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Lagging forest trail maintenance prompting "frenemies" to unite

Over 50 diverse recreation and conservation groups say the Forest Service is facing a nation-wide trails crisis and they sent a letter to Congress this week asking for help.

Credit Shannon Freix
Shannon Freix - Jewel Basin, Mount Aeneas

The Forest Service manages 158-thousand miles of trails in the United States that advocates say help support an over 600-billion-dollar recreation industry.
      In tonight's feature interview with Edward O'Brien, Shannon Freix tells us more about the trail maintenance backlog and why it's uniting multiple-use and wilderness advocates.
     Freix is the Continental Divide Trails Program Manager for the Montana Wilderness Association. 

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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