April 2011

Upcoming Events

April 23:   Earth Day event: RL City Parks clean up day

May 5:      BRTA’s Annual Public Meeting 

June 4:     National Trails Day (clean up and maintain trails in Red Lodge)

June 4:   Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Foundation & US Forest Service Mapping training (in Red Lodge) for weed management projects this summer. Call Larry Whitney (322-0205)

Parks Clean Up Day, April 23

The Red Lodge Parks Board invites the public to participate in an Earth Day project at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, April 23^rd (one day after the official Earth Day). We will pick up trash and debris from our City Parks and you will have a chance to voice your ideas to Park Board members about future improvements to these dedicated lands.

Bring some gloves, roll up your sleeves and get to know your city parks.  Park Board members will be stationed at Lions Park, Field School Park, Skateboard Park, Coal Miners Park, Finn Park and Rotary Park at Rock Creek.  Show up at your favorite park and pitch in!

Contact Tom Kohley at 425-2071 for more information or directions to any of the Parks.

Don’t Miss the BRTA Annual Meeting, May 5

Interested in pedestrian and bike trails along our highways in Red Lodge?  Then plan to attend the BRTA annual meeting, Thursday May 5^th, 7PM, at the Café Regis.   Montana Department of Transportation representatives Ryan Dahlke and Stefan Streeter will present the current ped/bike trail plans along Highways 212 and 78. BRTA will present potential trail linkages between the two highway projects. Refreshments will be served.

Airport Trail Grand Opening, June 4

Celebrate National Trails Day by attending the grand opening of the airport trail in Red Lodge on Saturday, June 4th.  We will have a brief ceremony followed by a trail walk around the entire 2.5 mile loop.   The ceremony and walk will begin at 10 am at the trailhead located next to the entrance of the Red Lodge airport.  BBQ and refreshments will be served following the walk.

Learn the Basics of Topographical Maps

What are contour intervals? What does the green signify? Which way is north? These questions have some simple answers but you can learn more about each. How about quadrangle, datum, declination and degrees?  Learn how to use a map and compass to help with route-finding, giving directions, etc.  These basics will also help you understand your GPS unit. Join Grant Barnard at the corner of 15^th and McGillen in Red Lodge, 3:00 pm June 4, after you have volunteered on a maintenance project on National Trails Day. (Parking is best at the top of White Ave., above the McGillen Trail). Call Grant at 425-0130 for more information.

Grooming Team Celebrated

Our hard working Nordic ski center groomers were honored recently at a celebration at (where else?) Sam’s Taproom. Cross-country skiers that glided through the ski season on well-groomed tracks were in attendance to show their support and give thanks for a job well done.

Supporter Spotlight

Bob Johnson is not only a board member but also a guy with great stories. He originally got involved with BRTA because he saw an article in the paper about a nordic center.  He loves cross-country skiing. He had experience running snow machines and farm equipment, and so, he thought grooming would be a good fit.  He’s been at it ever since!

It’s always great to hear stories from people who can laugh at themselves. Bob told us:

“An early skiing experience was a trip to the Boundary Waters to ski in, and winter camp with wife, Mary, and some friends.  This was perhaps not the best of ideas.  Mary had never winter camped, and come to think of it, had never cross-country skied.  Undaunted by these minor details we shouldered our packs, fell backwards like upended turtles, but eventually made it deep into the Boundary Waters, where we set up camp, and then endured Minnesota’s coldest weather of the year.  I think it was -20, however this temperature may fall each time the story is told.  At any rate it was a great test of a relationship, and we both must have passed.” Bob and Mary have been married 33 years.

Give More to BRTA

If you want to give more to BRTA, sign up for a VIP rewards card at Natali’s, Red Lodge Pizza Co., Steakhouse, or Bogarts. Then designate BRTA on your application form. When you pay your bill a percentage of that sale goes to BRTA.

Forest Service Updates

Call or stop in at the Beartooth Ranger District office in Red Lodge for current information on trails and roads in the Beartooth Mountains, 446-2103. At this time, many roads (West Fork Rock Cr., Lake Fork, Glacier Lake) are still impassable due to snow. And many roads in the Pryors are closed or impassable due to mud or snow.

Quote of the Month

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”  ~Lao Tzu

Always consider yourself welcome at BRTA monthly Board meetings, second Wednesdays, at the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation building, (13^th & Oakes, across from Post Office), 6:30 pm., or call your favorite Board member to learn what’s up with BRTA.