Mountain Studies Institute

Directions Website Contact the organization

Mountain Studies Institute SCIENCE PEOPLE CAN USE!

Thank you to everyone who voted in Fat "Fluffy" Pika week. Over 2800 total votes were cast to crown Pickle our winner. W...
10/13/2026

Thank you to everyone who voted in Fat "Fluffy" Pika week. Over 2800 total votes were cast to crown Pickle our winner. We are so grateful to everyone who was able to donate, those funds will be used to continue the PikaNet program in 2027. And a special thank you to star PikaNet Volunteer Dan Brown who generously allowed us to use his photos. We couldn't have done it wihout you Dan! If you liked the photos check him out on instagram .dan

MSI is at the cutting edge of snow science and forest management, pun intended. 103 snow stakes, 28 wildlife cameras, 9 ...
10/09/2026

MSI is at the cutting edge of snow science and forest management, pun intended. 103 snow stakes, 28 wildlife cameras, 9 soil pits, 29 soil moisture sensors, 1 meteorological station, and 5 dataloggers later, two new snowtography sites were established in Boggy Draw as part of the Snow Smart Forestry project last month.

Snow Smart Forestry brings together a broad collaboration of partners across the region to collect data across forest structures including daily snow depth, bi-monthly snow-water equivalent, soil moisture, fuel moisture, and micro-dendrometry. These two new sites are part of a multi-year research effort to develop and monitor the impact of hydrologically informed wildfire treatments on variables like snow retention and soil moisture.

This project presents a process we are calling Snow Smart Forestry and represents one of the first modern interdisciplinary forestry approaches in the Western United States. Snow Smart Forestry is implemented in partnership with the Southwest Watershed Research Center (USDA), Dolores Watersheds Collaborative (DWC), US Forest Service Dolores Ranger District, University of Arizona, Dolores Watershed Conservancy District, Colorado State Forest Service, Mancos Conservation District, and High Desert Conservation District.

The project is made possible through funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Plan (COSWAP), the Colorado Gates Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Pickle is the official winner of the first annual MSI Fat Pika Week. Congratulations to Pickle for being the fattest and...
10/08/2026

Pickle is the official winner of the first annual MSI Fat Pika Week. Congratulations to Pickle for being the fattest and fluffiest Pika in the San Juans! Gaze upon his rotundness. His roundness beckons us into the mountains! Well done Pickle, and we wish you the best of luck this winter.

Thank you to everyone who voted in this years Fat Pika Week. It’s been a ton of fun sharing fantastic photos of our high apline neighbors with the community, and thank you to volunteer Dan Brown for the incredible photos, we couldn’t have done it without you.

We hope Fat Pika Week has inspired you to learn more about our delicate alpine ecosystems and their fuzzy inhabitants. If you are interested in volunteering for PikaNet, visit www.mountainstudies.org/pika to learn about upcoming trainings and ways to get involved. Keep an eye our next spring for PikaNet volunteer opportunities, or reach out to learn how you can help.

While Pickle may have won, the true winners are all of the Pika across Southwest Colorado. Your support and community awareness helps us monitor for Pika, thus ensuring we can keep our high alpine ecosystems healthy and resilient.

Finally, donations are still open if you’d like to help support MSI’s Citizen Science research. Visit the link in our bio to donate, or you can use the fundraiser found on our socials. Either way, we thank you immensely for the support.

We're nearing the tail end of Fat Pika Week. Thank you to all of you who voted. We've recieved immense support for the p...
10/07/2026

We're nearing the tail end of Fat Pika Week. Thank you to all of you who voted. We've recieved immense support for the project, and it warms our hearts to see all of the interest in our PikaNet program from newcomers and previous volunteers.

Only the Final Two Pika stand: Pickle vs Rawlings! These two fluffy boys are itching to be crowned the fattest Pika of the San Juans, but there can only be one winner. Vote using the LINK IN OUR BIO or by visiting: https://www.mountainstudies.org/events/fat-pika-week.

While you are there, consider making a donation to support our high-alpine research and conservation work. Your contributions help keep these incredible creatures and their mountain habitats thriving. Every vote and donation makes a huge difference! We'll be announcing the winner here shortly!

Know a tree you think is really amazing?Nominate it for the inaugural La Plata County Tree of the Year!Why a tree contes...
10/05/2026

Know a tree you think is really amazing?

Nominate it for the inaugural La Plata County Tree of the Year!

Why a tree contest?
- To notice and celebrate our arbor neighbors!

Nomination is open to La Plata County residents. Your tree must also reside in La Plata, on public land or be visible from a public right of way. The Winning tree will be determined by YOU, the voters!
Winner gets a Sensation Maple courtesy of Momentum Tree Experts. They’ll peven lant the tree for you!

Nomination: October 1 thru Oct 15
Voting: October 19 thru October 25

Winner announced: Oct 29 at 9:15am on 92.9 The Point Contest hosted by the La Plata Tree Study Group.

Rules and details can be found at www.lpctreestudygroup.org

The votes are in! We're down to the SEMIFINALS! Thank you to the 600+ of you that voted for your favorite Fat Pika! We'v...
10/04/2026

The votes are in! We're down to the SEMIFINALS! Thank you to the 600+ of you that voted for your favorite Fat Pika! We've narrowed it down to the FINAL FOUR!

Visit www.mountainstudies.org/events/fat-pika-week to vote⭐️

Only a few days left to choose the winner. Finalists will be announced later this week🎉

Thank you to all who've donated. Your support has been immense and helps us continue to provide accessible and educations citizen science programs like PikaNet. There is still time to give to PikaNet if you haven't already.

Visit the link in our bio or visit: https://secure.everyaction.com/Up-KCezfKUCzpuK5HUyqCg2 to help us fund future PikaNet trainings. Pika are essential indicators of climate change. Help MSI protect these fuzzy foragers for years to come!🏔️

Think you know the Pika? Here are 4 facts that might teach you something new about our adroable alpine neighbors:1) They...
10/02/2026

Think you know the Pika? Here are 4 facts that might teach you something new about our adroable alpine neighbors:

1) They are lagomorphs, not rodents: Despite looking like cute little mice or hamsters, pikas are actually closely related to rabbits and hares.

2) They don't hibernate: Unlike many cold-climate alpine mammals, pikas remain active all winter underneath the snow cover, relying on stored energy and food caches to survive.

3) They use plants as natural preservatives: Pikas deliberately gather plants high in toxic chemicals called tannins early in the season. The tannins act as a natural preservative to keep the food fresh for months, breaking down over time so the plants become safe to eat by late winter.

4) They have two litters a year: Female pikas typically give birth to two litters of about two to six babies (called kits, or PIKLETS!) per breeding season. One in late spring and one in early summer, but the timing can change depending on elevation.

While your here, consider making a donation to support our high-alpine research and conservation work. Your support helps keep these amazing creatures and their fragile mountain homes thriving. Every vote and donation makes a huge impact! Visit the link in our bio or https://secure.everyaction.com/Up-KCezfKUCzpuK5HUyqCg2 to donate directly for Fat Pika Week!

Get ready for Day 4 of Fat Pika Week!Meet Today's Competitors:Rawlings: The perfectly baseball sized Pika. Rawlings is a...
10/02/2026

Get ready for Day 4 of Fat Pika Week!

Meet Today's Competitors:

Rawlings: The perfectly baseball sized Pika. Rawlings is an athlete at heart. His roundness was achived thanks to his constant foraging this summer near Silderock Mountain.

Toof: Instantly recognizable and fiercely competitive, Toof spent the summer knawing on every plant in reach. He prefers cooler weather, as pika often do, and we're glad to get a glimpse of those tiny pika teeth.

Cast Your Vote & Support the Pikas! Which of these rock-dwelling legends deserves to advance to the next round? Head over here: https://secure.everyaction.com/Up-KCezfKUCzpuK5HUyqCg2 or visit www.mountainstudies.org/events/fat-pika-week to cast your vote for today's matchup!

While you are there, consider making a donation to support our high-alpine research and conservation work. Your support helps keep these amazing creatures and their fragile mountain homes thriving. Every vote and donation makes a huge impact! Visit https://secure.everyaction.com/Up-KCezfKUCzpuK5HUyqCg2 to donate directly for Fat Pika Week

For the Animas River in Durango (USGS gage) dating back to 1912 there have only been 6 other years where daily average d...
10/02/2026

For the Animas River in Durango (USGS gage) dating back to 1912 there have only been 6 other years where daily average discharge was greater in the fall than during spring runoff: 1925, 1970, 1972, 2002, 2006, and 2025...and now TWO YEARS IN A ROW...2026!

This year, it isn't that the river flows got all that high this fall, it is more of a reflection of the previous winter snow drought and subsequent meager spring runoff we had in the San Juan Mountains.

Since 2009, the Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) has spearheaded PikaNet, a community science initiative dedicated to mo...
10/01/2026

Since 2009, the Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) has spearheaded PikaNet, a community science initiative dedicated to monitoring local pika populations across the San Juan Mountains. Pikas are vital indicators of climate health, and tracking their movements helps us better understand how high-alpine ecosystems respond to reduced snowpack, drought, and rising temperatures. Through PikaNet, community volunteers venture into the high alpine to map colonies, gather critical research data, and observe changes in real time.

PikaNet requires significant resources. MSI coordinates and hosts training programs, analyzes and maintains volunteer data, works in partnership with the Colorado Pika Project, and leads educational programs on Pika research. In order for these valuable and accessible citizen science programs to continue, we need your help. PikaNet directly relies on community support. A gift today directly funds volunteer training, field gear, and data analysis to ensure the long-term survival of our alpine wildlife.

You can donate to support PikaNet research here: https://secure.everyaction.com/Up-KCezfKUCzpuK5HUyqCg2

Thank you for being an essential part of our mountain community and for helping us protect our adorable, and round, Pika communities.

Address

1315 Snowden Street
Silverton, CO
81433

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mountain Studies Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Mountain Studies Institute:

Shortcuts

Share

Category