Disclaimer: This post deals with material that is by nature somewhat graphic. If you got your parent’s permission to skip the dissection lab part of high school biology, you should read no further.
A Guest Blog by Cate Huisman, Writer & Editor
While FSPW’s many volunteers continued to pursue the more glamorous aspects of wolverine research—namely hiking/skiing/snowshoeing [...]
Spanning the Idaho/Montana border, the Scotchmans are one of the last, and largest, wild areas in our region. We conduct education, outreach and stewardship activities to preserve the rugged, scenic and biologically diverse 88,000 acre Scotchman Peaks Roadless Area. We believe the Scotchman Peaks deserve congressional designation as Wilderness for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations.
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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 Glamorous Side of Volunteering -Beaver Prep
January 24, 2012 – 8:54 pm
Scotchman Peaks Trail #65
October 12, 2009 – 4:06 pm
A high wind event in early October has left many downed trees and large piles of debris across the Scotchman Peaks Trail #65. The size, location and instability of these obstacles pose a very difficult and potentially hazardous challenge to traverse and/or bushwhack around. While experienced hikers may accept the personal risk and succeed [...]
The Friends at the Business Fair
October 4, 2009 – 4:48 pm
Stop by our booth at the annual Business Fair on Thursday October 8th, from 3pm to 7pm, at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Register for exciting doorprizes!
Sponsored by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. Admission is free.
Support from Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce
September 30, 2009 – 1:19 pm
The Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the approval of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area. View the endorsement – (100kb JPG which will open in a new window)
Support for National Wilderness Month Grows
September 13, 2009 – 11:32 am
As you may know from last week’s announcement of President Barak Obama’s Proclamation commemorating of the 45th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act, September is National Wilderness Month.
Below are statements of support for the Proclamation from the Secretaries of Interior (Ken Salazar) and Agriculture (Tom Vilsack).
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness hopes you’ll join us [...]
Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Fall 2009 Plein Air Paintout
September 12, 2009 – 1:56 pm
The fun of combining twenty talented plein air artists with the beauty of the Scotchmans Wilderness is returning this year to Hope, Idaho, at Kally Thurman’s Outskirts Gallery, located in the Hope Market Cafe adjacent to the post office.
The artists will begin arriving on Friday September 18th, and will fan out to [...]
September is National Wilderness Month
September 6, 2009 – 10:35 am
On September 3rd, 2009 the President of the United States, Barak Obama, signed a proclamation declaring that September be designated National Wilderness Month.
What better way to celebrate than by becoming a Friend of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness? Help us continue our effort to protect the Scotchman Peaks area so it can remain accessible to all [...]
New Late Summer/Early Fall Hikes Added
August 30, 2009 – 10:41 am
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are pleased to announce our late summer/fall hike schedule is now complete, with additional outings for your hiking pleasure! For more details please see the Current Hikes Schedule, and contact the individual hike leader to sign up.
We recommend bright orange apparel for all fall hikes!
Extreme Plein Air Art 2009
August 1, 2009 – 11:36 am
In 1871 Thomas Moran entered the Yellowstone wilderness and opened the eyes of the American public to the grandeur of the Rocky Mountain West. In July 2009 two talented plein air artists, Aaron Johnson and Jared Shear armed with brushes and paint, entered the heart of the Scotchmans Wilderness for several days led by their trusty guide and writer, Sandy Compton.
This unique and fresh vision of our wilderness will be available to enjoy and purchase at the Timber Stand Gallery on Cedar St in downtown Sandpoint this Friday Aug 7th from 5-8PM. Please stop by and meet the artists, enjoy the spectacular paintings, and have a glass of wine. Proceeds from sales will benefit the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness’ preservation efforts.
New Montana Wilderness Legislation
July 2, 2009 – 7:52 am
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 information.
First of all, Scotchmans is not included in this bill, and in [...]
2009 Challenge Grant from Cinnabar Foundation
June 10, 2009 – 10:37 am
Once again we are thrilled to announce that the Cinnabar Foundation has awarded the Friends of Scotchman Peaks a $4000 “Challenge” grant – meaning that if we raise $4000 on our own, Cinnabar will match that amount. We need your help to meet this goal and obtain these needed funds.
You can read more [...]
The Scotchmans in Backpacker Magazine
June 2, 2009 – 9:54 am
If you haven’t already picked up your June issue of Backpacker Magazine, better do so quick before it leaves the newsstands! Turn to page 68 to read a terrific article they did on the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.
Lots of choices here for reading the article:
Online at Backpacker Magazine’s website:
http://www.backpacker.com/june_09_hike_it_save_it_scotchman_peaks_mtid/destinations/13167
OR:
Read the article as PDF (384kb)
Scanned from [...]
Adoption Announcement
June 1, 2009 – 1:16 pm
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are thrilled to announce that they have adopted a 2 mile section of Highway 200 just east of Clark Fork Idaho, at the foot of the Scotchmans. Highway signs with our organization’s name will be up soon and opportunities to help keep this scenic byway free of litter will [...]
2009 Annual State Of The Scotchmans
May 1, 2009 – 8:18 am
Join the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness at the new Ponderay Events Center (behind Sandpoint Furniture off the east entrance to the Bonner Mall complex) on Tuesday May 26th for our annual “State of the Scotchmans” celebration. Doors open at 5pm to meet and mingle with special guests Congressman Walt Minnick and Wilderness Historian Doug [...]
2009 Summer Photo Contest Announced
April 30, 2009 – 8:10 am
Have a little bit of Ansel Adams in you? Or do you just really like taking photographs? Do your family and friends look at your photos and say "wow!"…….
If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, or even if you answered "no", grab your camera and your favorite hiking companion and head out [...]
Calling All Bird Afficionados
April 6, 2009 – 4:22 pm
We’ve added a new page to our site – Birds Of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (you may have noticed the link on the menu)……print out the list using our printable PDF link on the page and bring it along on one of our Guided Hikes – see if you can check off a few!
Don’t forget to [...]
High Quality Maps Now Available
February 7, 2009 – 6:48 am
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. The map shows maintained trails and trail head access routes on one side, and information designed to inspire and assist in trip planning on the other side.
Pick up a [...]
2008 Annual Report Released
February 1, 2009 – 6:36 pm
It’s here! It’s finally here! And the best news is that you don’t have to line up and camp out all night like in years past to get your copy! You can download the Friends Of Scotchman Peaks Annual Report for 2008 – and it’s free! I’m so excited I have to go [...]
No News is…..No News
January 4, 2009 – 6:39 pm
The KIPZ (Kootenai Idaho Planning Zone) Forest process is awaiting further decision from the U.S. Forest Service. Additional updates will be posted as soon as decisions are made.
Upcoming Guided Hikes
Additional Pages
Extras & Goodies
Scotchmans on Film
Check out the trailers for two soon-to-be-released documentary films by Wildman Pictures about the Scotchman Peaks!
En Plein Air captures the experiences of artists during a 5 day trek through the mountains. Grass Routes tells the story of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks' efforts to achieve official wilderness designation for this scenic wild area. Don't miss them!
Our Fundraising Efforts
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Wilderness Organizations:
Our Thanks To:
- Mountain Meadows
- Merriweather Inn
- Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce
- Eichardts
- Outdoor Experience
- Pend d'Oreille Winery
- Common Knowledge Organic Cafe & Bookstore
- Keokee Publishing
- River Journal
- Only In Clark Fork
- The StoryTelling Company
- The Cinnabar Foundation
- St. Croix Printing
- Blue Creek Press
- Woodland RV Park
- Kally Thurman's Outskirts Galley
- Greasy Fingers Bikes n Repair
- Endow-Bio, Inc