” . . . (wilderness) has been a place where lost souls go to rekindle their dying embers, where families can go to strengthen and re-forge bonds that may have loosened over troubled times, and where friends go to create life-long laughs and memories . . . ” Kaylie Cox, Thompson Falls 8th Grader.
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.
Monthly Archives: December 2009
New Year’s Resolutions
December 29th, 2009
We are making a list and checking it twice…..no, wait a minute, that was last week. This week, we’re making a list and we’re gonna stick to it! A New Year is fast approaching and we have set our sights on some goals and some resolutions to make those goals happen:
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks [...]
Scotchmans Essay Contest: Does Wilderness Have Value?
December 27th, 2009
The question “Does Wilderness Have Value?” was explored by students from four Sanders County schools, who submitted essays for a contest sponsored by the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. The contest is open to middle and high school students in Sanders County Montana.
We’d like to thank all of the students who particpated! The high quality [...]
New Venue for Plein Air Art
December 26th, 2009
Have you been enjoying the amazing Plein Air Art inspired by the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness area, but wanted to see some of it in the flesh (or, more accurately, canvas)?
You’re in luck! The Scotchman Wilderness Plein Air Art Show now has a new venue where you can come enjoy looking at a few [...]
Winter Hike Series Kickoff Event
December 26th, 2009
Don’t miss this fun opportunity to meet & mingle with the hike leaders and enjoy $5 pizzas and $5 martinis at the Ivano’s Wine Bar (at the corner of First and Pine in Sandpoint) on Wednesday, January 6, beginning at 5:30pm.
There will also be an opportunity to win tickets to the Banff Mountain Film [...]
Scotchman’s Essay Contest 2009
December 23rd, 2009
The question “Does Wilderness Have Value?” was explored by students from four Sanders County schools, who submitted essays for a contest sponsored by the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.
Project coordinator Ernie Scherzer had high praise for the essays, saying he could think of few examples of student writing that could equal some of the [...]
2010 Winter Hike Schedule is a brain freezer.
December 23rd, 2009
Want an ice-cream headache? Call Jim or Sandii Mellen.
The Mellens, that dynamic duo of outdoor enthusiasm, will lead four of our 11 winter hikes this year, a testament to their dedication to winter fun and our Scotchman Peaks efforts, as well as their individual fitness. Mr. and Mrs. Metabolism will take hikers into the quiet [...]
The Gift of Wilderness
December 20th, 2009
Looking for that perfect last minute gift? Give the gift of Wilderness! It’s gender neutral, one size fits all and you can shop online. And best of all the cost is entirely up to you! How you ask?
Give a “Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Gift Certificate” in any amount. Simply go our website, select the [...]
Star Peak
December 19th, 2009
This snowshoe is quite strenuous and we will probably need every bit of winter sunlight to gain the summit and return to our cars before dark. We will be sticking to the main summer trail for the first 2/3 of the hike, but will probably need to use our off trail route finding skills to [...]
Ross Creek Cedars #2
December 19th, 2009
We will accompany the hikers headed for Troy Mine Vent and Mount Vernon to the “lookout” and then follow the access road, 2 more miles into the Ross Creek Cedars. An overlook on the way provides stunning views. We will wander along a one mile loop amongst the cedars before returning. Beginner level skill, but [...]
Tory Mine Vent/Mount Vernon
December 19th, 2009
Get a first hand look at how an underground mine “could” affect OUR Wilderness. Experienced cross-country skiers only! Steep in places, skins are sometimes needed for going up. Starting out on the Ross Cr. Rd, 398, then on an old mining rd. We will ski up several switchbacks to a huge mine vent, and if [...]
Blue Creek by Moonlight
December 19th, 2009
This is an introduction to the southern boundaries of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. We will travel primarily on closed forest roads that climb steadily along the south face of Clayton Peak or on Fatman Mountain. Depending on the snow conditions, this will be either a moderate (condensed snowpack) or strenuous (heavy layer of new) hike. [...]
Morris Creek
December 19th, 2009
This trip can be negotiated using XC skis, snowshoes or a combination thereof. It starts with a three-mile trek up Lightning Creek Road to the Morris Creek trailhead. Some may want to ski this portion, then switch to snowshoes. There is no real “destination” associated with this trip – no peak or lake. The beauty [...]
Fatman Roundabout
December 19th, 2009
Skirt the southern edge of the proposed Wilderness under the Star Peak ridge on the snow-closed Fatman Road. Spur roads offer options including a out-and-back to the saddle between Fatman and Billiard Table for a breathtaking view of the East Fork of Blue Creek drainage and Sawtooth. Distance, 6 – 9 miles. Elevation gain, [...]
Scotchman Peak
December 19th, 2009
This trip is for adventurous people. Although the trail suffered numerous blow-downs in October, 2009, the trees have all been cut. There are a few places where the root masses made craters in the trails but it is passable. Since the road is usually snowed-in, the trip length will be extended by 2.5 miles [...]
East Fork Creek Redux
December 19th, 2009
This is an out and back trip, largely on snowmobile trails. We’ll drive as far as the road is plowed, then it’s likely a packed snowmobile trail to the East Fork Creek crossing, which now has a new bridge. Then we’ll ski up the north side of East Fork Creek one or two miles, depending [...]
East Fork Creek
December 19th, 2009
We’ll follow the perimeter of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, along the Lightning creek road. Repairs to the road since the floods of 2006 have been complete, but the many changes due to the floods are still evident and will be observed. Tall Cedars, some toppled, and tossed boulders line the streams. Depending on how [...]
Congratulations Jerry Brown!
December 18th, 2009
We would like to congratulate Jerry Brown on a well deserved retirement after 36 years of service as a wildlife biologist for the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks!
Based in Libby Montana, Jerry has worked in Northwestern Montana for virtually his entire career. No one knows the Cabinet and West Cabinet Mountains better than [...]
Hearing for Senator Tester’s Bill
December 16th, 2009
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests will hold a hearing on the “Forest Jobs and Recreation Act” (S.1470) sponsored by Senator Jon Tester on Thursday Dec 17th at 2:30pm (Eastern time). This bill, which focuses on Montana, would designate hundreds of thousands of acres as wilderness, promote the economic [...]
Wilderness Wednesday Dec 16
December 16th, 2009
It’s Wilderness Wednesday and we are going to have some fun this week with trivia! We have five questions to test your Scotchmans IQ – let’s see how well you know the Scotchman Peaks:
1) How many acres of the Idaho Panhandle have been designated as Wilderness?
2) Which Two Chamber of Commerce’s have endorsed Wilderness Designation [...]
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New Montana Wilderness Legislation
By now most everyone has heard about the legislation recently introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana), which includes almost 700,000 acres of wilderness. This message to the Friends of Scotchman Peaks will attempt to answer some common questions and provide links to more …
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