2020 Report from our Executive Director
Working during a pandemic
2020
I'm fairly sure I am preaching to the choir when I say that 2020 has been challenging to say the least. Endless Zoom calls, travel -work or otherwise - at a screeching halt, much anticipated events canceled, basically fun, canceled.
As an executive director with a whole list of things to get done this year including traveling to Washington, D.C., participating in events like Hill Climb and Pass Bash, going to partners events to make contacts and create shared visions, as well as planning our own events during the summer and on Wyoming Public Lands Day, 2020 has been a major project killer.
So as I sit down to write this I am disappointed in the number of things that couldn't be accomplished, however I’m also realizing that even with all the challenges we faced as an organization we have had one of our most impactful years to date. Below are some highlights of our accomplishments so far this year.
Submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Interior supporting their recent decision allowing e-bikes to be used on trails already open to mountain bikes.
Working with the Jackson Ranger office to build trust and then participate in a "stakeholder" Zoom call regarding our request to start a Trail Program in the Palisades Wilderness Study Area. That call happened and we were able to get permission to begin work this summer. We used our volunteer funds to hire a trail manager (Galen Rockenbach) and have to date gotten some pretty amazing work done on trails inside the Palisades.
We also were able to hire Bill Robertson to do some trail work on horseback with his grandson and we are grateful for his work on our Trail Program.
All together we were able to clear over 40 miles of existing trails and remove hundreds of down trees from these trails.
Thanks to the work of AMPL Vice President Mike Mielke, we were able to donate time and heavy equipment use to clear roads and place culverts.
Worked to identify potential legal council in case we needed to intervene in the Mountain Pursuits lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service that sought to remove mountain biking and ATV use from the Palisades and Shoal Creek Wilderness Study Areas. While we have not started a formal working relationship with Mountain States Legal Foundation out of Denver, CO, we have worked with their natural resource attorney to keep an eye on this case.
So far the lawsuit has been dismissed once, refiled with very little to improve it and now is awaiting yet another decision. I continue to monitor it.
Worked to create engaging social media posts during the height of the pandemic when many potential supporters were driven online. We were able to reach and celebrate our first 5K followers on Facebook, a number that continues to rise. We hope 10K will be just around the corner.
Worked with a filmmaker to create a film about the outstanding recreation in the Palisades. This film is set to premier next week and we can't wait for all of you to see it!
Continue to monitor a piece of federal legislation soon to be introduced in Congress by Wyoming's U.S. Senator John Barrasso. The bill is the end product of the Wyoming Public Lands Initiative.
Submitted comments to the Governor of Wyoming on his proposed Executive Order regarding Migration Corridors and, working with his staff, was able to get some wording changes we felt would be more friendly to the recreation community while still protecting the wildlife in those corridors.
Monitored several state bills regarding migration corridors during the Spring 2020 Legislative Session in Cheyenne.
Continue to submit comments on various Forest Service actions.
Currently I am working on finishing comments on the newly released Preliminary Environmental Assessment for a new Travel Management Plan for the Shoshone National Forest. Some of the proposed changes would affect snowmobiling in the Shoshone. As well, one change could set a very dangerous precedence for Congressionally designated Wyoming Wilderness Study Areas, in that one option would remove areas of snowmobiling from the High Lakes Wilderness Study Area. If this were allowed to happen simply through Forest Service action, it could create a very dangerous precedence - one that could potentially affect the Palisades and Shoal Creek WSA's. I will continue to monitor the situation.
All in all 2020 has been a trying time for everyone, but we have managed to get as much done as possible. One of the biggest projects right now is our Fall 2020 Old Bill's fundraising. As you can see from this list, we have done and still have a lot of work to do.
Our public lands are sacred to us, we all love them, we all want to share them, but we don't all agree on how we should use them. This disagreement means, as mountain bikers, dirt bikers, snowmobilers and ATV'er, we must remain vigilant and stand up for our rights to cherish, preserve and enjoy our public lands.
AMPL is dedicated to doing just that.