Trails Don't Maintain Themselves. That's Where FAMB - and our Supporters - Come In
Now hiring for the 2022 Season! - Click here for details.
To address the backlog of Flathead Valley trails in need of maintenance and upkeep and the chronic underfunding of trail maintenance projects at both the state and federal level, FAMB founded the Flathead Trail Crew (FTC) in 2020. Our professional, paid trail crew clears and maintains multi-use trails on state land, in the National Forest, and in city and county parks throughout the Flathead Valley. We focus particularly on trails that mountain bikers love to ride - and trails that we feel people would love riding if they were properly maintained.
FAMB's Flathead Trail Crew Funding Sources ... and the power of matching donations
The Great Fish Community Challenge (GFCC): The main source of funding for FAMB's Flathead Trail Crew is the The Whitefish Community Foundation's Great Fish Community Challenge. Our crew's 2021 work season was funded by donation amounting to $24,048.59during our 2020 GFCC drive. An additional $11,250 of funds granted courtesy of the generous match-fund donors plus the Doris Schumm Community Spirit Award* of $2,500 increased our total to $37,798.59.
*This award, granted by the Whitefish Community Foundation in recognition of our dedication to improving recreational opportunities throughout the Flathead, honors the late Doris Schumm - a great supporter & friend of local nonprofits as well as an avid volunteer.
Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA): In 2021, FAMB inked two five-year agreements with the Flathead National Forest (FNF) for a combined total of $25,000 in funding under the GAOA for us to assist in addressing the deferred maintenance backlog on FNF trails. With more GAOA funding likely in the near future, FAMB is proud to partner with FNF crews to get our local trails riding, running, and hiking their best, earlier in the season.
Corporate Sponsors & Local Partners: FAMB offers the option to be an official sponsor of our Flathead Trail Crew, of which benefits include:
Sponsor logo on back of crew t-shirts as well as on the FTC work truck (as a magnet)
Linked sponsor logo on FAMB website under “Sponsors & Partners" and on FTC webpage
Promotion of sponsorship via FAMB social media & subscriber emails
4 complimentary FAMB memberships
The funds mentioned above enabled our crew to purchase a much needed work truck, tools, equipment, and supplies in order to accomplish the following in 2021:
2021 FAMB Flathead Trail Crew Stats Days on Trail: 66 Miles of Trail Maintained: 54.6 Trees Cleared from Obstructing Trail: 225 Cutbacks Made: 332 Dead/Overhanging Trees Felled: 58 Miles of Trail Brush Cut: 16.5 Miles of Drainage Maintained: 28.9 Feet of Tread Repair: 1,658 Labor Hours on Trail: 1,283.7
Looking Ahead to the 2022 Season
FAMB was honored to participate in the 2021 Great Fish Community Challenge which ran 8/05 - 9/17/2021 and we look forward to participating in the 2022 GFCC as well. The great thing about this fundraiser is that gifts up to a total of $20,000 will be matched on a percentage basis, which makes each dollar contributed go the extra mile... literally. The more FAMB raises, the more miles of trail we're able to maintain -- it really is that simple. In 2021, FAMB's GFCC fundraising effort amounted to $29,732.16 in donations with matching funds of $11,200, totaling $40,932.16.
Once again, we are in the process of securing additional fundraising granted through the Great American Outdoors Act in partnership with the Flathead National Forest.
If you/your organization (or one you know of) would like to become an official sponsor of our 2022 Flathead Trail Crew, please contact our Executive Director by emailing director@flatheadamb.org.
Here's a list of priority trails that our Flathead Trail Crew is focused on maintaining. (Click on each trail for more information)
See something that needs work? Some examples: Swampy areas on the trail that could be fixed by drainage work, trees blocking a trail, or brush encroaching the trail corridor. Submit a request below and our crew will try to address the issue if we can.