Your side note brings up some hot button issues that I am sure will occupy some many trial miles of discussion, but just a quick comment I would make is that historicaly [in Mt.] the function of the Forest Service has been to "get the cut out". Any time they stray from this to build or maintain a trial in a wilderness area is a cause for rejoicing! Often times these are trade deals, ie. cutting 2 million board feet of burned out wood from a recent fire is mitigated by rebuilding a trailhead in an associated area. Conservationists and Loggers working side by side!
Go Figure!
Cheers;
Tim
Believe it or not, some trail work is actually being done in the Bitterroots this year.
Yesterday I completed the connecting ridge from Lolo to Sweeney (route and TR to follow in a few days). When I reached the trail to Peterson Lake (and beyond) I found a trail crew working on it. They're cutting back intrusive vegetation and rebuilding the portions of the trail which have deteriorated.
...don't know how I missed it earlier, but only just found this page. Very, very nice...good writing (something to think about, even), wonderful photos, and a great page layout. One of SP's best!