Rocky Mountain Wilderness Gathering Report

On the weekend of October 12-13, eleven outdoor recreation and Wilderness protection organizations, along with representatives from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance and the USFS met at the Keystone Science School in Keystone, CO to expand and strengthen the network of wilderness stewardship groups and the discuss challenges facing organizations in this field.

Guest speaker, Ralph Swain, Retired Regional Wilderness and Wild & Scenic River Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Region, spoke about the Wilderness Act from 1964 to the present.

Chelsea Muise, who succeeded Ralph Swain in that role, went on to discuss the future of the USFS and the current challenges faced by the department. She emphasized the importance of regional wilderness-protection organizations like ESWA in helping to meet their goals.

By all accounts, the Gathering was fun, inspiring, educational, and helpful to all who participated! No date has been set for the 2025 Rocky Mountain Wilderness Gathering, so be on the lookout for updates and registration in a future ESWA newsletter!