Cabinet Mountain Wilderness turns 50
From “Wild Yoga” to a backcountry horsemanship presentation, the 50th anniversary celebration of the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness has something for everyone in this weekend’s line-up.
Starting at 3 p.m. today (Friday), the Bull River Rod and Gun Club on Bull Lake will be covered with displays, vendors, live music, a beer tent, and even a puppet show along with kayak rentals and a compass skills class – all of it free of cost.
The event wraps up on Sunday at 2 p.m. after a primitive skills demonstration by the U.S. Forest Service.
Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness program director Sandy Compton said the weekend had taken quite a bit of planning and he had high hopes it would draw all kinds of spectators.
“It’s definitely been a shape-shifter,” Compton said, regarding last-minute snafus. “Overall we’ve got a great program.”
Compton expected about 400-500 people today (Friday) Saturday and Sunday. Camping will be free, he added, but it will be first come, first serve.
Singer-songwriter Jack Gladstone is scheduled to perform on Friday night, and former U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth will be speaking on Saturday evening.
During the weekend, event-goers have the opportunity to take part in workshops and lessons in kayaking and outdoor yoga, as well as fly-tying and fishing demonstrations, a puppet show and sing-a-long, and a viewing of the movie “Untrammeled.”
Outdoor educator Mindy Ferrell, who planned many of the children’s activities, emphasized that it was a team effort, with a committee of individuals from different agencies involved.
Contributing to the program with activities that would hold the kids’ attention had come easy to Ferrell, who is a retired school teacher.
“I wanted events that would appeal to a wide range of people; that would appeal to kids and get them out there to enjoy the wild country,” Ferrell said.
In addition to activities, food will be available from the rod and gun club kitchen as well as several Troy vendors and the Jupiter Jane food bus. The Silver Spur will also have a cash bar in place on both Friday and Saturday evening.
More events to mark the signing of the Wilderness Act in 1964 include the Yaak Wilderness Festival at the Yaak River Tavern and Mercantile on July 19-20, with music that includes Alan Lane and the 17 Mile Band, the Yaaktastics and Tim Snider, and Wiley and the Wild West in Libby on Saturday, Aug.23.