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the Bob. It is an honor the have the support of the community for the stewardship of one of Montanan’s most treasured places on the doorstep of Whitefish. BMWF received 71 contributions totaling $26,232 and matching funds from WFCF added another $8,500. Thank you to all who contributed to BMWF’s challenge fund! And thank you Whitefish Community Foundation for host-ing this great community effort by bringing together so many wonderful local nonprofits and the community to support the good work they are doing.

2016 was the first year that BMWF participated in the Greatfish Challenge and we were blown away by the generosity of the community that came together to help us raise $34,000 to support stewardship of

Letter from the Executive Director

Starting a New Year is like hiking; we look back down the trail at how far we’ve come and look forward to new scenery around the next bend. In this newsletter and Annual Report you’ll read about BMWF’s 2016 accomplishments. For volunteers this may bring back memories of the trail they helped repair or the meadow they helped clear of weeds, new friends, and the comradery built by sweating together and breaking bread together. For donors, these numbers will evoke a sense of pride for supporting the teams of hard working volunteers that give back to Wilder-ness. This combined effort speaks volumes about the importance of keeping trails open for all Wilderness recreationalists.

The numbers also show that nearly every BMWF project was filled to capacity; some trips had a waiting list! Affirmation that there is huge support for volunteerism for the conservation of public lands. This summer we saw the growth of the next generation of conservation leaders as the Wilderness Conservation Interns came to know the Bob, fell in love with it, and gained focus for the importance of preserving wild and open spaces for generations to come. The Packer Apprentice program blossomed successfully, producing two young, competent packers invested in continuing this valuable Wilderness trade.

Looking ahead to 2017, we anticipate another packed field season. For those of you who can’t wait to get back to the Bob in 2017, the volunteer guide and project sign ups will go live on March 3rd. We will take you to the most scenic parts of the state and iconic places with cool names like Pretty Prairie, Big Prairie, Hobnail Tom trail, Doctor Lake, Goat Creek, and Indian Meadows. If you haven’t already, be sure to explore our new website at www.bmwf.org and check out the vibrant pages filled with memorable scenes from the Bob, information on the Wilderness, stories from the Bob, artist reflections, and coming this spring-- an interactive trail conditions map.

Happy Trails in 2017!

Trail Dog of the Year: Marley Sande

Marley Sande of Bigfork, MT found the BMWF 3 years ago at the ripe old age of 15. Every summer since, Marley has taken time off from her summer job to volunteer for a week-long trail clearing adventure. Marley is one of the most capable and hard working young woman you will meet. She, along with the dozens of other youth volunteers who head into The Bob every summer, give us hope that our

wild places will be in good hands with the next generation. Marley says, “I love The Bob, and volunteering in it so I can escape the monotony of daily life and explore while giving back”. This fall Marley headed to college in Bozeman where she’s hard at work studying, and exploring new mountains!

PACKER OF THE YEAR: FRANK VITALEFor as long as we can remember, Frank Vitale of Columbia Falls, MT has packed many BMWF volunteer adventures in and out of the Wilderness each summer. We can’t count the loads he and his mules have hauled, but we thank them loads! In addition to packing tools, food, and kitchen gear for volunteers, Frank dreamed up the Packer Apprentice Program and helped the Foundation bring it to fruition this summer. Thank you Frank for your commitment to support wilderness stew-ardship and conservation and to ensuring the skills and knowledge of wilderness packing are passed on to the next generation.

on tourMOUNTAINFILMMARCH 7MARCH 8MARCH 9

Great FallsHelenaWhitefish

www.bmwf.org/eventstickets at

...............

ANNUAL REPORT

358 VOLUNTEERS worked a total of17,328hours

miles of trail

clearing

3,046downed trees

on 41projects

managing.......................................................................................................................21acres for invasive weeds

TOTALING$528,470 IN WILDERNESS

STEWARDSHIP VALUE

1,000

248horse and mule loads

of food, tools and gear

miles hiked

...........................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

...............

.............

maintaining

that’s as far as Whitefish to Lincoln!

168

WHAT WENT INTO IT?

4,300over

cups of backcountry coffee brewed

“my trip was an opportunity to see the backcountry with someone else organizing all the logistics!”

- 2016 volunteer

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation trips are about

more than just trail work, they can be a life changing

wilderness experience for volunteers.

2016

that’s as far as Whitefish to Lincoln!

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation trips are about

more than just trail work, they can be a life changing

wilderness experience for volunteers.

2166spending a cumulative

days unplugged

of volunteers were kids

"I'm thrilled to have had genuine conversations with others of different back-

grounds and ages about what

the wilderness means to us

personally, for our culture, our

heritage, and our future."

22%

53%

16%

15%

10%4%

12%

17%

70%

administration

communityengagement

boots on the ground programs

grants

memberships & donations

fundraisers

licence plates

merchandise

2016 financial reportincome expenses

-2016 volunteer

in the wilderness

for about1/4it was their first time in The Bob

volunteers came from20states

1%investment interest

$279,320$395,795

GirlsIN THE BOB

For the nine girls who traveled to The Bob from across Montana, New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire this summer for the first Girls in the Bob trip, the experience was truly life changing.

“Girls in the Bob was a truly incredible experience. Not only did I get to help my commu-nity by making trails better and safer, I was able to push my limits and see what amazing things I could accomplish. Ripping apart the bridge the very first day, and chopping up fallen logs the following days was so rewarding, and it showed me the power that I hold within me. It was not only the volunteer work that I did, but also the day hikes that I went on. Being up so high and being able to see so far simultaneously makes you feel like a giant and an ant. You are on top of everything; you are the highest mountain. But you are also surrounded by nothing. The only thing keeping you on this massive ancient rock is the soles of your hiking boots. Living such an intense and monumental moment with people who were strangers just days before forms unbelievably strong bonds. This week, almost 5 months after our trip, we sent care packages to the other girls from our tent; the 2400 miles between us can’t break the bond we forged in the Bob.”

-Molly, 2016 Girls in The Bob participant

Thank you to BMWF Board member Sara Boilen of Sweetgrass Psychological Services for helping these nine remarkable young women find their strength while hiking over mountain passes and digging trail and for having the inspiration and ability to let nature nurture.

packer apprentice

program update

neat if an organization like the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation had a kind of apprenticeship to start teaching them? Well, that’s exactly what we did.

The first ever Packing Apprentices spent a week at the Ninemile Wildlands Training Center learning packing skills from legendary packer Smoke Elser and Casey Burns followed by six pack trips with the Master Packers as they assisted BMWF volunteer crews. On these trips Master packers Frank Vitale, Ralph Hopkins (Flathead BCH), and Ian Bardwell (USFS) helped them hone their skills and tracked their education resulting in a certificate of accomplishment. But it wasn’t all diamond hitches and tying manti, along the trail the apprentices also picked up valuable lessons like: “You know Krissy, to a mule all the world is just a tossed salad” or “Krissy, don’t you know cowboys don’t drink water.” Applications for the 2017 Packer Apprentice Program will be accepted till March 15.

The Packer Apprentice Program was born when Frank Vitale came to the BMWF Board of Directors and said: We don’t see a whole lot of young people packing any-more, and a lot of us are starting to get a little gray around the muzzle. Wouldn’t it be really

AGL Foundation at WCFBack Country Horsemen Of America Education FoundationBayne Family Fund at WCFBNSF RailwaysBur-Bash DAF at WCF FoundationGlacier Guides- Montana Raft Co.James and Wanda Hollensteiner FoundationMontana State FundNorcross Wildlife FoundationPatagonia Inc.Paws Up FoundationRocky Mountain OutfitterSarah RyersonTom and Teresa Quinn Fund at WCFWhisler Family Foundation at WCF

Cadeau FoundationCotswold FoundationFranchini Family FoundationNational Forest FoundationPark Side Federal Credit UnionRecreational Trails ProgramJanet & John BaliSwan Mountain OutfittersThe Front Brewing CompanyThe Krummholz FundNate & Liz JohnsonWhitefish Community FoundationWomen Who WineNational Wilderness Stewardship Alliance

trail blazer

Thank Youto the members and sponsors who so generously support wilderness stewardship and conservation in The Bob

golden pulaski

Bedrock SandalsBlackfoot River Brewing CompanyBob & Winifred CrawfordCampervan North AmericaChris Moore, Landscape Architect, Inc.David GordonEdward CallaghanEdward JonesEisinger HondaFirst Interstate BankFred & Nancy FlintGlacier BankGlacier Raft CompanyGreat Northern Powder GuidesIzaak Walton InnJeff Clairmont

cross cut saw

Alan StaceyAllen JimmersonAlvaro FreyreAmerican Hiking SocietyAnn Clary Gordon in memory of Jim GordonAverill HospitalityBadrock Bed and BreakfastBonsai Brewing ProjectBoy Scout Troop 285Carol Bibler & Jim WatsonCharles ZlockCossit LawCounter AssaultDA DavidsonDaniel HarperDick & Dulcy ZoellnerDon HauthDonald & Marilyn DonTigny in memory of Bill DonTignyEdward JonesFrank & Linda DeKortFred & Lynne Van Horn in memory of Sharon LoganGentry River RanchGreg FaughtHans HannusHurraw! BalmJerry StokesJim & Beverly SnappJohn & Kristen VandenburghJohn GoroskiKalispell Brewing Co.Katie Bane in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Kramer Family Fund at WCFKristina GillispieLarry & Helen Cates

Lary’s Fly Shop & Montana Fly Co.Lou BahinMary & Pete CarparelliMatt, Jane & Lauren BrophyMontana AcademyNational Parks RealtyNative EyewearNelson’s ACE HardwareNomad GCSPatagonia Dillon OutletFernie Alpine ResortRiver Design GroupRoseburg Forest ProductsSpotted Bear SpiritsSteeps TeaSuper Feet InsolesT. Rowe Price FoundationTim Edwards & Gayle HudginsTodd Harwell & Elena FlanaganUncommon GroundWhitefish Mountain Resort

Advanced Rehabilitation ServicesAlexander Gray & Cameron BlakeAmerican BankBackcountry Horsemen Of MontanaBarbara & James DeanBecca WheelerBet & Doug WiseBeth Hodder & Al KossBetsy & Dan KohnstammBighorn Outdoor SpecialistsBill FlintBob & Vicky DotyBob and Donna SimsBob and Fran FlintBob DelkBradley & Barbara MassamBruce Boody Landscape ArchitectBruce RuppBSA Nebraska Troop #359BSA Whitefish Troop 1917Buckskin ClothierBudget Inn Express DowntownBuffington DentalCarolyn BabcockCarolyn Koch in memory of Gene KochChris LockridgeChris Peterson

Christine DyeClark & Patricia BakerCraig & Victoria McVickerCrazy Creek ChairsDan & Ann FagreDan & Kathleen HediganDana ChapmanDanna QuinnDave & Alex CarreDavid HoffmanDean HoistadDeborah & Dennis Milburn in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Eric BornhorstFeral Stone JewelryField Guide DesignsFlathead Valley Ski Education FoundationFreedom BankGarden Wall InnGary DanczykGeorgia LoveladyGlacier Distilling Glacier Symphony & ChoraleGreen Peak Promo Inc.Hammer NutritionHarvey & Joan GoldsteinHash, O’Brien, Biby and Murray PLLPHeather & Paul DavidsonHelen BirkHoward Anderson & Pam LittleHugh JonesJames McgarveyJean Dickey in memory of William DickeyJim & Joslyn CarneyJim FortsonJohn & Sue PearsonJohn & Carol SantaJohn & Melissa PhelpsJohn & Susan O’DonnellJohn EmersonJohn McIntoshJohn NewberryJoseph & Katy KrezowskiJudith HarwellKalispell Regional Medical CenterKatharine Donnelley in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Kevin O’Bryan & Emily MurphreeKraig & Ruth LangL.E. ScovelLeo & Katie McAvoyLewayen & Marjorie KroegerLewis Wall in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Mack & Julia Avery in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Mae Nan Ellingson

John AllenKokopelli Raft Co.Maggie Doherty & Cole SchneiderMike PattersonMindful Designs Inc.Nancy CunninghamProof ResearchRed Ants PantsRichard & Jeanne WilliamsRichard Gordon & Cheryl WatkinsDr. Sara Boilen, Sweetgrass Psychological ServicesSteve & Anne BuschThe Base CampWhitefish Credit Union

double bit axe

swinging pick

Margaret ParodiMarian BouwmeesterMarie JohnsMarjorie Popham in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Mark & Denise VanArtsdale in memory of John BrekkeMark BailerMark CunnaneMark StriepeMerck FoundationMichael McMahonMichael Reavis PhotographyMike & Pam YoungMontana Wilderness AssociationMurdoch’s Columbia FallsNancy & Michael OshierNancy LundgrenO’Haire Motor InnOutfitters Supply Inc.Padraic McCracken & Nisan BurbridgePamela QuinnPatricia LuckePatti Johnston & Tom OsenPete & Jan MetzmakerPeter BlockRaymond Flaherty & Lisa LarsenRF Systems Consulting Inc.Richard & Suzanne HildnerRobert FrielRobert PsurnySalish Kootenai College Upward BoundScott MurphySeth CarbonariSheila ShapiroSmoke & Thelma ElserSpring Brook RanchStan & Bobby KeilStan SneathStephen BrownSteve & Sandy KratvilleSteve & Teri JohnsenSteve OlsonSteven Gnam PhotographyStuart & Helen WhiteSue & Ed LieserSweetgrass Psychological ServicesTamarack Brewing CompanyTeletechTerri SmileyTerry & Kathy FasteenTerry Chute & Jane Kollmeyer in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Teton Pass Ski AreaThe Compass GroupThe Sander’s Bed & Breakfast

Alan WilliamsAmy & Fritz RoyerAmy BessenAndrea OnkenAndrew ChrittonAnn DonTigny in memory of Bill DonTignyAnna GreshamAnne DellwoAnnie HansenArnold FujiokaBarb & Steve PennerBarbara BoormanBecky LomaxBill ShultzBob & Sue PadelfordBonnie & Dan HodgesBrian Green & Elizabeth SkinnerBrian MahoneyBridget Johnson in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Brittney EricksonCapital SportsCarlos FloreyCaryn RouseCatherine SullivanCharlene LockeCharles & Maureen RedfieldChris & Patrick RyanChristina LarsenChuck & Nancy ManningCortica Coffee MugsCostco KalispellDan HenryDaniel & Dylan HarvalaDaniel BunchDaniel HerbertDave & Kay OwenDavid & Nancy Wright in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.David BoggsDavid BorgerDavid HockenberryDavid VonEschenDean RobbinsDennis KentDevon & David Brown

Dexter HaleDick & Deb MerrittDonald SternDudley HartmannEdward ZynieckiEileen CarneyElaine & Robert ArringtonEmily CrawfordEric LoveringErnest & Jane RouseEthel Koehler & Marcia KircherFred CooperGail & Jim JokerstGene PershaGeorge KolbGreg & Deborah SchatzHarry & Cynthia PoettHeather & Marley SandeHeidi HaugenHelena BrewersHood Family Revocable Trust in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Irene FriesJames MilosJan NiemeyerJeff & Jan MartinJeni Flatow in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Jill & Paul LambJim RuffingJoan JohnstonJoe WodnikJohn & Rosemary McKinnonJohn & Fischer GangemiJohn & Kathi HartliebJohn & Suzanne SwietnickiJohn BostickKara SnyderKaren Brockus in memory of Bernie Liongerger Jr.Karen Person & Sydney LillardKaren SnowKaren SouthKarin ConnellyKarley BozarthKathleen BeveridgeKathleen HeiskellKen BrochuKeni & Ralph HopkinsKirk Bryan & Harriet BlakeKrista MarshallLacey HilgersLee PinskiLeonard CastroLeslie Anderson & Thomas CookLinda, David & Cassidy Grady

Blazing bow saw

The Zane Ray GroupTim & Ethan HouseTim Strand & Sukey PfirmanTyler Warne & Caroline RissVinotureWayne & Darlene ThompsonWhitefish PotteryWilliam & Laura BoydWilliam Thibeault & Henry Barden

Clifford & Cassidy KippCorrie Williamson in memory of Robert HaynesDale & June SproutDenise PengerothDiane TidwellDouglas MessineoDow & Becky Smith-PowellEarl & Karen PhilipsErnie & Renee LundbergGary DalenGeorge WeldonGerald & Lynda OsborneGrete GansauerHeaton Electric Inc.Jack & Karen HookerJane & Henry RatzlaffJanet CollinsJanis TaylorJeff HuttenJesse PenteluteJim MurphyJoe & Linda FranchiniJohn & Lisa PowellJohn Ashley Fine Art John MacKinnonJohn PeineJune BurgauKaren BeckleyKarl GrafKen & Jan Olson in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Kiandra WaggonerLarry & Linda Brandvold in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Laura NovakLeonard Walch in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Lyle &Terria ArpsMarchand Logan DyeMary Ann LowerMerlyn & Linda Huso in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Michael LeedMike PalmerMontana Liquor & WinePhillip J. ScuittoRunner Up SportsSarah BowmanShear PerfectionStephanie & Edward Gunter in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.Steven FischerSue PaulsonSue RootTeresa Asleson in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.The Nightowl & Backroom

Three Forks GrilleTim & Hilary ShawWendell BeardsleyWendy KammWilliam Avey

hard hat

Loren PinskiMandi CasoloMark LewisMary SchlauderaffMatt RaibleMichael ContradaMichael MetzmakerMichael ShermanMike KoopalMike RichterNicholas HetherNikki GriffisNina Rose SaxenianNoel JiningsNorm and Judy KamrudNorth Fork PizzaPaul KienkerPeter & Cheri AronssonPhil AlbertPhilip JohnsrudRalph & Linda GreilingRalph KoppRenee TherriaultRichard & Carole MurphyRichard HaberkernRick & Claudia MathiesRobert & Chris StephensRobert HaydenRobert MullinRobin KelsonRockfish Climbing & FitnessRod McIverRosemary MoukadSally Cameron-RussellSheila JohansenStacy & Jim BengtsonSteve Gniadek & Susan SindtSteven GraysonSusan CrawfordSwep & Brenda DavisThea KoehlerTom JavinsTravis DorvallTyler JohnsonTyrel & Sammi JohnsonUptown HearthVictor LeuckWade MuehlhofWilliam Thomas

Alden, Melanie, Patrick, & Seline Totten Andy Breland (NWMT BCH) Bob and Sue Padelford (Flathead BCH) Chris EyerDan Harper (Missoula BCH) Frank VitaleHerold Herring Packer ApprenticeIan and Eve Bardwell Jeff Brant (LC BCH) Jeni Flatow (LC BCH) Joe Meek (LC BCH) John Peine (NWMT BCH)Keith AlltuckerKristina Gillispie Packer ApprenticeLianna Spooner Lincoln Ranger District Neil Horn (LC BCH) Pat Clanton Quinton Tolman Rich Ranch Rocky Mtn. Ranger District Rick Mathies (NWMT BCH) Ron Tippet (NWMT BCH) Ralph Hopkins (Flathead BCH) Spotted Bear Ranger District Swan Mountain Outfitters Steve Barker (BCH Flathead) Stu Sorenson (Flathead BCH) WTR Outfitters

Addrien MarxAnne & Joe BibyBackslope BrewingBellwether JewelryBill & Sid SullivanBrooke StallingsCindy Yarberry in memory of Bernie Lionberger Jr.

volunteer packers

in 2016 these packers’ donated services totaled

in value $86,400

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►To

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