Since 2018, volunteers from the Southwestern Wildlands Chapter have been fortunate enough to have some of Montana’s most beautiful country right in their backyard. Not the type to take it for granted, these volunteers have been helping to protect the wild places they love. Each year, these volunteers are involved in stewardship endeavors and are always looking to get more work done for public lands. Some of their stewardship endeavors include clearing trails in the East Pioneer Mountains’ Torrey Mountain Recommended Wilderness, removing noxious weeds in the Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area, providing stock support for Wild Montana’s Volunteer Trail Crew backcountry projects, installing hitch rails at trailhead in the West Pioneers Wilderness Study Area, and cleaning up campgrounds and fishing sites along the Big Hole River.
In 2023, volunteers in the Southwestern Wildlands Chapter will focus on backcountry clean up inventory as well as clearing trails in the Anaconda-Pintler landscape.
Interested in joining the Adopt-A-Trail Crew? Trips are free to join. Here’s how to get involved:
Contact the Adopt-A-Trail Crew coordinators for Southwestern Wildlands Chapter to let them know you are interested. Do not show up to the trailhead unannounced – all volunteers must be cleared ahead of time. Email the coordinating team at staghornranch@gmail.com.
Be honest about your ability level. Trail work rookies are welcome, but know the work is physically demanding. Consult with the Adopt-A-Trail Crew coordinator to make sure you will be a good fit for a project.
If you plan to join a project, follow through on your commitment.
If something comes up and you can no longer join, please give your trail captain plenty of notice. Crew sizes are limited so we often have waiting lists for projects.
Arrive prepared. See the list below.
Trail captains will bring tools and hard hats for all volunteers. It is up to you to bring:
A sturdy daypack. Make sure it is suitable for hiking and can hold what you need a day of work.
Work gloves and safety glasses. Prescription glasses and sunglasses suffice.
Plenty of drinking water for the day. For a full day on the trail, you will want 4 liters of water.
Lunch and snacks. You’re going to get hungry out there.
Personal first aid kit. In case you find yourself in need of a bandaid or some Advil.
Rain gear and plenty of warm layers. Don’t leave yourself unprepared for the elements.
Your trail captain will provide you with meeting time and location, the day’s schedule, project work, and driving directions as the project nears.
In 2022, the Southwestern Wildlands Chapter launched the Visit with Respect program with the goal of cleaning up and naturalizing campsites at 50 lakes in our region. Chapter volunteers remove garbage and dismantle excessive fire rings and other artificial features around campsites and along lakeshores. Last year, we cleaned up 16 lakes within the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, the Pioneer Mountains Recommended Wilderness, and the West Big Hole area along the Continental Divide Trail. We’ll continue these efforts in 2023 and we would love to have your help! To learn more and get involved, contact Charlie O’Leary at staghornranch@gmail.com.
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