Maintaining the Pistol Creek Trail & Historical Cabin
about 7 miles down the trail which is approx.18.5 miles long. In 2004 and 2005, we worked with John Rose, at that time the Archeologist for the Salmon-Challis Nat’l Forest, to accomplish two important projects: In 2004, we replaced the shingles on the roof of the historical 44 Cabin. The following year we returned to replace the bottom logs on the cabin, which was quite a feat.
This year (2019) members cleared the Pistol Creek Trail from Snowshoe Summit to the 44 Cabin, which had been filled with much downfall, and we repaired two bridges on the lower end of the Trail.
The Pistol Creek Trail begins near the wilderness boundary and its junction with the Pistol Creek Springs Road near the Snowshoe Trailhead. The trail is used by outfitters, hikers, riders, and hunters. According to one of the project leaders, Doug Jones, “We ended up only having five individuals helping for four days and another two persons for one day. Some (of the downfall) was as large as 2 1/2’ in diameter. The first three days we were only able to clear about a mile per day due to the size and number of deadfall in the trail.” Not only was downfall cut out, but a major washout was repaired and the tread on six feet of trail made passable for stock again. Extensive brushing was also done. The TVBCH crew met the head Pistol Creek outfitter coming down the trail, who said that he was very appreciative of the work—At the time, he was bringing in horses and owners of the Pistol Creek Ranch. Members in this TVBCHI crew were Doug Jones, Jim Smolinski, Bill Murphy, Justin Stucker, Hunter Stucker, and Anne Pope.
For the bridge project, member Joe Williams took his pack string to the bottom of the 18.5 mile trail, where the Forest Service (Salmon-challis Nat’l Forest) had just cleared, to join three members, Cini Baumhoff, Ron Doupe, and Patty Pennington, who had flown from Cascade, ID, to the Indian Creek airstrip, which is near the Indian Creek Forest Guard Station located within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. This is where the crew of four would complete extensive repair work on the Indian Creek Bridge and a little work on the Pistol Creek Bridge.
Overall, it was a tough trail to clear in 2019, but we will probably do it again next year, and perhaps revisit the bridges for future maintenance work.
34 / Sport and Trail Magazine
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ince 2004, the Treasure Valley BCHI chapter has been involved, on a regular basis, in various projects to maintain the Pistol Creek Trail--which we have cleared for many years--down to the 44 Cabin, about 7 miles down the trail which is approx.18.5 miles long. In 2004 and 2005, we worked with John Rose, at that time the Archeologist for the Salmon-Challis Nat’l Forest, to accomplish two important projects: In 2004, we replaced the shingles on the roof of the historical 44 Cabin. The following year we returned to replace the bottom logs on the cabin, which was quite a feat.
about 7 miles down the trail which is approx.18.5 miles long. In 2004 and 2005, we worked with John Rose, at that time the Archeologist for the Salmon-Challis Nat’l Forest, to accomplish two important projects: In 2004, we replaced the shingles on the roof of the historical 44 Cabin. The following year we returned to replace the bottom logs on the cabin, which was quite a feat.
This year (2019) members cleared the Pistol Creek Trail from Snowshoe Summit to the 44 Cabin, which had been filled with much downfall, and we repaired two bridges on the lower end of the Trail.
The Pistol Creek Trail begins near the wilderness boundary and its junction with the Pistol Creek Springs Road near the Snowshoe Trailhead. The trail is used by outfitters, hikers, riders, and hunters. According to one of the project leaders, Doug Jones, “We ended up only having five individuals helping for four days and another two persons for one day. Some (of the downfall) was as large as 2 1/2’ in diameter. The first three days we were only able to clear about a mile per day due to the size and number of deadfall in the trail.” Not only was downfall cut out, but a major washout was repaired and the tread on six feet of trail made passable for stock again. Extensive brushing was also done. The TVBCH crew met the head Pistol Creek outfitter coming down the trail, who said that he was very appreciative of the work—At the time, he was bringing in horses and owners of the Pistol Creek Ranch. Members in this TVBCHI crew were Doug Jones, Jim Smolinski, Bill Murphy, Justin Stucker, Hunter Stucker, and Anne Pope.
For the bridge project, member Joe Williams took his pack string to the bottom of the 18.5 mile trail, where the Forest Service (Salmon-challis Nat’l Forest) had just cleared, to join three members, Cini Baumhoff, Ron Doupe, and Patty Pennington, who had flown from Cascade, ID, to the Indian Creek airstrip, which is near the Indian Creek Forest Guard Station located within the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. This is where the crew of four would complete extensive repair work on the Indian Creek Bridge and a little work on the Pistol Creek Bridge.
Overall, it was a tough trail to clear in 2019, but we will probably do it again next year, and perhaps revisit the bridges for future maintenance work.
Treasure Valley BCHI, Idaho