1CGNF: Trail: Fourmile/Meatrack Trails #22-23 w/ Amer. Hiking Soc.

This opportunity is provided by the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation and the Custer Gallatin National Forest

Dates:  Wed, Aug 20-25  (6-days)   Trail: Fourmile/Meatrack Trails #22-23

Location: South of Big Timber, along the Main Boulder Road at Fourmile Creek. Yellowstone RD.

Work: We will pull non-native houndstongue, construct water bars, build check dams and retaining walls out of stone and wood; and finish everything off by brushing the corridor. This is an all-around quite strenuous work project, as we will be working with stone, locally sourced logs, and standard trail tools (shovels, Pulaskis, picks, crosscut saws).

Description:  This continues work we started last summer.  Our trip starts at The Fort, a gas station/convenience store in Big Timber, MT.  From there we will caravan (sorry we can't carpool!) for 2 hours up the Main Boulder River to the Fourmile Trailhead. Upon arriving at the trailhead we will hand off our heavy food, tools, tents and sleeping bags to the Backcountry Horsemen who will transport it in for us, and then we will hike in five miles, to establish a basecamp for the rest of the week.  Volunteers only need to carry a day pack with their clothes and personal items.

The road up the Main Boulder River gets quite rough beyond 4-mile; most passenger vehicles can make it to the 4-Mile bridge, but it’s slow going.  Higher clearance vehicles are recommended.

Difficulty:  The work is Strenuous.  Hike in is moderate to fairly strenuous.  

Horse Support: YES   Elevation: 8000 ft.    Group size: Maximum of 10 people

Meeting time & location: 8 am at The Fort gas station in Big Timber. We will drive to the trailhead together.

Bring:  See “Multi-Day Trip Packing List.”