Wyoming State Trails, Forest Service Project Recognized by Coalition for Recreational Trails

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A Wyoming Trails project involving the installation of the Hawks Rest Pack Stock Bridge in the Bridger-Teton National Forest has been recognized by the Coalition for Recreational Trails in the Construction and Design category.

Representatives from the Wyoming State Trails program and the Forest Service will receive the award during a special awards ceremony on March 6, in Washington, D.C. followed by a reception on Capitol Hill.

“This is a fantastic example of how well State and Federal government partnerships can work to get projects to the ground in order to provide a much-needed recreational infrastructure” Forrest Kamminga, Wyoming State Trails Program manager.

The Hawks Rest Pack Stock Bridge project was very unique and complicated and wouldn’t have been possible without the partnerships of several federal and state agencies along with several combined contracts that totaled more than $1 million. Funding for the project came from multiple funding sources that included a Recreational Trails Program non-motorized grant, a non-Federal match from the Wyoming State Parks agency, and the United States Forest Service non-federal outfitter and guides’ special use permit fees.

This unique project consisted of the replacement of a remote bridge and concrete abutments that were originally constructed in 1959 and buried deep in the Thorofare area that spans the boundary of the northern Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone National Park on the upper Yellowstone River approximately 28 miles from any trailhead or road.

The project was managed by the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Blackrock Ranger District staff and had very complex design and construction challenges due to the wilderness designation that restricted the use of mechanized equipment that limited the transportation of the new pre-fabricated bridge structure and pre-fab concrete abutments to solely a helicopter that was only allowed by obtaining special permission. All the remaining materials and crews to build the structure were hauled in by a Stock pack string which required a full day, one way to access the bridge location, and a working season of about 8 weeks a year.

“This will allow for easy and safe passage of wilderness travelers for many years into the future.” Todd Stiles, Blackrock District Ranger said.

This is the eleventh time the Wyoming Trails Program has been recognized by the CRT.

Jeff
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