1
“To protect the Scotchman Peaks
for future generations through
Wilderness designation, ongoing
stewardship and education.”
The Scotchmans are one of the last and
largest wild areas in our region. The
Friends believe the Scotchman Peaks
deserve congressional designation as
Wilderness for the benefit and enjoyment
of current and future generations.
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness,
Inc. (FSPW) is a non-profit organization.
The proceeds from all events and sales
benefit our wilderness preservation
efforts. Donations are tax deductible.
Editing, layout and design: Sandy Compton
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Working for
WILDERNESS
FRIENDS OF
SCOTCHMAN PEAKS
Since 2005
irteen on the 13th!
Forty “Rich” Years in the Great
Outdoors with Rich Landers was
illuminating and fun.
An enthusiastic crowd of more
than 250 showed up at the Panida
Theater on Saturday, January 13
th
,
for the 13
th
Anniversary of Friends
of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. The
celebration of thirteen years of “work-
ing for Wilderness” was headlined by
Rich Landers, who gave a humorous
and often poignant recounting of his
40 years with The Spokesman-Review
as outdoor reporter and editor.
Landers, who retired on December
1, gave a presentation entitled “40
‘Rich’ Years in the Great Outdoors” for
the first half of the evening, and then
came back after intermission for an
interview with Sandpoint Magazine
publisher Chris Bessler that included
many questions from the audience.
Landers’ passion for the out-of-doors
and all of the many things one can do
made for a very interesting evening.
“Rich has some great stories,”
FSPW program coordinator Sandy
Compton said, “and lots of them. I
think we only scratched the surface.
I hope he’ll put together a book.”
Among Landers’ subjects were
bear encounters of the close kind,
Continued, page 10 Anniversary,
Chris Bessler of
Sandpoint Magazine
got a chance to ask Rich Landers “the
hard questions” at the Panida on January 13.
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
February 1: Kootenai Valley Christian
School and Libby Alternative High stu-
dents will attend a Winter Tracks program
at Timberlane Campground; Sandpoint
High students will attend a Winter Tracks
program at Round Lake State Park.
February 2: Libby 5th Grade students
will attend a Winter Tracks program at
Timberlane Campground; Sandpoint High
students will attend will attend a Winter
Tracks program at Round Lake State Park.
February 3: Karen Robinson will teach
painting at her studio in Sandpoint; FSPW
staff and volunteers will host night skiing
at Flower Creek Cross Country Ski Park
near Libby.
February 9: Sagle Elementary students
will participate in a Winter Tracks event at
Round Lake State Park.
February 17: Brian Baxter will lead a win-
ter ecology class in Libby area. Meeting
time is 9 am at the Venture Inn. Sign up
online at scotchmanpeaks.org/events
February 22: 6 pm. Meet up at Mick-
Duff’s for beer and trivia. Drinking beer for
a good cause.
March 16: Clark Fork High School stu-
dents will participate in a Winter Tracks
class at “Judy’s Place” on the Montana/
Idaho border.
March 13: Pend d’Oreille Winery in Sand-
point will host a “Sip and Shop” event to
benet FSPW.
March 23: Clark Fork Junior High School
students will participate in a Winter Tracks
class at “Judy’s Place.”
March 24: Winter Birding with Brian Bax-
ter at the Heron Community Center
March 26: Presentation to classes at
Gonzaga
April 4: FSPW will “take over the taps” at
the Idaho Pour Authority, 5 to 8 pm.
April 5: Brews for Benets at the Cabinet
Mountains Brewery in Libby with Jim
Posewitz will benet the Friends.
April 6: Jim Posewitz will present his new
book and give a talk on wild subjects at
the Maki Theater in Libby;
ON THE HORIZON
April 20: Opening reception for Extreme
Art at Evans Brothers Coffee in Sand-
point, featuring Extreme Plein Air artists
Ed Robinson and Aaron Johnson, as well
as photographers Marjolein Groot Nib-
belink and Joe Foster.
April 28: Spring Birding with Brian Baxter,
beginning at Heron Community Center
May 2: Idaho Gives
May 31: State of the Scotchmans, featur-
ing mountain goat expert Gayle Joslyn, at
the Oden Grange Hall.
June 2: National Trails Day.
By Britta Mireley
When Friends of Scotchman Peaks
Wilderness decided to start an Artist-in-
Residence program, we weren’t exactly sure
what it would, or should, look like. But we knew
who we wanted to help us along that journey.
Enter Karen Robinson. Karen has been
passionate about art and nature as long as she
can remember. She’s also good at going with
the flow. And did we mention she’s an amaz-
ing artist? Perfect fit.
Karen has been creating art since she could
hold a crayon. She took all the art classes she
could growing up and even planned on going
into art when she went to college, but the love of
nature drew her to a degree in wildlife biology
instead. She never stopped creating art though.
“Getting to be the artist-in-residence puts
it all together,” Karen remarked about her
love for art and nature. Another way Karen
likes to combine art and nature is through plein air painting (or painting
outdoors). One of her favorites spots has a great view of Scotchman Peak
and some nice cushy moss to hang out on.
FSPW and Karen found a rhythm this fall offering Saturday morning
Continued, page 10
The FSPW board
of directors underwent
some changes during
their meeting on January
18th. The board reluc-
tantly accepted the res-
ignation of Jacob Styer,
who has been the FSPW
treasurer since 2006, but
expressed deep gratitude
for the job he has so faithfully done over the
years. Brad Williams, partner in Sandpoint
accounting firm Williams and Parsons, joined
the board and assumed the duties of treasurer.
Jen Stone-Kreiner, who was Sanders County
Outreach Coordinator until last fall, also joined
the board at the January
meeting.
“We are sad to see
Jacob leave the board,” said
FSPW exec Phil Hough,
“but it’s also very nice to
have some new folks join
us. Fresh blood always
provides new perspective.”
Brad Williams
Jen Stone-Kreiner
Karen Robinson seems
to hold Scotchman in the
crook of her arm in this
phot taken at the top of
the Mickinnick Trail
3
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
By Sandy Compton
Mindy Ferrell has been dragging
kids into the outdoors for their own
good for decades. In recognition of
that and many of the other things
she has done for the natural world,
the Montana Wilderness Associate
recently gave her a Brass Lantern
Award for “continued service pro-
moting public lands, wild spaces and
outdoor education.”
Mindy lives in Trout Creek with
her husband Doug (incidentally chair-
man of the FSPW Board), and has
been passionately involved in outdoor
education since before she graduated
from college. She has a bachelor’s from
William and Mary and a Masters in
Outdoor Education from Northern
Illinois University.
“I’ve always loved teaching,” she
said, “and the ou-of-doors, and I had
the great opportunity to combine both.”
Mindy taught at Noxon School for
23 years, in diverse classrooms from
kindergarten up, retiring in 2012, and
then returning as a volunteer. She also
taught adult education for eight years
and ran summer programs in the Bull
River valley at the East Fork Historic
Ranger Station.
“The Bull River Nature Center
Day Camp was sponsored by Cabinet
Resource Group and funded by the
Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenburg
Foundation,” she said. “We organized
week-long outdoor programs for stu-
dents for four years, which culminat-
ed in five-day, four-night Wilderness
experiences for the kids. We also had
three-day programs for 6
th
and 8
th
graders from Noxon.”
Mindy grew up Illinois and
Wisconsin. She and Doug married in
1980 and she moved to Montana “full
time” in 1982. They spent a decade
living “off the grid” with their sons
Jack and Peter, snowshoeing in and
out of their place on Swamp Creek in
the winter.
She is an avid hunter who put in
15 days in the field this year, as well as
Continued, page 10
Mindy shows o her Montana Wilder-
ness Association Brass Lantern Award
in the yard of Noxon School, where she
taught for 23 years.
By Sandy Compton
To call Joel Sather a trail geek is
an understatement. To see him clear
trail with a silky — or a chainsaw —
is to know that he’s more that a geek..
He is really, and by his own admis-
sion, a trail freak. Joel loves trails
— planning, building, maintaining,
repairing and clearing. And training
other trail — umm — freaks. Now,
he has the rare opportunity to partic-
ipate in a study of our national trails
system with an eye to the future.
Locally, a number of trails Joel stew-
ards are in the proposed Scotchman
Peaks Wilderness. He and the Friends
of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness trail
crew are great partners.
Joel suggested in 2010 that
FSPW staff and trail “bosses” from
Sandpoint, Cabinet and Three
Rivers ranger districts get together to
plan for the coming summer season.
At that December meeting, everyone
was surprised — and pleased — when
all the district rangers attended as well.
The rangers’ presence was
very significant, for the partner-
ship formed extended beyond that
between FSPW and the Forest
Service to a partnership between
the three districts as well in stew-
arding trails and other resources.
Since then FSPW has worked with
each district on weeds, outdoor
education and fire recovery moni-
toring, as well as trail maintenance
and construction. In 2017, FSPW
and the Forest Service held their
eighth such meeting.
Joel has embraced volunteer
partnerships as a way to future stew-
ardship of Forest Service resources.
He works with motorized recre-
ation clubs to keep their trails open,
administers outfitter permit on the
Cabinet District, and is constantly
working with schools and volunteer
Continued, page 9
“If you do this, the tree will do that.” Joel Sather
demonstrates felling to a group of FSPW volun-
teers and USFS sta at a saw training day.
4
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
If it were a Chinese photo con-
test, 2017 might be confused with
2015, which was the most recent
“Year of the Goat.” Of the 52 pictures
submitted in the latest iteration of
the FSPW Annual Photo Contest,
13 — 25 percent — featured goats.
Including the winner. And second
place. And third
There were also a few dogs,
a snowshoe hare, and not a few
humans, but the subject most in
evidence was the mountain goat.
The very cool thing about the
top three — most of them, in fact,
— is that they were all taken from
an approriate distance.
This year, we will have a sepa-
rate contest category: goats. There
will be a single special goat picture
prize. All other pictures will be
judged separately.
Remember, though, to keep
your distance when photographing
goats — or any wild animal. A min-
imum of 50 yards is recommended.
e winner! Bryn Ballenger’s photo was taken on
Scotchman Peak from an appropriate distance!
A good title might be “A goat’s view of Goat.”
Shayna Johnson’s image is rst runner-up. Hadley Goovin was second runner-
up. Grant Golden’s image was h place overall; Robert Henrich’s was tenth.
Some of our photographers worked extraord-
narily hard to get their images. Jim Mellen hiked
all day and traversed 9,000 vertical feet to get
his picture. Marjolein Groot Nibbelink and Shu-
wen Wang faced nasty conditions to get theirs.
Sandii Mellen’s patience and observational skills
paid o nicely.
Sandy Compton
e 2018 Photo
Contest is now open!
scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking/
annual- photo-contest
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness
Annie Gassmann became Lincoln
County Outreach Coordinator in
March and has become a force for
FSPW in north-
western Montana
and the larger
world. In addi-
tion to excelling
at her outreach
duties in Libby,
Troy and the sur-
rounding area,
she has taken on
the FSPW Insider.
Annie works cooperatively with
Montana Wilderness Association, the
Libby Chamber of Commerce and
local schools to further FSPW’s com-
munity involvement.
Our 2017 backcountry ranger/out-
reach intern was Sam Olson, a stu-
dent at the University
of Montana. Sam was
with us from late May
until August 22. His
good humor and inde-
pendent nature, as well
as his ability and will-
ingness, made him a big asset on trail
work and outreach tables alike.
Nancy Schmidt is 2017-18 Winter
Programs Coordinator. Nancy came
on board in November,
and will work until
Spring, keeping track
of and facilitating the
FSPW Winter Tracks
Program.
Assistant Program Coordinator
Britta Mireley is balancing being a new
mom with increased
responsibilities in the
grant-writing arena
and overall programs.
She spearheaded recent
successful fundraising
efforts and has become
a bit indispensable,
bringing order where chaos once existed.
Mary Franzel, Mountain Goat Ed
Coordinator, very successfully led the
program through its
second year in 2017.
Mary has possibly
hiked Scotchman
Peak more than any
other person.
One year ago, Friends of Scotchman
Peaks Wilderness campaign entered a
new phase. In the final weeks of 2016,
Idaho Senator James Risch introduced
the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness
Act (S.3531), which would designate
13,960 acres of Wilderness in Idaho.
Our focus evolved from trying to get a
wilderness bill introduced, to working
towards its passage.
During the summer of 2017, the
Senator’s staff hosted two local “Open
House” public meetings. Approximately
300 people attended each session, a very
large majority leaving comments. The
Senator’s staff said that the vast majority
of those comments were favorable, as
are the many letters, emails, and phone
calls that his offices receive. The diver-
sity of voices supporting the bill are as
important as the volume. We are grate-
ful for the 13 years of conversation and
community building which made pos-
sible this outpouring of public support!
Support from diverse stakeholders
brings about community consensus,
laying the foundation for good public
lands policy. Wilderness designation
for the Scotchman Peaks is endorsed
by many businesses, civic groups, con-
servation and wildlife groups, as well as
community organizations, recreational
groups and other stakeholders in public
lands management. New support came
from many corners including the Pend
Oreille Pedalers and the Panhandle
Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
Continued, page 8
In 2017, we streamlined our mis-
sion statement to read “To protect
the Scotchman Peaks for future
generations through Wilderness
designation, ongoing stewardship
and education.”
The simplified statement does
not change who we are, but more
succinctly says what we are about.
6
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
IPA Tap Takeover (1/4), 12th
Anniversary (1/27), Sip & Shop
at Pend d’Oreille Winery (2/23),
MickDuff ’s fundraiser (4/2),
Thompson Falls Beautification Days
(4/6-8), Cabinet Health Fair (4/8),
Libby Pint Night (4/20), Idaho Gives
(5/4), STOKR (5/13), State of the
Scotchmans (6/1), Pend Oreille Bay
Trail Fun Run (6/11), CHaFE 150
(6/17), Libby Logger Days (6/22-24),
Road to the Buffalo (6/24), 7B Sunday
(6/25), Troy Farmers Market (July-
August), Independence Day events
(Sandpoint, Clark Fork, Noxon, Troy),
Kootenai River Stampede rodeo (8/4-
5), Bonner County Fair (8/7-12),
Trout Creek Huckleberry Festival
(8/11-13), Kootenai Harvest Festival
(9/16), Winter Ridge Customer
Appreciation Day (9/17), Troy Apple
Festival (9/22), ALDHA West Fall
Hiker Fest (10/14), Fall for Sandpoint
with Larson’s (10/14), MickDuff ’s
Goat Hop Ale (10/26), George
Wuerthner presentation (11/15)
30 Events (counting Troy Farmers
Market as one event) 80 Unique
Volunteers, 450 Volunteer Hours,
Countless maps distributed and
questions answered
Winter Tracks
Thompson Falls Junior High, Libby
Elementary, Troy Junior High,
Kootenai Valley Christian School,
Noxon School, Forrest M. Bird
Charter School, Sagle Elementary,
Clark Fork Junior/Senior High, East
Farms STEAM School (Spokane)
9 Schools, 353 Students, 49 Unique
Volunteers, 438 Volunteer Hours
Outdoor Ed classes with Brian Baxter
Winter Birding (4/1), Tracking (4/8),
Spring Birding (5/20), Wetland
Wanderings (8/14)
Other Outdoor Ed
Libby Alternative HS films (3/14),
Outdoor Education Day at Noxon
(5/25-26), Thompson Falls 1
st
grad-
ers Ross Creek Cedars field trip
(5/25), Project ASCENT at Bull River
Campground (7/10-14), Trail Work
presentation at Clark Fork HS (9/8),
Leave No Trace at Green Mountain
Conservation District Water Festival
in Thompson Falls (10/3)
Wolverine stations put up near Lunch
Peak and East Fork Creek (1/12 &
1/15) (taken down spring/early sum-
mer), St. John’s Wort biological con-
trol training day (6/29), White Bark
Pine seed sowing (7/10-12, 9/27-28)
15 Unique Volunteers, 489
Volunteer Hours
Plein air painting class (7/7),
Watercolor classes (11/11 and 12/9)
Students taught - 14
Three sessions (5/6-7, 6/3-4, 10/21-22),
7 renewed, 16 new certificates.
29 Unique Volunteers, 37 Days with
Ambassadors Present on Trail #65,
388 Volunteer hours
Trail Leader College (6/2-4), 7 Trail
Projects, 10 Trail Work Days,
42 Unique Volunteers, 588
Volunteer Hours, 8-plus Miles
Constructed or Maintained
Regal Creek (1/7), Ross Creek (1/21),
East to West to East Fork Blue Creek
(1/28), Ross Creek Cedars (2/6), Goat
Mountain Hop (4/1), Scotchman
Peak (4/15), 70+ Star Peak Assault
(6/27), Sawtooth Mountain (7/17),
Moms and Kids at Ross Creek (7/18),
Community Kids Hike at Ross Creek
(7/19), Regal Creek Family Hike with
ICL (8/19), Extreme Plein Air v 9.0
(8/20-25), East Fork Peak (8/26)
These financial statements are based on our most recently
completed fiscal year, FY2017, which began Oct. 1, 2016 and ended Sept. 30, 2017.
Our accounting is managed on a cash basis. We report expenditures and receipts
as they are transacted.
In FY2017, FSPW received $244,724 in support from individual donors, mer-
chandise sales, fundraisers and foundation grants. The following foundations pro-
vided support: Brainerd Foundation, Cadeau Foundation, Campion Foundation,
Cinnabar Foundation, Confidence Foundation, High Stakes Foundation, Inland
Northwest Community Foundation/Equinox, Kendeda, Maki Foundation, New-
Land Foundation, Patagonia Foundation, PEW Charitable Trusts, Star Peak
Foundation, Wilburforce Foundation, Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative (Y2Y)
Our expenses totaled $248,620. We started the year with a cash balance of
$140,057 and ended the fiscal year with $135,865.
FY2017 Revenue $244,724
Grants $220,763 90%
Donors $20,522 8%
Events/Other $1,724 <1%
Merchandise $1,281 <1%
Interest $433 <1%
FY2017 Expenses $248,620
Programs $198,875 80%
Admin $26,455 10%
Marketing $10,467 4%
Newsletter $8,102 3%
Merchandise $4,720 2%
144 Unique Volunteers,
2,602 Volunteer Hours
Value of volunteer time - $62,818.64
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
A Winter
Tracks Win-
ter: FSPW
hosted 350-
plus students
from 9 differ-
ent schools
in Idaho, Montana and Washington between
December and March in the FSPW outdoor
education program.
January 11: 160
people attended an
informational meeting
at Clark Fork High
School led by Senator
Risch’s aid Sid Smith
and FSPW executive director Phil Hough.
January 12 & 15: FSPW volunteers set
wolverine stations near Lunch Peak and
East Fork Creek in the West Cabinets.
January 27: 80-plus Friends attended the
FSPW 12th Anniversary celebration at the
Little Panida in Sandpoint.
March 2: FSPW recieved
a special recognition award
from Idaho Chapter of the
Wildlife Society for FSPW’s
role in the Multi-Species
Baseline Initiative.
March 8: FSPW hosted
two showings of wildlife
lms at the Maki Theater in Libby.
March 15: Partners, volunteers, board mem-
bers and staff attended the FSPW Strategic
Planning Meeting.
April 1: Nine people attended birding class
with Brian Baxter
April 2: Winter Tracks volunteer appreciation
day celebrated at MickDuff’s Beer Hall with
release of the Red Cedar Red Ale.
April 5: Phil Hough gave a presentation to
the Four Counties Natural Resource Group.
April 6 – 8: Jen Kreiner and FSPW volun-
teers helped during Thompson
Falls Cleanup Days.
May 11: Phil Hough gave a
presentation to the Sandpoint
Chamber of Commerce.
May 13: FSPW volunteers, led
by Annie Gassmann, operated a
refreshment booth at Yaak Falls
for the annual STOKR bike ride.
May 21: Phil Hough shared the podium with
Risch staffer Darren Parker about Scotch-
man prospects at Wild Idaho.
May 26: Jen Kreiner and Intern Sam Olson
were at Outdoor Ed Day at Noxon School.
June 1: State of the Scotchmans featured
Rick Johnson from ICL
June 2-4: Trail crew leader training college
with Idaho Trails Association was attended
by FSPW staff and volunteers.
June 3-4: Carol Jenkins taught
Wilderness and Remote First Aid
June 6: An open house in Hope
hosted by Senator Risch’s staff
drew over 300 people.
June 10: First day of Goat Educa-
tion Ambassador program.
June 14: Jen Kreiner and Doug Ferrell par-
ticipated in a Kootenai Forest Stakeholders
presentation at Thompson Falls Chamber.
June 17: FSPW volunteers fed hungry bi-
cyclists at Clark Fork during the CHaFE 150
(FSPW was voted favorite rest stop!).
June 24: Jen Kreiner had an information
table in Noxon in conjuction with a Road
To The Buffalo event.
June 25: The Sanders County Picnic at
Bull River Campground; was attended
by Scotchmans “old
timers,” including CRG
cofounders Mike Comola
and Bill Martin.
June 29: Field training for St.
John’s wort biocontrol with
USFS.
July 10-13: Whitebark pine direct sowing
on Scotchman Peak with USFS. 2300 seeds
were planted over 30 acres.
July - August: Annie Gassmann tabled at
Troy Farmer’s Market every other Friday.
July 18: About 300 people attended an open
house hosted by Senator Risch’s staff and
USFS personnel in Clark Fork.
July 19: Annie Gassmann led
a Moms and Kids Hike on Ross
Creek Trail #142.
July 21-23: Volunteers and staff
participated in a trail work week-
end at Spar Lake on Three Rivers
Ranger District.
August 7-12: FSPW had a booth at
Bonner County Fair.
August 11-13: FSPW volunteers and staff
signed up new Friends at the Trout Creek
Huckleberry Festival.
August 25: Volunteers and staff worked on
Hamilton Gulch Trail.
September 8: FSPW Program Coordinator
Sandy Compton gave a presentation on trail-
building at Clark Fork High School.
September 10: Thirty people attended the
Thompson Falls Picnic.
September 16: Kootenai Harvest Festival
was held at the
Riverfront Park
in Libby with
500-plus people in
attendance.
September 17:
FSPW had a table
at Winter Ridge
Customer Appreciation Day.
September 22: Annie Gassmann and
volunteers had an outreach table at the Troy
Apple Festival.
September 25: Twenty-two “Pirates” cruised
Lake Pend Oreille with FSPW staff aboard
the good ship Shawnodese.
September 30: National Public Lands Day.
FSPW staff and volunteers worked on Morris
and Regal Creek Trails.
October 1-6: Sandy Compton
and Phil Hough traveled to the
National Wilderness Steward-
ship Alliance conference.
October 3: Annie Gassmann
taught Leave No Trace at
Green Mountain Conservation District’s
Water Festival at Thompson Falls.
October 21: FSPW staff and volunteers
led students from University of Montana’s
Wilderness and Civilization track on a trail
maintenance trip on Pilik RidgeTrail #1036.
November 11: Artist in Residence Karen
Robinson taught watercolor techniques to
eight students.
November 15: FSPW and ICL hosted
environmental writer George Wuerthner at
the Coeur d’ Alene Eagles Club.
December: Phil Hough made presentations
to Sandpoint High’s History Class
December 9: FSPW donated a living Christ-
mas Tree to the silent auction in the Cabinet
Peaks Medical Center Festival of Trees.
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
, Trout Creek, MT
doug@scotchmanpeaks.org
, Sagle, ID
carol@scotchmanpeaks.org
, Sandpoint, ID
, Hope, ID
neil@scotchmanpeaks.org
, Sagle, ID
will@scotchmanpeaks.org
Mollie Kieran, Troy, MT
molly@mollymontana.com.
, Libby, MT
Thompson Falls, MT
, Sagle, ID
phil@scotchmanpeaks.org
, Heron, MT
sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org
, Sagle, ID
britta@scotchmanpeaks.org
Libby, MT
annie@scotchmanpeaks.org
Sandpoint, ID
wintertracks@scotchmanpeaks.org
M
Clark Fork, ID
mary@scotchmanpeaks.org
Missoula, MT
M M
, Sandpoint, ID
W
, Sandpoint, ID
I W S
, Sagle, Idaho
C I S:
Sandpoint, Idaho
US F S L:
Cabinet RD
O E S:
, Libby, Mt
2017 A-I-R
S, ID
Director’s Message, from page 1
Broad community support does
not mean there is unanimity. On
important issues, there will always
be diverse opinions. The bill intro-
duction woke up some opponents
who had previously been quiet. By
listening and responding to diverse
viewpoints, questions and concerns,
misunderstandings can sometimes be
cleared up. Different perspectives also
improve Forest Service management,
public policy and legislation.
We anticipate that the Senator
will seek re-introduction in 2018,
using public input he has gathered
to improve the bill and its chance for
passage. Congress seldom acts quickly.
2018 will be a year for patience and
perseverance.
Not every Friend can swing a
Pulaski to dig new tread, so we provide
a variety of stewardship opportuni-
ties including trail maintenance, weed
monitoring and eradication, white-
bark pine habitat restoration, wildlife
monitoring and outdoor education.
Our Trail Ambassadors/Mountain
Goat Education program enters its
third year and our Winter Tracks pro-
gram is now in its fourth season and
on pace to surpass 2017 in which we
hosted over 350 students!
Volunteer stewards and educators
become passionate advocates; they are
crucial to helping us gain designation
from Congress and maintaining wil-
derness characteristics both before and
after designation. We engaged over 150
unique volunteers this past year.
In Montana, there is growing sup-
port from business and civic groups
who see value in conserving pub-
lic lands. The Kootenai Forest
Stakeholders Coalition (KFSC) agree-
ment includes support for Wilderness
in the Scotchman Peaks and has
recently garnered several important
endorsements. As legislation for Idaho
advances, Montana’s congressional
delegation is watching with interest;
our continued outreach in Montana
lays groundwork for them to act.
We will continue to foster public
dialogue that increases community
support for wilderness and continue
to inspire and empower wilderness
advocates and volunteer stewards.
FSPW board chariman Doug Ferrell congratu-
lates outgoing board member Bill Martin on
his FSPW Lifetime Conservation Award. FSPW
welcomed new board member Gene Reckin of
Libby in January.
9
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
Sather, from page 3
groups to provide outdoor education
opportunities for kids of all ages.
Joel’s love for the great outdoors is
homegrown. He grew up in Libby, grad-
uated in 1990, and got his bachelor’s
in Recreation Resource Management
from University of Montana. His wife,
Carmin, is from Troy, and they are
raising their boys, Gavin and Riley, in
Noxon. His first season with the Forest
service started “the day after I gradu-
ated from high school” at Libby Ranger
District.
Since then, he has been on trail, tim-
ber and fire crews (fire 2002 to 2009).
He was Wilderness ranger in the south
half of Cabinet Mountains Wilderness
from 1996 to 2001. Since 2010, he’s been
Forestry Technician on the Cabinet,
and also Wilderness and trails coordi-
nator, outdoor education coordinator
and volunteer partner coordinator.
Joel’s level of “freakness” has not
gone unnoticed. In 2014 he was hon-
ored with a Chief ’s Award from USFS
Chief Tom Tidwell for his work on
motorized recreation trails, getting kids
involved in stewardship and wilderness
investigation, his work on Star Peak
Historic Trail #999, and coordinating
volunteer efforts from diverse groups.
Back to the future. Late last year,
Joel was appointed to the new Trails
Advisory Group (TAG), a committee
of nine (one person from each Forest
Service Region) to work out a Ten-
Year Trails Challenge for the Forest
Service nationwide. Over the next ten
months, the TAG will form a charter
and vision statement to be revealed at
the 50
th
anniversary celebration of the
National Trails Act on October 2.
Of his appointment to the TAG,
Joel notes, “It’s pretty cool, because
you get to be a voice to the upper lev-
els of the agency. One of the biggest
things I can do is canvas Region One
from GS-9 down to GS-4, figuring out
where it all fits and what works and
doesn’t.”
“It’s exciting,” he says, “to be a voice
for putting trails on the map.”
Maybe even more exciting than
planning, building, maintaining, repair-
ing, and clearing trails — but it will not
diminish his standing as trail freak.
October 21: FSPW staff and volunteers
led students from University of Montana’s
Wilderness and Civilization track on a trail
maintenance trip on Pilik RidgeTrail #1036.
October 21-22: Carol Jenkins taught
Wilderness and Remote First Aid at the
ICL ofces in Sandpoint.
October 26: Goat Hop Ale returned to
MickDuff’s Beer Hall.
November 8-10: FSPW program coor-
dinator Sandy Compton attended TREC
facilitation training in Seattle
November 9: Retired USFS avalanche
forecaster Jon Jeresek gave a presenta-
tion on safe winter travel at Simple Simon
Pizza in Libby; FSPW exec visited Boise
for the Idaho Lands Summit.
November 11: Artist in Residence Karen
Robinson taught watercolor techniques to
eight students.
November 15: FSPW and the Idaho
Conservation League hosted environmental
writer George Wuerthner, Fund for Wild Na-
ture’s Grassroots Activist of the Year Award
for 2017, at the Coeur d’ Alene Eagles Club.
December 1 and Dec 6: Phil Hough
made presentations to Sandpoint High
School’s History Class
December 4: Phil Hough made a presen-
tation to the Monday Hikers.
December 6: Baxters on Cedar hosted
a Dine, Drink & Sip for the Scotchmans
fundraiser.
December 7: Phil made a presentation
on the Scotchman Peaks to the Kootenai
Environmental Association.
December 9: FSPW donated a living
Christmas Tree to the silent auction in the
Cabinet Peaks Medical Center Festival of
Trees; Artist in Residence Karen Robin-
son taught watercolor techniques to ve
students.
January 5: Mindy Ferrell led FSPW staff
and volunteers into the Winter Tracks sea-
son at North Shore Campground in Mon-
tana. Students from Noxon, Trout Creek
and Thompson Falls attended the class.
January 12: Mead Alternative High School
from Spokane attended an FSPW Winter
Tracks session at Round Lake State Park.
January 13: FSPW celebrated the 13th
anniversary with a gathering at the Panida
Theater featuring eminent outdoor journal-
ist Rich Landers and stories of 40 years of
wild reporting for The Spokesman-Review.
January 14: Thirteenth Anniversary of the
formative meeting of Friends of Scotch-
man Peaks Wilderness in 2005.
January 19: Forty students from West
Valley City School in Spokane participated
in a Winter Tracks program at Round
Lake State Park.
January 19 – 20: Brian Baxter presented
a Friday evening slideshow on tracking in
the Fireside Room at the Venture Inn in
Libby, then led an outdoor tracking class
in the Libby vicinity on Saturday.
January 25: Troy High students attended a
Winter Tracks program at Alvord Lake.
January 26: Libby 5th Grade students
attended a Winter Tracks program at
Timberlane Campground.
January 27: FSPW sponsored a pre-
sentation by Jack Nesbit at the monthly
Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society meeting.
Joel Sather received a USFS Chief’s
Award in December of 2014
Peak Experience
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
Robinson, from page 2
watercolor classes that we
are looking forward to con-
tinuing. This symbiotic rela-
tionship between FSPW and
Karen has been a fun learn-
ing experience. Having our
first artist in the program
work with staff to figure out
what the program should
look like going forward has
been tremendously help-
ful and we hope Karen has
enjoyed it as well!
If you’d like to see more
of Karen’s art, follow her on
Facebook (www.facebook.
com/karenrobinsonart/), visit her web-
site (http://www.karenrobinsonart.
com/), or stop by Banner Bank in
Sandpoint to see a plein air painting of
Scotchman Peak she did last summer.
If you haven’t had a chance to take
one of Karen’s workshops, there’s one
coming up on Feb. 3, and it includes
mimosas! To sign up for this workshop,
and keep an eye on others coming up,
visit www.scotchman peaks.org/events.
Mindy, from page 3
co-captain of the sailboat Doug built a
few years ago. In 2016, she organized a
trip to Helena for Sanders County citi-
zens to take part in the Public Lands
Rally at the Capitol Rotunda, and put
a Public Lands float in every parade
in Sanders County last 4
th
of July. She
has been a passionate supporter of the
mission of Cabinet Resource Group
and Friends of Scotchman Peaks
Wilderness since their conceptions,
and continues to be.
But her driving passion is still this
mantra: “Kids need to be outdoors.”
She has been both a Cub Scout and
Boy Scout leader. This year, as a
board member, she helped organize
the Green Mountain Conservation
District Watershed Festival, which
brings every Sanders County 5
th
Grader to Thompson Falls State Park
for a day of water-based learning.
Mindy is not slowing down. She
coordinated the Sanders County
Winter Tracks program at North Shore
Campground in early January and is cur-
rently working on establishing a Western
Montana outdoor education program in
conjunction with local schools, FSPW,
Kaniksu Land Trust, Avista Corporation
and the Forest Service.
If you would like to help Mindy’s
mission of dragging children outdoors
where they belong, write to info@
scotchmanpeaks.org and we will pass
the message along.
One of Karen’s watercolor classes was in the colorful
Clark Fork delta.
Karen’s Scotchman art includes the iconic image of a mountain goat in “Decision Point”
and the proposed Wilderness’s namesake peak. e mountain prole at the right was
donated and auctioned o during the 2017 State of the Scotchmans.
from page 1
kayaking the Methow River in the win-
ter, phone messages expressing praise
and scorn, letters to the editor calling
him a genius, letters to the editor calling
for his head, and a video of a memorable
wolf encounter he had recently.
“We had a great level of sponsor-
ship for this event,” said Compton
(See the sponsor list on next page). It’s
great to see the broad support we have
here, from all sorts of people and busi-
nesses. It was also wonderful
to have Rich give his first post-
retirement presentation for our
benefit.”
Landers has been a supporter
of Friends of Scotchman Peaks
Wilderness in word and deed
since the Friends first formed in
January of 2005. In “retirement,”
it appears he will continue expe-
riencing the great outdoors and
writing about it as well.
Laughter was on tap at MickDu’s Brewery for
the anniversary VIP event.
Peak Experience
11
www.scotchmanpeaks.org • www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks
Idaho Conservation League
Evergreen Magazine
Idaho Forest Group
The Sandpoint Reader
The Spokesman-Review
Keokee Company
Sandpoint West
Athletic Club
Williams and Parsons
Bonners Books
Blue Creek Press
Kochava
Roundup Publications
Dish at Dover Bay
MickDuff’s Brewing
Selkirk Press
North Idaho
Animal Hospital
Syringa Cyclery
All Seasons
Garden & Floral
Gem Vision Productions
KRFY Community Radio
Idaho Pour Authority
Winter Ridge
Natural Foods
Pend Oreille Arts Council
Eichardt’s Pub
Will Valentine &
Carol Jenkins
Trinity City Beach
Bruce Smith
Artist Karen Robinson
Lyle Hemmingway
Sharon’s Hallmark
Michael Boge
Nancy Schmidt
Laughing Dog Brewing
Sandpoint Pita Pit
Sweet Lou’s
Mill Town Distillery
Whitney Rae Palmer
41 South
Artist Aaron Johnson
Evans Brothers Coffee
Pack River Buttonworks
Small House Winery
Syringa Cyclery
Larson’s Good Clothing
Artist Susan Conway-Kean
Well Read Moose
Hike date
Exertion
Rating
Destination/
Hike Name
Leader Description and contact info
2/10/18 M
Blue Creek
Winter
Wanderings
Sandy
Compton
Contact: Sandy Compton [email protected]
Hike Leader Sandy Compton has lived in the Blue Creek drainage all his life, and he still manages to nd new things
every time he goes hiking there (Last year, we found some very interesting tracks!). Join him for a snowshoe hike
in his “briar patch” and see what interesting sights, sounds and smells might show up. Bring a good lunch, plenty of
uids, snacks, rain gear (just in case) and other layers, your camera and binocs and senses of humor and adventure.
2/10/18 M
Ross Creek
Snowshoe Hike
v.2018
Randi Lui
and Deb
Hunsicker
Contact: Randi Lui — [email protected]
Join us for a fun, casual snowshoe hike to the beautiful old growth forest Ross Creek Cedars. Plan for a full day so pack
plenty of water, snacks and lunch, as well as something to put on the ground to sit on for our lunch break as we sit on
the snow under the cedars and enjoy the ancient trees around us. Please be aware this is a full day adventure with vari-
able weather conditions so please dress appropriately.
2/24/28 M-S
Fatman
Walkabout
Erin Mader
Contact: Erin Mader — [email protected]
Take a snowshoe hike along the southern edge of the Scotchman Peaks proposed Wilderness via Fatman Road #2292.
This 6-mile, one-way trek begins at the intersection of #2292 and Montana Highway 200, and follows the unplowed road to
its intersection with Blue Creek Road #409. It’s a hike with ltered views of the Scotchman Peaks and the Clark Fork River
valley. Elevation gain (and loss) over the six miles is about 1100 feet, making for relatively gentle grades. Hike begin time is
at 10 am, Mountain Time, 9 am Pacic.The hike is rated as moderately strenuous in consideration of its length.
3/4/18 M
Star Peak
Partway
Liz
Thomas
Contact: Phil Hough — [email protected]
Come join award winning author and accomplished long distance hiker Liz Thomas on a moderate length snowshoe
hike on the slopes of Star Peak. We’ll hike to some stellar views of the Clark Fork valley and be back in time for late
afternoon socializing. Moderate snowshoe with moderate elevation gain..
3/10/18 M
Ross Creek
Winter Hike
Annie
Gassmann
Contact: Annie Gassmann — [email protected]
XThis is a relatively moderate travel up the occasionally groomed Ross Creek Cedars road for snowshoers. We will
snowshoe up the road, stopping along the way to enjoy the beautiful views. Once we reach the ancient cedar forest,
we’ll trek in and nd a spot to enjoy lunch (please pack food and water for a full day excursion). All levels of snowshoe
experience are welcome. The goal is the viewpoint of the valley (approx. 4 miles round trip). Annie and Grete will give
an update on the protection Status of the Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness, our collaborative work in Montana
with the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders Coalition, and let you know what you can do to help protect this special place.
To learn more about or sign up for any of our hikes, summer or winter, visit www.scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking
Do you want to lead a hike? Suggest yours at www.scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking/leading-hikes/
is hike is
currently full
Name:
Address:
e-mail:
Phone:
Donation enclosed (optional). Donations are tax deductible.
Please make checks payable to the Friends of Scotchman
Peaks Wilderness, Inc. You may mail them to:
FSPW • P.O. Box 2061 • Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
As concerned citizens, we support protecting and preserving
the Scotchman Peaks area for ourselves and future genera-
tions. Highway 56, Highway 200, Lightning Creek Road, and
Rale Creek/Keeler Creek divide surround this 88,000 acre
scenic area which straddles the Idaho and Montana border.
Wilderness designation for the Scotchmans will protect plants
and wildlife, including the endangered grizzly bears, mountain
goat, and bull trout; it will protect water quality; and it will
preserve a special place for future generations. In addition,
local communities will benet from the unparalleled recre-
ational and economic opportunities such wilderness provides.
Doug Ferrell, Trout Creek, MT
(406) 827-4341
doug@scotchmanpeaks.org
Carol Jenkins, Sagle, ID
carol@scotchmanpeaks.org
Brad Williams Sandpoint, ID
Neil Wimberley, Hope, ID
neil@scotchmanpeaks.org
Will Valentine, Sagle, ID
will@scotchmanpeaks.org
Mollie Kieran, Troy, MT
molly@mollymontana.com.
Gene Reckin, Libby, MT
gnreckin@gmail.com
Jen Stone-Kreiner
jen.stone.kreiner@gmail.com
Phil Hough, Sagle, ID
(208) 946-9127
phil@scotchmanpeaks.org
Sandy Compton, Heron, MT
(208) 290-1281
sandy@scotchmanpeaks.org
Bria Mireley, Sagle, ID
bria@scotchmanpeaks.org
Annie Gassmann
annie@scotchmanpeaks.org
Nancy Schmidt
wintertracks@scotchmanpeaks.org
Working for
WILDERNESS
FRIENDS OF
SCOTCHMAN PEAKS
C
13 Y!
