Gallatin County installed a brown metal sign at the Bear Creek pullout Tuesday. The pullout has held exactly four Subarus and a dusty Tacoma since the Clinton administration.

The sign reads “Bear Creek Trailhead — Elevation 5,840 Feet — Pack It In Pack It Out.” A port-a-potty arrived Wednesday. It blew over Thursday. The county righted it Friday.

“I’ve been parking here since the sign said ‘No Parking,’” said Dale Hender, 67, leaning on a walking stick he cut himself. “Now it says ‘Trailhead.’ The trail hasn’t moved. Neither have I.”

Hender remembers when the pullout was a turnout for runaway gravel trucks. He remembers when the trail was a game trail. He remembers when the only facilities were a flat rock and a ponderosa with a view.

The new kiosk displays a map printed on waterproof paper. The map shows the trail climbing to Bear Lake in 3.2 miles. The map does not show the marmot colony at the first switchback. The marmots do not read maps.

A volunteer trail crew spread gravel on the approach Saturday. They found three Nalgene bottles, a single ski pole, and a wedding ring. The ring went to the Sheriff’s Office at 406-555-0142. The ski pole became a walking stick for the youngest crew member.

Hikers arrived before dawn Sunday. The four Subaru spots filled by 6:14 AM. The Tacoma spot held out until 7:03. Overflow cars lined the county road shoulder where they have always lined up.

A ranger checked permits at the new kiosk. She checked the same permits she checked last year at the same pullout without a kiosk. The bears did not check permits. The bears have never checked permits.

The port-a-potty blew over again Tuesday. The county has not righted it yet. Hikers use the ponderosa. The ponderosa does not mind.