Montana Volunteers Honor Local Hero With Trail Cleanup

When Mike Sullivan hoisted his chainsaw onto a rugged Montana trail last Saturday morning, he wasn't just clearing deadfall. He was carrying forward a legacy of community care that brings volunteers back to these mountains every year.

The annual Pete Sorini Day drew volunteers to a stretch of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail near Butte on June 6. Armed with saws, clippers, and determination, the group spent their Saturday morning maintaining an adopted section of one of America's most iconic long-distance trails.

The Continental Divide Trail stretches over 3,000 miles from Mexico to Canada, and keeping it passable requires thousands of volunteer hours each year. This particular stretch near Highlands Camp in Silver Bow County has found dedicated guardians in the Butte community.

Volunteers like Wes Plate navigated steep terrain to saw through fallen trees blocking the path. Catherine Lanier trimmed back encroaching branches that would snag hikers' backpacks. Even Bob Bundy, a recreational specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, joined the community effort with his own saw.

The work happened against a backdrop of glacier lilies blooming alongside trail markers and sunshine filtering through Montana pines. The volunteers weren't just maintaining a trail but preserving access to natural beauty for the thousands of hikers who pass through each season.

The Ripple Effect

Community trail days like Pete Sorini Day create impact far beyond cleared pathways. When local volunteers adopt trail sections, they reduce the burden on understaffed forest services while building deeper connections to public lands.

These maintenance efforts keep trails safe and accessible for everyone from day hikers to thru-hikers attempting the entire Continental Divide. A single fallen tree can force hikers into dangerous detours or damage fragile alpine ecosystems when people bushwhack around obstacles.

The event's name honors someone who clearly inspired others to care for shared spaces. By gathering annually in Pete Sorini's memory, volunteers ensure his commitment to stewardship lives on in every cleared mile and trimmed branch.

When communities take ownership of the wild places they love, everyone wins.