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Where Olympians are made

Image shows a woman in snowboarding equipment riding a ski lift above a snow-covered mountain with the sun shining in the background.
For Olympic medalist Shannon Dunn-Downing, the road to the podium didn’t begin in a private club or elite training facility. It began on public lands in the mountains of Colorado. Public lands transform open space into opportunity. They are, quite literally, where Olympians are made. (Forest Service video by Travis Weger)For Shannon Dunn-Downing, the path to the Olympics did not begin in a…
#WinterOlympics, #Winter, #WinterSports, #Snowboarding, #Recreation, #Sports

Winter driving tips

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Before you head out, ensure all snow is cleared from your vehicle. You don't want to injure other drivers. (Forest Service photo by Jeff Gehring) Winter driving can be hazardous. Additional preparations can help make a trip safer or help motorists deal with an emergency. Below we provide some…
#Winter, #DrivingSafety

Forecasting avalanches on the Custer-Gallatin National Forest

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Forecaster Dave Zinn on a field day in November 2024 in the northern Madison Range. (Photo courtesy Chris Ennis) At 4 a.m., downtown Bozeman has six inches of snow on the ground as Avalanche Forecaster Dave Zinn walks into the Custer-Gallatin National Forest supervisor’s office while snowplows clear empty…
#Winter

Plants of the Winter Solstice

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By Larry Stritch Plants play an important role in many of our holiday traditions, including the season surrounding the winter solstice. Winter solstice, occurring on or around December 21st, is the first day of winter, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. To early cultures, the winter solstice was a day of both…
#Winter, #CapitolChristmasTree, #Christmas, #Holidays

Clearing the ridge: Fire for forest health and resilient communities

A wildland firefighter with a propane bottle and torch, burning a pile of fallen branches under the snow.
Wildfire is driven by three main factors — weather, terrain and fuels. When fighting wildfires, firefighters work to reduce the fuel feeding the fire, either by removing it with heavy equipment, handlines or by making it hard to burn by soaking the fuel with water or retardant. Adam Dummer,…
#FirePrevention, #PrescribedFire, #WildfirePrevention, #Winter, #ControlledBurn, #WildfireCrisisStrategy

Let there be light: A candlelight hike, that is

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On March 4, nearly 375 people participated in the Morgan Falls Candlelight Hike. Here a small group of hikers take a break to warm up and enjoy a fireside snack. USDA Forest Service photo. WISCONSIN—A true Wisconsin gem, Morgan Falls is a popular point of interest on the Great Divide District of the…
#Recreation, #Hiking, #Winter, #Waterfalls