Hikes 'n Bikes schedule offers tons of outdoor fun

The Hikes 'n Bikes started in Malta three summers ago and since then has added a slew of new events fashioned to get people outdoors in order to get people into top physical condition.

"There is not really a recreational program around here," said Laura Pankratz, member of Malta Trails, Inc. "So in the summer time we promote people getting out and running, biking, hiking. Our big goal is to get everybody, from every age range, outside and into better shape."

Two years ago, when the Hikes n' Bikes launched, Pankratz said that only a handful of people would show up for excursions. Last year, she said, that number grew to two dozen on any given night. The events for the entire spring and summer have been laid out and involve hikes throughout the county, overnight trips, kayaking for beginners and spelunking ... to name a few.

On May 1, the Special Olympic Torch Run will take place in Malta, starting at the Car Quest Parking Lot.

"This event benefits all of our Malta Opportunities Athletes for the Special Olympics," said Pankratz. "It covers the lodging and travel expenditures to the event."

The event starts at 8 a.m. To help raise funds for Malta's Special Olympics Athletes, shirts will be sold at the Torch Run for $12 and pledge forms can picked up at the Malta Border Patrol Station. If you have any other questions about the event you are encouraged to call Kevin Hunt at 406-480-2779.

Also coming up next week is the Heartland Walk on May 3. These hikes will be at the Missouri River and surrounding areas, include "easy to intermediate" trails and will be led by Mary and Art Lundstrom.

"We will be leaving Malta together on Friday and staying the weekend at the Heartland Lodge," said Pankratz.

For more information on the Heartland trip, people should call the Lundstroms at 654-2488.

To find out what event is taking place in any given week, you can "like" Malta Trails, Inc. on Facebook or look for their monthly guide in the pages of the Phillips County New's Frontier Trader.

In other Malta Trails, Inc. news, Phase 2 of the Malta Trails System is underway and there are currently .4 miles complete. Phase 2 is not open to the public yet and though pedestrians can walk on the new path, absolutely no motorized vehicles or horseback riding is allowed on the path.

When Phase 2 of the trails is complete, it will be a distance of 1.5 miles. Phase 1 of the trails was the Trafton Trail – a distance of about a mile -- which was completed two years ago. Pankratz said that the Trafton is on the north side of town, across the railroad tracks, and will not connect with Phase 2. The newest phase of the trail system is on Phillips County property and will connect with the Riverview Park across from the Malta/Dodson Irrigation Canal.

"Right now CTEP is in the process of approving the bridge plan and it should go out for bid sometime this month," said Pankratz. The Community Transportation Enchantment Program – a part of the Montana Department of Transportation – which will fund the canal bridge for Phase 2 of the Malta Trails also funded the 10th Street Bridge Beatification Project in Great Falls as well as the Red Bridge Restoration Project in Columbia Falls.

The lower part of Trafton Trail flooded last couple of winters and washed away the gravel on the trail. Pankratz said that no new gravel will be put on that portion of the trail, but that once the ground has firmed up a bit that Rocky Mummy will take his packer down there to sure-up the path.

"We mow it down and spray for weeds as well," said Pankratz. "It's really a nice trail. It connects to the (Phillips County" Museum, the H.G. Robinson House and the Dinosaur Museum. It's really a neat path."

Pankratz said that Rocky Mummy, owner of Adams Asphalt & Construction has donated a lot of labor and materials to the Malta Trails program as well as Jim Carney and Bishop Inc., and The Nature Conservancy, who have donated gravel. Phillips County and the City of Malta have donated hauling of materials as well as many labor hours in helping construction of the trail project. The Malta Trails Group receives funding from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Recreation Trails Program to pay for the creation of the trails, adding that the Malta Trails Inc. receives a 20% match on any funding the program receives.

"Last year we received $30,000," said Pankratz. "And that is what we are using on the .4 miles (of Phase 2.) Every year we have a Brewfest in September and that's when we ask the community to come out and support us. "

The Brewfest will be on September 27 this year. Future additions Malta Trails Group hope to implement in the near future will include benches and scenic items along the trails.