Rainbow Family Gathering Ends, National Forest Service Incident Managmenet Team Leaving

Today, July 8, the National Forest Service Incident Management Team that has been monitoring the Rainbow Family gathering in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest will close up shop.The announcement comes one day after the Rainbow Family gathering officially ended.  National Forest Service Spokeswoman Cass Cairns says this years Rainbow Gathering was significantly different from when the same event came to Montana in 2000.

"The peak of attendance for this years gathering was on the Fourth of July at 9,700, which is quite a difference from the event in 2000 at the same area which peaked out on July 2, at 23,000," said Carins . "So, There was quite a difference in attendance this go around. At this point there are about 2,000 people left on site."

Carins says that garbage is still a major concern for the area.

Now that the incident management team is heading out, state and local officials will be responsible for managing the clean-up of the area. Cairns says surround cities and towns can expect to see many rainbow family members hitchhiking as they make their way back to their various home towns.