Bridger Ski Kind Stewardship Project Update
See how education, collaboration, and stewardship initiatives have been working to protect Montana’s Bridger Mountains again this season!
Photo by Hilary Eisen
(8/20/2024)
How does education play a role in conservation?
As Winter Wildlands Alliance’s Policy Director, I never thought I’d be in the sign business, but sometimes education is the most important part of conservation. Case in point: the Bridger Infrastructure Project.
Photos by Patrick Cross and Hilary Eisen
What makes the Bridger Mountains a recreational hotspot?
The Bridger Mountains, just north of Bozeman, serve up some of the best skiing in Montana. The range also boasts hundreds of miles of trails that provide recreation and access for snowmobiling, hiking, mountain biking, dirt biking, horseback riding, and ATV use.
The Gallatin National Forest completed a travel plan for this area in 2009, and the Forest Service has clearly defined which uses are allowed where, and when. However, with Bozeman’s rapidly growing population, not everybody is aware of the travel plan. There’s also a need for more responsible recreation education and general information about how and where to recreate in the Bridgers.
How are stakeholders working together?
Over the past year, Winter Wildlands Alliance has been working with a wide variety of recreation, conservation, and management stakeholders to improve and reduce the impacts of outdoor recreation in the Bridgers. You can read about our first season of work on this project here. This project is supported by a grant from the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Trail Stewardship Program.
Why is improved trail signage important?
This summer, we have been coordinating volunteers and with partner organizations to install new trail and trailhead signs across the Bridgers. By ensuring all of the trail intersections are clearly marked and that clear maps are available at each trailhead, this project will help people comply with the travel plan. Additionally, by providing information about how to recreate responsibly at each trailhead, we’re hoping people can take small individual actions to reduce the overall impact of recreation in this popular area.
What role does weed management play?
There is also a weed management aspect to the project, benefiting wildlife, ecosystem health, and visitor experiences. We’ve installed “boot brush” weed stations at some of the most popular trailheads, where people can clean weed seeds off of their shoes and learn about the noxious weeds in that specific area. Additionally, we’re ttreating noxious weed infestations along trail corridors.
Photos by Garth Neuffer
How does this project support the 2022 Forest Plan?
This project assists the Custer Gallatin National Forest in implementing the 2022 Forest Plan. The plan strives to reduce the spread of invasive species, sustainably manage recreation throughout the Bridgers, enhance recreation opportunities, and work with partners to emphasize winter recreation safety in the Bridger Recreation Emphasis Area.
