Hyalite Hoedown – Features Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs and a screening of “The Little Things”
Montana Backcountry Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting human powered winter recreation opportunities for the backcountry ski and snowboard community, presents the second “Hyalite Hoedown” on January 23rd at the Eagles (upstairs) in downtown Bozeman beginning at 6pm.
The Hyalite Hoedown is a backcountry community celebration and fundraiser. The event brings attention to securing winter recreation access to Bozeman’s favorite backyard – Hyalite Canyon – by raising necessary dollars for plowing the road. Last year Montana Backcountry Alliance contributed $1500 to plowing Hyalite Road from proceeds raised at the Hyalite Hoedown.
The Hyalite Hoedown provides a celebratory venue for the backcountry ski and snowboard community to raise funding to protect access to a treasured backyard resource. All proceeds from the event will be dedicated to plowing the Hyalite road.
This year’s Hyalite Hoedown combines both cinema and live music. The night kicks off with a screening of “The Little Things,” a snowboard movie project based on environmentally conscious riders who are inspirational through their riding, as well as their sustainable ways of living and thinking. Following the film, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs take the stage for an evening of raw, blues driven, bluegrass sound.
Presented by Montana Backcountry Alliance, the Hyalite Hoedown is proudly sponsored by local businesses: Bridger Brewing Company, Sensible Alternatives, Community Food Co-op, Owenhouse Bicycling and Fitness, and Taco Del Soul.
Located on the Gallatin National Forest, Hyalite Canyon is a unique area that has been promoted as a winter recreation destination for years. Prior to 2006, the road leading up the canyon, however, was nearly impassable by automobile in winter. Overwhelming support for improved access has initiated a push to secure long-term sustainable funding for the road. Since road plowing began in 2007, Gallatin County, a Forest Service resource grant, and contributions from Friends of Hyalite have supplied financial assistance to winter road maintenance.
Between January and March, roughly 20,000 recreationists use the Hyalite area and 85 percent of those are skiers. But despite significant public recreation interest, funding for plowing Hyalite remains tenuous from year to year.
Created in 2005 to provide a unified voice for an otherwise loose and solitary band of backcountry skiers and riders, Montana Backcountry Alliance (MBA) works to protect, expand and enhance non-motorized backcountry winter recreation areas while cultivating a community of traditional, human-powered winter recreationists. Preserving Montana’s quiet winter wild lands such as Hyalite is at the forefront of MBA’s mission.
What: Hyalite Hoedown – a backcountry skiing and riding celebration
Why: Fundraiser to keep Hyalite plowed for winter recreation
Who: presented by Montana Backcountry Alliance
When: January 23rd Doors 6pm; Film – The Little Things 7pm; Music – Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs 8pm
Where: Eagles (upstairs) in downtown Bozeman
Cost: Suggested donation of $10 – 20 per person.
Contact: www.montanabackcountry.org or phone 406.224.2588
