The Mountain Ear
May 2025
President’s Message
Greetings again,
Well folks, I am sitting down here to compose my final President’s Message. I have served as TRM President for the last two years now and it's time to hand the baton to the next leader. I’ll continue to be involved of course because I do really enjoy this club and this community and what it has to offer. Many of my closest friends and partners have been (and continue to be) introduced to me because of our involvement with TRM. It’s basically a gift that keeps on giving!
We’ve taken on quite a few tasks over the last few years that I have been a part of. I’m quite proud of some of the things this leadership group has accomplished. Particularly, the launch of our new website, the establishing of a Gear Closet, the continued growth of outdoor education offerings and the move to Freestone for our Presentations. I believe we are headed in a good and sustainable direction.
As with most small non-profit clubs, the majority of the work running the club is handled by a small minority of people. I would really like to recognize the following folks for their contributions these past couple of years: Elizabeth Smith, Mark Albrecht, Candy Hartman, Tom Statz, Julie Kahl, Alden Wright, Kyle O’Connor, Jaren Williams, Francis Horton. Please thank them all when you have a chance!
We’ve got a lot happening over the next few days. First, we are once again participating in the Missoula Gives fundraising campaign. Two years ago we raised nearly $2000 and funded the start of our Gear Closet. Last year we added more. This year we plan to use funds raised towards education for our Trip Leaders. If you can chip in, every little bit helps. See the article below for more details.
Saturday is our annual Spring Fling and BBQ event. Again, details below. We have some trips you can participate in during the day if desired. Then please come to our BBQ at Fort Missoula in the evening. I would love to see you there!
Please be on the lookout for an email early next week asking you to vote for the slate of nominated officers. Also, if you have not made a camping reservation for the Kercher Glacier Classic and intend to go, try to get that done soon!
As for me…in addition to stepping down as TRM President, I am also stepping down from the job I have been doing for the past 24 years. It is time to go adventure! I have trips in the works for the Canadian Rockies, Cascades, Brooks Range, Denali, Southern Utah, and of course a whole bunch right here in western Montana- the heart of it all! Climbing, packrafting, bike touring, skiing. All of these will be tackled at least in part with people I have met through this club over the years!
Thanks to all of you for being a part of The Rocky Mountaineers. Let’s continue to all pitch in and make this club a cornerstone of the western Montana outdoor community!
Cheers,
Forest Dean
MISSOULA GIVES FUNDRAISER - MAY 1-2!
Missoula Gives, an initiative of Missoula Community Foundation, is a 26-hour online celebration of the Missoula community. It connects generous Missoulians with the causes they care about. It is a day to celebrate and support the role you play in making our Missoula community great!Our fundraising goal for Missoula Gives this year is $2,000. We can get there with your generous support!
Help us spread the word by sharing this link, too. The Rocky Mountaineers are raising funds to support educational opportunities for our Trip Leaders, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills to lead safe, enriching adventures in the backcountry. Your donation will help provide first aid training, navigation skills, avalanche safety, and more, empowering our Trip Leaders to guide with confidence and expertise. Join us in fostering a stronger, safer outdoor community—every contribution makes a difference! We hope you will consider donating to this fundraiser today, as well as become a member of The Rocky Mountaineers!
Ready to be a part of the adventure? Here's how you can help:
🏔️ ADVENTURE PARTNER Give $25 for a Trip Leader's First Aid Class!
🥾 ADVENTURE ADVOCATE Give $50 to purchase an Avalanche Course for a Trip Leader!
🧗 PEAK BAGGER Give $75 for Trip Leader Training!
🚩 SUMMIT CREW Give $100 and help TRM purchase an Avy 2 Course for one of our Trip Leaders! (who will then be able to lead Avalanche 1 courses for TRM)
Thank you for your consideration, and remember your donation is tax deductible. Adventure awaits!
TRM GEAR CLOSET
Our ‘exclusive to member use’ Gear Closet continues to grow. We recently added some BCA 2-way radios along with some CAMP alpine ice tools. This gear is for YOU to use at no charge. If you’d like to check something out of the Closet send an email to Forest- mtnear1@gmail.com.
A complete listing of all the gear we currently have available in the Gear Closet can be found on our website.
SPRING FLING AND BBQ
On SATURDAY, MAY 3rd, we will have our Annual Spring BBQ. This will be held in conjunction with a day of activities! Please mark this on your calendar and consider attending!! Here is the plan:
• Several trips to choose from during the day (see calendar for all the details): Rock Climbing at Alberton Rest Area, Hike on Woody Mountain, Hike on Black Mountain (Horizon Peak)
• 6:00pm- BBQ in Missoula @ Ft. Missoula's Meadowlark Shelter. Food, Beer & Drinks!
• Raffle Prizes! So far, we have (2) Lift tickets to Showdown Ski area, (1) Liquor Basket from Grizzly Liquor, (1) Hand Crafted TRM Cutting Board, a Perpetual Calendar, Healing Salve and TRM Swag!
• Lawn Games!
To help cover our food costs and the shelter rental, we would like to ask all attendees to contribute $5.00 (kids are free). You will get one free raffle ticket for your contribution. (More tickets can be purchased as well)
The Meadowlark Shelter is at the Fort Missoula Regional Park at 2920 South Avenue West. This is just past the Community Medical Center parking lot on the other side of a parking lot south of South Avenue. See Meadowlark Shelter.
We REALLY want you to attend this event! Hope to see ALL of you there! MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND (members can bring guests though). Also, an RSVP is requested. Email: Forest Dean - mtnear1@gmail.com
BOARD OF DIRECTOR ELECTIONS
A new Board will be elected at our Annual meeting on May 12 (members will have the opportunity to vote on the slate of officers via electronic early next week). The current board has nominated the following individuals for the four positions: Mark Albrecht- President, Francis Horton- Vice President, Carson Ramsden- Secretary, Tom Statz- Treasurer. Take a look at their bio’s below! We encourage you to support their nomination by voting YES in the ballot you will receive soon.
Mark Albrecht:
I'm Mark Albrecht, and I am happy to accept the nomination as President of the Rocky Mountaineers. Like many of you, I joined the Rocky Mountaineers in hopes of finding community and meeting people with whom I could participate in outdoor adventures. The club has exceeded my hopes and has helped me find a local faction of adventurers who love being in the mountains as much as I do. During my time in the club, I have seen a lot of new people become involved and bring a remarkable level of energy to the organization. As president, my goal will be to continue growing our community and finding new ways to keep members engaged, organizing activities, and sharing their knowledge and passion with others. At the same time, I'll seek to preserve the core that has enabled the club to remain viable for 60+ years. I am looking forward to getting to know more of you through that effort and enjoying trails, summits, and powder days together along the way.
Francis Horton:
Hey there! I’m Francis Horton. I grew up in a military family, which meant bouncing around the U.S. and Germany before eventually landing in Montana. I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors—skiing, biking, and backpacking were just part of growing up. As a kid in Oregon, I raced mountain bikes and skied both alpine and cross country. Later on, I got into amateur road cycling in New Mexico and spent a few years chasing skinny tires and fast miles.
Things really clicked for me after I moved to Missoula in 2019. That’s when I dove into rock climbing and backcountry skiing—and I haven’t looked back. I joined The Rocky Mountaineers in the spring of 2021 and started chasing more alpine-style adventures. Winter and spring are my favorite times to be out—give me a solid ski tour or a moderate mountaineering objective (with a fun ski back down), and I’m happy.
In the warmer months, I’m usually out climbing or riding my gravel bike on Montana’s endless dirt roads. When I’m not outside, I work as an electrician. I’m stoked to be part of this awesome group and always looking forward to the next mountain adventure.
Carson Ramsden:
Hi! I am Carson Ramsden. I have lived in Missoula since 2021 with my husband and adventure buddy, Sam. I am a recovering ski racer, and I’ve yet to experience a backcountry ski day I didn’t love. Invite me to ski low angle powder at hangover hill or an icy slope on some Bitterroot peak and I will probably say yes. When skiing season finally ends I still love to be in the mountains or out in the garden. My perfect summer day is scrambling up a peak, taking a dip in an alpine lake, running the downhill, and drinking a beer in the parking lot. When I am not playing outdoors I pay the bills by being a software engineer, making iPhone apps. Sam and I stumbled across the Rocky Mountaineers in the spring of 2024, and immediately knew we had found something special. Being part of the Rocky Mountaineers has been such a joy—every day brings new adventures and awesome people to share them with. I'm excited to continue that journey!
Tom Statz:
Greetings. I’m Tom Statz and accept the nomination as Treasurer. When I moved to Missoula I joined The Rocky Mountaineers looking for friendly, welcoming people who enjoy the outdoors as much as I do. TRM exceeded my expectations.
I grew up with the ‘adventure’ bug but didn’t know it until later in life. I discovered organized adventure when I was an undergrad at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I joined the student outdoor club, The Hoofers, and quickly became an active member. First going on then leading trips. Since Hoofers I have joined numerous clubs and led dozens of trips.
I have been The Rocky Mountaineers Treasurer for the last two years and wish to continue to do so.
21st ANNUAL KERCHER GLACIER CLASSIC
August 29- September 1
We are very excited to once again be putting together plans for the signature event of The Rocky Mountaineers—The Kercher Glacier Classic! Whether it’s your first time or 21st, it will be a weekend of great hikes, climbs and camp camaraderie! This year we are moving things back a little from our normal mid-August time frame to Labor Day Weekend.
New to the club or the area? Asking yourself, “what is the Kercher Glacier Classic”?
We began this event in 2005. Our idea was to have one weekend every August where we would basecamp around Glacier and have several hikes and climbs each day. In the evenings, meet back in camp and tell stories of the days’ adventures. Make new friends, reacquaint yourself with old ones. What began as a small gathering of eight attendees has since grown to usually host between 30-40. We have held it in various locations around the Park but have recently settled on private campgrounds in the St. Mary area due to the ability to easily reserve for a large group, as well as its proximity to a high concentration of relatively easily accessible adventures.
In 2021 the Glacier Classic was renamed the Kercher Glacier Classic in honor of our dear friend and club member Bryan Kercher. Bryan tragically lost his life in a mountaineering accident in the spring of 2021. He loved Glacier National Park as much or more than anyone we ever knew. What better way to celebrate his contagious smile, energy and spirit than to share some adventures in this magnificent place!
We do require membership for this event. Want to join in on the fun? Here is what you need to do:
Our basecamp this year will once again be the Divide Creek Campground in St. Mary. First, RSVP to Mark Albrecht (email below) so we know you are coming. For camping, you then need to book directly with Veronica at Divide Creek Campground. We have a bunch of sites reserved, but we will be having all of you pay directly this year to make it less complicated. (We do have a group site reserved, so if you would like to share this site- and spend less- just let her know when you book). Don’t delay! The campground will likely be full on this holiday weekend so we will likely only have the reserved sites available to us.
Divide Creek Campground - Veronica Kempfert- vkempfert1@gmail.com or 406-239-4454
More trips and details will be added as the event gets closer. Stay tuned and check out our online calendar for updates.
Organizer: Mark Albrecht- mark.albrecht@gmail.com
GREAT BURN TRAIL WORK WEEKEND
Thursday-Sunday, September 4-7
In an effort for our club to help out and give back to the areas we love to recreate in, we decided to partner with the Great Burn Conservation Alliance to help them clear some trail in the Great Burn. Over the last three years several of us have spent some significant time cutting logs and brush on a very overgrown Trail 510. This year we will start work on a new needing-to-be-cleared trail: Schley Mountain. In this day and age of brutal budget cuts, volunteers like us are needed more than ever. Please consider lending a hand and joining us for part or all of a weekend helping this great organization get this trail opened up!
From the Great Burn Conservation Alliance Website:
Join us for our fourth year partnering with the Rocky Mountaineers on a trail improvement project. You do NOT have to be a member of the group to sign up, however, we can bet that you’ll want to be after a trip with these awesome folks! We are lucky to have such a hardworking group so passionate about maintaining trails. This year, we will be car camping from the Schley Mountain trailhead. There won’t be much hiking involved, but lots of hard work and views from Schley Mountain itself!
Trailhead: Schley Mountain #110, Ninemile RD, Lolo NF
**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever-changing fire activity. Our work begins right at the trailhead as we brush and log out the Schley Mtn trail. The entire section we will work on is 2.5 miles. This trip involves heavy trail work including brushing, logging out, and realigning tread. Hand tools may include: shovels, picks, mattocks, McLeods, Pulaskis, loppers, hand saws, and more. Volunteers may have the opportunity to use a crosscut.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Meet at the Schley Mountain trailhead at 0900 MST. The group will get camp set up and be briefed on the project at hand. We will begin working on clearing and repairing the trail. After a full day’s work, we’ll head back to the trailhead for a night of car camping.
Day 2 | Continue working to clear and brush the trail.
Day 3 | Continue working to clear and brush the trail.
Day 4 | Finish up any work that needs to be done in the morning. Pack up camp and head out in the early afternoon.
Click here to register
Questions: Forest Dean - mtnear1@gmail.com
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
We will hold our “Annual” business meeting on Monday, May 12 at 6:00pm. In addition to normal business, we will certify the election of our new slate of officers. This meeting is open to all members of this club and we encourage you to attend! We will provide some snacks and adult beverages. Come and talk mountains with your fellow members! Meeting will be held at Tom Statz’s house. Contact
Forest for address/directions: mtnear1@gmail.com
UPCOMING TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES
TRM Fundraiser - Missoula Gives Fundraiser! Tomorrow - May 1
TRM Community - Various Activities & Spring Fling & BBQ- Sat, May 3
BC Ski - Backcountry Progression Series – Kootenai Point- Sat, May 10
Bike / BC Ski - Lolo Peak (Bitterroots) - Sat, May 10
TRM Community & Business- Annual Meeting - Mon, May 12
BC Ski - Full Moon Ski - Location TBD- Mon, May 12
XC Ski/Hike - Carlton Lake & Lolo Peak Area Base Camp - Thu-Mon, May 22-26
Hike - Stuart Peak (Rattlesnake - Horizon Peak) - Tue, June 3
Hike - Lost Creek (Flint Creek Range) - Tue, June 8
Please visit our event calendar for details on these trips and events!!
TRM MERCHANDISE
We have merchandise for sale and available for purchase at our presentations, quarterly business meetings, the Spring picnic, etc. Please contact Elizabeth at heyartemisoutside@gmail.com if you’d like to purchase something for local pickup.
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| Beanie $25 | Pint Glass $10 | Keychain $5 |
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| T-Shirt $20 | Trucker Hat $20 | Buff $5 |
ONGOING CALL FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
If you have some photos or videos you'd like to share that we can use for social media, event promotion, sponsor videos and our newsletter please email Elizabeth at heyartemisoutside@gmail.com or upload to this google photo/video link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/173AgLc4wrkYofvWA
TRM QUARTERLY BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES - 3/10/2025
The Minutes from our last Business meeting can be found here.
CLUB OFFICERS
President- Forest Dean
Vice President – Mark Albrecht
Secretary- Candy Hartman
Treasurer- Tom Statz
Website- Kyle O'Connor
Archivist- Julie Kahl
Newsletter Editor / Social Media – Elizabeth Smith
Member discussion