Citizens flock to Trout Creek for Poker Run
Heather Hasty/Valley Press Dustin Black, of Plains, brings in his sled with his son Brody, age 3, after participating in the poker run with both of his sons, Brody and Denny, age 2.
Heather Hasty
Valley Press
The mountains were covered in the perfect amount of snow with the sun shining giving participants of the annual Poker Run in Trout Creek a smooth ride. The Cabinet Ridge Riders hosted the annual run again this year with the first and last checkpoint of the 32 mile run being at the Wayside Bar in Trout Creek.
Tony Conte, with the Noxon ambulance service, stood by all day from 8 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m. just in case something happened with one of the riders.
“Nope, nothing happened,” Conte said, “It went off without a hitch.”
The Ridge Riders provided them with firewood, lunch and a portable bathroom for the day according to Conte.
“We just sit there and hope nothing happens,” Conte said.
This is the fourth year that Conte has helped out with the Poker Run and said that there has yet to be a serious injury while he’s been there.
“Last year a couple snowmobiles ran off the road, so there was potential but still no serious injuries,” Conte said.
Although in the past they have had two shifts this year they went with just one, leaving four of them to cover the day.
“It’s not that big of deal to go sit there,” Conte said, “It’s just part of our community service.”
Even though no one was injured not everyone made it through without incident. According to John Harris, who manned the second checkpoint with Dave Shop, there were a few sleds that didn’t make it through that point.
“There were no injuries but we did have to have to sleds get towed down,” Harris said.
Being the first checkpoint on snowmobile it shut down at 1:30 p.m. but according to Harris they saw their last rider at about 12:20 p.m.
“It went really well,” Harris said, “Everyone that we talked to said it was like a freeway, a nice smooth ride all the way down.”
Maureen Morkert, secretary for the Ridge Riders said she was happy with the day as well.
“We had a good day, better than we thought we’d have,” Morkert said, “Plus it was great weather.”
Harris said that he felt about 50 percent of the riders were from out of the area. He reported participants from Wash., Idaho, Darby, Libby and Missoula among others, but it was the locals that had more than just the poker run on their minds.
“I think we got asked a lot of questions about the wolves,” Harris said, “Anyway the local people had wolves on their minds.”
A Forest Service representative as well as Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden for the county were present for a period of time to visit with the riders and the volunteers.
Harris said that he thought there was about 207 riders this year with 541 poker hands which is down a few from last year and down about 20 from two years ago.
“It was down,” Harris said, “Not a whole lot but it seemed like it went a lot faster.”
The Ridge Riders earned over $13,000 all of which will go to charity. Anyone with a charitable request should send a letter to the Cabinet Ridge Riders
Harris added that they would really like to thank the cabinet, the participants and the community and businesses that participated and donated in the Poker Run.
“We really appreciate it,” Harris said.
The winners are as follows:
1. Jay Pollock, Missoula, MT, straight flush 300
2. Diane Nolen, Trout Creek, MT, full house; A/7 275
3. Joe Pitts, Thompson Falls, MT, full house; Q/J 250
4. Byron Ruen, Clarkfork, ID, full house; J/5 225
5. Chris Perry, Stevensville, WA, heart flush 200
6. Curt Kegel, Thompson Falls, MT; 3 aces 10 175
7. Carol Doyle, Mt. Vernon, WA; 3 kings 10 150
8. Kari Pollock, Missoula, MT; 3 kings 8 100
9. Kat Hatfield, Trout Creek, MT; 3 kings 4 25
10. Don Wallace, Troy, MT; 3 queens 8 25
11. Pinkie Nelson, Trout Creek, MT; 3 queens 8, 25
12. Cory Thompson, Sandpoint, ID; 3 queens 5 25
13. Dan Kenfield, Kalispell, MT; 3 jacks A 25
Raffle Item Winners
50” Plasma TV Ian Taylor, Thompson Falls, MT
San Juan Cruise: Rosalie Warboys, Libby, MT
Wheelbarrow of Joy: Jennifer Summer, Trout Creek, MT
Log Bench Deb Mathson, Missoula