Bear Encounter Prompts Tent Ban at Popular Aspen, CO, Campground A bear encounter has prompted a soft tent ban at Difficult Camp Ground and Difficult Group Site near Aspen, Colorado. According to an article by the Aspen Times, a bear (or bears) scratched and damaged a tent on the night of June 9. Two children were sleeping in the tent at the time and were unharmed, but the tent was […] SnowBrains | June 14, 2025 0 Comments
What’s Left at the Forest Service? The Aftermath of the DOGE Cuts and How They Have Weakened Our Public Lands The Forest Service is in trouble. Already faced with budget uncertainty, the Forest Service and the rest of the U.S. Department of Agriculture fell into the sights of the legally dubious Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, vowed to cut Forest Service staff across the board by 10% as part of their purge of the Federal […] Industry News Zach Armstrong | April 30, 2025 0 Comments
Forest Service Budget Challenges Threaten Avalanche Center Operations Nationwide Chances are, if you’ve gone backcountry skiing in the United States recently, you’ve looked at an avalanche center forecast. Regional avalanche centers utilize a mix of professional observers and forecasters, public observations, and weather stations to generate daily assessments and forecasts of the avalanche risk in mountain ranges across the United States. Looming federal budget cuts have forced the Forest […] Avalanche Zach Armstrong | November 10, 2024 1 Comment
Forest Service Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Improvements at Snowmass Mountain Resort, CO The White River National Forest seeks public comments on several proposed improvements at Snowmass Mountain Resort. Aspen Skiing Company is proposing to replace the aging Elk Camp and Alpine Springs quad chairlifts with six-person detachable lifts, expand the Elk Camp Restaurant deck, construct a summer activity Kid’s Challenge Course, and redevelop the existing Ullrhof Restaurant. If approved, work is anticipated […] Industry News Press Release | August 27, 2024 0 Comments
Paid Climbing Permits Have Arrived at Mt. Hood, OR, with Quotas Likely to Follow Climbers and skiers attempting to summit Mt. Hood, OR will soon have to pack an extra piece of gear: their wallet. The Forest Service announced that starting in January 2024, climbers and skiers venturing above 9,500 feet will be required to purchase a $20 climbing permit. The collection of this fee is intended to fund a Climbing Ranger Program, to […] Zach Armstrong | November 21, 2023 0 Comments
USDA Forest Service Temporarily Closing All California National Forests for Public Safety To better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region is announcing a temporary closure of all National Forests in California. This closure will be in effect from Aug. 31, 2021, at 11:59 pm through September 17, 2021, at 11:59 pm. This order does not affect the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, […] Fire Firebrains | August 31, 2021 1 Comment
Forest Service Seeks Improved Access at Lake Tahoe for Electric Bikes The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) wants to improve electric bike accessibility on its trails. The project would expand the number of trails in the basin that electric bikes are allowed on. The Forest Service is calling it the Basin Wide Trails Analysis Project. Related: Electric Bikes: Same Great Workout, Less Actual Work? Along with the […] Biking Alex Mangels | March 5, 2021 5 Comments
2021 Pacific Crest Trail Permits Available January 19th The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,650-mile National Scenic Trail that runs from the Mexican border in Southern California to the Canadian border in Washington state. After a dispute on whether or not permits should be issued during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) and the US Forest Service recently announced Pacific Crest Trail Permit applications will […] Industry News Dominic Gawel | January 11, 2021 0 Comments
Origins: U.S. Avalanche Mitigation In this week’s edition of Origins, we will take a look into the history of how avalanches have been avoided in and out of ski resorts. If you missed last week’s Origins on the Freeride World Tour you can check it out here: Related: Origins: Freeride World Tour Avalanches are extremely dangerous and fatal events. Avoiding them at all costs is […] Avalanche Ryan Flynn | October 9, 2020 1 Comment
Large Rockfall Closes Vital Road in Central Idaho A large rockfall has closed a section of highway 95 just south of Riggins in central Idaho. The incident occurred shortly after 11 am on Friday, July 3rd and as a result, the road has been closed since then. US Route 95 is a vital road through the state as it is the only road running north/south in that part […] Raft Alex Camerino | July 7, 2020 0 Comments
US Forest Service Approves Backcountry Ski Location in Southern Vermont The United States Forest Service has approved the South of Route 9 Integrated Resource Project, which includes opening some land of a former ski resort for backcountry access. The plan was proposed by students and the Land Stewardship Program (LANDS) at the University of Vermont who conducted research regarding non-native invasive species overgrowing in portions of the research site. As part of an […] Backcountry Dylan Cautela | November 2, 2016 1 Comment
Bike Park at Snowbird, UT? | We Need Your Help | Plus Other Snowbird Plans! It has been talked about for years, designs have been drawn up and then seemingly forgotten about. Fast forward to now, the designs are back and are here to stay. The long talked about bike park at Snowbird is about to become a reality, but only if you the riders make it what it should be. Snowbird has the ability […] Biking Kyler Roush | August 13, 2013 2 Comments
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