Ryan Ghelfi
March 25, 2026
We have a lot happening at SBFC right now. More than ever. Some think of the winter as the “slow season,” but I can honestly attest that this winter for our staff has been anything but slow. We have so many exciting updates to share with you throughout the spring. Below are just a few, with more to come as spring rolls on.
This season, we have more volunteer Wilderness & trails projects and opportunities than ever before, for adults and youth alike. You can register to volunteer on an adult project right now. Space remains on many hitches, while some have filled but still offer a waitlist option.
Youth ages 12-18 can apply today to join one of ten Wilderness Expeditions! Due to strong demand, youth will be chosen through a weighted lottery system this season. Half of the youth will be chosen during the early-bird window (March 1-April 1), while the other half will be chosen by May 3rd. If a youth is not selected during the early bird window, they could still be selected during the final May 3rd lottery.
You may have noticed that we have a handful of projects outside of the Wilderness this season. Some have asked why. I will bring the answer back to our mission, “to open pathways for all to discover and steward the Selway Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness areas and surrounding wildlands.” We have long had donors, volunteers, and the public asking us for shorter-duration, easier-to-access opportunities. This makes sense. If we are truly opening pathways for all to become Wilderness stewards, starting with a week-long project deep in the backcountry is not always achievable. People need a ladder and a way to gain experience. And sure, there are many ways to do this, but for SBFC, it’s important that we provide some of these shorter and closer opportunities, so that people can grow, learn, and progress in their Wilderness stewardship journey with us. All of our programs are pointed at the central goal: that everyone can discover and steward this amazing landscape.
When I look at the breakdown of all our work this season, I see that the vast majority of our hitches will take place in our namesake Wilderness complex, and more than 60% will be completed by paid staff, professional crews, and crews including our Wilderness & Trails Interns. This landscape is an incredibly difficult place to work, and an 8-day hitch with 80 lbs of tools, food, and gear to carry up a 3,000-foot climb just to get to where the work begins can be a harsh entry point for stewardship work. The shorter projects and more “frontcountry” projects we are offering this season are a gateway to these longer, more challenging opportunities.
For SBFC, it is key to provide the full spectrum of crews and hitches. Sending the right type of crew to each project, getting as much work done as we can while simultaneously removing barriers to participation, will always guide our process.
Our focus remains on the Wildest Place in the Lower 48, and I can safely say it always will. Stay tuned throughout the spring as we share additional updates on our work and programs this season.
I, for one, can’t wait to see you out there on the ground in the Selway, the Frank, and beyond. What could be better!
As always, feel free to reach out with thoughts, questions, or comments!