Taking a walk around Ross Creek Cedars can be more than just a relaxing experience. The tranquility of the woods shows us that in its most pristine state; nature is in perfect balance. Living in a world where massive oil spills and global warming are real threats, observing tranquil areas such as Ross Creek Cedars [...]
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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Best essay from Thompson Falls — Shawn Sacchi
June 14th, 2011
My sympathy goes out to those that have not had the opportunity to experience the wilderness in its true form. The serene beauty of a placid lake disturbed only by the splash of a trout striking the surface of the water. Two young bucks test their dominance by locking horns and having a playful display [...]
Susan Williams’ essay was best from Sandpoint High
June 14th, 2011
Civilization has always attempted to restrict, confine, and control people’s behavior. Civilization tries to mold people so they appear the same as others. From an early age, every child feels forced to change themselves to blend in. There is a constant buzz of noise coming from the media, peers, teachers and parents, telling you who [...]
The call of the wilderness — Tyrell Wilkinson of Noxon
June 14th, 2011
There are many lessons to be learned from the wilderness in today’s society, a place to get away or a recreational area use for so many activities that wouldn’t be possible with out reserved land for wild life and plants to grow. Survival of the fittest and surviving on your own with out the luxuries [...]
Torin Ozbun — best essay from Lake Pend Oreille High School
June 14th, 2011
Back before the modem civilization that we now consider to be a part of our lives, people identical to us in almost every way lived in the wilds, jungles, and forests. We may not consider that a very appealing life in the modem age. But these people thrived, loved, and lived life to the fullest [...]
Libby High School essay winner — David Brooks
June 14th, 2011
“What does wilderness have to teach the ‘civilized’ world?”
The wilderness has many things to teach the ‘civilized’ world. Take a look at how diverse and complicated, yet fairly organized a forest is. A forest is an ecosystem in which every plant and every animal has a role in its society to help the others live. [...]
Clark Fork High – Jessica Cope’s essay was judged best of 2011
June 14th, 2011
Imagine. You’re hurrying down the street in the concrete jungle of New York City. People are rushing by you on both sides. Cars are honking and the loud rumble from engines seems to be piercing your mind. You can’t hear, you can’t get to your meeting on time because there is a traffic jam, and [...]
Three (very different) hikes.
June 8th, 2011
As the new intern for FSPW, I am often asked the question: “Have you been to Montana or Idaho before?” The answer is simply no. Which means that when people ask me specifics about the Scotchman Peaks area I often get a blank look on my face as I try to process just where and [...]
Scotchmans Volunteers of the Year
June 6th, 2011
Every spring we honor some of our outstanding volunteers at our annual “State of the Scotchmans” and subsequent summer events. Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization. We depend on them to lead hikes, put on events, meet and greet folks at information tables and contribute in many other ways.
Among the ways we recognize the [...]
2,393 miles (give or take a few)
June 1st, 2011
I was attempting to study for my second to last final of my senior year in the library at SUNY-ESF (State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry). I say attempting because I was waiting for a phone call from an organization called the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. They had [...]
Rare Forest Carnivore Study Report
May 18th, 2011
Last week, Michael Lucid and Lacy Robinson, from Idaho Fish and Game gave a presentation on the results of this winter’s Rare Forest Carnivore Study. This week, we have a copy of their report to share with you.
Evidence of Lynx was found in the Purcell Mountain location. Wolverine images were found in the Selkirks and [...]
FSPW volunteers help out at STOKR event in Lincoln County
May 18th, 2011
FSPW volunteers were on hand May 14 to help with the 17th annual STOKR (Scenic Tour of Kootenai River), a biking fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity in Libby, Montana. Approximately 426 bicycle riders from Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Canada made the Yaak Loop starting in Libby and riding along the Kootenai [...]
Rare Forest Carnivore Study Results
May 10th, 2011
The Results are in!
If you are a fan of wild critters, especially wolverines and other rare forest carnivores, you may have been following the work we did this last winter. Idaho Fish and Game researchers Lacy Robinson and Michael Lucid went looking for rare carnivores in the Selkirk Mountains and the Scotchman Peaks area [...]
“Queen of the Sun” reminds us to take better care of the planet.
May 6th, 2011
Last evening, I saw Queen of the Sun, a movie about honey bees and their incredible connectivity with humans as providers of pollination for over half the food we eat. In the midst of it, I remembered my grandpa and his bees, working together at the southern edge of the Scotchmans to make honey for [...]
Doug Scott Looks Back at Earth Day 1970
April 19th, 2011
Doug’s talk, “Earth Day and the Emerging Environmental Movement In The 1970s – A Founder Looks Back,”, will be held on Earth Day, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Sandpoint Events Center and on April 23 at the April Native Plant Society presentation, at 10:00 a.m. at the Sandpoint Community Hall.
Many [...]
Plein air artists grace new FSPW note cards.
April 13th, 2011
Dozens of pieces of original art featuring the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are created annually during two plein air events sponsored by Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. The Scotchman Peaks Paintout, cosponsored by the Outskirts Gallery in Hope, Idaho, takes place in September. The Extreme Plein Air is a backcountry expedition in the tradition of [...]
Wild Times on the Continental Divide
April 6th, 2011
Wild Times on the Continental Divide
By Phil Hough
In July of 2008 Deb and I set out to hike the Continental Divide Trail. Over the following three summers we would walk it’s entire length, over 3,000 miles! Along the divide we walked through over two dozen designated or proposed Wilderness areas, representing a wild diversity of [...]
Mr Scotchman Was Seen
April 5th, 2011
Mr Scotchman seems to have become a travellin’ goat, at times he’s been seen roaming far from home. He always comes back, but he has bees seen in some mighty unusual places!
Maybe you’ve seen him somewhere odd or interesting. Maybe you’ve even helped him get there. It might be Boise, Boston or Kalamazoo (OK, someone [...]
Jeff Copeland – The Real Deal
April 3rd, 2011
During his visit to the our area, author Doug Chadwick described Jeff Copeland as “the Real Deal”. This was Chadwick’s way of saying that when it comes to understanding gulo gulo there is one person who really stands out, who comes as close to understanding these reclusive members of the mustelids better than any one [...]
Become an Idaho Master Naturalist
March 31st, 2011
Do you enjoy nature and are you interested in learning more? Do you enjoy outdoor recreation, bird watching, identifying plants and animals, understanding the geology of our area and supporting conservation? Do you enjoy volunteering your time? If so, this program is for you. Master Naturalists can help us to learn more about, appreciate, protect [...]
Upcoming Guided Hikes
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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!
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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