Crow Elder Film to be Featured at Annual Meeting All members of the Eastern Wildlands Chapter are invited to attend the Annual Meeting on Monday, January 22nd, 2018 at 7:oo p.m. The meeting will take place at the Art House Cinema and Pub located at 109 North 30th Street in downtown Billings. The short film, How We See It: A Story of Apsaalooke Landscape, will be the primary feature of the evening’s program. This 15- minute film was sponsored by several area organizations including the Eastern Wildlands Chapter of the Montana Wilderness Association and Humanities Montana. This unique film project is collaboratively directed and produced by Crow tribe members Aaron Brien and Darren Pretty On Top, both of whom are employed at Salish Kootenai College. Featured in the film are Hubert Burdick Dawes Two Leggings, Dan Old Elk, and Beverly Charges Strong Big Man, respected Crow elders, as well as Dr. Tim McCleary. In addition to the film there will be an election for leadership positions on the EWC board, a short award presentation, door prizes, and more! Beer, soda, and light snacks will be available for purchase. The meeting is open to the public as well as MWA members. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring a friend!

Eastern Montana Field Director Search Underway

The Montana Wilderness Association is presently in the process of hiring a new Eastern Montana Field Director. Charlie Smillie resigned his post as field director in late October. There are several candidates for the open position and, if all goes according to plan, the new field director will take up the charge beginning February 2018. The EWC board would like to thank Charlie for all the time and energy he invested in promoting and protecting our wild eastern landscapes. We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Eastern Wildlands Chapter Newsletter – January 2018

Pryor Mountain Weed Pulls: Fighting the Good Fight for Native Plants For the past several years the Eastern Wildlands Chapter has been trying to eradicate spotted knapweed infestations in two locations in the Pryor Mountains. Spotted knapweed is on Montana’s list of prohibited noxious weeds—with good reason. Centaurea stoebe thrives in in most Montana ecosystems and is difficult to eradicate. Although various herbicides are effective in killing a growing plant the hundreds of seeds that each plant produces can remain viable in the ground for up to five years. In addition, C. stoebe releases toxins into the soil that inhibit the growth of other vegetation. Once established, knapweed can quickly become the dominant plant on the landscape. The Pryor Mountains have been largely free of this weed, but it is becoming established on two areas of federal lands. The EWC has been pulling and/or digging the weeds near the old USFS ranger station at Sage Creek and on the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range. The USFS has sprayed these areas over the last couple of years, and we go after outliers and newly sprouted plants several weeks after an area has been sprayed. We schedule the Sage Creek pull in July, and the higher elevation Wild Horse Range in August. For anyone interested in spending a weekend day or two in the beautiful Pryor Mountains— make a lunch, grab your gloves, and come along. An e-mail reminder will be sent out approximately a month before the group goes out into the field. For more information please contact Ross Waples at 248-5260, or waples@q.com.

Gloege Book Published The University of Montana Press recently released The Bunch Grass Motel, a collection of poetry by the late Randall Gloege. Randall was a long-time MWA member and served terms on both the State Council and the Eastern Wildlands Chapter board. One of Randall’s poems appeared in a past issue of the EWC newsletter. The book is illustrated with photographs by the author. Born in Helena, Randall grew up in Miles City. He taught English, Ethics, and Environmental Studies at Montana State University Billings for over two decades. According to Howie Wolke, who first met Randall in 1975 through their work with Earth First!, Randall played a major role in the establishment of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area. In his Introduction, EWC member Bill Kamowski, a colleague of Randall’s at MSUB, points to “Randall’s great passions: protecting the environment and teaching.” Wolke agrees, noting in his Afterword that “More than anything, Randall was devoted to the American idea of wilderness.” The book was edited by current chapter president Bernie Quetchenbach, who also worked with Randall at MSUB. Copies are available at This House of Books or through the English, Philosophy, and Modern Languages Department at MSUB. The University’s Foundation contributed to the book’s production. After printing expenses, royalties will go to Randall’s endowed scholarships for students involved in environmental advocacy and creative writing.

Custer Gallatin Forest Plan Update The US Forest Service has postponed releasing the preferred option draft plan for the Custer-Galatian National Forest. Originally scheduled for December 15th it was announced that the date would be pushed back until early January. While not yet official the USFS also indicated that there would not be a public comment period at that time. The MWA is preparing a proactive response for when the draft plan is finally released. Members are urged to keep an eye out for developments in the planning process, such as comment periods and letter writing campaigns. It is important to maintain a strong voice for wilderness preservation during this long, bureaucratic process.

Winter Walks: Walking in a Winter Wonderland Members and friends are encouraged to experience the wonders of winter through the MWA’s Winter Walks, the seasonal counterpart to the incredibly popular Wilderness Walks program. The MWA believes that to explore wild places is an opportunity to develop a relationship with a landscape. These experiences highlight the significance of these places and the importance of protecting them now and for future generations. Winter Walks are free and open to the public. The walk schedule is posted in December each year with walks offered from January through March. There are easy and scenic jaunts for beginners as well as challenging mountain peak hikes for those after some extra adventure. Walk leaders will provide snowshoes if necessary. To sign up for a walk please visit the MWA’s website at wildmontana.org. The EWC is pleased to highlight two Winter Walks in our region. Pryor Mountains Wild Winter Hike with Rita Harding – February 25 The Pryor Mountains are unlike any other landscape in Montana. They are geologically, ecologically, meteorologically, and culturally unique – an island of mountains rising from the prairie formed by erosion of uplifted limestone instead of glacier carved granite. The numerous, rugged, and spectacular limestone canyons provide viewpoints from which to share the solitude. Because this area is at lower levels and somewhat arid, it makes an ideal location for winter walking. The hike is designated as moderate and will be approximately six miles round-trip. For more information contact Rita at mtroses22@gmail.com. Pompey’s Pillar with Roger Ostot – March 4th Pompeys Pillar National Monument is the only place where there is visible evidence of the Lewis and Clark expedition—Clark’s signature on the sandstone formation. Less well known is that it also has an area of critical environmental concern (ACEC) which most visitors don’t get to see. Ernest MacKenzie, a wildlife biologist with the BLM, will accompany the group to discuss efforts to improve wildlife habitat, as well as wildlife viewing and other recreational opportunities. By going in the winter, participants will get to visit places normally inaccessible because of water and plant growth. The walk will include some nice views of the Yellowstone Valley and, hopefully, a variety of local wildlife. The group will also take time to explore the Pillar and discuss its historical and cultural importance. For more information contact Roger at 406-671-0928. After registering, participants will meet at 8 a.m. at RiverStone Health to carpool to the monument.

Get to Know Your Board: EWC Board Candidates Sondra Arnold I grew up in Florida in a small rural town near Tampa. My parents taught me to appreciate the outdoors and our environment from a very young age, and I spent most of my youth outside. I have worked in the accounting profession for most of my adult life, spending time in both public accounting and private industry. I moved to Montana in 2006 and really value the wild lands and open spaces that we have to enjoy here. I joined MWA several years ago and value the work we do to protect and promote our most valuable public resources. I am honored to have the opportunity to give back by serving on the board of the Eastern Wildlands Chapter. Aubrey Bertram I grew up in Colorado, where I spent my formative years in national forests on skis and on foot. I have a BS from the University of Wyoming. Before attending law school, I worked as a community organizer on energy extraction issues in southwestern Wyoming, volunteered at several wildlife rescue and rehab centers in Southeast Asia, and as a ski coach on the mountain where I competed as a kid. I graduated from the University of Denver with a law degree, specializing in International Law, and a Masters of Law in Environment and Natural Resources Law and Policy. I am currently a staff attorney with Montana Legal Services Association, where I represent tribal members in civil cases in tribal and state court. I enjoy exploring the gritty charm of Billings and our surrounding public lands with my two dogs and napping on the couch with my two cats. I am really looking forward to getting more involved with the Eastern Wildlands Chapter of MWA! Peter Bugoni I grew up in Wyoming and moved to Montana, where I have remained since, for college. As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I spend significant time exploring the wild lands of Montana. I recently moved from Western Montana to the Eastern Wildlands Chapter and am excited to acquaint himself with new wild open spaces. Susan Gilbertz I grew up on a ranch in northeastern Wyoming. Current I work at Montana State University Billings teaching geography and environmental studies courses. My research focuses on the attachments to places as home, causes, and sacred spaces. Rita Harding I am a public health nurse consultant with over 40 years’ experience working on Montana and Wyoming Indian Reservations and in Africa. My formal board experience includes service on Montana Board of Nursing, Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society Board of Directors, and Eastern Montana Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council. My father instilled both love and respect for the outdoors in me as a very young child growing up in rural farm country of Illinois. When I moved to Montana over 40 years ago, this love for the land intensified as MWA hikes introduced me to rare beauty, inspiration, and peace in pristine wild places. By supporting and working with MWA, I have the opportunity to help preserve Montana wild places for generations to come.

Roger Otstot I was born in Ohio and raised there on a small farm. After graduating from high school, I served nine years in the Air Force. I then attended and graduated from New Mexico State University. I worked for 27 years in civilian government service until I retired from the Bureau of Reclamation in 2012. Since then I have been volunteering for a number of organizations. I have lived in Billings for over 25 years, and now am trying to compensate for many years of office work by exploring and appreciating Montana’s outdoor heritage. Clare Overholt I grew up in Fort Collins along the front range of Northern Colorado, went to college in California, and have lived in Montana since I graduated - each place growing my love for the West and its wild places. After graduating from Santa Clara University in California with Bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Studies and English a year of service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps brought me out to Ashland, Montana as an academic support volunteer with elementary students. I then worked for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe’s Department of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources as a Natural Resources Technician for a year and a half. In spring of 2017 I moved to Billings to be a Teacher-Naturalist at the Montana Audubon Center, where I can’t believe I gets paid to explore the natural world with kids. I has been in eastern Montana for over three years now and, thanks to the wide open spaces, opportunities for rock climbing and hiking, 80 mph speed limit, and the whole state feeling like a “big small town”, I find it very hard to leave. Robert Pumphrey I was born and raised in Virginia and attended the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. I retired from the Department of the Interior and have been a resident of Montana for over twenty years. I served on the boards of Montana Conservation Voters and Beartooth Paddlers Society. Currently, I serve on the boards including Our Montana, and the Eastern Wildlands Chapter, Montana Wilderness Association. I have been active in conservation and environmental issues, including Saving the East Rosebud. My hobbies include hiking, kayaking, canoeing, reading history, and exploring the back roads and rivers of Montana. Bernie Quetchenbach At MSUB, I teach courses in writing and literature, including The Environmental Vision; I’ve published essays, poetry, and literary criticism, mostly on nature and environmental subjects, and have been involved with environmental issues for as long as I can remember. I’m a member of Montana Conservation Voters, The International League of Conservation Voters, and a number of national and regional environmental organizations. I published two books in 2017, Accidental Gravity (essays) and The Bunch Grass Motel, a collection of poems I edited, written by the late Randall Gloege, formerly a member of the EWC board. I enjoy hiking, birdwatching, and just being outdoors in Montana and northern Wyoming. Bethany Schatzke I am an avid nature lover, environmentalist, and Montana native. I enjoy gardening, reading, writing, cooking, dancing, taking photographs, birdwatching, camping, and hiking. I have a

special fondness for the national parks and am attempting to see as many as possible. I love getting out on the trail, enjoying the great wild places we all share--and taking countless photos of the adventure. Born in eastern Montana, I moved to Billings in 2003 to attain an Environmental Studies degree at MSU-Billings. I am employed at the Paul M. Adams Memorial Library at Rocky Mountain College. Ross Waples Except for a stint at the University of Washington, I have lived in Montana my entire 65 years. I was raised on a small ranch south of Red Lodge. My father was the local game warden, whose territory included the Beartooths and Pryor mountains. I spent many days hunting and fishing over the whole region. As a consulting soil scientist, I worked in most states west of the Mississippi River. I am familiar with ecosystems from the coastal rain forests to the arid and semi-arid lands throughout the West. I was actively engaged in planning and executing reclamation of hundreds of acres of coal and bentonite mines in Montana and Wyoming. I have pulled and sprayed spotted knapweed all of my life, and try to educate friends and relatives about the importance of maintaining healthy, diverse rangeland. My wife and I spend time in the mountains and eastern Montana on a regular basis. Between my love of the land and my technical understanding of western ecosystems, and experience with government bureaucracies, I think that I can provide a rather unique perspective to the wilderness in Eastern Montana. Larry Winslow I have a lifelong interest in wilderness. I have served on the Eastern Wildlands Chapter Board for many years and previously served on the Board of the Island Range Chapter of MWA in Great Falls. After a career in journalism, I was News and Communications Coordinator for Northern Plains Resource Council, a conservation and family agriculture group, for nine years.

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Montana Wilderness Association Eastern Wildlands Chapter 2822 3rd Ave N., Suite 204 Billings, MT 59101 Phone: 406-690-3725 E-mail: mwaewc@wildmontana.org www.wildmontana.org