The Shining Mountains Chapter supports Wild Montana’s mission by providing community outreach and education that inspire people in Missoula, Mineral, Ravalli, Granite, and Sanders Counties to protect wild public lands and waters in the western section of the state, including the Great Burn, the Seeley-Swan Valley, the Bitterroots, and Sapphires.
Chapter members get together to table at local farmers markets and community events, gather for trail maintenance projects and highway cleanup, and show up at public meetings to ensure agencies and politicians know that Montanans want to keep Montana wild.
The Shining Mountains Chapter meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. For more information, email shining.mountains@wildmontana.org.
President: Mike Young
Treasurer: Mary Langenderfer
Secretary: Suzanne Hendrich
Members: Lee Boman, Riley Egan, Daphne Herling, Amy Katz, Anna Oesterreich, Annie Gillespie, Nicholas Maya, and Sarah Wood
Interim Board Member: Shannon Sullivan
▶ Interested in joining our board? Learn more here.
The Baker Lakes basin lies just below the Bitterroot’s highest summit, Trapper Peak, and has become an increasingly popular access route. Our chapter dedicates several days each year to collecting data about use in this area and performing restoration work. Join us for one of this year’s Baker Lakes stewardship days through our Wilderness Walks site. This project is led by Mike Young and Tim Peterson. Learn more about this project and other stewardship work here.
Each year our chapter members offer a large variety of Wilderness Walks options throughout western Montana. Join us for a winter Adventure or a summer walk soon. Want to become a walk or adventure leader or co-leader? Email mprison@wildmontana.org.
Between October and May, we deliver a public event at least once a month featuring a speaker or topic that’s relevant to Wild Montana’s work in western Montana. Come out and join us! Keep tabs on our events via our calendar or through our Facebook page. Also, consider joining our events committee to help to design and deliver our events. Email Anna Oesterreich, the events committee lead, at annaoester@gmail.com to get involved.
You’ll find our chapter members tabling once a month at the Saturday Missoula Clark Fork market, distributing area hiking maps, talking about our work, and getting people connected to our mission as new members.
This short storytelling series featured local leaders sharing inspiring stories about their experiences protecting local lands and waters.
Wild Montana’s Shining Mountains Chapter is excited to present an evening with Chris Prange of the Great Burn Conservation Alliance and Zack Schlanger of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, who will present their work with invasive plants in the backcountry.
Join Political & State Policy Director Noah Marion and Kendra Miller from Montanans for Election Reform to learn how CI-126 and CI-127, two constitutional citizen initiatives, will restore freedom, choice, and accountability to Montana's elections.
We’re hosting our second annual Wild Montana Dinner & Jamboree, and we want you to join us for a hootin' and hollerin' good time! Guests will enjoy a welcome reception with beer, wine, and games, followed by trivia, storytelling, and a live auction of rewarding experiences. Missoula's Bravo Catering will provide appetizers, dinner and dessert. Seating is limited and tickets are sure to go fast. Get yours today!
REGISTRATION OPEN
NEAREST TOWN: BONNER | DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
Join us for a mellow hike to Primm Meadow, where we'll enjoy exploring 100 acres of old ponderosa pine forest along the West Fork of Gold Creek, returning to the trailhead after lunch.
REGISTRATION OPEN
NEAREST TOWN: MISSOULA | DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
Spring into summer with a hike in the Rattlesnake. From the Sawmill Gulch trailhead, we'll hike the Fenceline Trail to an overlook of the Grant Creek drainage. From there, we'll loop back on one of two trails depending on our timeline and desires. This outing is part of the Shining Mountain Chapter's Spring into Summer event.
REGISTRATION OPEN
NEAREST TOWN: MISSOULA | DIFFICULTY: EASY
Learn about the invasive species taking root in Missoula's North Hills! We'll take a short stroll from the Sunlight Trailhead on Duncan Drive, identifying Dalmatian toadflax, spotted knapweed, and leafy spurge. Along the way, we'll discuss the problems these invasive species pose to the ecosystem. Then, we'll get our hands dirty by pulling and bagging knapweed to remove from the landscape.
REGISTRATION OPEN
NEAREST TOWN: MISSOULA | DIFFICULTY: EASY
In the springtime, Mount Jumbo is a beloved destination of Missoulians for good reason. Sun-kissed aspects burst with arrowleaf balsamroot and the lupine stand just as tall as their colors are vibrant. Join us for a moderate loop hike where we'll pause to take in the beauty of spring's wildflowers and teach you what's what.
REGISTRATION OPEN
NEAREST TOWN: MISSOULA | DIFFICULTY: EXTREMELY STRENUOUS
Spring into summer with an iconic Missoula hike: Mt. Sentinel. Our 6.4-mile loop will include strides aside the Clark Fork, a climb up the Hellgate Canyon Trail, and an eventual summit of Mt. Sentinel. This outing is part of the Shining Mountain Chapter's Spring into Summer event.
Get psyched for the summer outdoor season by joining the Shining Mountains Chapter for a local hike and a barbecue at Silver Park on Saturday, May 18.
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