Post #91's Active Duty Reconnect

2018 Active Duty Reconnect Schedule

        Corvallis Post #91, The American Legion,              Department of Montana, Inc.

Wednesday, 17 January 2018

0900 PST     Showtime at Tacoma Narrows Airport

                 

1000 PST     Take off Tacoma Narrows Airport

                 

1220 MST     Arrive Hamilton, Montana

                 

1330            Reception Lunch Bitterroot River Inn

                 

1800             Dinner Wild Mare     www.thewildmare.com 

*** Please RSVP Don Bratsch at 719-201-1610. We need to have an good count of post members attending. ***

                        

Thursday, 18 January 

           

0900      Ski at Lost Trail Powder Mountain

  

1500      Depart Ski area

                

1600      Dinner  Rocky Knob Restaurant     www.therockyknob.com  

*** Please RSVP Don Bratsch at 719-201-1610. We need to have an good count of post members attending. ***                      

Friday, 19 January             

Snowmobile Trip - *** There are 4 snowmobiles available for post members to use.   Please RSVP Don Bratsch at 719-201-1610. **

0900        Breakfast at Sula Store

               

1015        Depart Snowmobile Trail Head

1630        Dinner Bitterroot Ridge Runners Clubhouse     663 Grantsdale Road, Hamilton, MT

*** There are 6 spots for dinnner available for post members.   Please RSVP Don Bratsch at 719-201-1610. ***

Saturday, 20 January             

Ski Day or free day.

       

1800          Dinner The Edge     www.theedgerestaurant.com

*** Please RSVP Don Bratsch at 719-201-1610. We need to have an good count of post members attending. ***

Sunday, 21 January             

Ski Day or free day.

    

1800  Dinner Higherground Brewing Co     www.highergroundbrewing.com

*** Please RSVP Don Bratsch at 719-201-1610. We need to have an good count of post members attending. ***

Monday, 22 January   

1030 Showtime at Hamilton Municipal Airport

           

1100 Take off Hamilton

                     

1120 PST arrive Tacoma Narrows Airport

Agenda Posting

Agenda of Meeting Conducted by Corvallis Post #91,

The American Legion, Department of Montana, Inc.

Type of Meeting: Regular Membership Meeting

Date of Meeting: 20 Dec 17

Location of Meeting: Corvallis High School Library

Opening Time:

Post Officers Present:

Post Members Present:

Guests Present:

Preamble:

For God and country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America;  

to maintain law and order;

to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism;

to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the great wars;

to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation;

to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses;

to make right the master of might;

to promote peace and goodwill on earth;

to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy;

to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

Minutes of the previous meeting:

Sons of the American Legion – What is your mission? Meeting Times?

Guest Speaker:

          Roch Turner, Veteran, Bitterroot College

Commander’s Report:

Sick Call or Memorial:

          Kevin Campbell – St. Pat’s

Upcoming Events:

          31 Dec 17 – 2018 Cash Calendar Slips Due to Department

          1 Jan 18 – Cutoff for Articles for Feb / Apr issue of the Montana Legionnaire

          16 Jan 18 – Regular Membership Meeting, New Member Initiation, Guest Speaker Marie Cole

          17 Jan 18 – Job Opportunity / Career Day

          17 – 22 Jan 18 – Active Duty Reconnect – Bitterroot Valley (See Attachment)

          6 Feb 18 – Post Oratorical Contest

          10 Mar 18 – Department Oratorical Contest

          21 Mar 18 – Honor Guard Training (Possible showing of “Taking Chance”)

Correspondence:

For the Good of The American Legion:

          “Trying to Understand Russia”

Closing Time: Motion for adjournment was made at _______pm_____ by_____, second by_____, motion approved.

Veterans in Agriculture

NCAT/ATTRA Launches New Electronic Tools for Military Veterans in Agriculture

Veterans, farmers, and organizations working with veterans in agriculture have two new ways to connect with each other: the Farmland, Farm Employment, and Training Program Locator Database, and the Veterans in Agriculture Listserv, an email discussion list.

Farmland, Farm Employment, and Training Program Locator Database

This new, national database is a one-stop shop for information related to veterans in agriculture. Farmers who want to employ veterans can list jobs; landowners who want to help veterans get started farming can list farmland available to veterans; organizations can list agriculture training programs for veterans; and veterans who are already farming can list their farms. In addition, there is a self-listing calendar where organizations can submit details about their upcoming trainings, conferences, and other events for veterans interested in agriculture.

“We receive a lot of calls to our ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture helpline from landowners and commercial farmers who want to help veterans, and there just wasn’t an efficient way to get these folks connected with each other,” said Margo Hale, director of Armed to Farm, which provides training and resources for military veterans through NCAT’s ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture program.

 “At the same time, veterans interested in farming were calling us to ask about jobs, training programs, and educational opportunities. We created this database to fill those needs,” Hale said.

In addition, the database will include a listing of veteran-owned farms across the U.S.

"One of our goals with Armed to Farm is to create a network of veterans involved in agriculture. The database and listserv will help connect farmer-veterans across the country who can support and encourage each other as they start and grow their farms,” Hale said.

The database is a free, self-listing service; farmers and organizations can add their own information via a simple online submission form. All submissions are reviewed by NCAT/ATTRA staff.

Veterans in Agriculture Listserv

The listserv is another way to connect farmers, veterans who are farming or are interested in farming, and agencies and organizations who work with farmer-veterans. Members can use this email list to share information about workshops, conferences, and other educational opportunities; seek feedback or technical assistance on farming-related questions; and share ideas and information on agriculture topics. NCAT/ATTRA will post notices about training opportunities and new resources available, as well as information from its newsletters and website.

Join the Network

The database and listserv are available for farms and organizations in the U.S and its territories. To search or add a listing to the database, visit the Farmland, Farm Employment, and Training Program Locator page here. Sign up for the listserv here.

Please contact robynm@ncat.org with questions or corrections to database listings. For more information about NCAT/ATTRA’s Armed to Farm training and other resources, click here.

* * *

Since 1976, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been helping people by championing small-scale, local and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities and protect natural resources. In partnership with businesses, organizations, individuals and agricultural producers, NCAT is working to advance solutions that will ensure the next generation inherits a world that has clean air and water, energy production that is efficient and renewable, and healthy foods grown with sustainable practices. More information about its programs and services is available at www.ncat.org or by calling 1-800-ASK-NCAT.

Foreign Relations Committee Report on North Korea

At the November regular membership meeting, Post 91's Foreign Relations Chairman Allen Bjergo gave the following report:

MEMBERSHIP! MEMBERSHIP! MEMBERSHIP!

This pie chart shows the percentage of new members and who recruited them.

You recently got an email and a post card in the snail male. If you were wondering about what it is all about, here are the answers to some of your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

By members

1.    I received an email/postcard/phone call from a company asking for my personal information.  They said they were working on a directory for American Legion Department of Montana.  Is this a legitimate project, or is it a scam?

We have partnered with PCI (also known as Publishing Concepts) to produce our new members directory.  PCI is a company located in Dallas, TX that publishes directories for educational institutions, fraternities, sororities and military organizations across the nation. This project allows American Legion Department of Montana to receive important updates to our database so we know more about our members and how we can better serve you and future members.

2.    How do I know my information will only be used for directory purposes?

American Legion Department of Montana has a contractual agreement with PCI that states:
a. The names, addresses and information provided to PCI by American Legion Department of Montana for the publication of the Directory will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that they are utilized in, or in the preparation of, the Directory and except as required by court order or law.

b. The Directory will be made available only to members of American Legion Department of Montana. Upon completion of the project, PCI will return to American Legion Department of Montana any and all electronic files that have been supplied by American Legion Department of Montana or produced by PCI in connection with the production of the Directory.

3.    I would like to verify and update my information. How may I do this?

If you have received a postcard or an email with a telephone number, you may call the number to speak with a dedicated representative for the American Legion Department of Montana project. The representative will verify all the information we have on file for you and make any updates where needed. One of the numbers for the American Legion Department of Montana members is 866-786-1604.

If you have received an email with an embedded link, you may go to the online site to review your information.  If you have questions, you may call PCI’s customer service desk at 1.800.982.1590.

4.    Can anyone purchase a directory?

The American Legion Department of Montana members Directory is available for sale only to American Legion Department of Montana members.

5.    When will I receive my directory?

The total duration of the directory project is about 12 months.  Since we began the project in December of 2017, the directories will be distributed in December 2018.

6.    I ordered a package containing the Discounted Companion Airline Certificate, but I haven’t received the post card requesting verification of my address.

For those who purchase a package containing the Discounted Companion Airline Certificate, they will receive a postcard within 2 -3 weeks and will direct them to go to the PCI website to initiate the certificate process by entering their ID # and order # (shown on the postcard) and verify their mailing address.  Alternatively, the buyer can call a toll free number (also shown on the postcard) and leave a voicemail to initiate the certificate process.

You will receive a business envelope that contains the guidelines, terms and conditions, as well as the certified voucher from Award Headquarters so you can begin to make your travel arrangements.

• Basics of the certificate program:
• The Discounted Companion Airline Certificate allows the holder to purchase two round trip tickets for a bundled rate.
• The Certificate is:
• 200 US Destinations (continental US)
• NO BLACKOUT DATES
• 40 Plus Airline Carriers
• 24/7 Online Booking
• 7-Day Advance Purchase
• Frequent Flier Miles for Both Passengers
• Low Price Guarantee
• Fully Transferrable

7.    Can I choose some or all of my information not to be printed in the directory?

When you call to update your information, you can tell the representative what information you would prefer to have excluded. You may also communicate this information to the PCI customer service desk (1.800.982.1590) or to the Department.

8.    I ordered a directory/package over the phone and would like to cancel my order.  How do I do this?

Call the PCI customer service help desk at 1.800.982.1590, and they will take care of this for you.

Corvallis American Legion Auxiliary Unit #91's Christmas Party

Corvallis American Legion Auxiliary Unit #91

Conducts their annual "No Host" Christmas Party

5:30 pm (social), 6 pm (Dinner), Tuesday, December 19, 2017

At BJ's in Hamilton

Please RSVP to your nearest auxiliary member.
There will be a non gender gift exchange with a cap of $10.

Military Honors

JEFFERY A. CHEYNEY, 63. The world lost a good man, husband, father and Navy Seabees Veteran on November 17, 2017. Jeff was deeply loved by his wife of 35 years, Linda Cheyney, daughter, Shannon Scatolini, son, Shaun Cheyney, sister-in-law, Jane Peters, son-in-law, Socrates Scatolini, and grandsons Elijah and Ethan Scatolini.

Jeff was a simple man, with a charming southern drawl and a nurturing bright spirit who got along with everyone. A true gentleman who would give the shirt off his back.

“God looked around His garden and He found an empty place. He saw your tired face, put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful, He always takes the best. It broke our hearts to lose you, but you didn’t go alone, for part of us went with you, when God called you home”.

Please remember Jeff with us at a Celebration of his Life with Military Honors and benefit silent auction on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Bitterroot House of Israel, 1186 Eastside Hwy, Corvallis, MT.

Military Honors

Barry Brian Wilcox, 67, of Hamilton, passed away Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017, at his home. He was born May 12, 1950 in San Jose, California, the son of William Leo and Norma Jean Wilcox.

Barry was in college majoring in architecture and art when he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Barry served with the 4th Infantry Division and was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was trained in mountain maneuvers and was an expert marksman. Barry served until his honorable discharge in 1976.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Sue Ellen Kessler, in 1971. Barry loved his wife of 46 years, he loved his life here on earth for 67 years and he loved all his family.

Barry was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Sue; his brother, Scott; his sister, Julie and their families; his son, Daniel and wife Gina; his son, David; his daughter, Anna and husband Chris; his son, Matt; six grandchildren, Dillon, Adrionah, Dawson, Jake, Grant and Ava; his “adopted” dad, Richard “Dick” Marcum who took Barry in as his son; many nieces, nephews as well as many extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the Daly-Leach Chapel with Pastor Jim Smith officiating. Graveside services with full Military Honors will be held on Tuesday at 2 p.m., at the Western Montana Veterans Cemetery in Missoula. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.

Military Honors

Alfred Gilbert Simmons, age 92, passed away at home, surrounded by family on November 27, 2017. He was born October 6, 1925 in Corvallis, Montana, the only child of Mason Gilbert Simmons and Irene Butler Simmons. Al had a happy childhood in Corvallis as a farm boy, surrounded by a circle of a large extended family and friends. Many of his childhood companions were lifelong friends, including Jerry Lemon of Corvallis, MT.

Al played the trumpet in the Corvallis school band growing up and was often asked to play at military funerals when he was boy. In 1943, one month after his 18th birthday, Al was drafted, and along with several other boys from the Bitterroot, he decided to join the Navy because, the rumor was, “you always had a dry bed as long as the ship didn’t go down, but in the Army you were in the mud.” Al served for the duration of WWII, a total of 29 months. He spent time in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, Solomon Island the Philippines. When asked what he did in the Navy, Al often answered, “Whatever they told me to do.”

Al married Doris Lynn Huntsman on May 11, 1955. Together they made their home in Hamilton, Montana, raising 5 children and were together until Doris’ death in 1999. Al was a family man and prized his wife and children as his greatest gift from God. Al was an honest hardworking man and never had a day of unemployment in his life. He worked in several grocery stores, for Bernatz Oil, the Hamilton School District and the REA. Al was a skilled woodworker and created many beautiful and useful items for family and friends.

Al remarried Wilma Keely Simmons in 2001 and welcomed and loved her grown children and grandchildren as his own. When Al’s health declined Wilma loved and cared for Al with a tenderness that is greatly appreciated by all his children.

Al believed in serving people and his community. He made friends with people everywhere he went; younger or older, race or religion didn’t matter to him, he believed all were children of God and of equal worth. Al was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different capacities throughout his adult life. He also served in the American Legion, Posts 47 and 91. He enjoyed many friendships with the members of the Tired Iron Club and served as the vice president. As a former farm boy, Al’s day was complete when he had an excuse to drive any of his antique Farmall Tractors!

Al is preceded in death by Doris Huntsman Simmons, wife of 44 years and stepson, Allen Keely.

Al is survived by his wife, Wilma Simmons; his children, Elaine (Dennis) Olsen of Astoria, OR, Robert (Elena) Simmons of Youngtown AZ, Eric (Mickie) Simmons of Billings, MT, Keely

Jankunas, Corvallis, MT and Nancy Jorgensen of San Jose, CA; step-daughters, Laura (Clark) Snelgrove, Orem, UT and Linda (David) Allison of Sugar Land, TX; 23 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren; cousins, Loyce Teller of Clayton, WA and Betsy Ballard of Stevensville, MT.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 1st at the Corvallis Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitation will be held at 12:00 noon to service time at the Church. Interment will follow at Corvallis Cemetery with Military honors presented by the US Navy and Corvallis American Legion. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com

Military Honors

Our beloved father, Stephen James Wilcox, found his final peace on November 28th, 2017, after a long, hard-fought battle with Carcinoid Cancer.

Steve was born on August 30, 1952 to Jim and Shirley Wilcox in Missoula, MT. The family later moved to Butte, MT where he played drums in the band, and was known by all as a fun-loving prankster with a huge heart. He graduated from Butte High School in 1972 and immediately joined the U.S. Army. Steve was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington & Ft. Wainwright, Alaska. He served honorably until 1977.

After the military, Steve and his family lived in Helena where he began his 38-year career with Montana Power, now known as Northwestern Energy. In his career, he was a journeyman lineman, who sacrificed his time in all types of weather to maintain and restore power to those without. Linework was a staple of who Steve Wilcox is and it showed; he was never afraid of hard work nor selfless service.

Steve was a man who believed in helping others any way he could. He volunteered his time as a paramedic for the Bitterroot Valley Ambulance, and was heavily involved with the Search & Rescue team. Steve enjoyed taking advantage of all Montana had to offer, from rock climbing Blodgett Canyon to scuba diving in Lake Como. Most of all, Steve loved his Harley and long rides on empty highways under the big, blue sky.

In 2012 Steve was diagnosed with Carcinoid Cancer. With his beautiful wife, Alexis, by his side, he never showed any signs of slowing down. They fought the battle together, which took them from California to New Orleans and all the way to Germany in search of answers and treatment options. Resilience and faith fueled their fire to fight on.

Steve is survived by his children, Melissa, Jason (Tiffany), Josh, Tanya, and Cody (Marie). He has 13 grandchildren & 1 great grandchild.

Memorial services will be held at the Corvallis United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. 3rd at 2pm. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com

The family recommends the Neuroendocrine Cancer Awareness Network (http://netcancerawareness.org/) for friends desiring to make memorial contributions or to learn more about the illness. Raising awareness about Carcinoid Cancer was so very important to Steve.

Bitterrooters care for mystery soldier laid to rest in Missoula veterans cemetery BY KIM BRIGGEMAN

Not a lot is known about Jerry Sauve, and there was no one at his funeral Tuesday to shed more light.

Those who attended at the Western Montana Veterans Cemetery in Missoula came down the Bitterroot from Corvallis, after American Legion Post 91 there put out word of Sauve’s service with full military honors.

“He didn’t have any loved ones to mark his passing. His fellow veterans are here to mark his passing,” post chaplain Martyn Reiss said in a short address.

Only the bare specifics of Sauve’s military service are available. Cemetery manager Curt Aasved documented enough to qualify him for the veterans cemetery. Sauve served in the U.S. Army for 23 months from January 1963 to December 1965 and was honorably discharged as a Specialist E-4. He had no overseas service.

Sauve lived in the Noxon area but died of natural causes in April 2016 in Spokane at the Veterans Administration hospital. He was 70 years old, with no family to make funeral arrangements.

“Apparently the VA had called around and didn’t come up with anything,” said Tom Grymes of Daly Leach Memorial Chapel in Hamilton.

He’s not sure how the social worker from the VA got his funeral home’s number, but Grymes, who was in the National Guard for 25 years, agreed to take on burial duties.

“It’s quite a situation from our perspective on how do you handle these things,” Grymes said. “With Jerry in particular. He did have a friend who was able to tell us he wanted to be cremated, and he wanted to be placed in a veterans cemetery.”

The first part went smoothly. Grymes has a friend in the mortuary business in Cheney, Washington, who agreed to do the cremation for what he believes was a cut-rate charge to Daly Leach. The ashes were shipped to Hamilton, where they’d been kept ever since.

“We were still trying to get all documents we needed in order to qualify him for a VA burial,” Grymes said.

He tried unsuccessfully to procure the $70 county burial fund from Sanders County, where Sauve lived. Even the VA, which courted Daly Leach in the first place, was uncooperative, saing it would not pay a funeral claim to a funeral home, only to the families.

“Then we applied as a funeral home for unclaimed individuals and they said you aren’t pre-approved to do so. So, no, we don’t do that either,” Grymes said.

Finally all the documentation was in place. Grymes talked to Doug Mason, adjutant of Corvallis Legion Post 91.

“He said they’d be honored to come and do the honors service for us,” Grymes said.

And so, more than a year and a half after Sauve’s death, he was laid to rest.

Representatives of the Montana National Guard were on hand, and the Post provided the gun salute.

Bob Kollermeier took the afternoon off for the service. His wife, Shawna, was one of a handful of people who witnessed the short ceremony in the committal shelter. A folded American flag with three rifle shells on top was handed to her to carry across the grounds to the columbarium.

“That was by default, I guess,” she said later. “I didn’t know if I could even handle it. I’m pretty emotional even when I don’t know somebody at a funeral.”

Shawn Kollermeir stood next to Keely Jankunas, also of Corvallis, and Jankunas’ daughter Georgia.

They drove down for the ceremony a day after Al Simmons, a World War II veteran and Keely’s father, passed away at his home in Hamilton at age 92. Services for him will be in Corvallis on Friday.

“We’re just coming to support veterans,” Jankunas said. “There’s nothing sadder than having a family who’s not here. I don’t know anything about the situation, other than he had no family here.”

The ceremony was over in less than 20 minutes, when Mason placed the urn containing Jerry Sauve’s ashes in front of the open niche at the columbarium.

His military documentation and funeral were carried out without bringing the Missing In America project into the picture.

“It’s exactly what we do, but with this scenario it was lucky they were able to verify his veteran eligibility,” said Marty Malone of Park City, the project’s Montana state coordinator.

He complimented Daly Leach for taking on the project and Aasved for doing the research.

“That’s awesome that they would step up and do that,” Malone said.

Since 2009, Missing in America has processed 33 veterans remains, many of them indigent, and qualified them for proper burials. Malone said his current working list has more than 100 names that his team is poring through genealogical and service records to document.

“Jerry’s situation is sad in a lot of ways,” said Grymes, who said it was the first time in his 27 years in the business that the VA contacted the funeral home about an unclaimed person.

“The fact that it’s being taken care of in an appropriate way is a good thing. But it’s an unfortunate thing, the fact that there’s no family to be here.”

Bitterroot family honored by Montana Wilderness Association for backcountry volunteer work BY EVE BYRON

Oh, the stories the Schram/Duggan clan can tell about pack mules, the backcountry and Mother Nature.

Seated around the kitchen table, Julie Schram, her daughter Christy Schram-Duggan and husband Ed Duggan fire off anecdotes about years of packing so quickly it’s tough to keep them straight. One involves packing in four boxes of dynamite, detonation cords and blasting caps, making sure that the explosives were on differing mules.

“Pete had the biggest load — we put 220 pounds on him because the rock drill weighed 110 pounds and we needed to keep it even,” Schram recalls. “We ended up going 22 miles and the last mile and a half they had snowdrifts up to their bellies. What happened was, there was a landslide and we couldn’t go where the trail went, so we had to go down to this deep, steep spot with drifts still there. This was around the Fourth of July!”

With the easy banter of family, they finish each other’s sentences while sipping coffee and tea.

“We packed a 6-foot ladder in one time,” Duggan said.

“That was awkward,” Schram-Duggan adds, laughing.

“And then there was the 8-by-10-foot roll of canvas that we couldn’t fold up,” Duggan said. “We took the pack boxes, loaded them up and put the roll on the pack box. It stuck out past the mule’s head and past her tail. We packed it on Lady — she looked at us like ‘Really?’”

They’ve packed mules since they were in their teens, and all are members of the Bitter Root Back Country Horsemen, which works with the U.S. Forest Service to help maintain trails. They’re also volunteers with the Montana Wilderness Association, packing in tools — and lots of food — for crews as they take care of those places where mechanized equipment isn’t allowed.

“MWA is a fun group, and have people come in from all over the country to work on the trails,” Duggan said.

“Remember the guy from New York last year?” Schram-Duggan adds. “And the guy from Texas who was a vegan? He was hard to wrap your head around. He’s from Texas and doesn’t eat meat?”

All three agree that the trail crews do amazing work, so they were surprised last week when they were honored by the MWA with the 2017 Continental Divide Trail Crew Volunteer award. Sonny Mazzulo, the MWA stewardship coordinator, noted that Schram and her late husband Dave have been helping out since 2008, and after Dave died in 2016, Schram, Schram-Duggan and Duggan picked up the slack.

“They’re damn good people,” Mazzullo said. “Much of the Forest Service and BLM’s highest priority trail work is deep in the backcountry. Without the support of Backcountry Horsemen like the Schram-Duggan family, MWA would be unable to get crews into these areas to work.”

The award also included Schram-Duggan’s two sons, John Renner, 10, and Beau Duggan, 12.

“The award caught us totally off guard,” Schram-Duggan said. “When he said our name, he had to coax us to go up there for the award. I was like, ‘Crap, we have to stand up.’”

They modestly counter that without the trail crews and their fellow High Country Horsemen groups, many hikers and horseback riders wouldn’t be able to get into backcountry.

“They do amazing work. Sometimes we ride in on a rough trail, and come in the next week to pack them out and you can’t tell it’s the same trail,” Schram-Duggan said.

Last summer, they packed in four out of the five Continental Divide trail projects; the fifth began at the trailhead. They take in bear-proof metal food boxes, most of the crews’ personal gear, tools and beverages. If the trail is 8 miles or less, they’ll drop off the items, stick around for lunch, then head home. If it‘s one of the longer trips — like 22 miles — they stay overnight.

“Packing is a skill and an art rolled together,” Duggan notes.

When the trail crews are finished, the family makes the return trip to pack them out.

“And we always have cold beer for them when they come out,” Duggan said.

“And Gatorade, and Power-Ade,” Schram-Duggan added.

They typically pack in with anywhere from six to nine mules and a handful of horses. In their pasture on a cold winter morning, where Schram-Duggan is the sixth generation, the livestock nuzzle them for scratches or watch warily.

Duggan says the mules all have distinct personalities. Lady is an old Forest Service mule and a “diva” who hates getting loaded but who is one of the best on the trail. Joe gets offended if he’s not carrying the tool box, and will hit every tree on his way down the trail until he gets it. And don’t put Pete and Joe together on the string.

“One will go one way around a tree and the other goes the other way,” Duggan said. “With mules, especially these characters, they’ll do things just because it’s quiet or boring.”

And after listening to their stories and laughter, it’s clear that the Schram-Dugan clan takes after their mules more than they’d like to admit.