What does it look like when the future of backcountry recreation is shaped not in a conference room, but around a wood stove, miles from the trailhead, with no cell service and a shared commitment to the places we love?
As Weston Backcountry ambassadors, Caitlin Yong and I had the chance to experience exactly that at this year’s Backcountry Snowsports Initiative (BSI) hut trip—and it reinforced why this kind of work matters so deeply right now.
BSI, hosted annually by Winter Wildlands Alliance in partnership with the Colorado Mountain Club and 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, brings together a diverse mix of land managers, winter recreation advocates, educators, and grassroots organizations. But it’s not just a meeting—it’s an immersive, shared experience in the backcountry and the key takeaways include honest conversation, collaboration, and connection.
This intentional setting aligns closely with what Weston Backcountry believes: that access to the backcountry should be grounded in knowledge, respect, and community. The team at Weston is actively working to reduce barriers to entry by sharing education, supporting grassroots initiatives, and fostering inclusive spaces where more people feel welcome in winter landscapes. That includes initiatives like helping sponsor trailhead signage designed to better educate backcountry users—because informed recreation is responsible recreation, and that’s how we protect these places long-term.
That’s the balance we keep coming back to: growing participation while protecting what makes these places special. Winter recreation in Colorado is expanding quickly. With that growth comes increased strain—on search and rescue resources, on wildlife habitat, and on the agencies tasked with managing public lands. At the same time, funding and staffing often aren’t keeping pace. It’s a complex challenge, and one that no single group can solve alone. This year, participants included staff from the U.S. Forest Service, Friends of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Colorado Search and Rescue, COTREX, Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative, the Town of Crested Butte, recreation advocates from Backcountry Together and VntrBirds, Colorado Rising, and two Weston ambassadors – Caitlin and me.
For me, the biggest takeaway wasn’t just the ideas—it was the momentum. There’s a growing network of people committed to making backcountry recreation more inclusive, more informed, and more sustainable. I am proud of Weston’s commitment to this effort, whether through supporting education, amplifying community-led initiatives, or investing in tools like signage that help people make better decisions before they even leave the trailhead.
