March E-Views
So many ways to work and play in the outdoors!
|
|
Conservation Trail-Blazer - Gifford Pinchot
Hidden under a serene, sometimes eerie, canopy of mature douglas fir above the south end of Rodney Meadow runs the Pinchot trail. As part of our growing High School Outdoor Education program, Prickly Pear Land Trust is getting more kids out on the trail.
Rodney Meadow is an ideal spot to discuss how unique, complex, and important land conservation is to Montana. Not only is there a mix of city, private, Forest Service, BLM lands, and conservation easements within sight, a short distance away the Pinchot and T.R. trails pay homage to two of America’s most successful champions of the outdoors.
Gifford Pinchot, an American forester and politician, raised conservation to the national policy level and became the first head of the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. In his tenure, tens of millions of acres of land, millions in Montana alone, were added to the National Forest system. Pinchot’s later efforts to halt the sale of federal land and corruption, led to his firing from the Taft Administration and subsequent role in Teddy Roosevelt’s (The T.R. in T.R. Trail) Progressive Bull-Moose Party. The Pinchot trail serves as a daily reminder to all of us to do what is right for the people and for the land.
|
|
Don't wait!
We need you to support PPLT by getting our specialty license plates before July 1st. Your donation will directly provide critical financial support for our lands, trails, and conservation work every year. This is an extended deadline to keep our plates an option in Montana. We’re so close!
New, renewal, permanent, RV, and even plates on your trailers can feature PPLT's specialty design!
You can renew your plates at any time, even before your regular renewal month at 316 N. Park Ave. Room # 142 in Helena. Big thanks to the MT Department of Justice and Senator Jill Cohenour for extending our deadline, and to everyone who has supported us and other Montana nonprofits through this program.
|
|
This Earth day, PPLT will join several conservation groups from our community in a global, week-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. PPLT invites anyone interested in celebrating-through-service by participating in our spring evening willow cutting. For those who haven’t had the chance yet, willow cutting is a fun way to get out some aggression with shears whilst actually improving the habitat. The willows harvested will be bundled and stored to be used at PPLT’s Sevenmile Creek restoration in a service event later in the season. Willows and their fast growing roots serve as nature’s rebar in “riparian” (close to water) habitats. We will “plug” a huge number along the banks of Sevenmile in disturbed areas that could use the extra support. The sprigs reaching the raised water table will send out shoots in all directions, stabilize loose soil and gravel and help other, slower growing native vegetation establish on the shoreline.
Lend a hand to Mother Nature with us,
Wednesday, April 22nd
. Time and location to be determined.
|
|
Shake Off the Run Rust with Mount Ascension PT Running Clinic
|
|
March 9, 5:30 PM to 7 PM
Learn about injury prevention in preparation for trail run! Mount Ascension Physical Therapy will help you transition from winter activities to running, whether you’re a first-timer or you’re looking to jump back in. They'll help you develop training strategies for a successful
Don’t Fence Me In
finish. Join us Monday, March 9 from
5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Mt Ascension PT where you’ll meet three running specialists conducting the clinic.
There is a $10 clinic entry fee per participant that will be donated to Prickly Pear Land Trust.
|
|
PPLT and Elkhorn Endurance - Fun Run, Party, and Info Session
|
April 7, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Don't Fence Me In Trail Runs are right around the corner! Do you have questions about how to shed minutes on the trails this summer, how to taper your workouts for the event, or how to transition from one of the races to something of even more elevation or distance?
On Tuesday, April 7th, the Helena Ultra Runner League and Prickly Pear Land Trust are hosting a Helena Community Trails Party! A 4-mile trail run departs from the Myrna Loy at 5:30 and returns to the same spot for free beer and food. YES! At 6:30, you and all your running pals can learn more about Helena's hometown classic, the
Don’t Fence Me In
runs, as well as Montana's oldest single track event, the HURL Elkhorn Endurance run. Ultrarunning coach John Fitzgerald will also be leading a Q & A about the events and training on the trails.
|
|
20th Annual Don't Fence Me In Trail Run
|
May 9, 7 AM to 1:30 PM
What started off as a small gathering aimed at generating support and excitement for local open space is now a major community event celebrating our local wild lands and our connection to them. And what better way to celebrate the outdoors than wandering the switchbacks and rough terrain with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts! Everyone is encouraged to run with us on the nationally renowned South Hills trail system, whether pushing through the 30K dash over two peaks, celebrating the 20th annual trail run with the new 20K, scrambling through hills and trees with the 5K or 12K races, or taking time to sniff the wild roses in the non-competitive 5K Dog Walk.
Those who sign up
before April 1
will be added to the raffle to win one of Patagonia's first place prizes and guaranteed their chosen size of race t-shirt. And don't forget, kids 17 and under register for free. Thank you for helping us plan ahead by registering early!
|
|
May 9, Race Day Timeline:
- 30K - 7 AM
- 20K - 7:30 AM
- 12K - 10:00 AM
- 5K Walk/Run - 10:30 AM
- 5K Dog Walk - 10:45 AM
- Awards Party: 12:00 PM
|
|
|
Make a Mark on the Trails by TrailRaising
|
|
Show the world how important public lands, access, and the environment are to YOU! Montana’s outdoors are a vital part of each of our reader’s lives for one reason or another. And it is Prickly Pear Land Trust’s vision to make sure there is more of it for everyone, whether you’re screamin’ up the Powerline Trail, splashing around in Tenmile with grandpa and the kids, or you’re an elk on a conservation easement! Whatever your reasons, tell your friends and family why you support the outdoors and become a TrailRaiser to get PPLT across the finish line of our $10,000 goal. The TrailRaising program runs every year leading up to PPLT’s
Don’t Fence Me In Trail Run
, and each year we hear incredible stories about the exhilarating and healing powers of getting outside. We encourage everyone to join us on race day, but whether you come or not, you can participate in the fundraising efforts by creating a TrailRaising page and asking your friends and family to donate in your name. The only requirement is that you love open space and/or recreation. Be a lone wolf or run with a pack: raise funds for PPLT’s trail projects with a family team, co-workers or your trail buddies (two or four-legged). Individual donations have ranged from $5 to $250 and every little bit counts. Last year, we saw over 240 pledges on the TrailRaising page—you can help us get there!
To step up the challenge, if you raise over $350, you’ll get free registration, if you raise more than $100, you’ll get a PPLT South Hills Buff, and there are even more prizes for the Top Individual and Top Team TrailRaisers!
|
|
PPLT mails out three newsletters a year in the Spring, Summer and Fall, and sends monthly emails full of good information. Sign up to stay informed about PPLT's projects, trail work, community events, and more!
|
|
|
Please consider supporting PPLT through a donation or by joining Cactus Club!
This monthly giving program is the best way to sustain the work of PPLT. You won't ever have to worry about renewal notices AND you'll be supporting community, conservation, and recreation year-round!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
