Citizen scientists

The Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area was created by Congress in 1977. The patchwork of land covers 155,000 acres along the Gallatin Crest between the Gallatin River and Yellowstone River in southwestern Montana. To the south, the WSA abuts Yellowstone National Park.

There are only about 30 WSAs in the United States, seven of them in the Forest Service’s Northern Region. While waiting for Congress to decide whether to make them wilderness areas, the WSAs are supposed to be managed by the Forest Service to maintain their wilderness character.

“These areas aren’t managed the same way as designated wilderness,” said Chris Ryan of the Forest Service’s Northern Region office in Missoula. “We have some motorized recreation and other things going on.”

Conflict over what uses should be allowed in the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn WSA has resulted in court cases after the Gallatin National Forest’s travel plan limited the use of motorized vehicles and mountain bikes.

In its work in the WSAs, the Wilderness Institute’s Citizen Science Program takes no position on a management approach, rather it provides anyone interested with the conditions in the areas.

TEPEE CREEK — With the hood of her maroon rain jacket pulled tightly around her head to ward off the relentless mosquitoes, Carolyn Hricko used a pocket knife to carefully chop an onion and green pepper for a burrito dinner. Her makeshift kitchen was a grassy meadow three backpacking miles inside the Hyalite-Porcupine-Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area in the Gallatin National Forest, an hour south of Bozeman. To the northeast, the last hour of sunlight cast a golden glow upon 10,289-foot Ramshorn Peak.

It was just another day at the office for Hricko, 25, one of four guides for the Wilderness Institute’s Citizen Science Program under the auspices of the University of Montana.

Through August, the institute is leading 14 trips into the WSA to collect information on the character of the area, including such items as weed infestations, manmade structures and trail damage. The data is then provided to the Forest Service as baseline information for future work.

“In some cases this is the only monitoring that we’re getting done,” said Chris Ryan, program manager for wilderness, rivers, outfitters and guides for the Forest Service’s Northern Region in Missoula. “We can then use that data to make management decisions.

Backpacking Stoves - What kind of camping stove would you like to ...

First with any R&D you need to find out what already exists, what is popular and why. It is a waste to re-invent the wheel. Also you didn’t specify what knid of camping are you thinking about? Stoves need a heat source, be light weight, wind proof, stable, easy to clean, compact, easy to turn on the heat, rust proof as possible, and adjustable heat. Two burner or a single? Define what type of camping it is for and use an energy source that is readily available and cheap. Campmor catalog describes lots of stoves for different purposes. Good luck and don’t blow up something!

Camp Cook Stoves must have three sides very well protected from any breeze. The stove must be sturdy and strong enough to stand up to large skillets.

When Men cook, in their camps, they may only use one skillet for everything. For Example:

Fry your bacon and pour off the grease in a sealed can to take home with you, then Peel an onion, cut it up and toss in the skillet. Chop up some Potatoes and toss them in the skillet. Add some spices and Herbs, break some eggs and scrable them into the skillet and stir till done. Grab your fork and eat out of the skillet.

When the meal is over, scrub out the skillet in the surf with sand… voila…. cleaned and ready for lunch cooking.

The flame and the grill over the flame are two important points to consider.

A car camping grill would optimally have two burners, one for larger skillets and grilling burgers / dogs and the other for heating water and smaller items. Flames must be adjustable and protected from water / grease. Nasty junk often gets down near the flames of a grill – so making sure they are protected is important.

Backpacking stoves are quite a different beast. They have to be light weight and compact. This challenge would be much greater – I’d suggest sticking with the ‘car camping’ stove.

What backpackers want is a stove that’s light, boils water fast, can be made to simmer, and uses natural sustainable fuels. The latest thing is wood burning backpacking stoves made out of lightweight materials that have either an electric fan or tube you blow on to act as a bellows. They burn small pieces of wood, cones, etc. picked up at your camp site. Similar to the old Sierra Zip Stove, but lighter.

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