Folks with MSU teamed up with Friends of Hyalite and the National Forest Service to find out more about who recreates in Hyalite Canyon and how.     
     
A year ago, the county partnered with the Forest Service to begin plowing the road to the popular winter destination to allow for greater access.
     
But it's not cheap.
     
That's why folks at MSU are gathering data to help the Forest Service make future decisions.
     
Folks with MSU say they look forward to analyzing the preliminary economic data.

"Not only understanding who's up there but where folks are coming from so, if there are folks who are coming from out of town, what else are they doing?  Where are they staying?  How much are they spending?  It helps us get at least an initial idea of the economic impact of winter use activities around Hyalite," says MSU Political Science Professor Eric Austin.
     
The study also includes traffic counters scattered throughout Hyalite Canyon.
     
The survey will last through March so folks with MSU will have a broader understanding of the various activities as the weather changes.
     
If you'd like to participate in the survey, click here.