The complex winter landscapes of the Western Tetons are world a renowned backcountry ski destination.
The Winter Wilderness Stewardship Project is an innovative community based program that addresses the impacts of winter recreation on the Jedediah Smith and Winiger Hole Wilderness Areas.
In preparation for the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act, the United States Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation developed the Wilderness Stewardship Challenge that measured the current condition of Wilderness Areas.
In 2002, this assessment was applied nationally. Our local Jedediah Smith and Winegar Hole Wilderness Areas did not score well. The Jedediah Smith Wilderness scored a mere 66% and the Winegar Hole a dismal 58%. These poor ratings can be contributed to an explosion of winter recreation in the Teton region as well as corresponding lack of data and management.
The Jedediah Smith Wilderness or “The Jed”, is located between Grand Teton National Park and the Idaho/Wyoming border. The Jed includes the Crest of the Teton Range as well as most of its Western Slope. The Jed is home to a variety of wildlife including black bears, grizzly bears, wolverines, mountain lions, wolves, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and elk. With abundant snowfall and a diversity of terrain, the Jed is also a nationally renowned destination for backcountry snowsports enthusiasts.
To the north and adjacent to Yellowstone National Park’s southern boundary, the smaller Winegar Hole Wilderness is managed as a trail-less area to protect quality mid-elevation grizzly bear habitat.
Within the last decade the popularity of backcountry skiing and snowboarding in the Teton Range has grown dramatically. These healthy and wilderness-compatible activities are a growing segment of our local winter economy. However, impacts to wilderness character and wildlife do exist. The western side of the Tetons is also popular with snowmobilers and unfortunately wilderness trespass too common.
Motorized intrusion by snowmobile trespass is a common occurrence.
In order to manage for winter wilderness values, including opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, it is vital to establish baseline data on current winter recreation use and motorized intrusions. This baseline data can then be used to create viable winter specific management strategies and actions.
In order to improve local stewardship of the Jedediah Smith and Winegar Hole Wilderness Areas the Winter Wilderness Stewardship Project will:
- Develop and implement a winter monitoring program.
- Analyze collected winter recreation data to establish directions and management actions to protect opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation.
- Develop and implement a winter wilderness education plan.
- Work with local outfitters to develop or improve winter operating plans that promote wilderness values.
- Utilize collected data and a collaborative process to make management recommendations to Targhee National Forest.
With support from 1% for the Tetons, the National Forest Foundation, Winter Wildlands Alliance, The Murie Center, and Lighthawk, the Winter Wilderness Stewardship Project will work closely with Targhee National Forest and the local backcountry snowsports community, to ensure the integrity of the Jedediah Smith and Wineger Hole Wilderness Areas are protected.
"The Jed" offers world class backcountry skiing.
The Teton backcountry ski and snowboard community is an established national leader in the advancement of our sport. It is only fitting that we also lead the way in how to protect the wild landscape in which we practice our craft. The Winter Wilderness Stewardship Project will serve as a national model to demonstrate how local communities, ecosystems, and economies can benefit from winter specific wilderness stewardship.
Learn more: watch a 5-minute presentation and download the project application on the project page.
Tags: 1% for the Tetons, One28, Winter wilderness Stewardship, Winter Wildlands Alliance
