2023 Friends of Bridger Teton Impact Report

FRIENDS OF THE BRIDGER-TETON Impact Report

E N T S

Executive Director Statement

02

Friends of the Bridger-Teton

04

Achievements & Highlights

06

Financials & Donors

18

M E S

S A G E

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Becoming the Executive Director of Friends of the Bridger-Teton has been the highlight of my professional career, even if it wasn’t a job that I ever imagined myself having. When conducting research in the Amazon Rainforest during my doctoral studies, my plan was to become a professor and researcher. I realized eventually that I wanted—I needed—a career that would allow me to have an outsized positive influence on my world. If I went into academia, over the course of my career, maybe I’d write about 100 papers, which maybe 10,000 people would read. At FBT, I have the privilege of helping steward 3.4 million acres of public lands used and enjoyed by millions of people annually. Inherent in our mission to keep the BTNF amazing for future generations of users is making a big impact.

Friends of the Bridger-Teton has grown tremendously each year since its founding in 2019, but 2023 was the year when FBT truly found its stride as partner to the single largest piece of land within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Although we still have much more work to do, now feels like the right time for us to compile a report of the prior year’s highlights.

We are deeply grateful for the partners, donors, advocates, USDA Forest Service, and volunteers who help us in our mission. Together, we’re making a significant impact on ensuring that everyone can enjoy the diversity and wealth of resources on the country’s fifth largest National Forest now and into the future

FRIENDS OF THEBridger-Teton

The Bridger- Teton National Forest is larger than Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks combined and is the single largest expanse of public land in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is the largest intact ecosystem in the Lower 48 states. Friends of the Bridger-Teton was founded in 2019 to help keep the BTNF amazing through collaboration, education, inspiration, and action. With staff in Sublette and Teton Counties, Friends of the Bridger-Teton promotes and enables responsible recreation on and does work with all six of the BTNF’s districts, which span five Wyoming counties. Working together, we can all enjoy the BTNF’s diversity and wealth of resources now and into the future.

355 SPECIES OF BIRDS HAVE BEEN SIGHTED ON THE BTNF.

13,804-FOOT-TALL GANNETT PEAK IS THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE BTNF AND IN THE STATE OF WYOMING.

THE BTNF IS HOME TO THE HEADWATERS OF THREE MAJOR RIVERS— THE YELLOWSTONE, SNAKE, AND GREEN.

ACHIEVEMENTS & Highlights

It takes a lot of work to make sure nothing happens. In 2023, 32 FBT volunteer Ambassadors for Responsible Recreation were stationed on three of the five counties that include portions of the BTNF. As a result of Ambassadors’ work, there were no escaped campfires or human-wildlife conflicts in designated dispersed-camping areas.

“ With the arrival of the Friends of Bridger-Teton, our work [as Ambassadors] became easier. We still work as hard as ever, but items like funding availability, options for reaching needed goals, and willing hands when a big job (like building a fence around the Goosewing property) comes along make our work more attainable.”

CLAY ALDERSON AND CLAUDIA RECTOR, AMBASSADORS FOR RESPONSIBLE RECREATION, GOOSEWING GUARD STATION

Jules Butler and Chris MacMillan’s first summer as Ambassadors at the popular Curtis Canyon designated dispersed-camping area was 2021.

“Locals were initially wary of our twicea-day presence, but every year since, locals return armed with knowledge we passed on, excited to see us, and expressing appreciation,” Jules says. “That also holds true for out-of-town, repeat campers, too.” Curtis Canyon campers are appreciative that Jules and Chris are able to lend bear spray— “Thank you Friends of the B-T for supplying us with a canister or two!” says Jules.

DURING THE GREEN RIVER DRIFT, WHICH WAS FIRST HELD IN 1898 AND, IN 2013, WAS DESIGNATED AS “TRADITIONAL, CULTURAL PROPERTY” UNDER THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, SUBLETTE COUNTY RANCHERS DRIVE THEIR HERDS FROM THE VALLEY TO GRAZING ALLOTMENTS ON THE BTNF. COME FALL, THE COWS GRADUALLY “DRIFT” BACK DOWN TO THE VALLEY FROM THE FOREST’S HIGH COUNTRY.

7 OF THE 10 LARGEST GLACIERS IN THE U.S. OUTSIDE OF ALASKA ARE IN THE BTNF.

75 SPECIES OF MAMMALS ARE KNOWN TO LIVE ON THE BTNF.

BLACKROCK FIELD CAMP

FBT again supported Blackrock Field Camp. This partnership with the Wind River Reservation brings a couple of hundred third and fourth grade members of the Northern Arapahoe and Eastern Shoshone Tribes to the BTNF’s Blackrock Ranger District. Working with tribal elders and BTNF staff, the campers developed and deepened their awareness of their ancestral and/or public lands; connected with and learned from elders of their tribes; fostered a spirit of respect, interest, and appreciation for the natural world; learned skills ranging from deploying bear spray to using a crosscut saw; and had a day of fun outside.

BFFS OF THE BTNF CAMPAIGN

June 3, 2023, FBT launched its “BFFs of the BTNF” campaign, which is funded by the grant from the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board. Between June and the end of 2023, 15 prominent users of the BTNF, including individuals from our partner organizations, professional athletes, native Spanish speakers, adaptive athletes, and BTNF staff, shared why they loved the forest and how they recreate responsibly on it with readers of the Jackson Hole Daily and Jackson Hole News&Guide.

NUMBER OF PROSPECTIVE BFFS APPROACHED WHO SAID “NO” TO BEING PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN

8

NUMBER OF FIRST PLACE FINISHES BFF OF THE BTNF JESS MCMILLAN HAD ON THE FREERIDE WORLD TOUR BEFORE RETIRING IN 2012

320

COMBINED YEARS 2023’S BFFS OF THE BTNF HAVE RECREATED ON THE FOREST

107

NUMBER OF MOUNTAINS IN HIS BOOK, SELECT PEAKS OF GREATER YELLOWSTONE, THAT AUTHOR AND BFF OF THE BTNF TOM TURIANO HAS STOOD ON TOP OF 0

“ I’m a Best Friend of the BTNF by being a considerate recreationalist. To maintain and protect the flourishing of biodiversity of the forest, I give animals a wide berth, pack out what I pack in, am

“I am a Best Friend of the BTNF because it has so much to offer like amazing wildlife, hot springs, rafting, and epic hikes. I am happy that I can raise my children in these mountains and show them animals like grizzly and black bears, wolves, moose and elk. This forest has maintained some truly wild places where humans are seldom seen or heard. I relish every opportunity to spend time in the BTNF.”

— KOLE STEWART, BEAR WISE JACKSON HOLE PROGRAM MANAGER AND BFF OF THE BTNF SINCE 2010 JHWILDLIFEFOUNDATION

BFF BTNF of the

ARE YOU A BFF OF THE BTNF? CONNECT WITH US ON INSTAGRAM — @BRIDGERTETONFRIENDS — AND TELL US WHY.

We’re all public land owners. Friends of the Bridger-Teton promotes responsible recreation on the BTNF so that we can all enjoy the forest’s diversity and wealth of resources now and into the future.

SCOTT MARKEWITZ

BACKCOUNTRY RESPONSIBLY

Our 20-minute TGR-produced film about how to responsibly recreate in the BTNF’s backcountry in the winter premiered at the 23rd Annual Skinny Skis Avalanche Awareness Week in November. btfriends.org/tgr

“ All of us at Teton County Search & Rescue commend the Friends of the B-T and TGR for taking on this project and sharing such an important message about backcountry safety with our community.”

—MATT HANSEN, TCSAR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

“ Usually action-sports films focus on professionals going after gnarly lines, rather than the training and safety protocols that the athletes and production team have done behind the scenes. Backcountry Responsibly shows skiers and riders in gnarly terrain, and then goes deeper. It is unique because it explains and shows some of the important safety work that happens before an athlete drops in.”

—TODD JONES, TGR CO-FOUNDER

MAX RITTER/TGR

13 COMMUNITIES HAVE SIGNIFICANT TIES TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE BTNF: KEMMERER, MORAN, AFTON, EVANSTON, PINEDALE, BIG PINEY, JACKSON, ROCK SPRINGS, WILSON, TETON VILLAGE, AND STAR VALLEY RANCH, WYOMING, AND VICTOR AND DRIGGS, IDAHO.

PARTNER PANEL

In November, FBT hosted an apre�s-work gathering and panel for existing and potential partners doing work on the northern part of the BTNF. “A goal of this event was to reach out to partners and share the many ways that FBT can support them in the future,” says Jennifer Ricupero, FBT’s Partnership Manager. “We look forward to building these relationships and working together to keep the BTNF the wonderful resource it is.”

THE THOROFARE REGION, PART OF WHICH IS IN THE BTNF’S TETON WILDERNESS, IS CONSIDERED THE MOST REMOTE PLACE IN THE LOWER 48.

“ We were honored by so many partners in the Jackson Hole area coming together with the universal intention of support amongst each other.”

FBT PARTNERSHIP MANAGER JENNIFER RICUPERO

20 NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE THE PARTNER PANEL

ALTHOUGH CALLED THE WEDDING TREE, THE SITE IS ACTUALLY TWO TREES—A DOUGLAS-FIR (PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII) AND A LIMBER PINE (PINUS FLEXILIS).

WEDDING TREE: Meet Miki and Harris

WEDDINGS HELD AT THE WEDDING TREE

REVENUE GENERATED

132 $35,115 5-7

NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES AT THE PULLOUT CLOSEST TO THE WEDDING TREE

“My now-husband Harris and I met in Jackson in the midst of the pandemic. We have since built our home and life here and so it felt only right to celebrate our love in this beautiful place with our closest family and friends—and the Wedding Tree could not have been a more perfect spot. With countless summer weekends spent exploring and camping around the Gros Ventre, this particular part of the valley has come to hold a very special place in our hearts. Our 30 guests witnessed our celebration of marriage while admiring the Tetons. We could not have asked for a more special place to get married and are very grateful to the Friends of Bridger Teton for the unforgettable memories.”

—MIKI ARISTORENAS

INFRASTRUCTURE SUCCESSES

n Saved the Pinedale Ranger District $100,000 by using local support to pump its vault toilets for the duration of the summer.

n Worked with private contractors and the BTNF to eliminate and rehabilitate two tracks in Curtis Canyon and, at the Dog Creek Trailhead, to create a permanent parking area and trailer turn-around and re-route the trail.

n Helped install a total of 90 steel fire rings at designated dispersed campsites.

NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED INSTALL FIRE RINGS AT CURTIS CANYON ON SEPT. 23

NUMBER

APPROXIMATE

OF VAULT TOILETS IN THE PINEDALE RANGER DISTRICT (THE MOST OF ANY BTNF DISTRICT)

PUBLIC OUTREACH

FBT launched a new website and AM radio station in 2023. FBT’s new website debuted in June.

In July, 1710AM went on the air. Fully funded by grants from the JHTTB, this AM radio station can be heard through much of Jackson Hole; a mobile repeater can be set up elsewhere on the forest to get out important information. To date, the station broadcasts PSAs on repeat. These change with the season and range from messages about campfire safety to proper food storage, how to respectfully watch wildlife, winter trail etiquette, and responsible recreation.

DEREK STAL

NEW STAFF

Hired in June, 2023 Program Coordinators Margo Feingold and Jennifer Ricupero did such great work, including outreach, supporting FBT’s many programs, representing FBT at events, and generally getting what needed to be done done. They were so amazing that they have been transitioned into fulltime positions with FBT. Jennifer is FBT’s Partnership Manager, and Margo is Programs Manager. Lori Joyner started as FBT’s Operations Manager in October, 2023.

“ I am excited to work for FBT because this position gives me the opportunity to contribute to the legacy of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and to help aid and educate visitors so they can have the best and safest experience every time they visit. FBT’s work is crucial to maintaining the balance between protecting the BTNF’s ecosystems and wildlife habitats while allowing users to recreate in so many different ways.”

—MARGO FEINGOLD, FBT PROGRAMS MANAGER

OVER 800 HISTORIC AND PREHISTORIC SITES HAVE BEEN RECORDED ON THE BTNF.

PEOPLE HAVE USED THE LAND THAT IS TODAY’S BTNF FOR AT LEAST 11,500 YEARS.

THE BTNF IS THE SINGLE LARGEST MASS OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE ECOSYSTEM.

MARGO FEINGOLD

JENNIFER RICUPERO

FINANCIAL

Support

TJH TRAVEL & TOURISM BOARD GRANT

he Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board showed their continued belief in our work by granting us $750,000. This grant money must be spent in Teton County and is earmarked to fund programs that help us mitigate the increased number of users on the BTNF and also messaging about responsible recreation. It is this grant that keeps our Ambassadors for Responsible Recreation program going in the Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts.

$1,318,561

TOTAL REVENUE

Your support is important. Thank you.

3% 18% 21% 58%

JACKSON HOLE TRAVEL AND TOURISM BOARD GRANT (AMBASSADORS FOR RESPONSIBLE RECREATION IN JACKSON AND BLACKROCK RANGER DISTRICTS)

USFS GRANTS AND AGREEMENTS

EARNED REVENUE (WEDDING TREE PERMITS)

DONATIONS (INDIVIDUAL DONORS)

2 0 2 3