Now on TGRTv: Denizens of The Steep – Skiing and Environmental Stewardship

As winter backcountry users, we’re already pretty concerned about our environment, because keeping it healthy is integral to keeping our playgrounds around for as long as possible. While we might be largely focused on issues like climate change, there’s a lot more to environmental stewardship than we might think. One of those things - one that’s particularly important in our local playground of the Tetons - is protecting the area’s bighorn sheep population. Denizens of the Steep explores the impact of backcountry recreation on migratory sheep, with professional ski mountaineer/guide Kim Havell and other local characters including Max Hammer and Nat Patridge discussing the importance of protecting and conserving the wild places in which we roam. It’s a local issue that has far reaching consequences – bighorn sheep are on the edge of extinction, and their Teton habitat is one of the last places they can roam free. As backcountry skiing grows in popularity—and more people are headed into the wilderness than ever before—we must become aware of our environment, understand our impact and take measures to recreate responsibly.