Canyon winter bash marks 40th anniversary
It’s been 40 years since a group of Canyon-area residents got together and formulated a plan to chase away the winter doldrums and raise money for worthy causes at the same time.
The Trapline Association is the nonprofit muscle behind the annual Cabin Fever Days, a three-day winter bash that has grown in popularity through the years and includes events in Coram, Martin City and Hungry Horse. The organization’s name is a nod to those communities’ early years, when some old-timers say the Canyon supported close to three dozen bars during the construction of Hungry Horse Dam. A favorite pastime was “running the trap line,” which meant imbibing at the local watering holes from one end of the Canyon to the other.
Cabin Fever Days has always been staged at the saloons in the Canyon, and that remains true today. Activities run the gamut, from arm wrestling to shuffleboard, and there’s plenty of live music throughout the weekend.
The barstool ski races on Sugar Hill, in downtown Martin City, continue to be one of the biggest drawing cards and have put the event on the map over the last four decades.
The charitable giving connected to Cabin Fever Days has generated tens of thousands of dollars through the years for Canyon-area organizations. Two years ago the event raised $13,000 that was distributed to the Canyon Quick Response Unit, Martin City Fire Department, Canyon Kids Christmas Fund, Canyon Community Group, Gateway to Glacier Trail and other groups.
Here’s this year’s line-up:
Friday, Feb. 9
7 p.m. — Mixed doubles pool, Southfork Saloon, Martin City
7 p.m. — Dart tournament, Stonefly Lounge, Coram
8:30 p.m.— Marshall Catch live music, Packers Roost, Coram
9 p.m. — Badger Hound live music, Stonefly Lounge
Saturday, Feb. 10
10 a.m. — Biscuits and gravy, Packers Roost
10 a.m.-noon — Sign-up for barstool ski races, Southfork Saloon
1 p.m. — Barstool ski race qualifying run, Sugar Hill, Martin City
1-3 p.m. — Moonshine Mountain live music, Stonefly Lounge
1-3:30 p.m. — Arm wrestling weigh-in, Stonefly Lounge
1-4 p.m. — Killer pool tournament, Dam Town Tavern, Hungry Horse
2 p.m. — Hog roast, Packers Roost
3 p.m. — Shuffleboard tourney, Southfork Saloon
3 p.m. — Mountain Man competition, Packers Roost
4 p.m. — Craig Barton live music, Southfork Saloon
4-7:30 p.m. — Arm wrestling tournament, Stonefly Lounge
5 p.m. — Larry Myer live music, Packers Roost
6 p.m. — Flathead V-8s, Deerlick Saloon, Martin City
8 p.m. — Pedacter Project live music, Stonefly Lounge
6 p.m. — Dirty Old Men live music, Southfork Saloon
8:30 p.m. — Comatose Posse live music, Packers Roost
11:30 p.m. — Chach & Triple T live music, Stonefly Lounge
Sunday, Feb. 11
10 a.m. — Biscuits and gravy, Packers Roost
10 a.m.-noon — Sign-up for barstool ski races, Southfork Saloon
11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Hangover Cures, Stonefly Lounge
1 p.m. — Barstool ski race qualifying run, Sugar Hill, Martin City
1 p.m. — Free soup, Deerlick Saloon
1-3 p.m. — Moonshine Mountain, Stonefly Lounge
2 p.m. — Hog roast, Packers Roost
2 p.m. — Craig Barton, Southfork Saloon
2 p.m. — Sonny King, Deerlick Saloon
2-3 p.m. — Roshambo (rock, paper, scissors) sign-ups, Stonefly Lounge
3 p.m. — Barstoon race finals, Sugar Hill
3 p.m. — Mountain Man competition, Packers Roost
3-5 p.m. — Roshambo tournament, Stonefly Lounge
4 p.m. — Larry Myer, Packers Roost
4 p.m. — Dirty Old Men, Southfork Saloon
5 p.m. — Mountain Man Finals, Packers Roost
7 p.m. — 40th annual barstool race awards, Southfork Saloon
Children’s events
Saturday, Feb. 10
9:30 a.m. — Kids pool tourney, Dam Town Tavern
11-11:45 a.m. — Kids sled races sign-up, Lietz Fire Hall, Martin City
11:30 a.m. — Dedicated shuttle for kids from Dam Town to Martin City
12 p.m. — Kids sled races, Sugar Hill, Martin City
1 p.m. — Gunny sack race, Lietz Fire Hall
2 p.m. — Magic show with Magic Dan, Lietz Fire Hall
Sunday, Feb. 11
1 p.m. — Cupcake Walk, Liez Fire Hall
2 p.m. — Haystack search, Lietz Fire Hall
Coloring contest all weekend at Lietz Fire Hall