Thankful for the Backcountry

While winter has been reluctant to make its grand appearance in the Wasatch (hopefully not for much longer), WBA has been busy cranking away to ensure we can enjoy the same backcountry terrain and access when it does start to turn on. 

I just hit my two year mark as WBA’s Operations Director (which is still our only paid position, which remains parttime but could easily be fulltime with the amount of work there is to do!) I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to support our local backcountry community in a more dedicated way. Creating our first paid position was a big leap for our grassroots organization, but thanks to your support, that decision has paid off. 

During the 2024-2025 season, we had some major “wins”: helped negotiate winter access up Cardiff Fork for a decade, regained roadside parking at Spruces, and made major improvements to our Backcountry Shuttle Program. Behind the scenes, we’ve been in constant dialogue with decision-makers, from local commissioners to policymakers in D.C., to ensure the voice of our backcountry community is heard where it matters most. This is only a small snippet from this past year. Check out our annual reports to learn more.  

This past summer and fall, we’ve already celebrated major accomplishments including the helping influence the Brighton Town Council in unanimously passing Ordinance OAM2025-001431, which maps ski resort boundaries (keeping them to their existing footprints) and helps responsibly guide future development in the canyon — which is especially important for ski resort–owned lands in Silver Fork, Guardsman, and Old Stage Road (where the proposed parking lot would be built). In case you missed it, check out our recent podcast on the issue. 

We’ve also helped rally the backcountry community to stand up against the public lands sales that Senator Mike Lee tried to pass under congressional legislation. And we will continue to fight attempts like this and other detrimental roll backs to our local backcountry (like rescinding the Roadless Rule). 

Most recently, we published the WBA 2025-2026 Parking Guide to help you navigate how to access your favorite trailheads and keep you informed on important policy updates.

Advocacy work like ours is notoriously difficult to fundraise for. It’s not a shiny new trail or a visible recreation infrastructure project, so large grants and major funders are often out of reach. That’s why I’m especially grateful for you—the backcountry community—who continue to chip in when you can. When all of us throw in just a few dollars a month, it truly adds up. The fact that WBA is powered primarily by many small donors is something I’m deeply proud of; it shows the broad, genuine support behind our mission. And while I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish with the backing of our incredible volunteer board, the workload and threats can be overwhelming—I regularly put in far more hours than my part-time role covers. But I’m also incredibly optimistic. As we continue to grow, I look forward to the day this position becomes full-time, because I know we’ll be able to accomplish twice as much for the Wasatch. Like an ideal snowpack, your steady, consistent support is what keeps us stable—and we’re so grateful for it.

Between now and the New Year, we’re working to raise $40,000 to ensure this advocacy continues at full strength. Thanks to a generous $2,500 match from anonymous longtime WBA supporters, every dollar donated will be doubled now through Giving Tuesday (12/2).

If you’re able, please consider becoming a member or making a donation to help protect the backcountry we all love. Thank you for being part of this community of backcountry advocates. 

Best, 

Dani