Russ served as MC, and presented a power point on Friends of the Little Belts. Bill Avey, Forest Supervisor for the Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest was the keynote speaker. The Forest Service had 4 representatives at the meeting. About 50 people attended the meeting in the Dark Horse room of the Celtic Cowboy. 

Fifteen Friends of the Little Belts met Saturday morning, July 22, at the upper Pilgrim Creek trailhead to improve the trail surface and install drainage structures.

The work occurred in the first two miles, the least fun, most rocky part. This is a cooperative effort between motorized and nonmotorized users of the Little Belts mountain range, all participants who love recreating in these mountains. People come from all over the country and Canada to ride, hike and ski in the little belts. In fact, two Canadians assisted with the trail work.

The mission of the Friends of the Little Belts is to preserve, promote, and improve responsible, sustainable access in the Little Belt mountains area for all recreational users by protecting natural resources and improving recreation management in the area.

The group is looking at long-term problems and the sustainable solutions for these situations. 

​Member groups present were Montana Wilderness Association Island Range Chapter, Slver Crest Trails Assn., Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Assn., Cascade County Four]-Wheelers, U.S. Forest Service Belt Creek Ranger Station, Montanan Trail Vehicle Riders Assn., Great Falls Bicycle Club.  Food was generously donated by Albertsons.

​Submitted by Gerry Jennings