The Porcupine Ibex trail in the Crazy Mountains is complete!
The Porcupine Ibex, the 17-mile non-motorized trail through National Forest on the west side of the Crazy Mountains, is now complete.
Before the October snow, we had the chance to walk the entire length of the reroute from the Porcupine cabin to the Ibex cabin. It's thoughtfully crafted (thanks Bo Trails) and travels through some spectacular country. We took in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the working ranches of the Shields Valley. It was gratifying to see others out enjoying the new trail, hiking, biking, running, hunting and camping on a gorgeous fall day.
The idea for relocating the disputed Porcupine Lowline Trail #267 started several years ago in a community hall in Big Timber. The gathering of local stakeholders identified some of the areas around the range where public access was uncertain. Like several historic trails in the Crazy Mountains, the Pocupine Lowline was on Forest Service maps but was not easy to find or follow, and in some areas the trail had been gated and locked. I’ll never forget circling up around a map with one ranching family, realizing how the historic route cut through miles and miles of their property. One of us suggested a simple solution, would it be possible to relocate the trail to the public lands in the adjacent National Forest, and wouldn't that be better for both the landowner and the public?
It was possible. And just a few years later, the trail relocation is complete.
Having landowners agree to provide public access easements and relocate the Porcupine Lowline to public land was the first major success of the Crazy Mountain Working Group. Coming together with our neighbors, we did more than just identify a viable solution to a problem, we began to develop the relationships and "social capital" to tackle even bigger land use and access debates.
The Porcupine Ibex is only one piece in the complex checkerboard puzzle of the Crazy Mountains. Incrementally, we are resolving issues and building the relationships necessary to protect this wild and working landscape.
And we couldn’t have done it without the support of many community partners and PCEC members like you.
So join us to celebrate the Porcupine Ibex Trail!
It’s warming up this coming week, so we’re going to get outside and celebrate the opening of the Porcupine Ibex trail. Please join us on Thursday, October 21st, at 10:30AM at the Porcupine trailhead for a ribbon cutting and short walk.
If you can’t join us Thursday, we hope you get out there soon to experience it. When you go, remember the Paradise Pledge, and be especially kind to other users and stay on the trail when you are on private property. We worked through challenging issues and built community in the process of rerouting this trail, so let’s continue that spirit when we use it. Stay safe out there!
The trail is clear thanks to the volunteer crew from Livingston Bike Club that removed 17 fallen trees from the route!
Photo courtesy of Robin Barker