photo credit: Yellowstone Ranch Preserve
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GVLT conserves southwest Montana's heritage of open landscapes, working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat; and creates trails to connect people, communities and the land. |
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| monthly news |
APRIL / 2010 |
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| TRAILS |
Sourdough Canyon / Bozeman Creek Project - Moving Forward
On March 16th, the Gallatin County Commission approved GVLT's plans to rebuild and expand the parking lot and access road to the Sourdough Canyon/Bozeman Creek trailhead. Surveying and design work are already underway, but we need to raise $21,000 to complete design and permitting and get a permanent vault toilet installed before next winter. We will need to raise much more to get the entire project constructed this year. If the thousands of people who use this trailhead all help out with a donation we may be able to achieve this goal by next ski season!
Just 15 minutes from Downtown Bozeman, this is one of the most heavily used trailheads in the Bozeman area, especially during the winter when Bridger Ski Foundation grooms the trail for Nordic skiing. The trailhead is currently chaotic, dangerous, and in great need of improvement.
Here is a brief overview of the project plan:
* Parking will be expanded to accommodate 55 to 60 cars.
* A large turnaround will be provided for trailers and emergency vehicles.
* A permanent vault toilet will be installed.
* The access road will be widened to 24 feet and blind turns will be straightened as much as possible.
* The road will be moved away from the creek to provide a minimum 12-foot vegetated buffer.
* Both the road and parking lot will be raised and graded away from the creek so that runoff no longer flows into the creek.
* Project details and updates will be posted on the GVLT website soon.
Trails Program HiringGVLT's Community Trails Program is now seeking applications for a seasonal assistant with trail work, volunteer coordination and project management experience. For a copy of the job description email ted@gvlt.orgStory Mill Spur closed until November 5thFor the next two years, there will be no dry-season access to the Story Mill Spur Trail - connecting the south end of Wallace Ave. to Story Mill Rd. at the Stockyard Café. The MT Department of Transportation will be rebuilding the I-90 overpass across both the trail and Rouse Ave. One lane will be rebuilt this year and the other lane will be rebuilt next year. Both years, the trail will be closed from April 5th to November 5th. Bicyclists and pedestrians can use L Street as an alternative route, but the increased volume of vehicles doing the same thing to avoid construction on Rouse may compromise the safety of this alternative. |
| EVENTS |
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Mark your calendars
Saturday, June 5th - TRAILS DAYJoin us for any or all of our Trails Day activities. At 9am we will gather at Bogert Park then head off to work on different trail projects. At noon we will have lunch at the Bogert pavilion and then head out for an afternoon hike. Please come in work clothes (you will get dirty), work gloves, bring a rain jacket, sun block, and a water bottle. More detailed information to come. Friday, June 18th - LONGEST DAY OF TRAILSThis unique membership drive is in its 4th year and growing! We are so excited to have the continued community support. Come on down to Montana Ale Works (headquarters), bring a friend, become a member or renew your membership, and learn more about the community trail system. We're looking forward to reach our goal of 2000 members in our 20th anniversary year. If you are interested in being a business sponsor or if you want to donate, please contact Anne Tyler @ GVLT - 587.8404 |
| CONSERVATION |
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News from the Land
photo credit: Yellowstone Ranch Preserve
Two New Conservation Projects Complete!In March GVLT completed two new private land conservation projects. One project adds land into the existing Van Zandt conservation easement in the Madison Valley. The Van Zandt and Carlson families have now permanently conserved 210 acres of important wildlife habitat. The second project culminates two years of work with the Galanis family to conserve the Yellowstone Ranch Preserve- over 750 acres of critical wildlife habitat and scenic open space on Horse Butte at Hebgen Lake. Many thanks to both of these visionary families for creating lasting legacies of conservation in southwest Montana! |
20 YEARS - GVLT
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Throughout our 20th Anniversary year GVLT's eNews will include highlights from our history.
How did downtown Anaconda help inspire Bozeman's community trails system? Several months before her death last year Connie Staudohar, widow of GVLT founder Chris Boyd, shared the story of Chris' "Main Street to the Mountains" vision. From GVLT's first office on the third story of the Baxter Hotel, Chris enjoyed views of the Bridgers to the north and the Gallatin Range to the south. While visiting Connie's home town of Anaconda, a large mural on the side of a downtown building caught Chris' eye and the slogan featured on the mural sparked his imagination: "Where Main Street Meets the Mountains". For years, Bozeman residents had been enjoying the Rotary-built Sourdough Trail that dead-ends at Goldenstein, as well as the Gallagator rail-trail running from Church to Willson, and the community was excited at the prospect of a beautiful new park and trails on Peets Hill. Inspired by the Downtown Anaconda slogan, and the views he admired every day from Downtown Bozeman, Chris dreamed of expanding Bozeman's first trails into a network leading from the heart of Bozeman to the spectacular mountains that surround us - a "Main Street to the Mountains" trails system. |
WAYS TO GIVE
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MembershipConsider making a special gift to celebrate GVLT's 20th anniversary year:
$20 special membership rate for new members so that we can double our membership to 2,000 members. $60 to celebrate sixty miles of Main Street to the Mountains trails. $360 to celebrate 36,000 acres of land conserved. $10,000 to continue GVLT's legacy of trails and conservation.To ensure that the next 20 years are as successful as the first! |
BOULDER NEWS
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Climb - On
Boulder Benefit raised over $4,200 - 3rd Boulder is a go!
On Wednesday, March 31st, the Bozeman Boulder Initiative hosted the 2nd Climb On fundraiser at the Emerson Cultural Center. The event generated the final amount needed for the 3rd Boulder to come to life! The 3rd boulder will be located at the East Gallatin Recreation area. Construction will be begin in early summer. Many thanks to Bozeman area business for donating the auction items! Two auction items are still available for purchase. Montana Alpine Guides donated two half day climbing trips for two, climbing gear included ($300 value, starting bid is $150). If you are interested in purchasing one of these awesome raffle prizes please contact David Cook at 586.5644. |
COMMUNITY NEWS
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Lewis and Clark Marathon
Volunteers Needed - Sunday, June 6
The Lewis and Clark Marathon is on Sunday, June 6. They have particular and general volunteer needs. Particular need - to have two volunteers staff the aid station at mile 22.5 corner of Tracy and Mason from 8:30 AM to about 1:00 (volunteers should bring chairs). General needs - they need volunteers to provide traffic control at intersections. If you want to learn more about the race check out: www.lewisandclarkmarathon.com! If you are interested in volunteering please contact Don Demetriades at 539.0369 or email him dodemet@aol.com |
| GVLT |
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Contact Information
phone: 406.587.8404
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