Mission Mountains Wilderness, Montana
Background: The United States Congress designated the Mission Mountains Wilderness in 1975 and it now has a total of 73,877 acres. The entire wilderness is in Montana. Almost exclusively backpackers use about 45 miles of maintained trails, the terrain being generally unsuitable for horses. Four to five thousand people visit this Wilderness annually with the majority being Montana residents. The area shares its entire western and southern boundaries with the Flathead Indian Reservation (non-tribal members must have a permit to recreate onto tribal land). The west slope of the Mission Mountains was the first tribally designated Wilderness area in the US.
Impact type: recreation livestock impacts
Strategies: campsite monitoring, trailhead visitor information, signage, high lines at most suitable stock campsites, wilderness education
What we did. Describe your over all program (how overall problems are being dealt with). Describe specific tactics.
A “Code-A-Site” campsite inventory was conducted in 1977. Wilderness rangers inventoried campsites in 1984 using the LAC process and campsites are regularly re-inventoried. Information from the LAC inventory and monitoring process helped field managers make decisions on how to manage recreation stock use impacts in the least restrictive fashion. Campsites suitable for stock camping were identified. Considerations included access from the system trails, distance from water, flat ground, and stock containment areas close enough to campsites that visitors would realistically use them. Tree-saver highline straps and rope were put in place for the entire season and maintained by Wilderness rangers. Signs were placed in strategic locations at destinations with the message, “Horse Camp” and an arrow pointing towards the campsite. A map of the destination was placed at trailheads with locations of suitable campsites for stock groups. Education through visitor contact is an essential component of this strategy. Rangers provide information at trailheads, along the trail, and at destination points. Outreach programs are conducted with local backcountry stock groups in the local area. Stock regulations are posted at all trailhead including information on campsite set backs from water, food storage, and requirements for using certified weed seed free feed.
Why we did it? (Specific tactic)
The Mission Mountains Wilderness has shallow soils that are easily impacted and grazing opportunities are limited. Due to brushy conditions, off trail travel is difficult for stock. Approximately 5 to 10% of visitors are recreation stock users. Improper stock use has caused impacts to trees from tying to trees for extended periods of time, containing stock too close to water, accumulations of horse manure, and increases in campsite size. Most damage occurs during early and late seasons (hunting season). Rangers implemented strategies and tactics to address concerns for tree damage and mortality. soil compaction, lakeshore erosion, and water pollution.
How well did it work?
Strategies and tactics work well unless there are more stock parties who want to camp at a particular lake than there are adequate campsites to accommodate them. If rangers are in the area, they may be able to recommend alternative locations. If rangers aren’t there, then damage can occur if stock is improperly contained at lake destinations.
How did you evaluate it?
Strategies and tactics are evaluated through the LAC campsite re-inventory process. From biophysical data gathered at campsites, rangers are able to determine if sites have grown in size or number, overall condition of trees, vegetation, and ground cover within and adjacent to campsites. In some cases, campsites are closed for restoration if extensive impacts have occurred.
What is the level of public acceptance?
Generally stock users appreciate receiving knowledge about suitable campsites. Since 1984, more stock groups are bringing their own highlines with them. In recent years there has been an increase in day rides and a decrease in overnight camping so impacts have decreased.
Some visitors don’t like to see manure on the trails/campsites or impacts caused by stock.
What did NOT work?
Occasionally highlines and rope are stolen. If rangers don’t get in to replace them, some stock parties may select areas to contain stock that are too close to lakeshores or tie directly to trees.
If backpackers decide to use a stock camp, they may displace a stock party who then chooses a less desirable campsite that is unable to withstand the potential stock-related impacts.
Most trails end at cirque lakes and there are very few loop opportunities. Consequently there are not enough flat spots that are suitable for stock campsites to meet the demand.
Visitors may have more stock than an existing highline can accommodate and then they tie the remainder of their stock directly to trees, causing damage or tree mortality.
It may be hard to find suitable locations for high lines that are far enough away from water, yet close enough for them to be used. People don’t want to be camped too far away from their stock.
What would you do differently next time? What did you do that you wish you had not done?
Regulations on the tribal side (west slope) of the MMW close the area to all livestock use between March 1 and June 30 and group size limits are eight people and eight head of livestock. The east slope of the MMW, located on the Flathead National Forest, has recommended saddle and pack stock sizes not to exceed 12 and no seasonal closures. To protect the Wilderness resource and offer consistency to visitors, a uniform seasonal stock closure should be implemented for the entire Wilderness.
Any unexpected effects?
Support for managing recreation stock impacts comes from getting stock users involved in campsite restoration projects and other trail projects. If Wilderness rangers engage visitors in problem solving and solutions, then there will be a better buy-in.
Tips
It’s better to make a friend than it is to make an enemy. Rangers need to go the extra mile to engage in discussion with stock groups and solicit ideas from them regarding potential strategies and tactics to address stock impacts.
Get visitors involved in volunteer service projects. Educate them along the way.
If you’re not comfortable or knowledgeable about stock, then get educated and get experience. Ride and pack with stock on occasion so you gain respect among recreation stock users.
Contacts—for further information and resources
Kari Gunderson, Wilderness Ranger
Mission Mountains Wilderness Managers
Phone: 406-754-2543
E-mail:
Swan Lake Ranger District
Flathead National Forest
Phone: 406-837-5081
Lester Bigcrane, Wilderness Manager
Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Wildland Recreation Program
Phone: 406-406-883-2888, Ext. 7289
E-mail: