Last StoryTelling Company of the year is April 25
April 13th, 2010
The StoryTelling Company, sponsored by Friend of the Scotchman Peaks, will end its 2009/10 winter tale-telling season on Sunday, April 25, with a dinner show at Ivano’s Ristorante Italiano at First and Pine in Sandpoint. The StoryTelling Company features “true and not-so-true tales of the West,” local musicians, The Mystery StoryTeller and stories from Shoreline, Idaho, the mythical “small town on a big river somewhere in central Idaho.”
This is a relaxing evening of family entertainment set to a calmer pace than the rest of the world seems to want us to move at. For reservations, call Ivano’s at 208-263-0211. Dinner starts at 6:00. The show begins at 7:00.
2009 Annual Report now online
March 30th, 2010
Our 2009 Annual report is finished and available for your reading pleasure. We’re very proud of all of our accomplishments from the past year, and our annual report is already drawing rave reviews! Download the PDF here: http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/annual-reports/
Visit us at the April 11 Telluride Mountain Film Festival at the Panida
March 26th, 2010
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will have a table at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint for the Telluride Film Festival, sponsored by the Selway-Bitterroot Foundation. The Festival will be presented on Sunday, April 11. Doors open at 6 pm and the films start at 7. Come early, grab a beer and stop by our table to catch up on our efforts to get Wilderness designation for the Scotchman Peaks.
FSPW brings adventurers Erin and Hig to Sandpoint April 7
March 26th, 2010
In June 2007, Alaskan author Erin McKittrick and her husband Bretwood “Hig” Higman embarked on a 4,000-mile, human-powered, year-long expedition from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands. The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness invite you to join this brave couple on Wednesday, April 7, at 6 pm at the Sandpoint Community Hall for stories and readings from Erin’s new book, A Long Trek Home; 4000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski.
This is part of the continuing Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Adventure Series.
Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society hosts FSPW Adventure Series Presentation
March 26th, 2010
The Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society invite you to enjoy a Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Adventure Series presentations. Join FSPW exec Phil Hough and Deb Hunsicker, intrepid through-hikers for a special presentation: “Journey Along the Continental Divide” on Monday April 5th at 6:00pm in the Sandpoint Community Hall, open to the public, free of charge. Phil and Deb will share stories, images and observations from the south end of the Continental Divide Trail — Mexican Border to Colorado
FSPW presents to downtown Spokane Kiwanis Club
March 10th, 2010
At the invitation of their president, Matthew Ries, Executive Director Phil Hough presented the FSPW power point to the Kiwanis Club of Downtown Spokane on March 9.
Phil spoke to an appreciative audience of about 40, including Spokesman Review outdoor editor Rich Landers. 14 of those present signed up as Friends.
The club, which was formed in the early 1920s, meets at the Spokane Athletic Club.
Libby Film Fest great success
March 3rd, 2010
125 folks in a room designed to hold about 100 might seem crowded, but no one seemed to mind too much as a standing-room-only crowd at Libby’s Little Theatre enjoyed three films from International Wildlife Film Festival (www.wildlifefilms.org)
This free show, sponsored by FSPW, netted a number of new Friends, as well as a good dose of donations and t-shirt, hat and bandanna sales. Thanks to Charlie Clough, Lincoln County Coordinator, for his good work in this.
MWA Summer Hike deadline is near.
February 16th, 2010
If you plan to lead a summer hike into the Scotchmans, Idaho or Montana side, and you want the extra glory of being included in the venerated Montana Wilderness Association Summer Hike book, Friday the 19th is the deadline to get the information to Laura Parr at MWA.
These hikes can be of any length or level of physical exertion. There is no need to make it a travail (unless you really want to 
, so pick a favorite spot and show it to your Friends.
Hike leaders can download a hike leader form or fill out a form online at http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking/leading-hikes. If you choose to download the form, please fill it out and return to sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org and also send it to Laura. Laura’s e-mail is lparr@wildmontana.org
Deadline for being included in the May Peak Experience (Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness newsletter) is April 12.
Low snow doesn’t stop the winter hikes
February 8th, 2010
Freinds of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness 2010 Winter Hike Series continues to draw hiking enthusiasts in spite of the low snow pack. Volunteer hike leader Judy Hutchins took half-a-dozen folks on a 7.7-mile, low-altitude walk around Fatman Mountain at the south edge of the wilderness on Saturday, Feb. 6, and reported that a good time was had by all.
The lack of snowpack in the lower elevations has been a deterrent to snowshoes and skis, but folks headed for higher elevations have hauled their snowshoes and found some excellent ’shoeing up higher.
More to come! Look under the “Hikes” tab at the top of the page.
FSPW volunteer Carol Jenkins gets well-deserved award
February 4th, 2010
Carol Jenkins, our Idaho vice-chair and primary grant writer got some well-deserved attention from the Idaho Business Review. You can read all about it here: http://bit.ly/9JQPxD
Film fest in Libby; Walkin’ Jim in Thompson Falls, Trout Creek
February 2nd, 2010
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are hosting some midwinter entertainment in Libby and Thompson Falls in late February and early March. The International Wildlife Film Festival comes to the Little Theatre in Libby on Friday, February 26, for a free show featuring spectacular wildlife footage, including the movies Wolverine, Devil of the North?, A Mountain Goat’s Story, and Christmas in Yellowstone.
Then, on Friday, March 5, legendary hiker and conservationist Walkin’ Jim Stoltz will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. at Thompson Falls Elementary School. In addition, Stoltz will put on a concert for the students at TF Elementary earlier that day and appear at Trout Creek School on Thursday the 4th.
Three hikes for February
February 2nd, 2010
Three out of four weekends in February boast led hikes from FSPW. Two will be in the Blue Creek area at the south end of the wilderness; one on February 6 led by Judy Hutchins and another, “full moon,” trek on February 27 led by Sandy Compton. The third hike is into Morris Creek on February 20, led by Jim Mellen. Go to our hike page (http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking/current-hiking-schedule/) for more details and sign up contacts.
FSPW and MWA summer hike series planning deadlines closing in
February 1st, 2010
Montana Wilderness Association and Friends of Scotchman Peaks are looking for a few good hike leaders. The MWA deadline for summer hike submissions is February 19, to ensure inclusion in their extensive Summer Hike booklet. To be included in the summer hike schedule in the May/June Peak Experience, FSPW’s newsletter, the hike should be submitted to FSPW by April 12. For a copy of the hike submission form, email Laura Parr at lparr@wildmontana.org or Sandy Compton at sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org or fill out the online form at http://www.scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking/leading-hikes/
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 Festival, coming to the Panida in Sandpoint on January 28, 29 and 30 and to Coeur d’ Alene on the 31st.
The Future Looks Bright
December 15th, 2009
Our Support Continues: Heartfelt thanks to every one of us who sent a donation towards the matching grant! We reached the $4,000 goal and have received the match from the Cinnabar Foundation, giving us $8,000 to put to work on our campaign!
New-Land Foundation and Campaign for America’s Wilderness have also continued to support this work with continuing generous grant funding!
Scotchman Peaks Trail #65 Re-opened
December 10th, 2009
Yay! The Sandpoint Ranger District has indicated that the Scotchman Peaks trail #65 is now open for hiking/snowshoeing.
Photo Contest Winners Announced for 2009
November 22nd, 2009
After much deliberation the judges have chosen the winners of the 2009 Scotchman Peaks Photo Contest. All of the photos were phenomenal making the choice difficult, and we extend our sincere gratitude to all who entered.
Check out the winning photos here, and join us in congratulating all of the winners!
Plein Air Art Now Available For Sale
November 21st, 2009
Don’t miss your chance to own one of the magnificent works of art that resulted from our Plein Air Paint Out and Extreme Plein Air Paint Out events.
For limited time only these beautiful canvas are available for sale. Visit our Plein Air Art page to view the available art and more information on purchasing any of them.
Upcoming Holiday Sip & Shop
November 13th, 2009
On Monday November 30th, the Pend d’Oreille Winery, on Cedar Street in Sandpoint, will host a special holiday “Sip and Shop” event from 4pm to 7pm, to benefit our wilderness efforts. The winery will donate 10% of proceeds from all sales during this event (including wine by the glass!). So, come kick off the holiday shopping season in “wild” style – meet and mingle with other “Friends”, do some seasonal shopping and enjoy a glass of holiday cheer!
Scotchman Peaks Trail #65
October 12th, 2009
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 in getting past these obstacles, we do not recommend use of this trail in it’s current condition regardless of skill level or ability. We will be working with the forest service to identify solutions/projects to restore the trail to better conditions and let you know about any progress.
