PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Teresa Martinez, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, Tel. 540-449-4506 tmartinez@continentaldividetrail.org
PINEDALE, WYOMING DESIGNATED FIRST CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL GATEWAY COMMUNITY IN WYOMING
PINEDALE,WY (FEBRUARY 19, 2016) – On February 19, 2016, the Town of Pinedale, Wyoming signed their official proclamation designating the Town as the first Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community in Wyoming.
The Continental Divide Trail Community designation program is a program of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition that seeks to benefit the communities along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT), which are considered assets by CDT travelers, and many of these towns act as good friends and neighbors to the Trail. The program recognizes these communities for their part in promoting awareness of the CDT as an important national, regional, and local resource.
Designation as a Continental Divide Trail Community and participation in the program is aimed to:
- Engage community citizens, Trail visitors and stewards
- Thank communities for their decades of service to hikers
- Act as a catalyst for enhancing sustainable economic development
- Aid local municipalities and regional areas with conservation planning
- Help local community members see the Trail as a resource and asset
“The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is proud to celebrate communities that are helping to protect and promote the Continental Divide Trail,” stated Teresa Martinez, Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. “These new partnerships will increase local stewardship of public lands, support community initiatives for sustainable economic development and conservation planning as well as support healthy lifestyles for community citizens.”
Mayor of Pinedale, Bob Jones said “The Town of Pinedale is proud to be designated as a gateway to one of our country’s most beautiful assets, the Wind River Range. We look forward to hosting visitors on an adventure of a lifetime.”
Regarding the designation Rachel Grimes, Executive Director of the Sublette County Chamber of Commerce reflected, “The CDT gateway community designation is a tremendous win for Pinedale! Not only is this designation an opportunity to showcase one of our area’s most cherished assets, the Wind River Mountains, it also offers an opportunity to share our local history, culture and heritage. CDT enthusiasts flock to our small mountain town in summer months to rest, resupply and socialize; all the while supporting local business and boosting the overall economy. As the first community in the state to achieve this designation, I believe this is something all of Wyoming can be proud of!”
Maureen Rudnick, Pinedale Travel and Tourism shared “the impact of Continental Divide Trail Coalition Community designation on our community has grown into something far more valuable than I could imagine. When I embarked upon the process it was with the intent to promote our community, assist trail goers, and bolster our long term economy. After a fairly sizeable hiccup within our community, I feel a totally unexpected and wonderful outcome to this process is underway. For the first time in a long time I feel a sense of pride in our community’s ability to come together to do something so important for so many. I admire everyone who chose to overlook tensions and differences to make this happen. In my opinion, the best result of this process is that it has started a transformation in our community bringing diverse organizations and individuals together with a common goal.”
Local community resident, Ric Samulski shared what the designation means to him as a resident of Pinedale- “The CDT Gateway Community designation would formally recognize Pinedale, Wyoming as being a backpacking mecca and the jumping off point into the world class Wind River Range.”
And finally, Laura Hattan, who owns the Great Outdoor Shop in Pinedale with her husband Josh, and who has been instrumental in the designation shared, “The Wind River Range is our backyard; the visitors coming here to experience it are like old friends, united as we are by this enormous mountain range that spans over 100 miles along the Continental Divide. From CDT through-hikers and cyclists doing the Tour Divide bike race, to fishermen, climbers, and multi-week excursionists, there is truly something for everyone in the Wind River Range. It is only fitting that we as a community celebrate such diversity by welcoming all who come, for whatever pursuit, to this Gateway to Adventure we call home. This designation is an important step in opening the doors of exploration to even more people in our area, whether they are lifelong residents of Pinedale, or some of the thousands of travelers from around the world who come here to experience this breathtaking area for themselves. Becoming a CDT Gateway Community preserves the strong integrity of our mountain town for generations to come, and encourages new people to experience all that nature has to offer.”
On Saturday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m., the designation ceremony will take place at the American Legion Park in Pinedale, WY. During the ceremony, the Town of Pinedale will celebrate their Continental Divide Trail Gateway Community designation and welcome travelers in the midst of hiking over 3,000 miles along the Continental Divide, those who enjoy shorter sections of the CDT, as well as local citizens who use the iconic Trail. An event celebrating and with formal presentations of the official Gateway Community Signs and Banners will be held in July, all are welcome to attend. The event will a feature live a performance by Laney Jones and the Spirits. Laney was recently recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine as a “New Artist You Need to Know.” Local singer/songwriter Jason Tyler Burton will perform an opening set of music. The celebration will span 3 days, from Friday, July 22-Sunday, July 24, and will feature educational and recreational events throughout the duration.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
CDTC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and management of CDT. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition mission is to create a community committed to constructing, promoting, and protecting, in perpetuity, the CDT, which stretches from Canada to Mexico, through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. For more information please visit www.continentaldividetrail.org.
About the Town of Pinedale, Wyoming
From a backpacker’s perspective, Pinedale sits at the very shoulders of greatness-surrounded by over 400,000 acres of wilderness that is unrivaled in the United States. Pinedale is nestled in the midst of a mountain range classified as one of the most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet. Within this mountain paradise lies over 140 miles of the Continental Divide Trail. Pinedale is a small mountain town with many big-city amenities, and a gracious population which welcomes visitors to this spectacular area.
About the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Congress as a National Scenic Trail established the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in 1978. When complete, the CDT will be the most significant trail system in the world. Stretching 3,100 miles along the backbone of America from Canada to Mexico, it accesses some of the most wild and scenic places left in the world while conserving the environment and promoting personal well being.
Contact: For more information or to schedule an interview, please call: Teresa Martinez, Continental Divide Trail Coalition Tel: 303.996.2759 here Email: tmartinez@continentaldividetrail.org Web: www.continentaldividetrail.org
Laura Hattan, Great Outdoor Shop Owner and Gateway Committee Chair
Telephone: 307-367-2440 Email: laura@greatoutdoorshop.com Website: greatoutdoorshop.com
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