Monture Creek past the campground is roadless already and an access point to the greater Bob Marshall area. Additionally, Monture Creek is recognized by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks as a primary spawning stream for two species of concern,...
SEELEY LAKE – Raymond "Ray" Cebulski, not yet 18-years-old, was riding a green colt up a hill when a half-blind dog ran into the back of it. The colt turned around and started bucking downhill. "It is dang hard to ride a bucking horse downhill because you keep gaining altitude," Cebulski said and laughed. "Finally I went over his head and laid on my hands and knees right in front of him. It sounded to me like he was hitting the ground right between my legs. I was jumping just like a bullfrog -...
Editor's Note: Part I, run in the March 10 issue, highlighted the start of the Northern Pacific Railroad's influence on the Upper Swan Valley through the early 1900's. Although the upper Swan Valley was primarily settled by homesteaders staking claims on United States Forest Service (USFS) lands, some settlers purchased Northern Pacific (NP) lands for as low as $1.25 an acre, usually in 80- or 160-acre parcels. The Haasch family who homesteaded a USFS parcel later bought an additional 160 acres...
Many people are not aware that the Northern Pacific Railway Company (NP) had a significant influence on the settlement, economy and timber industry of the upper Swan Valley. Looking at a current map of the upper Swan Valley, you might ask, "What influence?" No railways are located in the valley, nor are any Northern Pacific properties listed on the current maps. A closer look at the early history of the settlement in the upper Swan Valley reveals something quite different. Maps of the early...
Montana’s beautiful, expansive public lands are what make this state the “last best place.” Senator Jon Tester’s Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that vows to protect some of the most beloved public spaces to Montanans: The Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Blackfoot River. Public lands are vital to the physical, mental and economic health of Montanans. In fact, 75% of Montanans support the BCSA and 89% of Montanans say outdoor recreation is vital to their quality of life. The BCSA advocat...
SEELEY LAKE – More than 25 people gathered for the second "Tell us your story – Why did you come here and why do you stay?" Wednesday, Feb. 16. Six community members shared their stories and highlighted those values they hold dear and how they are exemplified here. "Every story is unique and every story is important because it is those stories that make up what this valley is all about," said Organizer Tom Beers. "People come from different places, different backgrounds, different styles so we...
Outdoor recreation comprises $7.1 billion of Montana’s economy and generates $286 million in tax revenue. Additionally, the outdoor recreation economy provides 71,000 jobs to Montanans. By expanding the Bob Marshall, these numbers will only continue to grow. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) seeks to designate an additional 80,000 acres of public land as wilderness. Doing so will result in sustainable timber management and forest restoration, protect the headwaters of the Blackfoot and Clearwater Rivers, and increase o...
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is important because it seeks to protect our precious Montana lands. The BCSA would preserve 80,000 acres of land for conservation, recreation and restoration. The act plans to restore fish and wildlife habitats, increase space for outdoor recreation for Montanans and conserve precious Montana wilderness by adding 80,000 acres of land to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. The BCSA’s plan would protect our land as well as strengthen Montana’s outdoor economy. I am a freshman at the University of Montana an...
When people think of Montana, they think of the outdoors. The state attracts tourists from around the world to witness the beauty of The Last Best Place. Whether you’re a hiker, skier, fishermen or avid snowmobiler, Montana is bound to supply you with outdoor recreation opportunities. Although various groups articulate different visions for the future and conservation of these spaces, it’s common knowledge public lands are important to Montanans. The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act takes account of all these ideologies, backgrounds and vis...
SWAN VALLEY – More than 75 Swan Valley residents listened to presentations from area law enforcement Tuesday, Jan. 11 at the Swan Valley Neighborhood Watch meeting. Neighborhood Watch Chairman Steve Card moderated the meeting as representatives from the Missoula County and Lake County Sheriff's Offices, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the US Forest Service shared about their organizations and how residents can keep themselves safe as well as follow the laws when p...
In November, the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) received a hearing in a Senate committee, putting the bill on track for passage within the next year. As a member of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project (BCSP) steering committee, I helped develop the bill. I’m proud that the most recent polling shows that 75% of Montanans, across the political spectrum, support the bill. That’s because the steering committee carefully considered how the bill can best meet the needs of the Blackfoot’s fish and wildlife populations, and of th...
Grizzly bears in the Mission and Swan mountains have likely entered their dens for the winter, but an important habitat linkage for the species will remain conserved as open space next spring-and for generations to come. The Vital Ground Foundation expanded its conservation protections in the Condon area last month, purchasing 20 acres to help maintain the Upper Swan Valley's rural character and connect existing open lands. The newly-conserved acreage lies in the Simmons Meadow wetland complex,...
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act was introduced to Congress by Montana Senator Jon Tester and is a wonderful example of how legislation can unite various groups to solve local problems. The bill is the culmination of a 15-year effort by a diverse set of Montanans: environmentalists, timber producers, conservationists, recreation management, local businesses, politicians and the public. The bill would first serve to defend the Blackwater River and its most important tributaries, as well as secure and expand protections to the Blackfoot...
The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act is supported by 75% of Montanans. The bill on a whole, accurately reflects Montanan values. With its plan to protect approximately 80,000 acres of land for conservation, recreation and restoration, the bill speaks for the people of Montana that wish to preserve our precious land. The BSCA restores fish and wildlife habitats, increases space for outdoor recreation for Montanans and conserves precious Montana wilderness by adding 80,000 acres of land to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. In response to...
In celebration of 35 years of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, each week we will run parts of articles that appeared in the issue 35 years ago and 20 years ago. The entire issue will be uploaded to our website seeleylake.com for you to enjoy. 35 years ago: Nov. 20, 1986 issue Governor's Cup and Seeley 200 get national attention Ron Ogden has worked with dogs as a hobby "since high school," but he says he was never prepared for the kind of publicity Seeley Lake would get from sled dog races. "There...
SWAN VALLEY - Cathrine Rose (Wise) Miller, 'Cathy,' passed away on Oct. 8 due to health complications. Cathy was born Sept. 25, 1937 in Ronan, Montana to Victor and Myrtle Wise. She was raised in Swan Valley, Montana and attended the one room grade school Smith Flats in the valley. Cathy attended Hellgate High School, Missoula, Montana until her sophomore year. She completed high school attending night classes at Fulton High in Southern California in 1965. After returning to Montana with her... Full story
WASHINGTON, DC – The Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) received its first hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Oct. 19. This was following Montana Senator Jon Tester’s reintroduction of the bill in April. Montana Senator Steve Daines, member of the committee, testified that he would like to see more balance. He proposed that along with the nearly 80,000 acres of new Wilderness proposed in the BCSA, that there would be a corresponding release of Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) that are deemed not suitable Wil...
Senator John Tester is in support of the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA) as are many Montanans and Missoulians. This bill is intended to expand protections to the headwaters of the Blackfoot and Clearwater Rivers, while improving and expanding outdoor recreation areas for the public. The BCSA has already given Senator Steve Daines what he says he prioritizes jobs and investment in Montana. According to a Missoula Current article, 153 union jobs and 57 million dollars have been given to the local economy through Southwest Crown of th...
It had been a long day on the trail in 1996 as I slowly worked my way toward the top of the ridge clearing downfall from the trail. When I reached the top of the ridge, the land opened up and the views were especially beautiful as the late evening sunshine cast a golden hue across the landscape. Overhead, a few reddish, wispy clouds contrasted the deep, cobalt blue sky. A nearby hermit thrush began its melodic song. I was less than a hundred yards from a trail intersection that would lead me to my camp. I came around a slight bend in the trail...
In celebration of 35 years of the Seeley Swan Pathfinder, each week we will run parts of articles that appeared in the issue 35 years ago and 20 years ago. The entire issue will be uploaded to our website seeleylake.com for you to enjoy. We hope you will enjoy the journey with us as we follow our community through the past 35 years as documented by the Pathfinder. 35 years ago: Oct. 23, 1986 issue Frosty morning ride Thirty-one kindergartners from Seeley Lake Elementary went on a brisk hayride... Full story
MISSOULA - The 1971 Smokejumper New Man Class had a 50th reunion in Missoula on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. The reunion included a flight in Miss Montana, the restored C-47 aircraft. Among the 18 in attendance from the 1971 New Man Class was Missoula County Sergeant Robert Parcell. Parcell was among the 39 graduates of the 50 that started rookie training. He jumped from 1971 – 1974 and again from 1980-1983 after serving with the Marine Corps. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, Parcell was the o...
