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Job Title:
Trail Crew Member About Us: Flathead Area Mountain Bikers, Inc. (FAMB) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to preserve and advance mountain biking in the Flathead Valley of northwest Montana. We provide free mountain bike skills clinics to our members and organize volunteer trail-work events. We manage & maintain Spencer Mountain Freeride Trails in Whitefish as well as Whitefish’s pump track in Armory Park. FAMB’s Flathead Trail Crew (FTC) is a county-wide trail crew that works on multi-use trails on public lands. Multi-use trails include trails open to bikers, hikers, motorbikes, dogs, and horses. The FTC’s work season is primarily funded by donations from the community during the Great Fish Community Challenge as well as funding granted through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) in partnership with the USFS Flathead National Forest. Responsibilities: Reporting to FAMB’s Trail Crew Leader (TCL), each crew member will help carry out projects on public trails that are recognized as valuable to the mountain biking community:
Qualifications: Can perform duties safely under the guidance of TCL and without constant direct supervision:
Certifications:
Expectations:
Compensation & Schedule: This is a seasonal position where scheduling can vary significantly, generally ranging from 20-40 hours per week. Trail work is inherently prone to scheduling changes depending on seasonal conditions and weather (timing of snow thaw & accumulation, fire restrictions & air quality, extreme temperatures). 40 hrs/wk is not guaranteed, some trails require a difference in travel/hike to projects, some require more or less maintenance. FAMB is devoted to the recognition of our employees and appreciates the commitment to work through the entire season and/or communicate one’s employment timeframe in advance.
To Apply: Send resume and cover letter to Ron Brandt, FAMB’s Executive Director, at director@flatheadamb.org. FAMB is committed to diversity & inclusion in fair-hiring practices.
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FAMB is a non profit supported by 9 volunteer board members that serve 3 year terms, meaning that each fall, three board seats turn over or run for reelection. The FAMB Board Of Directors meets once a month in the evening and each board member is expected to serve on at least one committee that also meets monthly.
If you have questions about joining the FAMB Board of Directors, please contact FAMB Executive Director at director@flatheadamb.org or Board of Directors President Stella Hobbs at stellalhobbs@gmail.com. If you are interested in getting involved with FAMB at the Board of Directors level, please email a photo and a short paragraph about yourself to director@flatheadamb.org by October 5th. All applicants will be added to an online ballot that will be shared with FAMB Members October 6th and will remain open until October 13th. Current Board of Directors Martin Emmot and Ben Johnson will be running for reelection while Kim McNamer will be stepping down at the end of this term cycle. Members Check your inboxes for your ballot, please reach out to director@flatheadamb.org if you haven't received one and feel that you should have. FAMB would like to extend a massive thank you to Greg Theis for his work with the organization in both the Trail Crew Leader position in the summer of 2021 as well as his dedication to the Executive Director position since September of 2021. As of this week, Greg will be leaving the organization and his role as the Executive Director.
The FAMB Board of Directors is assuming the administrative responsibilities during this transitional time and is also seeking a replacement for the Executive Director position. Interested? Or know someone that might be? Send them to the job description linked below and please reach out to director@flatheadamb.org with applications and questions. The Executive Director role is a full time, salaried position that works closely with FAMB's volunteer board of directors as well as our paid positions including our part time Program & Events Coordinator, full time Trail Crew Leader and additional Trail Crew members. The application period will close on August 5th.  Join us in the Spotted Bear backcountry to help clean up the Posey Creek trail! Why: The Napa Point to Columbia Mountain ridge line of the Alpine 7 is a dream backcountry bike adventure that is inhibited by the very overgrown Posey Creek section. With the help of the FAMB trail crew and this volunteer event, the trail could be passable and enjoyable again. When: Our main trail cleanup day will be the 16th, however we are encouraging everyone to make the 15th and 17th travel days since the drive is slightly long. What: The goal is clearing the brush overgrowing the trail. The FAMB trail crew will be going out the week before to do the brunt of the work with the hopes that volunteers will swamp and clean up the trail. This is a backcountry mission so you will need to provide your own camping gear and food, but snacks and swag will be provided! Where: From Columbia Falls; head east to Hungry Horse, south on West Side Road for 44 miles, turn right/west on Quintonkon Road, and continue 6.5 miles. Look for a campsite down below the road on the left/south side of the road along the creek. If you reach the end of the road, you went a couple miles too far. (GPS Coordinates) 48°02'57.2"N 113°41'33.5"W Let us know you're planning on coming by signing up here! Under the guidance of FAMB’s Executive Director (ED), the Programs & Events Coordinator will help plan, promote, and manage FAMB programs and events as well as assist with fundraising and other administrative tasks that may not be listed below:
Click here for the full job description and details on how to apply. It probably feels like we've been talking about the upcoming timber salvage at Spencer Mountain for at least a year now (because it really has been that long), but it is finally about to officially be upon us. Here are some details:
Below is a map of the timber salvage harvest units and forthcoming trail closures (click image to enlarge):  It came to our attention that there has been some confusion surrounding the recent coverage of the Forest Plan in transitioning some trail networks to recommended wilderness areas -- it confused us at first, too. We'll provide some clarification on this:
You may have heard about a public comment period on the proposed action related to the transition of areas in the Flathead National Forest (FNF) to become recommended wilderness. Among other regulations, this prohibits mechanized transport (i.e. no bikes allowed). The confusion lies in the intention of this public comment period, further muddled by the timing of this recent announcement and the surrounding coverage of the matter. The recent FNF Proposed Action is merely the second-tiered environmental analysis and site-specific planning of the initial forest plan, approved and adopted in late 2018. At that time, the FNF was given three years to initiate this analysis plan, which brings us to the recent announcement earlier in 2022:
FAMB always stands behind advocacy for mountain biking, and when a matter comes to our attention affecting mountain bike access to public trails, we will spread the word and take action... this just wasn't one of those occasions. It may be a bummer when this sort of thing happens; however, it is our understanding that there is somewhat of a correlation between these changes and the decision to move forward with the upcoming increased recreational access in the Taylor-Hellroaring and Cedar Flats areas. More information on this project can be found at the Forest Service project website or by contacting Michele.Draggoo@usda.gov with additional questions.   Looking for a seasonal job out on the trails of beautiful, northwestern Montana?
Whether you have previous experience on a trail crew or you're looking to get involved with trail work for the first time, our Flathead Trail Crew is a great opportunity for a fun, physically challenging, and adventurous job working for a good cause! Available positions: (click links below for job descriptions & details)
After a winter 2021 blowdown event at Spencer, the DNRC notified FAMB and trail partner Whitefish Legacy Partners that the DNRC planned to conduct a timber salvage operation. FAMB and many of you submitted comments pleading with the DNRC to help us mitigate the damage to trail and trailhead improvements at Spencer.
The DNRC's Checklist Environmental Assessment dated June 29, 2021 indicated that they plan to implement operational strategies designed to minimize damage to licensed trails, including a required agreement between the salvage operator and the DNRC project lead to "limit skid trail locations and trail crossing frequencies". FAMB and WLP will not receive reimbursement for SRUL fees beyond a pro rata share of the acreage fee, which covers only trailhead/parking amenities and not licensed trails. More recently, we received word that this operation is most likely not going to happen until Spring 2022. We would obviously prefer this operation to occur during winter months when the ground is frozen (which would further limit trail infrastructure damage), but we are told by the DNRC that a winter operation is highly unlikely due to contractor schedules. On state trust lands like Spencer, these timber harvest operations are awarded to the bidder that will bring the state trust beneficiaries the most revenue, and the contractor has some leeway in terms of project timing. FAMB will be meeting with the DNRC project lead before the salvage operation begins to provide feedback on the least intrusive locations for skid trails and trail crossings, and the DNRC has expressed a desire to work with us to prevent unnecessary damage to trails and trail infrastructure. Rest assured that we will do what we can to urge the salvage operator to limit damage to trails and features, and we will be at the ready to make repairs after the operation has concluded. We thank so many of you who submitted comments in support of Spencer. And as always, we will keep you informed.  This position has been filled!!
Job Title Executive Director Organization Flathead Area Mountain Bikers is a non-profit organization with the mission of preserving and advancing mountain biking activities in the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana. We provide free mountain bike clinics to the community and organize volunteer trail work events on public lands. We also manage and maintain Spencer Trails in Whitefish, and the pump track in Whitefish’s Armory Park. FAMB operates a full-time seasonal valley-wide trail maintenance crew. We will soon be embarking on large-scale fundraising and trail construction projects in the Taylor Hellroaring and Crystal Cedar project areas. Responsibilities Executive Director (ED) tasks:
Skills & Qualifications Required:
Preferred:
Compensation and Schedule
To Apply Apply by August 15th. Send resume and cover letter to Becky Briber at director@flatheadamb.org. FAMB is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our hiring practices. |
About UsFlathead Area Mountain Bikers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is working to promote mountain biking and improve trail access in the Flathead Valley. Archives
January 2023
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