Orijin Media
Backcountry skiing has steadily become more popular in the last decade and the pandemic has heightened the popularity even more. An increase in recreationists though means wildlife are likely to experience more disturbances. In some wildlife populations, like the Grand Teton bighorn sheep herd, that has contributed to shrinking numbers and habitat size.
The herd is now less than 100 individuals.
"What's so especially important about the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Tetons is that the wildness found here is not just rugged terrain, it's also rugged mountain athletes, the wild animals that get to live in these areas, and have persisted despite all of these odds against them," said film producer Josh Metten.