Eastern Wildlands

The Eastern Wildlands Chapter educates and organizes citizens on wilderness issues close to where we live. Some of the best-known wild places in our area are the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Pryor Mountains, Big Snowy Mountains, Crazy Mountains, and Tongue River Breaks. The chapter is governed by a board of directors, made up of local volunteers.
 
What we work on:
Custer National Forest - Beartooth District Travel Planning
The Travel Plan will decide if quiet trails and remote, secluded areas will remain in the Pryors and in the Beartooths.
The Custer National Forest is now reviewing public comments as part of their preparation of a final decision.
Check back here for updates.
We Support:
1. Establishing non-motorized "Hiking and Riding Areas" in the Pryor Mountains, and in areas adjacent to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area.
2. Seasonal restrictions for motorized traffic during months with the highest risk of ecological damage.
3. Motor-free Wilderness Study Areas, and two non-motorized sections adjacent to the Custer National Forest.

We work with the Pryors Coalition: The Pryors Coalition consists of, but is not limited to: the Eastern Wildlands Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association; Montana Wilderness Association; the Yellowstone Valley Chapter of the Montana Audubon Society; the Frontier Heritage Alliance; Our Montana, Inc.; the Beartooth Back Country Horsemen; Back Country Horsemen of Montana; The Cloud Foundation; and many unaffiliated individuals.

The Pryor Coalition's "Vision" calls for a healing of the land by confining motorized recreation to a generous network of more than 75 miles (plus additional connecting roads on BLM-administered land) that provide access to five enclaves designed to restore peace, quiet and predictability to resource management, thus providing multiple benefits for the agency, taxpayers, recreationists, wildlife, cultural resources, native plants, noxious weed control and more.

BLM Travel Plan: The Bureau of Land Management is revising its Travel Management Plan for the Pryor Mountains. BLM lands are adjacent to those managed by the Forest Service, and the BLM is in the initial phase of planning. A Draft Travel Management Plan is currently being developed, but the BLM does not have a proposed timeline for completion of the Draft Plan.

 

Join us for upcoming events!

Eastern Wildlands Chapter Board Meeting
Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Room 201 in Alden Hall, Rocky Mountain College, Billings

Billings Area Conservation Roundtable
Meets every other Tues. at noon.
Broadway Place, 207 North Broadway, Billings


Full MWA Calendar

Contact us

Email: mwaewc[at]wildmontana.org

Local Board of Directors

  • Jeff Hunnes, President
  • Bernard Quetchenbeck, Vice President
  • Terri Hogan, Secretary
  • Margaret Webster, Treasurer
  • Dick Walton
  • Mamie Wilson
  • Stephen Germic
  • Randall Gloege
  • Dave Klarich
  • Letha McDowell
  • Carolyn Parrish
  • Monte Smith
  • Ryan Sparhawk
  • Brad Wood