Scotchman Peaks Wilderness honors 2019’s Old Goats

Every now and then, you need to spend a weekend with the people that mean the most to you.

For the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, those people are our volunteers. And what a weekend it was! It kicked off Friday night with the Scotchmans Summer Solstice Party, which honored the work volunteers have put in over the year. And it ended Sunday with the Western Montana Picnic, where supporters enjoyed a burger by Bull Lake.

At the Summer Solstice Party, two volunteers received special recognition for their work. Robin Chisholm was named Old Goat of the Year for the winter volunteer season, while Larry Siegrist took the award for his summer-season work.

“I grew up in the country in a rural area, and I’ve lived in the wilderness for a number of years,” Larry said. “I have an appreciation for the wilderness. It’s where I’m happiest.”

Larry distinguished himself as a trail work volunteer and a trail ambassador. It takes a lot of work to keep the Scotchman trails accessible for everyone to enjoy. Larry has shown remarkable commitment to the job. In fact, he filled in last minute on Sunday as trail ambassador when a vacancy in the schedule popped up. This is his third year as an FSPW volunteer.

Robin, meanwhile, developed an orienteering module for Winter Tracks. A program that gets students out into nature during the winter months, Winter Tracks deepens children’s connections to our wild backyard. Thanks to Robin, FSPW has a ready-made approach to a map-and-compass program. She has gone as far as Thompson Falls, Mont., to teach it. What’s more, she loans the program materials to the Friends and trains other volunteers when she can’t teach it herself.

Robin Chisholm instructs a student in the Winter Tracks program.

The weekend fun continued with the Western Montana Picnic. FSPW volunteers enjoyed a lakeside afternoon at the Bull Lake Rod and Gun Club over burgers and beer. With the Scotchmans visible in the distance, it’s a beautiful location for a day at the beach. And FSPW supporters have a chance to see a whole new side of it with an upcoming raffle. The winner will receive a stay at the Bull Lake Rod and Gun Club grounds. That includes access to the beach, horseshoe pits, camping grounds and views of Scotchman Peaks. Ticket sales end with the Kootenai Harvest Festival in September, so pick them up now!

All in all, the summer is looking bright for supporters of the wild Scotchmans. To keep an eye out for upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, visit www.scotchmanpeaks.org.

Share this Page
Categories: Blog
About The Author:

Cameron Rasmusson is a writer and journalist who grew up in Scotchmans territory. While he now calls Sandpoint home, he spent his formative years in the natural beauty of Libby, Montana. From elementary to high school, he enjoyed the outdoor experiences that mountain towns provide.

Read More Posts by »

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.