HELENA, Mont. — For more than 40 years, the Last Chance Back Country Horsemen have ridden trails like these to help keep Montana's public lands open.
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“For us to be able to enjoy it, we got to clear it, and someone’s gotta do it,” said president John Pavsek. “We don't get everything, but we get as much as we can.”
The nonprofit group partners with the Forest Service to clear trails that can be difficult to reach with crews.
With just under 40 active volunteers, the group clears between 40 and 50 miles of trail each year — including 10 miles on this trip alone.
“What they do voluntarily and using their horses, their equipment, is truly invaluable,” said Forest Service Helena district ranger Kathy Bushnell. “We can’t state it enough how much we appreciate what they do.”
The process starts at the trailhead, packing tools and supplies onto horses and mules before hitting the trails.
On some trails, certified sawyers use chainsaws to cut through downed trees while other volunteers, known as swampers, drag the logs off the trail to keep everyone safe.
In primitive areas, chainsaws aren’t allowed, so crews rely on crosscut saws and hand tools.
“It's definitely a labor of love,” said Pavsek, “because I can knock out 10 times more trees with a chainsaw.”
“It's a very beneficial thing for everybody,” said member Sherri Lionberger. “I love doing it, and the public needs these trails opened and the Forest Service doesn’t have enough people to do it, so it’s a win-win.”
The group has been riding and working these trails since 1981, and members say they’re always looking for more volunteers to help keep the backcountry accessible.
“It's all rewarding,” Lionberger exclaimed. “You get to keep your animals in shape, you get to be productive, you get to meet new people all the time, you get to spread the word about how best to travel in the back country. There's just all upsides to it.”
For the volunteers, this isn’t just about horses or trails. It’s about stewardship and leaving Montana's backcountry better than they found it.
