Photo Credit: @dallyhue

With more of us recreating on our winter snowscapes, how can we improve partnerships with land managers and other users to educate the growing number of winter recreationists? How can land managers help us reduce our collective impact on the lands where we recreate?

This episode of Trail Break Radio is a special one, marking the end of a fun journey we’ve shared throughout this season. For our season finale, we have a conversation that encapsulates the heart of the winter backcountry experience: stewarding winter.

This week’s panelists on bring a wealth of experience and insights from different corners of the winter recreation landscape. 

Meet the Experts 

Tyler Ray: Tyler is an outdoor recreation attorney and advocate based in New Hampshire. He is the founder of Backyard Concept, LLC, and co-founder of Granite Backcountry Alliance, a Winter Wildlands Alliance Grassroots Group pioneering the use of active forest glading as a winter recreation management tool on National Forest lands in New Hampshire and Maine. Tyler is also co-founder, with Winter Wildlands Alliance, of Ski Kind.

Anne Gaspar: Previously a USFS Wilderness Ranger, Timber Stand Improvement team member, Canada Lynx researcher, and Trails Coordinator on the White River National Forest, Anne is now the Program Manager for Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area and Hut Master for Summit Huts Association.

Shane Tulp: Shane has led a USFS Backcountry Trail Crew for the past 6 summers and has been a Snow Ranger for the Ouray and Grand Valley Ranger Districts for the past 3 winters via Colorado Mountain Club. He is also a Great American Outdoors Act Coordinator for the USFS in Gunnison, CO.

Tune in to “Stewarding Winter” for free on your favorite podcast platform to hear about the importance of on-the-ground collaboration, the evolving landscape of winter sports, and the crucial role of land management in ensuring our snowy playgrounds remain both accessible and sustainable.

If you’re interested in sponsoring an Episode of Trail Break Radio. Email Emily Scott at escott@winterwildlands.org to become a Backcountry Partner.