Forest in Focus Custer Gallatin National Forest

Crafting the Wild: Voices of the Trail Crew

Step behind the scenes of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, where the trails you hike don’t maintain themselves—they’re built, cleared, packed in, and protected by a community of people whose work is often invisible but always essential. In this episode of Forest in Focus, Public Affairs Specialist Morgan De Meyer sits down with three backcountry experts whose lives revolve around tread, tools, stock, storms, and the quiet miles in between. Trail specialist Josh Kinsel shares what it means to manage decades of erosion control, volunteer partnerships, chainsaw training, and the “search and repair” mission that keeps the Bozeman District’s trails open. Wilderness lead Rachel Crump brings us into the solitude of the Gardiner District—eight‑day hitches, hand tools only, days without seeing another person, and the type‑two fun that becomes unforgettable. And packer Trapper Osborne reveals how horses and mules make deep‑backcountry projects possible, from hauling bridge beams after historic floods to delivering the occasional root‑beer float 14 miles in. It’s gritty, quiet, powerful work—an ongoing tradition that ensures anyone seeking wild places can still reach them.

Safeguarding Bears and Visitors: Understanding the Food Storage Order

In this episode, "Safeguarding Bears and Visitors: Understanding the Food Storage Order," we speak with Josh Hemenway, the Wildlife Program Manager in a Question and Answer style interview as we discuss an important topic for all visitors: the Food Storage Order. This regulation plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of both visitors and wildlife, particularly bears. Host: Charity Parks, Custer Gallatin National Forest Public Affairs Specialist Guest Speakers: Josh Hemenway, Custer Gallatin National Forest Wildlife Program Manager

Patrolling the Frozen Frontier: Inside the Snowmobile Operations for Law Enforcement Course

When the pavement stops and snow reaches shoulder height, the dynamics of law enforcement transform completely. In this episode, we delve into the Snowmobile Operations for Law Enforcement Course (SOLEC), a three-day intensive training led by law enforcement professionals from the Custer Gallatin National Forest. This program equips officers from various agencies to become adept backcountry operators. Uncover why being stuck in chest-deep powder is viewed as the ultimate "benchmark for trying hard" and how enduring a full-body workout at 9,000 feet is an essential part of the role. We go beyond the fundamentals to explore the "art" of winter policing—where officers from nationwide agencies learn to handle life-and-death situations in extreme cold, reaching fifty degrees below zero. From the tactical "shock and awe" of high-speed snowmobile pursuits to the somber duty of conducting backcountry coroner investigations, discover how this training addresses a crucial gap in public safety. Whether enforcing trail registrations or coordinating a midnight search and rescue, learn what it takes to uphold law and order in a landscape where the "tree always wins." Host: Morgan De Meyer, Custer Gallatin National Forest Public Affairs Specialist Guest Speakers: Brad Bolte, Custer Gallatin National Forest Patrol Captain Dan Hayden, Gallatin County' Sheriff's Office Seargent Gabe Gassman, formerCuster Gallatin National Forest Law Enforcement Officer