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Beartooth Trails

WHO WE ARE

MISSION

Our mission statement is simple…. to promote non-motorized trails along the Beartooth Front.

HISTORY

For many years we’ve enjoyed skiing the well groomed trails of the Red Lodge Nordic Center at the foot of the spectacular Beartooth Mountains in south central Montana. Many of our children learned to ski here. When we were skied-out and needed a rest, there were always a warm fire, friendly conversation, and cookies in the yurt.

In April of 2002, a bunch of friends, neighbors, ski bums, and others who didn’t have anything else to do in their spare time got together to help.  We formed BRTA — Beartooth Recreational Trails Association, not only to keep our favorite cross-country ski area alive, but also to work together on our shared vision of a non-motorized trail network along the foothills of the Beartooths. In 2024 BRTA hired a paid Executive Director to further our mission. Another change was made in 2024, when our name changed from Beartooth Recreational Trails Association to Beartooth Trails.

VOLUNTEERING

We can always use your help!

Beartooth Trails is always seeking volunteers willing to work on special functions, such as moonlight skis, ski clinics and children’s programs, help out with trail maintenance and grooming, grant writing, fund raising, etc. We’re always excited to spread the word to other skiers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts about the non-motorized trail possibilities in the area, and what we can do to help out! Any outdoor enthusiasts are asked to join the fun, since everyone will be able to enjoy the benefits of a well-maintained trail system.

STRATEGIC GOALS 2024-2025

  1. Partner with the City of Red Lodge to create a pathway along Highway 78/Brewery Hill. Fund an engineering feasibility study to acquire project funding through the Montana Department of Transportation-Transportation Alternatives program.

  2. Fundraise for a new snowmobile for grooming and seek to expand grooming operations.

  3. Complete layout, design and build of .75 miles of new trails at Red Lodge Mountain summer 2024.

  4. Develop the funding and resources to support a full-time Executive Director position in 2025.

GOVERNANCE

Beartooth Trails has a governing Board of 7 to 13 volunteers. We do not have paid memberships, but operate off your donations as well as Nordic Center fees and grants. We love fundraisers!  We have two part-time employees: a part-time Executive Director and a Nordic Center Manager; everything else is done by volunteers.

CONTACT

Please contact us at:

Beartooth Trails
PO Box 1872
Red Lodge Montana 59068
info@beartoothtrails.org

Our Tax ID# 27-0081619

Consider donating to Beartooth Trails. Your tax deductible donation is greatly appreciated and will help build and maintain trails in the area.

Our monthly Board meetings are held second Wednesdays, 6:30 at the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation building across Oakes Ave. from the Post Office in Red Lodge (13th & Oakes). Archived Board Minutes are available here.

 

STAFF

Nick Gaddy, Executive Director

Born and raised in Eastern Washington, Nick has been a lifelong trail user. After graduating college at Western Washington University, Nick found his way to Red Lodge in 2013 where he fell in love with the community. After volunteering with Beartooth Trails on trail building projects, Nick became Beartooth Trails’ first Executive Director in 2024, a position which allows him to combine his love of the outdoors with organizational leadership. Outside of Beartooth Trails, Nick also volunteers as an officer on Red Lodge Search and Rescue, where he was awarded Provider of the Year in 2023 and as the Treasurer of the Red Lodge Chamber of Commerce.

Nate Winning, Winter Trails Manager

Nate is a long time resident of Red Lodge Montana and has been exploring the mountains and rivers of the Absaroka-Beartooth mountains for over 20 years. Nate is responsible for keeping our winter grooming operations running smoothly. In addition to his work with Beartooth Trails, Nate is also the owner of Canyon Construction and as a guide for Yellowstone Ski Tours. When Nate is not working he is busy and teaching his young children about outdoor recreation.

BOARD MEMBERS

Featured
Don Carrol
Don Carrol

Don joined the Beartooth Trails Board in October of 2023 and serves as the board President. He worked for 30 years for the US Forest Service serving as a District Ranger in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. He was directly involved with easement acquisition, trail construction and projects involving cities, counties, major ski areas and land trusts. Don has also worked for Montana Land Reliance, monitoring existing conservation easements.

Along with his wife, Traute, he enjoys hiking, biking and backcountry skiing.

Midge Cross
Midge Cross

Midge is the Vice-President for Beartooth Trails and also serves on the Marketing Committee.

She holds an MBA degree, is an active hiker, and helps build trails.

Thomas Clark
Thomas Clark

Thomas serves as the Summer Trails Committee chair and secretary of the board. He is passionate about building trails with an emphasis on mountain biking. He has been known to go on the odd trail run and now spends a lot of time hiking with a toddler. Outside of Beartooth Trails he is primarily an at home dad, but also works as a nurse and a volunteer ski patroller.

Erika Purington
Erika Purington

Erika Purington grew up loving the Beartooths and gets excited about introducing others to the beauty and magic of them. She is a local business owner and area nonprofit leader.

Maggie Jared
Maggie Jared

Maggie joined the board recently after volunteering for several years for Beartooth Trails. Outside of Trails she can be found working at Beartooth Books downtown (one of her very favorite places), running around the mountains yelling “woooooo” (when appropriate) and trying every form of outdoor recreation the Beartooths have to offer (at least twice as a rule of thumb). She particularly loves backpacking, mountain biking and climbing.

Tonada Koch
Tonada Koch

Tonada grew up on an island in the Pacific Northwest, where trails played a huge part in her upbringing and laid the foundation for a deep love of the outdoors and community experience. She loves skiing, trail running, mountain biking, hiking, sailing, tending to her plants, coming up with new recipes, and spending quality time with family and friends. She brings lots of enthusiasm to her adventures, and is very excited to be a member of the Beartooth Trails board. 

Luke Russell
Luke Russell

Luke is one of the newest additions to the BRTA board. After two decades of service in the US Navy he has traded the roar of afterburners for a love of the outdoors and volunteering. The thrill of adventure and community is important to him, and he has found his outlet building trails and raising his family in the rugged beauty of the Montana mountains.