![[Image Description: Two MCC members taking a brief break; one is sitting on a rock, the other is standing nearby. They are both in their uniforms, looking out at the expansive, mountain view surrounding them.]](https://cdn.firespring.com/images/c3f85e97-43a9-4810-8081-e8e6338173d0.jpeg)
My crew's hitch this week was rainy, hard digging, and so beautiful. We had the pleasure of re-treading the Peterson Sidehill Trail in the Flathead National Forest along the Swan Mountain range. This trail has a history dating back to the 1930s when it was originally constructed to connect the Flathead Valley to the Spotted Bear Ranger Station. Rangers used this to get to the Bob Marshall Wilderness until modern roads and other options became available. Since then, the trail had fallen into poor condition with a lot of tread work and brushing needed. That's where we came in! We were instructed to retread/rebench the worst part of the trail, giving us about a mile and a half hike every morning from our backcountry camp to the worksite.
On our first full work day we were making our way there but couldn't help but stop anytime the trees would clear. From the trail, you could see the entire Flathead Valley from Bigfork to Whitefish. You could even see clear to the valley that Hot Springs, MT sits in. It was the most magnificent view I've ever seen of the valley in my two seasons with the Northern Rockies MCC office. It made the work very enjoyable every time we would turn around and see Flathead Lake clear across to Blacktail Mountain.
All in all, we had a lovely hitch in the Swan Mountains, eating huckleberries and restoring a once frequently used trail that will hopefully become popular once again.
