Whitefish Trail group plans fundraising race

The Whitefish Legacy Partners, a nonprofit group working to ensure conservation, recreation and stewardship on Whitefish area lands, is requesting public input and support through several upcoming projects and events.

The Whitefish Trail, which debuted this year with 12 miles of new trails and plans for a 55-mile network over the next five years, is the anchor project of Whitefish Legacy Partners.

An online survey seeks public comments on the use of state lands, including areas visited most frequently, activities engaged in, management and maintenance issues, revenue generation ideas, etc. The survey takes less than 15 minutes and can be accessed through www.whitefishlegacy.org.

The Whitefish Legacy Race is Sunday, Oct. 17 at the Whitefish Trail’s Lion Mountain Trailhead in conjunction with Run Whitefish.

Registration for the 10K race, 2.5 mile fun run and 1 mile fun run can be completed online before Friday or late registration is available from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Sunday at the soccer fields next to Grouse Mountain Lodge.

All participants are requested to park at the soccer fields next to Grouse Mountain Lodge. The Lodge will provide complimentary transportation to the trailhead.

For more information or to sign up, go to legacyrace.runwhitefish.org, or call 212-2842, or e-mail matthew@runwhitefish.org. All proceeds from the race will be donated to Whitefish Legacy Partners.

A raffle with more than $3,000 in prizes, including a custom-built Boedie bike donated by Boedie Bikes, a local bicycle craftsman; a 2011 Kona Firemountain mountain bike donated by Glacier Cyclery and a Surftec Paddle Board donated by Sportsman & Ski Haus, is a fundraising effort for the Whitefish Legacy Partners.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or six for $25 and can be purchased at the Sportsman & Ski Haus, Glacier Bank or Glacier Cyclery. The winners will be drawn after the Whitefish Legacy Race at Grouse Mountain Lodge. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to Whitefish Legacy Partners.

People are encouraged to become supporting members of Whitefish Legacy Partners and/or volunteers for the Whitefish Trail by visiting www.whitefishlegacy.org. 

Upcoming efforts for Whitefish Legacy Partners are continuing work with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks on a recreational trail program grant, as well as actively pursuing its vision in the Spencer Mountain and Beaver Lake areas to sustain existing recreation uses and plan for future recreational opportunities in cooperation with traditional timber harvesting and revenue generating practices.

The group also will lead a community forum to direct recreation use in the state’s environmental assessment due to be released at the end of this month.

For more information on the events and projects, to volunteer or to become a member of Whitefish Legacy Partners, call 260-2373 or visit whitefishlegacy.org.