connecting land and peopleSPRING 2019 NEWSLETTER OF PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST

WE ALL KNOW IT – gettingoutside is important. For some of us,including many of Prickly Pear LandTrust’s supporters, it is a fundamentalpart of our day. But even though welive in an outdoor mecca, not everyonein our community has opportunities toexplore outside. Others may not feelsafe or comfortable. This year, PPLT ismaking a concerted effort to expandour outdoor education and experientialprogramming to overcome theseobstacles and get more folks –especially young people – out in nature,by a creek, or on a trail. The future of our wild places and open landsdepends on future generations ofstewards and advocates.

It’s a natural fit, too. For decades now,PPLT has led hikes, taken school groupsto explore Mount Helena, acquired landand creek access that benefit the public,and grown an outstanding corps oftrails and education volunteers.

With PPLT’s purchase of the Tenmile and Sevenmile properties, there areopportunities for residents to interactwith our landscape in new ways.Tenmile Creek Park has easy creekaccess and is being developed as anoutdoor playground for all, andSevenmile Creek is an outdoorclassroom where students can watch anew floodplain take shape in real time.

PPLT needed some help turning ouroutdoor classroom dreams into reality,and turned to the Americorps VISTAprogram. The Volunteers In Service ToAmerica (VISTA) program marriesfederal funding with management bythe state of Montana to offer non-profits a talented volunteer for one yearof service. Help us welcome CallieSchultz to Montana! Outlining theprogram and piloting projects thisspring and fall, she will piece togetheran educational roadmap to guide PPLTstaff and education volunteers for thenext several years.

Counter to screen time and additionalstressors, everyone experiences healthbenefits from being outdoors - lowerblood pressure, better heart rates, andimproved moods. The positive impacts,however, are far greater when exposureto the outdoors begins at an earlierage. Environmental education programsand intentional outdoor play targeted at youth have been shown to lowerstress and treat mooddisturbances that lead tomental disorders, as well as treat ADHD, anxiety,depression, and loneliness.And we’re betting that when kids startasking their parents to go outside, we’llsee more families out in nature.

There is a practical component to ayouth-focused outdoor educationprogram that goes beyond publichealth. To address the challenges of the21st century – population growth andpressure, drought, wildfire, habitat loss,

and the loss of agricultural land –we need an entire generationcomfortable and confident with theoutdoors and its natural systems. Weneed to grow our future conservationand outdoor leaders. That starts byhelping kids connect with andunderstand the environment – and

you make this possible.

Expanding on existingprograms at the MontanaWild Education Center, theMontana ConservationCorps, and the MontanaDiscovery Foundation,

Callie is reaching out to teachers andvolunteers, and is creating curriculumfor learning science first hand. We areexcited to host classes for monitoringand stream work at our Sevenmile andTenmile properties this spring. Callie isalso developing summer challenges for families. Keep an eye out for newprograms and events as summer inches closer!

Our mission is to inspire connections to the landscapes, water, wildlife, recreation and agricultural heritage of west-centralMontana through conservation, now and for future generations.

AN OUTSIDE CHANCE

The future of our wild places and open landsdepends on futuregenerations

of stewards andadvocates.

On the banks of Tenmile Creek, PPLT executive director, Mary Hollow,asks students about the source of their drinking water.

MOUNT HELENA CITY PARKmight get a little bigger. At the base ofour beloved landmark, roughly 90 acresof gentle foothills may soon gain officialprotection. The property straddles theedge of Helena, south and west ofKessler Elementary. While the open spacevalue of the property is worthy enoughas public space, it is also bisected by the historic LeGrande Cannon Trail, one of Helena’s original carriage routes.The relatively flat trail is retired frommotorized use, and remains one of theonly accessible trails in the South Hills,serving to connect neighborhoods andpedestrians to the park.

Prickly Pear Land Trust has been talkingwith the landowners for years, trying tohammer out how best to protect thisproperty, which has been in their familyfor generations. We are excited thelandowners continue to show interest in selling the property in a way whichbenefits conservation and recreation.

The neighborhoods around theLeGrande property also deserve creditfor their years of commitment tomaking the property public. Two of the neighbors, Ken Eden, a long-timesupporter and former board presidentof PPLT, and his wife, Liz, have

organized the residents to supportPPLT’s efforts. Projects like these areincreasingly costly – thank you to themany supporters who have committeda critical $45,000 towards the duediligence, acquisition, and staffing tohelp this become a reality.

Once purchased, PPLT plans to donatethe parcels to the City of Helena to be added to city open lands. As withseveral properties in the past, PPLT can then work with the city to formalize access and provide routinemaintenance. To get involved, call PPLT at 442-0490.

LEGRANDE STRATEGY

Eliza Wiley

Historic photo of Mount Helenafrom LeGrande Cannon Boulevard

DRAFT 34-3

HAVE YOUR GLOVES READYand pulaskis sharpened – the trail andstewardship season will keep us allsweating this year. While continuing toprovide maintenance support and laborto both the Forest Service and City ofHelena in the South Hills, we’re spicingthings up and working onprojects around the valleyand in the backcountry.Here’s a snapshot of whatwe’re looking at for theservice season.

PPLT has a robust lineup of volunteerevents and maintenance projects in theSouth Hills. In addition to the routineactivities of cleaning drainage structureson fall-line trails, PPLT will work toreclaim widening and braided trails,surface community trails withdecomposed granite, build upentrenched trails and generallyencourage dirt and people to stay onthe trails. Also, keep your eyes out for PPLT volunteers and groups on

and around the trails doing noxious weed monitoring and abatementthroughout the summer.

At the southern extent of the SouthHills we’ve been asked to join a newproject. PPLT is the project partner on

behalf of the HelenaRanger District for theproposed trails connectingthe Mt. Helena RidgeTrailhead to the BrooklynBridge area, along SkiHiPeak, and back to the

South Hills via Tucker Gulch. Projectwork in 2019 includes establishing thefinal trail alignment as well as workingto clear the corridor for the new trailfrom Brooklyn Bridge to Tucker Gulch.The entire project is about 11 miles andwill be built as directed by the ForestService over the next three to five years.

Meanwhile, west of Helena, PPLT andvolunteers will be helping out with there-route of the old Kading Grade trailnear the Kading Campground inpartnership with the Montana High

Divide Trails Group and the HelenaNational Forest. The overall

scope of the projectinvolves completing atrail from KadingCampground to

Cottonwood Lake that skirts the proposed Electric Peak Wilderness.This project is in collaboration withMontana Bicycle Guild, MontanaWilderness Association, and Last ChanceBackcountry Horsemen. Work in 2019will focus on clearing the trail corridor inanticipation of a 2020 trail build.

For those who like to stay a little closerto home, a major maintenance projectand upgrade at Tenmile Creek Park is onthe docket. With the help of an army ofcommunity volunteers and MontanaConservation Corps members, PPLT builta 900-foot section of natural surfacetrail connecting the Centennial Trail toTenmile Creek Park in 2018. This year, PPLT will widen this trail to meet

universal accessibility standards and surface the path with decomposedgranite to complete the connection. In response to last year’s flooding at the park, we will rebuild the floodedtrails to meet the same accessibilitystandards and incorporate new drainagestructures to prevent impacts fromfuture floods. To encourage folks tolinger a little longer, we will be adding a new staircase down to the creek andproviding wheelchair accessible padsnext to the picnic tables. Lastly, we areequipping the park with a Mutt Mittstation and trash can.

Thank you to all those who have helpedTenmile Creek Park stay clean andawesome!

Prickly Pear Land Trust’s Board of Directorsrecently added two long-time playmakersto its ranks. Welcome Bill Shropshire and John Doran! A huge thank you to Jim Utterback who has finished his termas president and is handing over thepresidential reins to John Beaver. Jim willstay on the board and heavily involved in PPLT’s leadership.

JOHN DORANA native of Salem,Oregon, JohnDoran grew upon a baseballfield. John’s talentas a switch-hittingsecond basemen tookhim to the University ofPortland, where an injury to his throwinghand turned fortunate, leading him tomeet his wife, Anna. After college, hebegan a career in journalism and coacheda little college ball. Writing and editingbrought the family first to Missoula,

then Helena, where John took the helm asexecutive editor of Helena’s IndependentRecord. To give back to the outdoors heso immensely enjoys, John got involvedwith PPLT. He is a member of the formertrail work group, the Trail Ninjas, and sunkscores of hours into the Waterline Trail.John is now Blue Cross Blue Shield’s VP of External Affairs and is on the trailswith Anna and their two kids, Ellie andFinn, hiking, biking, or running almosteveryday. He is excited to help PPLT in hisnew role as a board member. Whileincredibly grateful for PPLT’s workprotecting Mount Ascension, John is alsoimpressed with the work PPLT does toopen up more access to “all outdoorenthusiasts – children, people withdisabilities, or folks who might beintimidated by the steep and rough trails in the South Hills.”

BILL SHROPSHIREBill began his visits to Helena in 1976,first to see family, but later to explore.It became a life-goal to live here.

He has worked for American ChemetCorp. (in Helena, E. Helena, Deerfield, IL,and Maryville, TN) since he left the tradingfloors of the Chicago Board of Trade in1998. As Bill’s responsibilities at AmericanChemet increased, so did the frequency ofhis visits to Helena and East Helena. By 2013, Bill and his wife of 20 years,Audra, decided: “Hey, let’s go live there”!Bill and Audra have been PPLT supporterssince their arrival, and are delighted theyand their three kids, Ella, Maya, and Will,get to call Helena home. A long-time skier and cyclist, Bill’s road bike has beenfeeling increasingly neglected as hespends more and more time on fatter,knobbier tires. Bill is honored to serve on

the board, noting he loves notonly the trails andconservation efforts,but that Prickly Pear stays true to its motto of“connecting landand people.”

JOHN BEAVER -Board PresidentFarming, ranching,and gardening broughtboth John Beaver and hiswife, Debra, from Medford,Oklahoma, a little town on the edge ofthe prairie, to Iowa, Aspen, and finally toMontana. After completing his rangescience degree at MSU, John moved toHelena and is now a partner at WESTECHEnvironmental Services, a biologicalconsulting firm. John is the quintessentialHelenan, spending his free time skiing,running, biking, hiking, hunting, and evenpainting. He and Deb’s daughters, Emmaand Kate, both grew up exploring theoutdoors around Helena and the SouthHills. Of course, he has also spent yearsworking with PPLT and serving on theboard, and now he’s excited to lend hisexpertise and leadership in all thingsoutdoors as our new board president. It is John and PPLT’s goal to make aconnection with the natural worldavailable to everyone in our service area.

Illustrations by local artist, Mel Griffin,advocate for keeping the trails happy. Follow the release onPPLT’s social media.

Coming Summer 2019: PPLT’s trail etiquette campaign!

WELCOME ANA CORTEZ

Prickly Pear Land Trust is excited towelcome Ana Cortez as Helena’s newCity Manager. We are impressed by theenergy, professionalism, and creativityshe has shown as she gets up to speed.As one of PPLT’s longest partnerships,the City has been central to our landprotection work, and remains critical toour efforts to acquire, protect, andsteward lands in the Helena area.

Today, PPLT is contracted by the city asthe primary maintenance provider inthe South Hills, organizing volunteers,contributing trail expertise, andcoordinating public outreach in termsof maps, trail etiquette, and muchmore. We will also be participating inthe upcoming update to the city openlands plan. Welcome, Ana, we lookforward to working closely with you inthe years to come!

Project area for theaccessible trail betweenTenmile Creek Park andCentennial Trail

WELCOME ABOARD!

Interested involunteering?

Visitpricklypearlt.orgto get involved!

OUT&BACK

TRAILS AND STEWARDSHIP UPDATES

PPLT recently received an interesting callfrom one of our longtime supporters.With tax season looming, he hadpenciled out a way to stretch his savings,specifically his traditional IRA. Hewanted to pass along this discovery sothat supporters in similar circumstancescan avoid negative effects on theirfinances while making their dollarsmore impactful at the same time.

Here’s how it works: Individuals 70½and over, with a traditional IRA, musttake a yearly distribution, a “RequiredMinimum Distribution” (RMD). For those who may not need thedistribution to supplement theirincome, the RMD and its associatedtaxes can sometimes have a negativeinfluence on finances.

So here’s the trick: to avoid paying anytaxes whatsoever on requireddistributions, individuals can have thedistribution paid directly to a charity ofchoice – PPLT loves receiving these! This"qualified charitable distribution" iseasy to setup. Donors simply contacttheir finance management companyand request an IRA distribution form.

It is the same form that people use tocollect their distributions. On the form,the donor will request that the RMD be paid to Prickly Pear Land Trust. The following year, when doing taxes,the donor will report this on his/her taxform or to his/her CPA. And DONE!Your finances are untouched but you’vegiven a huge bump to your outdoorlegacy.

WALK WITH PURPOSE OR JUST RUN WITH IT

The restoration project on SevenmileCreek continues! After an exciting yearof flooding, the full reconstruction andrelocation of Stream Reach Three, and aquicker-than-expected pond creation,2019 will be a year of resource-buildingat the site. Not only will PPLT allow thefloodplain to begin re-establishing its vegetative base, we are now preparing for the final phase of creekreconstruction on Reach Four.

Northwestern Energy has led thecharge on funding for the final

permitting and design work to takeplace this year, while the Pat BarnesChapter of Trout Unlimited, theMontana Chapter of Trout Unlimited,and the Cross Charitable Foundationcompleted the package.

We’re elated to have partners whojump at the chance to support theproject. This continued support hasallowed us to refocus our attention onfunding 2020’s final construction pushwhile our contractor, Confluence, Inc.,outlines a healthy floodplain.

KEEP THE OUTDOOR TRADITION ALIVE WITH YOUR TRADITIONAL IRA

Overlook of SevenmileCreek and Tenmile CreekPark from Mount Helena

MONTANA’S TRAIL runningseason kicks off once again with PPLT’s19th annual Don’t Fence Me In TrailRun on Saturday, May 11. This majorcommunity event celebrates our localwild lands and our connection to them.And what better way to celebrate the outdoors than wandering theswitchbacks and natural terrain withyour fellow outdoor enthusiasts!Everyone is encouraged to join us onthe nationally renowned South Hillstrail system, whether pushing throughthe 30K dash over two peaks,

scrambling through hills and trees withthe 5K or 12K races, or taking time to sniff the wild roses in the non-competitive 5K Dog-Walk. The awardsceremony will take place around noonnear the finish line – friends, family,and all PPLT supporters, come join us!

Avoid the Saturday morning registrationlines by attending Friday’s pre-party andpacket pick-up at Blackfoot RiverBrewing from 3 PM to 7 PM on May10. Get a rare peek behind the scenesat Blackfoot’s production facility (north

of the taproom) where there’ll be livemusic and food trucks to accompanythe release of the legendary E-trail PaleAle. Mingle with fellow racers and pickup your race t-shirt, race bib, andpacket materials.

Cheers to the start of trail season!

If you are unable to pick up your packeton Friday, there will be race day pick-upand late registration at the start/finisharea at Pioneer Park from 6:30 AM to10:30 AM.

Thanks to our generous businesssponsors, all proceeds from the eventdirectly support PPLT’s conservation andtrail work. Find the sponsors listed onpage 4.

STEADY AS SHE FLOWSPPLT volunteersshore up thenew Sevenmileponds using wattle barriers.

And

rea Silverman

Michael Chapm

an

Michael Chapm

an

Above: Three moms and the next generation of trail lovershiking the 12K course of the Don’t Fence Me In Trail Run

30K – $75 12K – $40

5K Run or Walk – $30 5K Dog-Walk – $35 As always, kids under 17 register for free

Registration and courseinformation can be

found on our website:pricklypearlt.org/events

STAFF

Mary HollowExecutive Director

Andrea SilvermanLand Protection Coordinator

Lanie WhiteDevelopment Manager

Evan KulesaTrails Coordinator

Nate KoppProject Manager

Travis VincentProject Associate

Breena BuettnerMembership andOutreach Coordinator

Sue McNicolOffice Manager

Callie SchultzAmericorps VISTA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John BeaverJohn DoranEliza FrazerJanet HedgesTyrrell HibbardPaula JacquesSarah JaegerDennis MilburnDawn North Ed SantosLeRoy SchrammBill ShropshireJim UtterbackErin Woodrow

AN OUTSIDECHANCE

TRAILUPDATES

DON’T FENCE ME IN COMINGMAY 11

PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST

40 W. Lawrence, Suite APO Box 892, Helena MT 59624406-442-0490

40 W. Lawrence, Suite A

PO Box 892

Helena MT 59624

Return service requested

Non-profit Org.

US Postage

PAID

Helena, MT

Permit #293

pricklypearlt.org

SPRING 2019

connecting land and people

TRAIL

MIX

Thanks for joining us!These members joinedbetween November 1,2018 and March 13, 2019

Theo & Metta BarnhartKatie BeallScott Cook

Margaret Corcoran & James Madden

Bruce DesoniaTim & Darla FitzpatrickAndrew FunkDoug HabermannBrian HareHJ Hudson Consulting - Heather HudsonSylvia Jackson

Peter LarsenGarrett & Kristen MartinMary Lou McGrathMargaret McIntoshMarcia MillerAmy & James MoranJohn Henry & Katherine Seale

Morgan & Lori Smith

PENCIL US IN You can look forward to our upcoming events and find more information online at pricklypearlt.org/events:

April 29 Community Trail Work NightMay 11 19th annual Don’t Fence Me In Trail RunMay 14 Family Hike May 21 Community Tour of Sevenmile Creek Restoration

RSVP to Nate@pricklypearlt.orgMay 23 Wildflower Walk with PPLT and Discovery FoundationJune 1 National Trails DayJune 17 Community Trail Work NightJune 28 –30 Kading Re-Route with Montana High Divide Trails

RSVP to Evan@pricklypearlt.orgJuly 18 Membership Party on the Downtown Walking Mall

(Membership Week)July 15 Community Trail Work NightAugust 19 Volunteer Appreciation EventSept. 16 Community Trail Work Night

PHOTO CONTESTSubmit your photos for the chance to be featured on the cover of oursummer newsletter! If you snag the ideal shot while out and aboutenjoying anywhere in west-centralMontana’s public lands, let us know where you got it and email your submissions tobreena@pricklypearlt.org with the subject line “Photo Contest.”

Or, post your photos on social media with#HappyTrailsHelenaand tag @pricklypearlandtrust for achance to be featured in our posts.

PPLT loves to see all of the ways you enjoy open space!

SPRINGHILL MEADOW SPONSORS

The Base CampBig Sky Cyclery

Bison Engineering, IncBozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center

First Security BankGold Leaf Physical TherapyHeuiser Physical TherapyMade to Move Chiropractic

Montana Eye CareMontana State Fund

NewFieldsOpportunity Bank of Montana

Peak Physical TherapyPerformance Injury Care & Sports Medicine

Valley Bank

RODNEY RIDGE SPONSORS

WE THANK OUR DON’T FENCE ME IN SPONSORS

MT ASCENSION SPONSORS

MT. HELENA PRESENTING SPONSOR

Jason O’Neil

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS