Migrating Mule Deer Will Move Unhindered on the Bridger-Teton National Forest

Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor, Chad Hudson, recently signed a special order creating a seasonal recreational closure near the outlet of Fremont Lake. The purpose of the closure is to minimize human disturbance to migrating mule deer in the spring and fall. In collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Pinedale Ranger District specialists identified the need for a no human presence closure from November 1 through November 30 and from April 1 through April 30, in a crucial 240 acre area along the Sublette Mule Deer Migration Route which was identified by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Data indicates that deer using this migration route travel farther than any other mule deer migration ever documented, passing through many potentially life-threatening obstacles along the way. The closure area represents an important portion of the migration route, known as the “Fremont Bottleneck.” This bottleneck is a top concern for mule deer managers, as this narrow segment of the migration route is critical for the passage of an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 mule deer each fall and spring. In addition to the narrowness of the migration bottleneck which is bordered by residential development to the south and by Fremont Lake to the north, a major concern with this area is the high level of activity associated with human presence that deer must contend with as they cross Pine Creek or swim the outlet, move past the marina and multi-use trails at CCC Ponds area, and cross the paved FS 111 and CR 154 roads. Recent efforts to eliminate the obstacle of non-wildlife friendly fencing in the area has already been accomplished, as well as the acquisition by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department of the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management Area, located just west of the proposed closure area. Signs will be posted at key entrances to the area to remind public of the seasonal closure.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
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Bullhead Lake

Though it's a 7.2-mile roundtrip hike, Bullhead Lake in Glacier National Park is relatively easy, considering there's only 425 feet of elevation gain. Along the route hikers will visit Fishercap Lake, Redrock Lake and Redrock Falls begore reaching Bullhead. From Bullhead hikers will enjoy great views of Swiftcurrent Mountain, Swiftcurrent Glacier, as well as the headwall above the lake:

Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
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Most entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will be closed Nov. 1

The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads in Yellowstone National Park will be closed to regular vehicle traffic Nov. 1. The park annually closes roads at this time of year to prepare them for the winter season and snowmobile and snowcoach travel, which will begin Dec. 15. The last day for visitors to drive most park roads will be Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The only roads open year-round are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana (via Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley).

Visitors planning to drive in the park during the fall and winter should:

Prepare for changing weather conditions.

Have flexible travel plans.

Expect limited services. Check Operating Dates for details.

Anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.

Temporary travel restrictions or closures can occur at any time without notice.

Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions in Yellowstone:

Visit Park Roads.

Receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).

Call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded message.

All communities near Yellowstone are open year-round, with local businesses offering a wide range of fall and winter recreation opportunities. For information about communities in Montana (Gardiner, West Yellowstone, Cooke City, and Silver Gate), visit www.visitmt.com. For information about communities in Wyoming (Cody and Jackson), visit www.wyomingtourism.org. And if your travel plans to the park take you through Idaho, visit www.visitidaho.org.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Bear Safety: How to Deploy Bear Spray

I recently noticed this video on how to deploy bear spray on the Glacier Institute's website. I thought this was a quick, worthwhile instructional video for those that carry bear spray, but have never had to use it. In it, you'll notice Garrett deploys the entire cannister. I'm not so sure that's the proper thing to do in the event of a charging bear. My understanding is that you should only spray for a few seconds to create a cloud, while keeping a few seconds of spray left in reserve in case the first burst didn't work for some reason (wrong wind direction, bear didn't approach close enough, etc.), and the bear were to return. I could be wrong on this, so please feel free to leave a comment below if you have a different thought or information.

Bear Safety: How to Spray Bear Spray from Glacier Institute on Vimeo.

Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

FWP Releases 2023 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation And Management Plan For Public Comment

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on a draft plan and environmental impact statement to guide the agency’s recommendations for the long-term management and conservation of wolves across the state.

The draft 2023 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (2023 Wolf Plan) incorporates updates in wolf-related research, more than 20 years of management experience, evolution in conflict management, new laws, social perspectives, and public input.

The new draft plan builds on a foundation of FWP wolf management: monitoring populations, tracking harvest, effective conflict management, and flexibility to integrate evolutions in science.

“The 2003 Wolf Plan guided our successful management for two decades. And under that management, wolves have become well established in Montana,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “This new plan relies on the best available science and reflects current Montana law and all the public input we’ve heard over the years regarding wolf management in Montana. I encourage folks to comment.”

The draft 2023 Wolf Plan shifts a key counting metric from the number of breeding pairs to the number of wolves representing at least 15 breeding pairs. The draft 2023 plan establishes that 450 wolves would ensure 15 breeding pairs. Population estimates will continue to be determined by the peer-reviewed Integrated Patch Occupancy Modeling method, or iPOM. The draft 2023 plan also describes the current depredation prevention and response program.

In the past 20 years, the public has had opportunities to comment on various components of wolf management as it was considered by the Montana Legislature, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and FWP. Given this and the current direction within statute for wolf management in the state, FWP is not convening a citizen advisory group for wolf management at this time.

FWP is seeking public comment for 60 days on both the draft 2023 Wolf Plan and DEIS. The deadline for comments is Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. To view the draft 2023 Wolf Plan and comment, click here.

FWP is also seeking public comment on the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). This document analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed plans. To view the associated DEIS, click here.

Comments on the plan and DEIS will be collected online and can also be sent by mail to 2023 Montana Wolf Management Plan DEIS, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Division, 1420 East Sixth Avenue Helena, MT 59620, or by email to FWPWolfPlanEIS@mt.gov.

Public meetings to answer questions about the draft 2023 Wolf Plan will be scheduled prior to the close of the public comment period and announced soon on the FWP website.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

The Lake Josephine Loop

The Lake Josephine Loop in Glacier National Park provides some of the most beautiful and iconic scenery just about anywhere. We had the fortune to hike this trail once again during our September trip to the park. We also had the fortune of hiking during an absolutely beautiful bluebird day. Here's Mt. Gould towering above Morning Eagle as she awaits her first passengers of the day:

The beach area on the far eastern end of Lake Josephine just may be the most scenic spot in all of Glacier National Park. Hikers will enjoy stunning views of Angel Wing, the Garden Wall and Grinnell Glacier from this vantage point:

Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
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TetonHikingTrails.com Adds 10 New Hikes!

This past September Kathy and I had the fortune and pleasure to travel around Montana and Wyoming for roughly three weeks. Included on our itinerary was the Beartooth Highway, Glacier National Park, Bozeman and Grand Teton National Park. Other than a few rainy and foggy days, we really had a fantastic trip. Along the way we saw some amazing sights, had a few unique wildlife encounters, hiked several new trails, and re-visted several old favorites that allowed us to replace some subpar photos on our websites.

While there were two or three days where we experienced some relatively heavy fog, the fog actually provided for some really cool scenery in some instances, especially in Grand Teton. One day, as we were driving to the trailhead, we saw our first fogbow. Though we stopped to take a few photos, they really didn't represent what we actualy saw.

In all, we saw eleven bears during our trip: nine were grizzlies, and two were spotted while hiking. Fortunately those two bears were well off the trail. One morning, well before sunrise, I noticed a dark object on the edge of the road as we drove towards Logan Pass in Glacier. As we got a little closer I could see three more objects. After slowing almost to a crawl we realized it was a grizzly sow and her three cubs. After getting past the bears we continued driving, knowing that bears can become habituated to humans - even when they're in their cars. Earlier that week we saw our first albino chipmunk at the top of Ptarmigan Falls. Actually, I didn't even know they existed! On the following day we heard a loud splash in the water as we walked along Swiftcurrent Lake. On the opposing side we could see a cow moose and her calf walking into the lake, and continued to watch as they began swimming. After about a minute it appreared that they were intending to swim across the lake. Sure enough, they swam all the way across the lake, a distance of at least a quarter-of-a-mile. More amazingly, they were heading almost directly towards where we were standing. Although they didn't actually come ashore, the calf looked as if he/she was ready to stand on solid land. The mother, however, was quite content to feed on the aquatic plants just off the shore. We stood there watching for several minutes, but left after their presence started drawing crowds.

While staying in Wilson just outside of Grand Teton we saw five different moose, at various times, hanging out just below our 2nd story condominium balcony. Among these was this bull moose, who just began the process of digging a rut pit. As he dug he periodically urinated in it. Bull moose use wallows like these to ensure the odor from their urine is coated on their bodies, which is highly attractive to cows:

As a result of this extended trip we were able to add ten new hikes to our TetonHikingTrails.com website. All of these are located within the Greater Yellowstone region. This includes Fred’s Mountain at Grand Targhee Resort on the west side of Grand Teton National Park. Along the Wyoming portion of the Beartooth Highway we hiked to Night Lake, Beauty Lake and Sheepherder Lakes, each of them located in an area known as the High Lakes, and all being quite superb hikes:

Off the Beartooth Highway near Red Lodge, Montana we hiked to Silver Run Lakes Basin, and then up to Silver Run Plateau where we enjoyed some awesome panoramic views.

While in Bozeman we hiked to Lava Lake, and Beehive Basin, which is an absolutely outstanding hike:

Finally, on our way from Bozeman to the west side of Grand Teton, we briefly stopped in Yellowstone to do the Harlequin Lake and Two Ribbons Trail hikes.

All of these hikes now reside on our Other Wyoming Hikes page.

Before closing out I wanted to give a shout-out to Montana Ale Works in Bozeman for the best meal both Kathy and I have had in a couple of years. If you're ever in that area, I highly recommend checking this place out. A few other honerable mentions include the mini charcuterie board we thoroughly enjoyed at Urban Kitchen in Bozeman, the kielbasa at Miazga's in Jackson, the smoked pastrami at WYOld West Taproom in Cody, as well as the enchiladas at J's Pub in Caspar. Last but not least, the tiramisu at Calico in Wilson was simply out of this world. Of course you can't beat the ambiance of the rooftop at Dornan's, and despite what my philosophy professor said many years ago - that you can't argue aesthetics - no one will ever be able to convince me that the best place for a beer isn't on the back porch of the Many Glacier Hotel (a huckleberry beer, of course!).

Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Locomotive Bells in Glacier National Park

Believe it or not, locomotive bells were once placed atop four mountain passes in Glacier National Park. Why were they placed there, who pushed the idea, and what became of them?

To further enhance the Swiss experience for park visitors, W. R. Mills, an advertising agent for the Great Northern Railway, and H. A. Noble, manager of the Glacier Park Hotel Company, requested permission from the park in 1925 to place locomotive bells atop the summits of several passes. According to Donald H. Robinson's administrative history of Glacier National Park, the request originated from on an old Swiss custom of placing bells on mountain tops and passes so that hikers and horseback riders could ring loud bells in the mountains, and signal to people in the valleys that they had reached their destination. In September of 1926 the request was finally approved to place bells at Swiftcurrent Pass, Siyeh Pass and Piegan Pass. Three years later a fourth bell was added at Scenic Point in Two Medicine. Visitors continued ringing the bells until the fall of 1943, at which point they were removed by the hotel company and donated to a World War II scrap metal drive.

Today, the stone platform that supported the bell atop Piegan Pass still stands. This is what it looked like just a few weeks ago:

Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Fuel Reduction Pile Burns Planned in Grand Teton

Teton Interagency Fire personnel will burn slash piles created from fuel reduction projects in Grand Teton National Park in the coming weeks. Firefighters have focused on fuel reduction efforts in developed areas to reduce wildfire risk, and pile burning is the last step in this thinning process.

Fuel reduction includes thinning and removing lower limbs from trees and the removal of dead wood and brush from the forest floor. Firefighters place the slash from fuel reduction work into tepee-shaped piles and let them cure for a year before burning them. Firefighters will burn these piles under low fire behavior conditions resulting from wet weather and snow accumulation. Smoke may be visible from these piles during the day of ignition and may linger in the area for a few days.

Fuel reduction burns are planned to occur near the following locations: Bar BC Ranch, Colter Bay Pit, Elk Ranch Flats, Kelly Pit, Murie Ranch, Seligman (near park’s south boundary at Poker Flats), Sky Ranch and Snake River Land Company (Moran)

It is difficult to predict exactly when the burning will occur because reduction piles are only ignited under certain conditions, including favorable smoke dispersal and weather conditions that limit the chance of fire spread.

Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in all burn operations. Fire management staff will monitor the piles to assure complete combustion and consumption of all fuels and to assess conditions. If smoke lingers, signs will be posted along roadsides to remind drivers to use headlights for safer travel.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Grand View Point

This is what the Grand Tetons looked like two weeks ago. After a couple of days of rain and thick fog, the mountains finally emerged in all their glory. This was taken from Grand View Point:

Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming may auction 640 acres of state land within Grand Teton National Park

This sounds like there might be a bit of bluffing going on here, but the state of Wyoming is threatening to auction a 640-acres parcel of state land within Grand Teton National Park. According to WyoFile:

The state of Wyoming has taken a key step toward unloading its last remaining 640 acres locked within the borders of Grand Teton National Park. The land, in the heart of Jackson Hole, could be sold at auction.

Progress toward the sale of the so-called Kelly Parcel came late Monday, when the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments announced it was initiating a land disposal in conjunction with releasing a detailed analysis of the square-mile property.

“This is one of the very first steps in the process, and there certainly is a long way to go,” Wyoming Office of State Lands Deputy Director Jason Crowder told WyoFile. “It definitely has consideration by the [State Board of Land Commissioners] still in front of it.”

The so-called Kelly Parcel is located at a point where Grand Teton National Park meets with the Bridger-Teton National Forest and National Elk Refuge:

More information on this story at the Jackson Hole News & Guide website.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

UPDATE: Section of Beartooth Highway (US-212) remains closed due to forecasted winter weather

The Beartooth Highway (US-212) between Long Lake barricade, near Top of the World Store, and the Montana/Wyoming state line remains closed due to winter weather conditions. Crews will continue to evaluate the road status into the weekend and will reopen this segment of the highway if conditions allow.

This section of the highway closed on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. due to forecasted winter weather conditions. Crews have monitored the snow and ice conditions since the temporary closure.

The last day to enjoy driving the Beartooth Highway for the season will be Monday, Oct. 9, weather dependent. Check for weather forecasts for the Beartooth Highway at National Weather Service. Check the Montana and Wyoming departments of transportation websites for road updates and status.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Woman Injured In Bear Encounter North Of Polebridge

A woman was hospitalized in an encounter with a bear Sunday near the U.S.-Canada border north of Polebridge in Flathead County.

At about 3 p.m., Oct. 1, 2023, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff were notified that a woman was attacked along the bank of Trail Creek a few miles west of the North Fork Road. The A.L.E.R.T. air ambulance transported the 73-year-old victim to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell.

FWP wardens and bear specialists are actively investigating the incident and monitoring the site along Trail Creek known as the “Bubble ups” where the creek flows underground before rising to the surface. The site is closed while the investigation continues. The type of bear is unconfirmed at this time.

The victim was on national forestland with her husband and dog when the bear emerged from thick brush and attacked her. Her husband deployed bear spray and the bear moved away from the victim. They returned to their vehicle and drove to a location where they could call emergency services.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
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Public Input Sought on E-bike Proposal for Select Jackson Area Trails

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is seeking public input on the proposed designation of e-bikes on select trails located in the Jackson Ranger District. The proposal would allow Class 1 e-bike use on 27.5 miles of existing trail in the Teton Pass area and extend the season when e-bikes would be permitted on Horsetail Creek Trail in the Gros Ventre, and trails in the Munger Mountain area. Class 1 e-bikes are defined as “an e-bike equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.” Class 2 and 3 e-bikes would not be permitted on proposed trails. All proposed trails are currently open to mountain bikes during the summer season. A permit system is also proposed to assist with education and enforcement.

For decades, the Bridger-Teton Forest has sought to provide a variety of high-quality experiences and work with the community to create a friendly and respectful environment on the trail system. In keeping with this goal, the Forest recognizes the growing interest in e-bikes on trails and is seeking to offer this opportunity while also minimizing the effect on other recreationists and natural resources. The three key reasons this proposal is being considered include:

1) E-bike use has increased tremendously nationally and locally. All National Forests classify e-bikes as a type of motorized use and thus, they are currently permitted only on routes designated for motorized use. However, e-bike riders typically seek experiences that align more with traditional mountain bike use and opportunities for such experiences are currently not provided.

2) As our population becomes older, e-bikes can provide extra assistance for those who can no longer use traditional mountain bikes due to physical limitations but might not fall under the designation of adaptive. Additionally, more people want to enjoy outdoor experiences with family or friends and view e-bikes as an opportunity to equalize the ability to ride together.

3) The Washington Office of the Forest Service recently updated policy to define different classes of e-bikes and established a process that allows individual Forests to designate trails for e-bike use. With this new direction in place, Forests are encouraged to develop proposals, work with interested publics, and complete the required environmental analysis.

District Ranger Todd Stiles said he recognizes that e-bikes elicit strong opinions. “This is a complex topic and we welcome everyone’s thoughts on where and how to potentially provide for this use in a safe and respectful manner. We are purposely starting small with an interest in learning and adapting over time.”

The full proposal is posted on the Bridger-Teton website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=64890. There will be a public open house about the project at the Jackson Ranger District on Thursday, October 12th, from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. Comments must be submitted or postmarked during the 30 days after the legal notice is published in the Casper Star-Tribune. For more information on how to comment, see the full proposal.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

Bureau of Reclamation will intermittently close Teton Park Road across Jackson Lake Dam Oct. 11-13

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Upper Snake Field Office, is temporarily closing the Teton Park Road across the Jackson Lake Dam in Grand Teton National Park on an intermittent basis Oct. 11-13 to perform crane work on the dam. The closures will occur Wednesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for up to two hours for each closure. The road will remain open in the evenings.

Crane work will take place to inspect and perform maintenance work at Jackson Lake Dam.

During this time, travelers will not be able to make a through-trip on the Teton Park Road. Those wishing to access the northern part of Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Park may use U.S. Highway 89/191.

Variable message boards advising visitors of the closures will be operational 24 hours in advance, staged at Jackson Lake Junction and near Signal Mountain Lodge. Flaggers will staff hard closures north of Jackson Lake Dam and south of Catholic Bay Picnic Area.

Further information about this project can be obtained by contacting Johnathon Owsley, BOR Upper Snake Field Office, 208-678-0461 ext. 18.

Work schedules may change or be delayed due to weather conditions or other extenuating circumstances.



Jeff
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
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Pile Burning Planned for Fall on the Bridger-Teton National Forest

The Blackrock and Jackson Ranger Districts of the Bridger Teton National Forest plan to begin burning 277-acres of hand piles of libs and slash in early October and throughout the next few months as weather allows. Several piles are within the Teton to Snake Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project area, which is adjacent to the community west of Jackson. Units run from Phillips Bench and south to the Forest Service administration site at Cottonwood. Other miscellaneous piles include the Blackrock Administration Site, Bryan Flats Administration Site, Alkali Creek and Goosewing Guard station in the Gros Ventre, Shadow Mountain and the Turpin Meadows Ranch groomed ski trails.

Implementation will be dependent on weather conditions and resource availability and it is anticipated that the pile burning will take multiple days to complete. Firefighters will monitor the piles during and after ignition until they are declared out.

The piles may smolder and burn for several days after ignition, producing smoke. Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal; all efforts will be made to limit smoke impacts to surrounding communities. The possibility exists for smoke to settle in low-lying areas overnight. Residents in areas near burn operations are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid possible smoke impacts. When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights.

The project areas will be clearly marked with signage. No road closures or delays are anticipated.

Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project is an on-going effort designed to reduce wildfire risk in the Wildland Urban Interface. The thinning and pile burning treatments will help to establish defensible space around the Teton County in the event of future wildfires. The fuels reduction activities will also improve wildlife habitat and help to restore and maintain plant diversity within the ecosystem.

For more information about the north zone hazardous fuels reduction projects, please contact north zone fire management staff at 307-739-5424.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
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Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park

National Park Service and American Forests partner to restore threatened whitebark pine

The National Park Service (NPS) and American Forests have signed a five-year agreement to help return threatened whitebark pine to its range in the western U.S. As part of the president’s Investing in America agenda, the partnership will support restoration activities in national parks where whitebark pine grows. Initial projects in Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks are part of $44 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Through the Investing in America agenda, the Department of the Interior is implementing more than $2 billion in investments to restore our nation’s lands and waters and advance the America the Beautiful initiative to restore and conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030. To guide these historic investments, the Department released a restoration and resilience framework to support coordination across agency restoration and resiliency programs and drive transformational outcomes. This includes a commitment to the National Seed Strategy, which aims to foster interagency and public-private collaboration to increase the supply of native seeds available for timely and effective restoration.

Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in December 2022, whitebark pine is a keystone species that is vital to many high-elevation ecosystems in North America. Its seeds are a high-calorie food source for more than 19 animal species, including Clark’s nutcrackers and grizzly bears. Additionally, whitebark pine forests are vital to the health of streams and rivers – regulating the flow of snowmelt that supplies downstream watersheds.

“The National Seed Strategy spotlights how successful native plant restoration starts with having access to the rights seeds,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “Our agreement with American Forests will enable the collection of seeds from drought and disease resistant whitebark pines and ultimately help us to restore these trees in national parks.”

Whitebark pine numbers have been rapidly declining due to disease, pests and climate change. It is estimated that more than 325 million whitebark pine have been lost across their range. White pine blister rust, an invasive fungal disease that forms deadly cankers, is among the greatest threats to the high-elevation conifer.

American Forests is working with NPS to identify and implement projects guided by the National Whitebark Pine Restoration Plan – a science-informed strategy that identifies core restoration areas and actions needed to conserve whitebark pine. The plan, which will be released in fall 2023, was developed in partnership by American Forests with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, Department bureaus including the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service, and numerous Tribal land managers.

“This agreement is a pivotal step toward preserving the biodiversity and health of whitebark pine and its vital ecosystems,” said Brian Kittler, forest restoration lead with American Forests. “National parks are not just places to be enjoyed for their beauty and history, they also harbor vital habitat for the whitebark pine and other species in decline. Together, American Forests and the National Park Service are advancing the state of the science for conserving this life-giving tree.”

In Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks, American Forests is collaborating with land managers to pioneer direct seeding trials. The method, which involves planting seeds directly into the ground, as opposed to planting seedlings grown in greenhouses, may offer a low-impact and cost-effective alternative to restore whitebark pine in remote locations. American Forests is also partnering with Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks to identify and harvest cones from drought and disease-resistant whitebark pine trees. Seeds from resistant parent trees will be screened and cultivated to grow the next generation of climate-resilient forests in California.

The agreement will support future projects to come, as American Forests and national parks throughout the western U.S. continue to identify restoration opportunities.

To learn more about national efforts to protect and restore whitebark pine, visit SavetheWhitebarkPine.org.



Jeff
HikinginGlacier.com
TetonHikingTrails.com
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Ramble On (2nd edition book on the rich history of hiking)
Exploring Glacier National Park
Exploring Grand Teton National Park