Soaring high above the snow-blanketed GMUG forests, we joined agency officials and partners from @winterwildlandsalliance for an aerial look at how winter recreation is playing out across the landscape. From the air, ski tracks wove down steep slopes and snowmobile routes curved through valleys—offering a rare and powerful perspective on how people move through this vast, remote terrain. Many of these areas are hard to access on the ground, but from above, the patterns of use become clear. This flight helped inform how and where winter travel—both motorized and non-motorized—is happening, and where future planning can reduce conflict and protect sensitive wildlife habitat. The current GMUG winter travel management plan is over 30 years old. As recreation grows and climate shifts, we’re working to update it—crafting a new plan that balances access, safety, and ecosystem integrity for the next generation of winter adventurers. ❄️⛷️ #GMUG #WinterTravelPlan #ProtectPublicLands #EcoFlight #YourEyeInTheSky #ConservationAviation (fb)

“In the desert, the line between earth and sky is a prayer.” – Terry Tempest Williams 🏜️✨ Flying over the vast beauty of Grand Staircase-Escalante, we’re reminded of what we’re fighting for. Public lands belong to all of us — and together, we can protect them. 🛩️💚 #ProtectPublicLands #GrandStaircaseEscalante #EcoFlight #AerialPhotography #ConservationAviation #NationalMonuments (fb)