A Letter From The Board

Dear AMPL Community,

This is an exciting time for our organization as we continue to grow and further our mission to protect and promote multi-use access on our public lands. Our ED Will Mook celebrates his year anniversary in the role, and it's hard to believe how much he has accomplished in that time. 

As you know, AMPL was founded in 2017 to preserve multi-use recreation in the Palisades during the WPLI process. The fate of the Palisades is still uncertain, and at this time, the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) is preparing to undertake Forest Planning within the next two years. This is when they will make their recommendation to Congress about whether to make the Palisades Wilderness or release the Wilderness Study Area (WSA). AMPL is preparing for this process by meeting with other recreation based non-profits, meeting with the Forest Service, and doing trail work in the Palisades.  We are ready to work tirelessly to preserve multi-use recreation throughout the Forest Planning process.

Our strategy over the last year has included trail work and maintenance in the Palisades to improve our trail systems. We feel that if trails are well maintained they are more likely to be used, and as recreationists have a better experience on their public land they will support multi-use recreation. This year, we hired five part-time trail crew employees and they’ve been busy improving trails this summer.

To date this season, AMPL has:

  • Cleared/brushed over 200 miles of trail

  • Cut over 350 down trees 

  • Repaired tread and installed drainage on 6 local trails

All of our work has been in the Jackson, Victor, and Swan Valley areas, and we are hoping to grow our crew and do even more work next year.

AMPL is also working on winter projects. We have partnered with Teton County Search and Rescue to purchase 10 beacon check stations. These devices will be installed at trailheads on Teton Pass, Fall Creek Road, Togwotee Pass, and on the west side of the Tetons. We are also working with the BTNF to improve the wintertime trailhead at Mosquito Creek to accommodate a couple of trailer parking spots. We are not trying to expand use beyond existing numbers, but improve this access point to the Palisades for the benefit of all users. This will also allow Wyoming State Trails to bring a groomer in and smooth out the moguls that form on the trail a few times each season.

All this terrific work is made possible by generous donations of our AMPL Community, so please consider donating to AMPL this Giving Season. HERE is the link to donate through Old Bill’s, select Sports & Recreation category, and we are the first non-profit listed.  

See you on the trails,

AMPL Board 

Jesse Coombs-Board President

Mike Mielke–Board Vice-President

Meg Peterson-Secretary

Anna Cole-Treasurer

Mike Carver

Rob Hoff

Reggie Benz

AMPL