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CONCERN AND ACTION OVER ECO-GRIEF
Hilary Hutcheson is a legend in the Montana outdoor community. She is a fly-fishing guide, filmmaker (Drop: Water Connects us All), and much more. Perhaps most meaningfully, she is a climate activist and an active board member of Protect our Winters, The American Fly Fishing Trade Association and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. She is the outfitter of record at Montana's largest and longest-running river outfit, Glacier Raft Company/Glacier Anglers. Due to the importance of guide wellness, the company offers free counseling sessions to all employees. The company also works closely with the Redside Foundation, which offers additional free mental health care and substance use disorder care. Counselors say one of the main challenges facing guides is eco-grief. With warming waters, dramatic weather events, wildfires, habitat degradation, and job instability due to natural disasters, guides face increased workplace stress. Guides say it's taxing to have a front-row seat to these environmental challenges while keeping guests safe, comfortable, and happy.
Hilary Hutcheson is a legend in the Montana outdoor community. She is a fly-fishing guide, filmmaker (Drop: Water Connects us All), and much more. Perhaps most meaningfully, she is a climate activist and an active board member of Protect our Winters, The American Fly Fishing Trade Association and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. She is the outfitter of record at Montana's largest and longest-running river outfit, Glacier Raft Company/Glacier Anglers. Due to the importance of guide wellness, the company offers free counseling sessions to all employees. The company also works closely with the Redside Foundation, which offers additional free mental health care and substance use disorder care. Counselors say one of the main challenges facing guides is eco-grief. With warming waters, dramatic weather events, wildfires, habitat degradation, and job instability due to natural disasters, guides face increased workplace stress. Guides say it's taxing to have a front-row seat to these environmental challenges while keeping guests safe, comfortable, and happy.