From Trailheads to Toilets: The Crucial Work of CMC Snow Rangers

Colorado is known for incredible mountains and the backcountry adventures they provide, but what happens when crowds flock to quiet snow-covered trails, sometimes unprepared? The answer lies with the Colorado Mountain Club’s Snow Ranger Program, a non-profit and government collaboration that serves as a backcountry snow ambassador program for our state's vast winter wilderness.  

"The program was created in 2019 to help steward our backcountry snowscapes and augment the limited resources of the U.S. Forest Service," says Brian Bergeler, CMC Conservation Director. “2019 was right on the cusp of COVID, and during 2020 we saw backcountry use explode. As the ski resorts shut down in the middle of March that year, recreationists really flocked to the backcountry.”   

Unfortunately, many areas weren’t prepared for the massive usage increase, and many visitors weren’t prepared for the reality of backcountry travel. “It was a bit like the Wild West, so to speak," says Brian. This surge forced CMC to accelerate its mission: creating a visible, educated presence at the trailheads and in the backcountry to manage the influx and support overworked federal partners.  

While the title "Snow Ranger" sounds straightforward, the on-the-ground duties vary, depending on the need and availability of personnel. One day they might be restocking toilet paper and shoveling out vault toilets and sidewalks after a snowstorm, but another day they might be helping unprepared visitors realize that they should come back another time with the right equipment, preventing the need for a search and rescue operation from another strained system. “They’re a big help with the mitigation of user conflicts and educating people at the trailhead,” explains Brian. “Sometimes people aren’t aware that there are limitations on how and where they can recreate, and the Snow Rangers can prevent them from making that mistake and impacting delicate ecosystems.”  

A major focus of the Snow Rangers is collecting visitor use data using the CMC's RIMS app. The app tracks areas where people are recreating and can highlight issues and areas that need immediate attention. Another big focus is ensuring that snowplows can safely navigate on the roads, which is sometimes impacted by people parking where they aren’t supposed to. “If the snowplows reach an area where they need to turn around and there’s a vehicle there, the plow can get stuck. They might not even attempt to plow that section to avoid the possibility, which can be very dangerous for drivers who expect the road to be safe to travel,” says Brian.   

Like many other outdoor nonprofits, CMC saw a big loss in federal funding and a tightening of funding from grants and other sources this year, which has put the program at risk. And that loss of a safety net puts public safety at risk, too.   

“The Snow Rangers have helped avert several near-accidents,” Brian explains. “Thanks to them, people have been deterred from making poor backcountry decisions, and there have even been instances where vehicles illegally drove onto groomed Nordic ski tracks, getting stuck and blocking access for everyone else. The Snow Rangers helped them get out safely.”  

Backcountry use in the summer is straightforward for a lot of Coloradans and people visiting from out-of-state. “In the winter, it's a different ball game,” says Brian. “There are more dangers and negative impacts that recreationists can have on these areas, so as people try to get away from crowded ski resorts and seek solace in the backcountry, there is a steeper learning curve that many aren’t prepared for. The backcountry is much less forgiving than resort terrain. The Snow Ranger program is vital to ensuring safety for recreationists, for protecting the natural environment, and for respecting the wintering wildlife patterns.”  

CMC Snow Rangers are some of the stewards who keep our snowscapes wild, safe, and respected, and we need your help to bring them back to the backcountry. Please donate today to keep this program running.