Mollman Pass Trail reopens

By SAM WILSON

Daily Inter Lake

Officials with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have reopened the Mollman Pass Trail in the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness, following its July closure when a dead horse was found on the trail.

Also known as the Mollman Lake Trail, the area was closed to protect people and bears from potential conflicts while an investigation into the dead horse was completed. It is located east of Kicking Horse Job Corps Center and southeast of Ronan.

Germaine White, a spokeswoman for the tribes’ Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation, said the horse had apparently gotten loose last month and fell off a cliff.

Conservation officers who went to the area were unable to locate the horse and suspected it may have been dragged off by an animal.

Although the closure has been lifted, White noted that trail access will be limited until Wednesday, when crews finish replacing decking on a bridge that leads to the trail. The Swartz Lake Bridge connects trail users to Mollman, Swartz and Terrace lakes.

For the most current information regarding bear activity in the Mollman area, contact Germaine White or Pablo Espinoza at 406-883-2888.