Roughly 60 miles south of Canada, the 88,000 acre Scotchman Peaks roadless area spans the Idaho-Montana border. Since the 1970s, when the U.S. Forest Service carried out extensive evaluations of lands suitable for wilderness, this rugged, scenic and biologically diverse portion of the Cabinet Mountains has been managed for its wilderness potential. The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness believe now is the time to preserve the Scotchmans, one of the last, and largest, wild areas in our region.
The latest edition of our newsletter, PEAK EXPERIENCE, is now available! To view it click on the title above or go to the "Newsroom" for our current and past issues.
High Quality Maps Now Available!
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, with support from the Idaho Conservation League, has produced a high quality hiking map for the Scotchman Peaks area.
This full-color, shaded relief, topographic map shows maintained trails and trailhead access routes on one side. The other side of the map has information designed to inspire as well as assist in trip planning.
You can pick up your FREE copy at many locations throughout our communities, including those retail businesses who sell our t-shirts and other merchandise, forest service ranger district offices, chamber of congresses, or at an upcoming Friends of Scotchman Peaks event. Please see our Store Page for a list of local retailers where you can find our Maps and other merchandise.
High Resolution downloadable copies of the Map only are also available on our Maps Page.
FSPW 3rd Annual Summer Kick-Off
Come joing the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness at one or both of two great summer events - the Montana Picnic Celebration (June 22nd at the Bull River Campground - beer, burgers, and soda will be provided, please bring a side dish to share), featuring special guest and Wilderness Historian Doug Scott, and the Annual "State of The Scotchmans" presentation (June 26th at the Pend Oreille Winery in Sandpoint). Both promise to be fun, interesting, and informative.
For more information please see the Flyers - you have a choice of which to open/download:
Read the Full Color MS Word Document (if you have MS Office installed - 543kb .DOC file)
Read the Text Only PDF document (if you don't have MS Office and have dialup internet - 96kb PDF file)
Read the Full Color PDF document (if you don't have MS Office and have high-speed internet - 4MB PDF file)
Climate Change Speaker Series
If you're concerned about our environment and climate change, you won't want to miss these upcoming opportunities to listen to the experts speak, presented by the Climate Change Action Network (ClimateCAN).
View the Climate Change Speaker Series Flyer (PDF - 724kb file - will open in a new browser window)
The Friends Announce a Summer Photo Contest
Grab your camera and your favorite hiking companion and head out for the Scotchman Peaks this summer and you could win some cool swag! .......Read all about the Photo Contest here........
Inland Northwest Home and Lifestyle Magazine - April 2008
The April edition of the "Inland Northwest Home and Lifestyle" magazine, a 'Journal of Business' plublication based in Spokane, WA, did a nice two-page feature on the Scotchmans. Unfortunately they do not post content online, so we've provided scans of the article for your viewing pleasure. Please note that these scans will open in a new browser window, and are fairly large so that you can read the text.
View Page 1 (JPG file, 304kb)
View Page 2 (JPG file, 248kb)
View Both on One Page (PNG file, 368kb)
Second Annual Goat Mountain Hop sets record!
Led by Jim Mellen, a record 14 hikers summited Goat Mountain on March 22, 2008 during the second annual "Goat Mountain Hop". The Hop is a very challenging, but highly rewarding hike, and if you look at the photo printed in the Bonner County Daily Bee you'll noitce it seems like everyone did indeed have a good time. If you're counting, I believe the missing person is the photographer (I don't think they counted the dog)....
Friends of Scotchman Peaks - 2007 Annual Report
Yep, it's that time of year again! If you like numbers and pretty charts, you can view the full PDF here. It's a fascinating read - you won't want to miss it. Yes, really! (Note: 244kb PDF file - will open in a new browser window or download based on your browser's settings).
Bonner County Daily Bee - Progress 2008
On Sunday March 30th the Bonner County Daily Bee published their "Progress 2008" - a supplement to the Sunday paper. If you missed it, use these links to read the article and enjoy the photo gallery.
Article - Page 1 (PDF - 134kb)
Article - Page 2 (PDF - 128kb)
Libby, MT Rod & Gun Club Endorses Wilderness
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks are pleased and proud to announce that members of the Libby (MT) Rod & Gun Club have voted to endorse the Wilderness designation for the Scotchman Peaks roadless area. We appreciate their support!
Read the letter from Don Clark, President of the Libby Rod & Gun Club
(note: this is a scanned JPG - 76kb - that will open in a new window)
Gonzaga Students Reflect on the Scotchmans
After a recent visit to the Scotchman Peaks, students from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA wrote down their thoughts on this magnificent roadless area............read what two students have to say (stay tuned! More will get posted soon!)......
Read DeeDee Dooley's reflections
Read Nick Whitaker's reflections
Sanders County Ledger Article - November, 2007
US Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana) recently addressed the Sanders County Democrats at their annual dinner in Thompson Falls. Doug Ferrell (Executive Committee Member, Friends Of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness) had the opportunity to speak with Senator Tester regarding the possible official Wilderness designation for the Scotchman Peaks roadless Area. If you'd like to read a scanned JPG of the Sanders County Ledger Article, click here.
Take a "Peak" at the 2008 Winter Hiking Series!
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is excited to announce our Winter 2008 Hiking Series! Winter is a time of silence and solitude; a time to experience the profound nature of wilderness. So strap on your snowshoes or slip into your cross-country skis and join us for one of our organized winter walks.
River Journal Article - June 27, 2007
Kate Wilson penned a nice article on the Scotchmans for the recent edition of the River Journal.....thanks Kate!..........You can pick up the recent issue or read a scanned PDF version here (note this article spans two PDF files):
River Journal Article - Part 1 (436kb)
River Journal Article - Part 2 (260kb)
North Idaho Wilderness Advocate Awarded
Wilderness advocate Phil Hough, of Sagle, Idaho, was awarded the Idaho Conservation League’s highest award for environmental activism on May 19, 2007 during the organization’s Wild Idaho Conference in Stanley, Idaho. Hough received the Keith and Pat Axline Award for Environmental Activism for his work on the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.........Read the full press release here.
Noteworthy News
The Montana Wilderness Association features an article written by FSPW Chair Phil Hough in their Winter 2007 issue.......Read The Issue Here...(please note: this link will open in a new browser window, but it is a fairly large .pdf file - 2.9MB which can take just over 6 minutes at a 56kb modem connection speed - if you are on a dial-up connection, try this compressed version - 1.8MB - instead - the pictures are not as crisp but it should take only about 3 minutes to open).
Sweatshirts AND T-shirts Are Now Available!
Our sweatshirts and t-shirts are available at the following locations:
- Outdoor Experience in Sandpoint, ID
- Cafe Bodega in Sandpoint, ID
- Eichardt's in Sandpoint, ID
- The Hope Market Cafe in Hope, ID
- Scotchman Coffee House in Clark Fork, ID
- Far North Outfitters in Bonners Ferry, ID
- REI in Spokane, WA
- Huckleberry Thicket in Trout Creek, MT
- Mountain Meadows in Libby, MT
Be sure to visit our Store Page to see all of the items available for purchase, and also check out our Online Store where you'll find additional t-shirts, sweatshirts, and a lot of other fun items with our logo, our mascot, and other unique FSPW designs.