Western Montana Adventure Opportunities By Chris Clasby with Summit IL
Summertime often finds all of us trying to discover ways to get outdoors and recreate in whatever is our chosen activity. It seems like there have recently been increasing recreational opportunities in Western Montana and several projects are underway. Some of them are pretty accessible to individuals with disabilities as well as those without. Elsewhere in this newsletter we detailed a couple projects being developed close to Missoula, but there are a couple others within one day’s drive of Missoula. We’ll mostly cover outdoor opportunities in the spirit of summer sunshine.
When friends Peter Pauwels and Frank Bell were roommates in college in Colorado in the 1970s, they were unaware of a distant future opportunity. Likewise, nobody knew they would someday develop an adaptive fishing program for individuals with disabilities. Then life happens… Frank made his home mostly in Idaho but also acquired a rental house and property south of Ennis, MT on the Madison River. Peter remained around Denver working and fishing almost daily, which turned to providing adaptive fishing opportunities as volunteer for 30+ years at Craig and Children’s Hospitals. He united a network of volunteers for manpower and created programs to adapt fishing equipment including accessible rafts and offer floating and fishing experiences.
In 2017, Frank and Peter reconnected on Frank’s idea to use Peter’s equipment, experience, and network along with Frank’s Ennis property, connections, and vision. Camp Bullwheel (CB) was born, participants were recruited, volunteers were coordinated, and the lodging was made accessible. Summer, 2018 has a full schedule of disabled participants, chosen companions, and volunteers visiting CB from June through September to enjoy free adaptive fishing opportunities on the Madison River and Ennis Lake complete with lodging at CB and entertainment from the crew.
Also on the Madison as well as Beaverhead, Big Hole, and Jefferson Rivers is another adaptive fishing program called Access Unlimited. This project provides adaptive fishing opportunities using accessible drift boats, a network of guides and donors, and accessible lodging. The project is an idea developed first in 2014 by friends Jess Alberi, Steve Miller, and Adam Yinger. Interested participants can visit www.accessunltd.org to learn more and apply for a fishing trip, which includes transport to and from the Bozeman (BZN) airport (as needed), lodging and food, and equipment.
A little further westward people can find several access opportunities. Of course the Dean Stone Mountain and Rock Creek projects detailed elsewhere in this newsletter are becoming a reality. In addition, the BLM has acquired new property up the Blackfoot Corridor on which there may be future disability access for day outings including picnics, hiking, maybe camping, or just time afield out of town. A little further west near Paradise, Montana is Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort on the Clark Fork River. Its location is near a network of trail systems for outdoor recreation, and the facilities complete with swimming pool and hot tubs are welcoming following a day of activity. Finally, in East Central Idaho near Powell, ID is the more rustic, 100-mile, single-lane, Lolo Motorway for ATVs with hiking trails meandering alongside and away from the Motorway. Users won’t find gas stations, stores, developed water, or other services but will find breathtaking scenery, mountain lakes, and adventure. There is lodging near Powell at the Lochsa Lodge, but access may be limited. For more information see http://www.idahostateatv.org/publications/Driving_the_Lolo_Motorway.pdf.
Whatever your fancy, opportunities among our natural environment abound ranging from full disability access to anything but. A world of fun opportunities awaits. Make sure to ask many questions in your planning and know what you can expect before embarking on your next adventure.
