Winter Wildlands Alliance

🌨️ "How Do We Shape the Future of Winter Recreation? Data!" 🌨️ Winter Wildlands Alliance is using data, collected through the RIMS mobile app by The Colorado Mountain Club, to protect your favorite snowy escapes! Last winter, our dedicated volunteers gathered crucial information across national forests in California and Colorado. 👉 What did we find? 95% of winter visitors recorded in California and 80% of winter visitors recorded in Colorado were human-powered! Common issues include lack of signage and parking guidance. Colorado’s winter sports scene is thriving! Discover more about our findings and how we're using data to ensure safe and enjoyable winter adventures for everyone. Read the full report on our Stash blog! 📊

“The debates over land use often pit local communities against outside advocates, creating complex and sometimes misleading narratives.” - Jonathan P. Thompson The debate over the Lower Dolores River, with its proposed 30,000-acre conservation area vs. a 400,000-acre monument, shows the complexities of conservation. Is this a real compromise or just another obstacle? Jonathan P. Thompson’s article reflects on these struggles, which echo the challenges we face at Winter Wildlands Alliance to protect wild snowscapes and preserve recreation access. It’s a reminder that, just like in the Lower Dolores debate, the real challenge is navigating beyond simplistic dichotomies and finding meaningful solutions that address local interests and long-term conservation. At Winter Wildlands Alliance, we strive to find this common ground in our conservation work. The best solutions often lie beyond apparent conflicts. Click the link to read more from "The Land Desk"!

"It’s a delicate balance to ensure recreation use and access can continue without losing the wilderness and wildlife that make these mountains so special." — Hilary Eisen, Policy Director Winter Wildlands Alliance proudly supports The Greater Yellowstone Conservation and Recreation Act, which will: -Protect 250,000 acres of public lands in the Madison and Gallatin ranges. -Safeguard critical wildlife habitats. -Preserve recreation access without expanding into sensitive wildlands. -Ensure clean water for our rivers and communities. 📢 Take Action: Endorse the Act here: https://lnkd.in/gQuehWa2. 📖 Learn More: Read Hilary's op-ed on why this Act is crucial: https://bit.ly/3WXGat3.

Have you ever seen pink snow in the summer? Pink snow, also called watermelon snow, snow algae, and glacier blood, is a natural, high-altitude, summer phenomenon caused by a bloom of algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis. It might look (and even smell!) sweet, but you probably shouldn't eat it! Click to read more about pink snow and why it is more of a red flag than a pink flag for climate change and water supply. 🍉 ❄️ https://lnkd.in/gtwMeGDb

❄️ POLICY UPDATE ❄️ This past July has seen some big news in the policy world, with important connections to all of our work. -Supreme Court Ruling: Overturning Chevron means judges will now make more decisions instead of deferring to agency experts. -Project 2025: A new policy proposal could undo protections for public lands. -NEPA Reform: Senator Manchin's new bill could speed up fossil fuel projects and weaken environmental protections. But there was good news too! Senator Padilla's RESERVE Act aims to make public land reservation systems fairer and more transparent. Check out the full details in our Stash Blog!

Is our work at Winter Wildlands Alliance contributing to public health? We believe so. Protecting wild snowscapes and advocating for quieter wildlands benefits everyone. This article on the effects of traffic noise on children's brains and learning underscores the importance of our work in creating quieter soundscapes. Check out the article to see how brain and nervous system health align with our mission to promote sustainable recreation. Read more about how cities are tackling noise pollution and why it's crucial for our collective well-being.

We are thrilled to welcome Megan Fiske (she/her) to the Winter Wildlands Alliance staff as our new California Stewardship Manager! Megan’s diverse background as a biologist, activist, and backcountry enthusiast makes her a great fit for our team. With experience as a WWA Backcountry Ambassador and a passion for environmental advocacy, Megan is poised to lead our stewardship efforts across California. Megan was born and raised in the Sierra Nevada, where she enjoys splitboarding, climbing, backpacking and wildlife photography. She began her career in conservation at nineteen working as a biological technician for the Forest Service, and after five years, transitioned to environmental advocacy work. With her B.S. in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Cal Poly Humboldt, she worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. She then worked as a Watershed Advocate for Foothill Conservancy until being promoted to Executive Director. Most recently, she has been teaching in the Forestry and Natural Resources department at Columbia College, working as an advocate for Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch, an Outreach Coordinator for the Community Action Project, and as Backcountry Ambassador for WWA. Her passion for grassroots nonprofits allows her to help protect the environment for everyone to enjoy. ⛷️ Click the link to learn more about Megan!

🎉 HALF A MILLION STUDENTS REACHED! 🎉 We are excited to announce that SnowSchool has now engaged 500,000 students in snow science across the nation! This milestone reflects our commitment to outdoor education and making winter experiences accessible to all. Highlights from the 2023-24 season: 35,000+ participants across 72 active sites in 17 states 53% of students from underserved communities 68% of students were first-time snowshoers Thank you to our supporters, partners, and educators for making this possible! Together, we are empowering and inspiring the next generation to protect wild snowscapes. To learn more about our impact and growth, check out the full story in our Stash blog! ❄️

Looking to beat the heat with some cool winter reading? The Winter Wildlands Alliance team has you covered! Check out our Stash Blog to find staff-recommended books that are sure to transport you to snowy landscapes and winter adventures, even in the heat of summer! 📘 Do you agree with our picks? What is your favorite wintery book? Let us know!

❄️ POLICY UPDATE ❄️ Our policy team brings you major victories and updates from June: an Ambler Road win, Forest Plans insights, and ongoing NEPA advocacy efforts. Plus, meet our newest team member! Get into the details and see how you can support our efforts in our Stash Blog.