Arts & Entertainment
The protectors of the trails
Published
3 years agoon
Posted By
AdminA perspective on hiking from a Big Sky Trail Ambassador
By Kate Battaglia EBS Contributor
BEEHIVE BASIN – The snow-crested mountains of the Spanish Peaks Range stretch across the horizon, their jagged peaks silhouetted by the sun. I crane my neck in an effort to capture glimpses of mountain goats moving across the distant slopes. Despite the blistering heat, Beehive Basin Trail rustles with an abundance of wildlife. My eyes sweep across bundles of native Indian Paintbrush flowers in the wild grass lining the trail. Intermixed within the floral patches lies a Gatorade bottle.
As an avid hiker within the Big Sky area, I aim to contribute to the trails which have provided me – along with fellow hikers – a place to escape from the bustling Town Center. The opportunity of being a trail ambassador for Big Sky Community Organization seemed like a role too fitting to overlook.
The trail ambassador program was initiated by the Big Sky Community organization around five or six years ago, and as of summer 2021 has five active participants. For the past few years, I’ve hiked Big Sky’s most popular trails like Ousel Falls, the Uplands Trail and Beehive Basin Trail, and observed the conditions of each individual trail. Unfortunately, their popularity yields some downsides.
On my many hikes, I’ve discovered a great deal of waste scattered along each trail. As a Trail Ambassador, it is my role to remove any waste found along the trails.
Mackenzie Johnson, head of the Trail Ambassador program emphasizes the recent growth of tourism seen this summer, describing it as “exponential.” Johnson adds that this increase is “most visible in the trails and parking lots.” Picking up pieces of litter and dog waste may seem to be quite a monotonous and draining job, but I’d argue otherwise.
Being a Trail Ambassador grants me a unique opportunity to give back to the trails which have given so much to me. As someone who resides in Dallas, Texas an area characterized by its expansive flatness, I am continuously awestruck by the mountainous beauty of the area. With the growing popularity of Montana, I strive to do as much as I can to provide others with the same experience.
I encourage others who possess the same adoration for the Big Sky ecosystem to try out the Trail Ambassador position. Not only do we preserve the natural beauty of each trail, but we also maintain the overall safety. After the completion of a hike, trail ambassadors report back to BSCO to inform them of the quantity of the people on the trail, the amount of garbage found and any potential hazards.
“We don’t have enough staff to hike every trail every day so the trail ambassadors can help us in reporting any hazards, like a fallen tree or other obstacle,” Johnson said.
Individual efforts, while small, become part of a larger preservation project, and every little bit counts.
Johnson added that the outreach made possible by the trail ambassadors not only aids in the preservation of the trails but also in “educating people on the proper etiquette.” This aspect is also increasingly prominent as “populations are visiting the area who aren’t used to the wildlife or the altitude,” she said.
The role of a trail ambassador is not only to preserve the trails for the community of Big Sky, but for visitors who desire to experience the stunning trails. Locals and tourists alike all must play their part in maintaining the Big Sky community.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during
more
Event Details
Area parents are encouraged to bring their young children to Symphony Storytime with a Bassoon which will be presented at the Bozeman Public Library’s Community Room during their regular Toddler and Preschool Storytime on Wednesday, March 20, at 10:15 a.m. The free program, presented by the Bozeman Symphony is especially for children ages 3 to 5. Children will be able to listen to Montana Shakespeare in the Parks actor Emma Rather, who will be joined by Bozeman Symphony Bassoonist Sam Macken. The goal of the program is to encourage a love of music, literacy, and discovery. Additional programs are scheduled at the Library on April 10 and June 12. For more information, visit www.bozemansymphony.org or call 406-585-9774.
Time
(Wednesday) 10:15 am - 10:45 am
Location
Bozeman Public Library
626 E. Main St, Bozeman, MT