| Barely 50 miles south of Billings lies a mountain range unlike any other in Montana. It is no exaggeration to apply the word "unique" to the Pryor Mountains whether one discusses geology, plant life or a multitude of other resources. They constitute a veritable scientific laboratory for a variety of disciplines. It is a landscape of rugged canyons cutting paths from the surrounding prairie up to the expansive sub-alpine high country. From these high forests and meadows visitors can see mountain ranges, vast stretches of prairie lands, the Big Horn Basin - breathtaking vistas of exceptional quality. The rain shadows of nearby mountain ranges produce some of the driest and most fragile lands and vegetation in Montana. The Pryor Mountains are perhaps the most ecologically diverse area of its size in Montana. They support a variety of wildlife, including more than 200 species of birds, bighorn sheep, black bear, mule deer, mountain lion and a variety of bats and small mammals. There is a rich diversity of plants, some of which grow nowhere else. The Pryor Mountains are extraordinarily rich in cultural sites of early native Americans. Discerning visitors will discover camp sites, rock art, tools and trails of those first humans to look out from these heights. Native Americans continue to use the area for spiritual retreats and vision quests. The Pryors are a valuable community resource. Because they attract such a diversity of users, they also represent an economic engine for the community. Business and civic leaders hoping to entice job-producing companies to this area can use the attractions of the Pryor Mountains as a life-style lure. Since nearly 90 per cent of Americans recreate on the public lands on foot or horseback, a growing army of quiet-trail visitors can contribute to survival of outdoor recreation businesses in the area. Properly managed -- as anticipated by the Coalition's "Vision" -- the flow of benefits can be self-sustaining to the profit of future generations. If not, sustainability will collapse and with it the radiant promise of a rich community asset. |