Polson gets new trail system The Mission Valley, hemmed by the Mission Mountains to the east and Flathead Lake to the north, is a mecca for walkers, runners and mountainbiking enthusiasts. A new trail system that wends its way through the Ridgewater Development, west of Polson Hill, blends expansive vistas, varied terrain and, in May and early June, a dazzling display of wildflowers, including Arrowleaf balsamroot, Indian paintbrush and lupine. The trail is a unique collaboration between developer Mike Maddy and a large and dedicated group of community volunteers. Local dentist Mike Windauer, who has experience designing trails, began discussing the project with Maddy a few years ago. Weaving a trail through the area offered a way to meet the development’s requirements to provide open space, while providing the public continued access to an area that’s long been popular with hikers and runners. The two carefully plotted the trail’s route, avoiding private property lines. Next, a coordinating team consisting
of Windauer and Polson High School track and crosscountry coach Matt Seeley, Polson High science teacher, trail runner and mountain biker Mike Sitter and local optometrist Jeff Heninger, also an avid mountain biker, began to meet each week to refine the trail design. All four of them are knowledgeable about building and using trails, and experienced at coordinating community projects. “Behind the scenes, a lot
of deliberation and expertise went into the process,” says Seeley, who owns a local bike shop and teaches math at Salish Kootenai College. The group of four met midweek to walk the route and discuss options. “We were always trying to stay ahead so once the energy and manpower came out we could take advantage of it.” As word spread last spring, volunteers began to gather for two hours on Saturdays to build phase one, a shady
and scenic section above Long Lake Dr. For once, the COVID-19 shutdown was actually helpful, giving people more free time to work on the project. “People of all ages were out there working side by side and able to just get a chance to connect,” says Seeley. “When you get 10-15 people together who all want to work hard you can make a huge amount of progress in a short amount of time.” At least one member of the
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