Late October Backcountry Touring News

USFS Funding

The folks at the Montana Free Press wrote an excellent story about the financial dilemma and how it impacts the state’s avalanche forecasting centers. Montana—it’s a big state. The state’s two main forecasting centers, one based in Missoula and the other in Bozeman, will be impacted differently. 

According to the article, the Bozeman-based Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center (GNFAC) does not rely on temporary employees for their forecasting needs. Our earlier story on the issue explained that many USFS forecasting centers use 1039 employees for staffing—these are temporary, seasonal employees impacted by a 2025 hiring freeze. In effect, the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center should not be affected. Backcountry enthusiasts in the Northwest portion of the state should also not see any negative impacts or shortfalls regarding typical avalanche forecasting services. The Montana Free Press points out that that region is served by the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Centers (IPAC), an entity that does not rely on 1039 employees.

The Missoula-based West Central Montana Avalanche Center has a more tenuous relationship with USFS funding. Unlike GNFAC and IPAC, the Missoula center is not “housed” within the Federal Government. However, there is a reliance on items like USFS vehicles, as described by the Montana Free Press story, and on temporary employees and $40,000 from the USFS to hire three seasonal forecasters. The story reports that “the $40,000 cost-share typically covers 30% to 40% of WCMAC’s payroll.”