Trailhead: Kelly Creek #567
Miles to Camp: 11
Our backcountry restoration crew has been working in the Kelly Creek area for over a decade, and we need your help to figure out if our treatment efforts are effective. Autumn is a beautiful time to visit Kelly Creek - one of the most wild and remote areas of the Great Burn recommended wilderness. The area is home to blue-ribbon trout streams and abundant wildlife, and our restoration work directly improves the wild character of the area.
To help target treatment, GBCA utilizes Line-Point-Intercept monitoring. Volunteers will assist our Restoration Program Director, Chris, in completing two blocks of transects located in Hanson Meadows. This will provide great plant ID practice!
**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever-changing fire activity.
Difficulty
Hiking
Moderate to Strenuous: The hike is about 11 miles, however, it is mostly creek gradient, so not too much elevation gain. This trail can get hot on warm days however, as there are many open side slopes.
Work
Moderate: Monitoring is a long process, and each block will take 3-5 hours to complete.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Volunteers will carpool to Kelly Creek Trailhead and hike to Hanson Meadows via trail 567. Set up basecamp and relax!
Day 2 | Both monitoring plots are located in Hanson Meadows near our camp, so we’ll work on the plots today. There will also be time to explore the area or fish Kelly Creek (make sure you have an ID fishing license)!
Day 3 | Break down camp and hike out via trail 567. Return to Missoula.
Great Burn Conservation Alliance trips are Free. Each volunteer will be required to make a 100% refundable deposit to secure a trip spot. The cost of the deposit is $50, which will be returned if you cancel at least 3 weeks before your scheduled trip or once you attend the trip. A lot of planning goes into these trips and we need to make sure you’re committed! If you are unable to make a deposit, please reach out to hayley@greatburn.org