Community Briefs

Snowmobile Grooming and Avalanche Advisories Underway

The Seeley Lake Driftriders Snowmobile Club started grooming the snowmobile trail system around Seeley Lake this past week. The grooming of the trail system by the Driftriders is permitted by the Lolo National Forest and supported by the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks.

Under the Special Use permit administered by the Forest Service, the Seeley Lake Driftriders may begin grooming any time after Dec. 1.

Driftriders Grooming Chairman Shawn Ellinghouse said to start off the season they will use a packer bar to knock the air out of the snow and set up a good base. After that they use a tiller that aerates the snow, sets it up, spits it out, lays it down and packs it into a corduroy trail to maintain the trail. If the trail is really bumpy, they use the mogul master to cut the bumps, fill the holes and pack a nice trail. Then they come back with a tiller.

The West Central Montana Avalanche Center will issue three advisories a week -- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The advisories are posted at http://www.missoulaavalanche.org.

For snow conditions, grooming report and area avalanche advisories visit http://www.driftriders.org.

Swan Valley AARP Meeting, Jan. 2

Swan Valley - The Swan Valley AARP will meet Tuesday, Jan. 2 at noon in the Swan Valley Community Hall.  A potluck lunch hosted by Diann Ericson and Mike Childs will begin at 12:30 p.m.  Starting at 1:30 p.m. there will be a presentation by Rebecca Ramsey, new Executive Director of Swan Valley Connections.  The public is invited.

Monthly Potluck in the Swan Valley Starts Jan. 3

Swan Valley - Swan Valley Connections will be kicking off a monthly potluck to be held on the first Wednesday of every month at the Swan Valley Community Hall.  This is a time for all community members to come together, share food, learn from one another and enjoy live music!  

The first potluck will be Jan. 3. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. There will be a presentation at 6:30 p.m. followed by an open mic style live music at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring there instruments.

The first potluck will feature a presentation from Flathead Forest staff providing information on the final draft forest plan, including updated maps and how to make comments during the comment period before the final draft is adopted.

Contact SVC Executive Director Rebecca Ramsey at 406-754-3137 or rebecca@svconnections.org for more information, or if you would like to sign up to be a presenter at future potlucks.