The historic Remount Depot at Ninemile Ranger Station was established in 1930. The Remount Depot bred mules for 32 years to assist with fire suppression. Back in the day, there were over 1500 animals at the station with 35 animal packers. Today 200 head make their way from across Montana, northern Idaho, and some from Wyoming to spend their winters at Ninemile.

Today, the U.S. Forest Service Northern Region pack string is based out of Ninemile and travels across the region hauling freight in and out of wilderness, educating “Leave No Trace” wilderness management to the backcountry horse and stock communities, and representing the agency’s mission and objectives at shows, expositions, and other events seen by nearly 100,000 people.

Since 1988, the ten mules and four riding animals of the Northern Region pack string have carried approximately 2.3 million pounds of supplies and equipment in and out of protected wilderness. They routinely carry items as large as 30-foot bridges, bear equipment, building construction, maintenance equipment, and even gravel quietly at a 3 mile-per-hour pace.

Making work like this possible

In April, the National Forest Foundation and KettleHouse launched a new partnership effort designed to give back to Montana’s National Forests. KettleHouse is contributing one dollar per beer poured to the National Forest Foundation from a dedicated tap handle at each of their two taproom locations in Missoula and Bonner. These funds will be invested into the Montana Forest Fund, a new program created through the National Forest Foundation designed to create lasting benefit to the lands, waters, and recreational resources of Montana’s National Forests.

Projects like the restoration work at Ninemile will be made possible by this fund. We’re excited to grow the partnership and impact for Montana’s National Forests.