Patti has been working with ITA since the very first project in 2010, first as a Forest Service trail leader and then as a volunteer crew leader. She has also helped as a crew leader teacher at our CLEM (Crew Leader Education and Mentoring) Training. Her long history working on trails and with crews (30 years!) in the Forest Service is a huge asset to ITA and we so appreciate her commitment to sharing her skills and experience by training leaders and volunteers! Thank you for all you do for Idaho’s trails, Patti! READ FULL STORY
2024 Raffle winners:
$500 winners:
1. Karen French, Salmon, ID 83467
2. Barb Recla, Meridian, ID 83642
3. Elizabeth Walker, Athol, ID 83801
4. Panhandle BCH, Hayden ID 83835
5. Cini Baumhoff, Boise, ID 83713
6. Ron Beitelspacher, Grangeville, ID 83530
7. Donald B Kleint, Donnelly, ID 83615
8. Kathy Fritschle, Donnelly, ID 83615
9. Portneuf River BCH, Pocatello, ID 83204
10. Kimberly Bartholomew, Kamiah, ID 83536
11. Cindy Worth, Grangeville, ID 83530
$3,000 winner:
12. Mary Ann Shaff, Heyburn, ID 83336
Treasure Valley BCH Hosting 2025 State Convention
March 14-15, 2025
BOD Meeting Friday March 14 @
Best Western Plus Inn & Suites 908 Specht Ave Caldwell Idaho 83605 Phone: 208-454-7225 their email: bwpcaldwell@gmail.com
Group Rate “BCHI” @ $125/night -must reserve by February 19, 2025.
Saturday March 15 Convention Location is a mile from the Best Western at the Canyon County Fair Event Center 110 County Fair Ave Caldwell.
More info contact TVBCH bchiconvention@bchi.org
Kathy 208-830-9504
Sabrina Kohrt <sabrina.kohrt@usda.gov>
Good Afternoon,
The Intermountain Region Forest Service Saw Program is a robust program that works with over 40 partners across Utah, Nevada, and parts of Wyoming and Idaho. Many of these sawyers are women! As a Partnership Coordinator and Public Affairs Specialist, I am working on a large project to identify these women sawyers and highlight their story, both within the agency and with partners. This project will include a written feature story, social media content, and an ArcGIS Story Map that will be released during Women’s History Month, March of 2025.
For the Story Map, I have begun collecting data from all women in the field that have a connection to the Forest Service Saw Program. The Story Map will host a map of the Intermountain Region with geotagged points that will open an information box when the user clicks on it. Each box will tell a small story about each individual woman, along with a photo, video, or media of their choice. Specific details about the information requested and media submissions are in the Google Form below.
Please spread this link far and wide to any woman sawyer you know that works within the region – Forest Service and/or partner. I am relying on all of your networks to help spread awareness of this project. I would love to fill the StoryMap completely to demonstrate how many amazing women sawyers are out there!
Please reach out if you have any questions or comments.
Women in the Saw Program – Google Form: https://forms.gle/3yq7ZgxZcjzB97Lj7
Woman Sawyer in South Western Idaho who belong to a number of Trail Volunteer Groups & the USFS
Women in the Saw Program Story Map
Overview:
The Forest Service Saw Program, made up of partners and agency staff, is engaged with many women across the Intermountain Region. The purpose of this project is to show how many women sawyers are working within the Saw Program/Intermountain Region and to highlight each women’s journey. These submissions will be collected and put on an ArcGIS StoryMap. Each point on the map will have the general duty station location, media of choice, along with one of the responses listed below.
Criteria:
– Must be a sawyer – can be in training or certified at any level, crosscut and/or chainsaw
– Forest Service employee or from any Forest Service partner agency. If non-agency, the individual must have some connection to the Forest Service Saw Program. This may include but not limited to: directly receiving training from the Saw Program, recertification or mentorship through the Forest Service employees, engagement in Developing Thinking Sawyer Curriculum, your organization works indirectly with the Forest Service Saw Program in other ways, etc.
– Must give consent to use some of the information you provide on this form to put on a public-facing site (non-Forest Service, please fill out separate form attached), such as photo, description, and general location of duty station.
– LGBTQIA+ Welcome
This StoryMap will be released during Women’s History Month, March of 2025, along with a written feature story and social media content. I will be taking submissions for the StoryMap up to February 14th, 2025, however, please do not hesitate to send me your submission so I can get them loaded into the Story Map prior to.
I encourage you to send this link far and wide to your female-identifying communities – the goal is to fill the map with as many points as possible to represent all the women sawyers in the region, I will rely on you all to help spread the message!
For questions or comments, please contact Forest Service Partnership Coordinator Sabrina Kohrt – sabrina.kohrt@usda.gov. 720-990-8505.
What is the Recreation Fund Council?
The Idaho Outdoor Recreation Fund Advisory Council was created by Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature to recommend projects to expand outdoor recreation or access to it in Idaho. Examples could include expansion of recreational facilities (parks, trails, boating, etc.) or agreements to gain entry to new areas for public recreation.
The Legislature in early 2023 provided $5 million in initial funding for the council’s work. In the 2024 session, the Legislature provided a second, $5 million installment for distribution.
New Projects Needed
The Council recently solicited candidate projects for 2024, asking for applications for be submitted by September 30, 2024. Please send applications to Skylar Jeff, ORFAC coordinator, at skylarjett13@gmail.com.
Funding for this round of projects comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, which carries firm timelines for any funds to be obligated and spent. The Council seeks projects that can be under contract by the end of 2024 and completed before the end of 2026.
Gov. Little’s executive order creating the council targets “opportunities for camping, fishing, hunting, accessing trails and other outdoor pursuits” for potential projects. IDPR, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the Idaho Department of Lands are charged to work cooperatively to propose projects, manage under-utilized resources and monetize outdoor recreation for long-term sustainability.
About the Council
Council members are:
- Tom Schultz, Council Chair
- Susan Buxton, Director, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
- Jim Fredericks, Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
- Dustin Miller, Director, Idaho Department of Lands
- James Petzke, Representative, Idaho Legislature, District 21, Seat A
- Gretchen Hyde, Director, Rangeland Resources Commission
- Mark Pratt, Idaho Cattle Association
- Kari Kostka, The Nature Conservancy
- Benn Brocksome, Idaho Sportsmen
- Dave Lent, Senator, Idaho Legislature, District 33
- Laurel Sayer, President, Perpetua Resources
- Sandra Mitchell, Idaho State Snowmobile Association
- Seth Griggs, Idaho Association of Counties
For more information about the Council and its work, contact ORFAC Coordinator Skylar Jett at skylarjett13@gmail.com or at 208-599-3264.
VISIT WEB PAGE FOR MORE INFO AND DOCUMENTS
Idaho Wildlife Federation Names Nick Fasciano New Executive Director
A dedicated advocate for Idaho’s wildlife and habitat, Nick brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously served as the head of policy for the Idaho Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, where he worked closely with IWF staff in the Idaho Legislature to ensure the voices of sportsmen and women were heard by our elected representatives.
Fasciano has been an active partner on a range of priorities central to IWF’s mission. He has advocated for the recovery of Idaho’s wild salmon and steelhead runs, worked to push land management agencies to include the latest science on wildlife migration corridors in land use decisions, and has been a consistent defender of public access to Idaho’s abundant public lands and waters.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside IWF in the past, and I’m thrilled to be coming on board as a member of the team,” says Fasciano. “Since its founding in 1936, IWF has been a leading voice for conservation in Idaho, and many of our most cherished wild places would simply not be here today without the dedication of IWF’s staff and supporters. It is the honor of a lifetime to help push that legacy forward.”
An avid hunter and angler, Fasciano is based in Boise where he is working to get his young lab, Corbett, ready for bird season.
Nick officially begins his tenure with IWF this week, Sept. 16th-20th. He can be reached via email at NFasciano@idahowildlife.org.
SAVE THE DATE: Save Nov. 7th on your calendar because we’re going to have a meet-and-greet, in Boise, where you can all get to know Nick better. Much more to come soon on that!
This ride will raise funds for MRW (the Murphy Reynolds Wilson Fire and EMS District.
MRW is the first responder for all structural, wildland fires, and medical emergencies in a 330-square mile rural desert area of Owyhee County. This area includes 30 miles of State Highway 78 from mile post 9 to 39, more than 10 recreational trail head/parking lots, and two airports. The southern border extends past the Rabbit Creek Road and Reynolds Creek Road junction. The organization consists of 47 volunteers (fire fighters and EMT’s). They respond to more than 110 emergency medical calls (including some from equestrians) and more than 30 fire and extraction incidents each year. Many of the people they assist are from Ada, Canyon, and Elmore Counties. All proceeds from this event will be used to purchase needed equipment for the district.
Pre-register now here. Pay at the ride (cash or check only).
For more information contact Karen Steenhof karensteenhof@gmail.com
LAVA FIRE UPDATE – September 15, 2024 (PDF) LavaFireDailyUpdate_September 15 2024_final
Anna Daly writes: The Frangelica, Wapiti, Lava, Goose Chase, Cotton, and Willow Fires are just a handful of the dozens of fires burning over 400,000 acres in Idaho.
When looking at the Idaho fire map, it’s hard not to notice the variety of names for fires. However, the system for naming them is pretty straightforward and based on the fires’ locations.
“We usually name fires based on the closest drainage, landmark, or road,” the Bureau of Land Management Boise District Office’s Chad Cline said. “Either the dispatch that’s plotting the fire or the incident commander that gets to the fire first chooses the name.”
While naming fires is based on the closest landmark, it can get complicated if multiple agencies are responding to the fire. For example, the fire that burned in Boise during the first week of September had two names at one point: the Plex Fire and the Eyele Fire.
“When the fire started, the city was first on scene and named it. However, once BLM arrived and it was confirmed the fire was on BLM land, we took command and renamed the fire,” Cline said. “If it starts on BLM land then we name it but I did notice that it caused a lot of confusion.”
Also after a busy fire season, officials can sometimes come to roadblocks when coming up with a good name. For example, the 57th fire in North Idaho in 2015 was named the ‘Not Creative Fire.’
“The person in charge of naming the fire was not feeling really creative at 3 in the morning,” Idaho Department of Lands Public Information Officer Sharla Arledge said in an article from the Couer d’Alene Press. “Sometimes you have to find some humor in all of this.”
(The Wapiti Fire. Photo: Courtesy Custer County Sheriff)
OGDEN, Utah, September 10, 2024—The USDA Forest Service announced that the Boise and Salmon-Challis National Forests will be allocated $8.8 million through a competitive internal process under the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program. The funding aims to expand essential wildfire risk reduction efforts through partnerships that help protect valuable resources and strengthen cultural connections to the land.
The Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act’s hazardous fuels dollars, targets National Forest Service lands within the wildland urban interface where national forests meet homes and communities.
“This significant investment from the Inflation Reduction Act enables us to address critical wildfire risks in our region, particularly in areas that have not received the focused Wildfire Crisis Strategy funding,” stated Regional Forester Mary Farnsworth. “By working with diverse partners, we are committed to making our forests more resilient and reduce risks to communities from the effects of uncharacteristic wildfire.”
Intermountain Region Highlights
Boise National Forest- Lowman Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project
The project aims to treat 8,000 acres through a mix of prescribed fire, non-commercial thinning, and commercial timber harvest, enhancing Idaho Power infrastructure along the Highway 21 corridor for improved service reliability. Collaboration with the Shoshone-Paiute and Shoshone-Bannock tribes is being explored, involving tribal saw crews, with potential for utilizing leftover wood and wood products for the Wood for Life program. Local partners, including Idaho Power, Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC), Boise County, and the Lowman community, will actively participate in treatment preparation and execution, with the ICC providing youth crews for hands-on experience. The project is expected to reduce wildfire risk to communities and critical infrastructure as well as increase the wildlife resilience of the landscape, benefit the local economy, community, and foster sustainable land management practices through strong partnerships.
Salmon-Challis National Forest- Municipal Watershed to Panther Creek
This project is part of a larger 600,000-acre initiative aimed at reducing hazardous fuels and restoring critical landscapes. Specifically, it seeks to lower wildfire risk to the city of Salmon, protect a vital utility power line, create strategic fuel breaks, restore Endangered Species Act fish habitat, and enhance wildlife habitats. Supported by partnerships with the Mule Deer Foundation, Idaho Department of Lands, The Nature Conservancy, and the Student Conservation Association, the project will treat 10,500 acres through thinning and prescribed burning between fiscal years 2025 and 2027. The project will also involve local communities and workforce, offering employment opportunities and contracts to boost the local economy while ensuring vulnerable communities, like those near Panther Creek, benefit from reduced wildfire threats. Additionally, the project explores collaborations with the Shoshone-Paiute and Shoshone-Bannock tribes for using leftover wood and plant materials for energy or community firewood programs, reinforcing the commitment to public safety, sustainable land management, and strong community partnerships.
Criteria for eligible areas/projects include:
- Areas outside the 21 wildfire crisis landscapes
- On National Forest System lands
- Meet the Healthy Forest Restoration Act – Wildland-Urban Interface definition
- Are within high-risk firesheds identified in the Forest Service Wildfire Crisis Strategy and/or are areas with very high wildfire hazard potential
Anyone interested in learning more about this internal process can visit the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction webpage.
Discover the lands of the Boise National Forest and its 2.5 million acres of mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes and grasslands, more than 500 trails, and over 250 lakes and reservoirs.
The Salmon-Challis National Forest spans over 4.3 million acres in east-central Idaho, encompassing diverse habitats ranging from rugged mountains and deep canyons to pristine rivers and expansive wilderness areas.
Follow us on Facebook: Boise National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, and on X: Salmon-Challis National Forest, Intermountain Region.
You can learn more about the Wood for Life program through this video and story.
For imagery visit the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program Flickr album.
Dr. Robin Knight lives in Nampa, ID with her spouse Dr. Pete Knox and two children. Dr. Knight attended undergrad and vet school at Colorado State University and completed a large animal internal medicine residency at Texas A&M. We are excited to have Dr. Knight here at IEH to partner with Dr. Jamie Higgins (board certified in internal medicine and emergency/critical care) to expand access to specialized medical care and consultation for all of our in-house veterinarians as well as referring veterinarians. The advanced training that Dr. Knight brings to the table as an internal medicine specialists is a huge asset to our practice and our patients well being. Dr. Knights interests include neonatal care, respiratory disease, neurological issues, gastrointestinal disease and all types of infectious disease. Dr. Knight will provide advice on testing, advanced diagnostic procedures, and treatment plans for a wide range of ailments that are not amenable to surgical correction.
Backcountry horsemen handout-September 2024
EPSON MFP image
EPSON MFP image
Payette was adopted from the BLM in November of 2007, he and his mom had been previously adopted at the August 2007 BLM adoption in Boise Idaho by a family who thought a “mare and foal combo” would be fun, but the mare was around 7 years old and would not let them get anywhere near either of them so after a few months, they called the BLM to please come get their horses. Payette and his mom were penned with a group group of other returned horses and the BLM ask me to come take a look and some pictures as they knew that our chapter had a number of mustang owners. Wife Linda asked me if I was taking my horse trailer and “I said No, I don’t need anymore to feed at this time”, she just smiled. Payette stood out from the group as he was standing in the middle of the corral alert, head high and curious, the rest were hiding as a group in the corner. I took some pictures and told the BLM that I would show them to the chapter, and I might be interested in that colt in the middle of the corral with the white face. The next day I picked him up and paid the $25 dollar re-adoption fee.
In March of 2008 when he was around nine months old he became the star of a horsemanship & Packing clinic the chapter held at the “Circle G River Ranch”. Here he is working with David Hays DVM at a clinic on ground training young horses.
Over the next couple of years Payette continued his training as both a riding and packing horse. He went ponyed on a number of rides to learn how to ride in the trailer, cross water and bridges and to get along with other horse, he did well on all of his lessons except getting along with unfamiliar horses. At the age of four I started riding him, I wanted to let him grow out a bit as (me and my saddle = 250lbs).
For the next 16+ year he did everything I asked of him, a true mountain horse in every sense of the word. In the spring of 2024 on wet clay he hurt his left hip and could not bare his weight on his left hind leg. After a number of vet visits and over 2 months stuck in a 24×36 foot corral it became obvious that he was not going to heal up and was retired. This last week I watched him slowly limping up the pasture during feeding time and notices he was now also having issues with his front legs while walking. It was time to say goodbye to my friend!
SAMPLE:
- Beyond Band-Aids: Unveiling Your Ultimate Wilderness Medical Arsenal: Thursday, June 6, 1:00-1:50 pm ET
- Recording: https://youtu.be/1_FG0NA1XBY
- Description:
Essential Med Kit Items, Top 3 Must-Haves, Head-to-Toe Safety, Wildlife Wisdom, and Multi-Purpose Marvels for Trauma and Emergency Mastery - Presenter:
- Connie Jacobs, Colorado Conservation Lands Program Lead, Bureau of Land Management
- References:
- First Aid Kits – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf6y2g7Pmvo
- Backpacking First Aid Kit – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkdFtXyKodg
- Doctors Explains First Aid Kits for Camping, Travel, & Hiking – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P8eGiX5Y_0
- Blister Care: Doctor Reveals Surprising Blister Prevention Techniques – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWSr90jpk3k
- Common wilderness Injuries and prevention tips:
https://www.elevatedtrips.com/blog/six-wilderness-injuries/ - Improvising supplies for emergencies (lots of ads to skip, material is good):
- Improvising First Aid: Addressing Wounds When Kits Aren’t Enough | Unified Survival – https://unifiedsurvival.com/improvising-first-aid-addressing-wounds-when-kits-arent-enough/
- Useful First Aid Kit Tips & Hacks | First Aid Blog | Medical Gear Outfitters – https://medicalgearoutfitters.com/blogs/firstaid/how-to-first-aid-kit-tips-tricks-hacks
- Safety Tips While traveling and in the back country:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH6aAqzczfA - Backpacking gear for beginners (budget items will get you by):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-N-GJjywLA - Snakes:
- How to deal with snakes on the trail (general, good info)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGpe6muQs8s - Discussion with an ER doc who specializes in snake bites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq0WVtsKZE - Video above goes/pairs with video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq0WVtsKZE
Disclaimer: Please note: at 2:15 Dr. Erickson misspoke and generally recommends placing the arm at the level of the heart (to manage local swelling but not encourage systemic absorption). That said, in settings where neurotoxicity from envenomation is likely (and local tissue swelling is of secondary concern), keeping the bite below the level of the heart may slow lymphatic venom absorption. See Dr. Erickson speak at the upcoming National CME Conference on Wilderness Medicine: https://wilderness-medicine.com/cme-conferences/santa-fe/
- How to deal with snakes on the trail (general, good info)
- Consider putting your 1st Aid kit (and meals!) together with latex allergies in mind!
- 8-17% of health care workers and Less than 1% of the general population in the U.S. (about 3 million people)
- Statistics | American Latex Allergy Association – https://latexallergyresources.org/statistics
- https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/allergies/anaphylaxis
- Head to Toe Assessment Demo: NOLS Head to Toe Assessment – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQAmx2AYIk
Aug 6, 2024
The Forest Service Intermountain Region Saw Program works closely with partners to certify “sawyers”, which are those authorized to operate a saw on National Forest System lands. Certified sawyers are needed across all major areas of land management, especially for maintaining trails for recreational use and clearing hazardous trees for wildland fire and fire prevention.
The Stanley Workshop located in Stanley, Idaho in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is an example of a partner-led training within the Saw Program. It is an opportunity for new sawyers from partner organizations to become certified in both crosscut and chainsaw, and for existing sawyers to get recertified to maintain their qualifications.
To read the full article about sawyers and how the Saw Program collaborates with partners, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/new…
Learn More about the Stanley Sawyer Workshop coming May 2025
Massachusetts erected the first lighthouse in what would become the United States on a small island in Boston Harbor in 1716. The following year a cannon was put on the island to be fired in fog and storms. Boston Light became both the first lighthouse and the first fog signal in the country.
Following ratification of the Constitution of the United States, Congress met for the first time beginning on March 4th 1789. Of course the major concerns for the new country centered on forming the government and paying the extensive debt accrued during their fight for independence. However, realizing the importance of navigation to the growing country, Congress, as the ninth law passed an act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers on August 7th, 1789.
7 August is a great day to celebrate Coast Guard Day because on 7 August 1789 “President Washington approved the Act of Congress which gave the Federal Government responsibility for maintenance, and repair of all lighthouse beacons and buoys and launched the national government upon its course of guarding the coast in interest of safety and security afloat. With this the Lighthouse service, first of several Coast Guard agencies, emerged into public usefulness and esteem.
The act directed expenses that shall accrue from and after the 15th day of August, 1789, in the necessary support, maintenance and repairs of all lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers erected, placed, or sunk before the passing of this act, at the entrance of, or within any bay, inlet, harbor, or port of the United States, for rendering the navigation thereof easy and safe, shall be defrayed out of the treasury of the United States.
The act further stated that it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to provide contracts for building a lighthouse near the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, and for building when necessary, and keeping in good repair, the lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers in the several states, and for furnishing the same with all necessary supplies; and also to agree for the salaries, wages, or hire of person or persons appointed by the President, for the superintendence and care of the same.
The Lighthouse Service was born.
Almost a year later Congress would authorize the building of Revenue Cutters on August 4th 1790.
CDR W. Christian Adams
DCO-ES
Deputy Commandant for Operations
Executive Support, Chief
HQ: 3J15-17
The U.S. Forest Service has not yet approved a plan to allow electric bicycles (e-bikes) on trails in the Lake Tahoe Basin, contrary to earlier reports. The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is still in the process of evaluating a proposal that could potentially open up more than 100 miles of trails to e-bikes.
The Basin Wide Trails Analysis Project, which includes the e-bike proposal, is currently undergoing environmental assessment. The Forest Service expects to release the Final Environmental Assessment and a Draft Decision Notice in late August 2024. This will be followed by a 45-day administrative review period for those who have previously commented on the project and have standing to object.
If approved, the plan would allow Class I e-bikes, which are pedal-assisted and can reach speeds up to 20 mph, on designated trails. The proposal also includes the potential construction of new routes and upgrades to existing infrastructure.
The LTBMU received 660 comment letters during the public comment period in September 2023 and has been working to update the Environmental Assessment based on this feedback. The agency is also completing a required formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Currently, e-bike use is only permitted on National Forest roads and trails in the Tahoe Basin that are designated for motor vehicle use, in accordance with the Forest Service’s Travel Management Rule.
A final decision on the project is estimated to be released in November 2024. This timeline reflects the complex nature of the proposal and the Forest Service’s commitment to thorough environmental assessment and public engagement in the decision-making process.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ltbmu/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1192762
Supplementary Saw Accident and Near Miss Sharing:
National USFS Saw Accident / Near Miss Reporting Form (office.com)
Other opportunities to share:
- Wildfire Lessons Learned Center, Rapid Lesson Sharing (RLS) portal: https://lessons.wildfire.gov/submit-a-lesson.
- National Wildfire Coordinating Group, Fuel Geysering Incident Reporting Form: https://www.nwcg.gov/committees/equipment-technology-committee/national-fuel-geyser-awareness.
If you have any more information that you would like to share regarding your incident, please email your Regional Saw Program Manager.
- R1 – Adam Washebek, adam.j.washebek@usda.gov
- R2 – Brian Teets, brian.teets@usda.gov
- R3 – Kerry Wood (PoC), kerry.wood@usda.gov
- R4 – Brian Burbridge, brian.burbridge@usda.gov
- R5 – Mitch Hokanson, mitchell.hokanson@usda.gov
- R6- Aaron Pedersen, aaron.pedersen@usda.gov
- R8- Patrick Scott, patrick.scott2@usda.gov
- R9 – Shawn Maijala (detailed), shawn.maijala@usda.gov
- R10 – Austin O’Brien, austin.obrien1@usda.gov
National SPM – Dan McLaughlin (detailed), daniel.mclaughlin@usda.gov
By Melanie Vining, ITA Executive Director
I wouldn’t put myself in the “wing it” category, but if there is spectrum I’d not be at the “well-prepared” end either. Maybe somewhere in the middle. I’ve taken off on ten-mile day hikes with running shoes and a peanut butter sandwich, but I’ve also done weeklong backpacking trips and checked all the boxes: proper food, first aid kit, clothing for bad weather, etc. I’m…semi-prepared. But a recent event has underscored, for me, the importance of planning for the worst.
If you read my last blog post, you know I was injured in a horseback riding accident in May. In this case, I was prepared: I went for a short ride from my house, alone, but made sure I had my phone in my pocket and not in my saddle bag so in the off chance I should end up on the ground (where are these odds when I play the lotto?!), I’d have communication. In this case, a phone= preparedness. I was riding a good horse, one that had done hundreds of miles on trails and leading pack strings with me the summer before. I was leading a mule that had gone on most of those trips. Our skill set matched our journey. But, as they say, stuff happens.
So back to preparedness. People approach this topic differently, but I’ve had a lot of time to think about it in the last month (a LOT), and I feel like there is a “recipe” for being prepared for an outdoor adventure.
adventure.
- The first ingredient is sort of internal: fitness level and skill set. If you are embarking on a hike or other adventure more challenging or complex than you’ve attempted before, preparedness might look like training hikes and practicing certain skills ahead of time. Never tested the water filter? Maybe try that sucker out before it clogs, you don’t know how to troubleshoot, and you find yourself staring at a stagnant pond, choosing between imminent gastrointestinal malady or being really freaking thirsty.
- The second ingredient is gear: are you out for a few hours? A day? Weeks? What could you possibly encounter in that time? Weather, physical obstacles, wildlife…a list helps. Maybe bear spray isn’t important hiking in the Boise Foothills for the afternoon, but for the same 3-mile hike in the Selkirk Mountains, it’s essential. The three-season tent is dead weight on a July Priest River hike but it’s a life saver on an October trek in the high Sawtooths.
- Next in the recipe: communication. Does someone know where you’re going and plan to return? Do you have a way to call for help should you need it? Back to my horse wreck. I was ¼ mile from my house and less than that from our neighbors, but in a field that was totally out of sight from both. I hadn’t told anyone where I was going, since it was “just out the back door” and my husband and kids were at work and school. Had I not had my phone, I would have been stuck, surrounded by my unconcerned and equally invisible animals, for several hours before anyone missed me. But I’d planned ahead enough so I was able to call for help right away. Bring the phone where it works, invest in the satellite communication device. You can still “unplug” and not text for fun, but it could literally save your life. Tell someone where you’re going, too. Give them a map if they aren’t familiar with the area you’ll be in. Technology can fail, and a human back up plan is essential.
- Maybe most important is medical. Ideally, everyone should have basic first aid training and a basic first aid kit in their pack, vehicle, saddlebags, always. There are many resources for training and information; take advantage of them (or become an ITA crew leader and get Wilderness First Aid Training for free!). Sadly, there are injuries the best of the backpack first aid kits and even surgeon-level education and training can’t fix on the trail. Enter Life Flight membership. Last I checked (five minutes ago), the membership was 85.00/year. Average Life Flight bill: I’ve not done that math but our son’s bill- had we not had Life Flight coverage- when he was injured 6 years ago and flew from the Arco area to Twin Falls was over 25,000 dollars. I’m still awaiting my bill, unexcitedly, because even if you’re covered, seeing five figures on a paper that says BILL at the top makes the heart pound. And this is all before the patient enters the hospital for treatment. Certainly worth the membership, especially for us outdoor adventurers. You don’t need it til you…need it. Our family has flown this way more than we’d like, and we aren’t exactly kamikazes in the woods. Note: some insurance plans cover Life Flight- my husband’s does-so check yours as it may, and you can skip the membership.
- Last, and maybe this goes without saying for the active choir I’m preaching to but stay fit! I can’t count how many times everyone from my surgeon to nurses to physical therapists remarked that my good bone density (solid anchor for the screws and plates they had to “install”), and fitness would speed my recovery. My upper body strength has allowed me to get around on a walker vs a wheelchair, push myself up from chairs using only my good leg, and just be more self-sufficient in general (my husband still must put my socks on, sigh). The best way to be prepared for an injury we hope not to happen is to be as healthy and fit as possible.
- So, there it is. Risk management from my armchair here in rural Idaho. Plan, learn, practice, communicate. Get the 7.00/month Life Flight membership. But keep hiking and adventuring!
Do You Have a Lemonade Mindset? (What happed to Mel)
Hi Charlie
Just wanted to let you know where we are after three weeks of work done, and the rough plan I have for the remaining three. I have a bunch of pictures attached here and can send more if needed.
We have had a crew work on each of Renwyck, Antelope, and Gabe’s Peak. Progress has varied on each trail. Renwyck and Gabe’s Peak were fairly easy going for the first two miles before getting brushy and hard to find. Antelope got brushy and off-track very quickly. I actually ended up going out last week to visit the crews and find/flag the Antelope trail a little further out.
On the specs sheet, it lists Renwyck and Antelope as higher priority, so I was going to have the remaining three weeks focused on those two trails. I think I will likely need to visit the site again to flag both these trails further – unless you or someone on the trail crew can go do the same.
For Renwyck, the crews will basically be building new tread from where they left off. The old tread is there but very intermittent and not easy to follow. The nice thing here is that the trail does follow closely to the FS Quad Topo map and Avenza will be helpful in finding where to build going forward. I was planning on having two of the remaining weeks here.
For Antelope, the line on the Topo map is very wrong and this actually ended up hurting the crew as they went a good ways off tread trying to match that line. I got them back on the right track but would be surprised if they make it much past two miles, if that, with the one remaining week of work.
For the photos, the first four (0486, 0483, 0491, 0492) are work done on Antelope. The next two (0506 and 0507) are work done on Renwyck. The last (0494) is a good approximation of what both trails look like going forward – this particular picture is Antelope.
Let me know if this makes sense as the plan going forward. We’ll have a crew out that way next week (thinking Antelope for this) and I would love to hear back if you have any differing ideas.
Thanks,
Oliver Scofield
(he/him/his)
Program Coordinator
Idaho Conservation Corps
Idaho has an abundance of hiking trails to explore during the summer months, but being prepared when exposed to wildlife and areas with no cell service will help you have a good time. Hiking in the Boise Foothills and beyond can be exciting but requires preparation before venturing into the wilderness. There are 12 snake species in Idaho, including the Western rattlesnake and prairie rattlesnake, Idaho’s two venomous snakes.
It’s possible you could end up in the Idaho wilderness without cell phone service and surrounded by potentially dangerous snakes. So what will you do if you get bitten? Below, you’ll find tips on how to avoid the snake in the first place, how to prepare for your hike — and then what to do if the worst happens:
AVOIDING A SNAKE BITE In the U.S., roughly 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes yearly. To prevent a snake bite from happening when you’re out on a hike, below are some tips to consider from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Prepare for your hike Wear over-the-ankle boots, thick socks, and loose-fitting long pants Don’t go barefoot or use sandals While on your trip Stick to well-used trails when exploring Avoid walking through tall grass and weeds Watch where you step Avoid wandering in the dark When going over fallen trees or large rocks, inspect the surrounding areas to make sure there are no snakes Be cautious when climbing rocks or gathering firewood Shake out sleeping bags before using them and inspect logs before sitting down
PREPARING FOR YOUR IDAHO HIKE Hiking on a new trail can be exciting, making it easy to get lost or hurt in a no-cell service area. It is essential to stay vigilant on designated trails. Below are some tips from the National Park Service to prevent getting lost: Review your route before you get on the trail Pack a compass or handheld GPS Be aware of trail junctions Watch out for information signs Keep an eye out for landmarks throughout the trail Call 911 if you have an emergency, like a rattlesnake bite. Remember, you don’t need a cell phone provider to use emergency services.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU DON’T HAVE A CELL SIGNAL Worst case scenario, you find yourself in a remote area with no cell service and potentially even hurt. Below are some tips for finding help if you’re in this situation:
Calling for help Many satellite emergency communicators can send text messages and have an SOS feature to send coordinates. Some iPhone users can make an SOS call through the lock screen. The call will automatically call a local emergency number and share your location information, according to Apple. One thing to consider is that iPhone 14 phone models and those after can use the emergency SOS feature with only satellite and not cellular data or WiFi coverage.
Self-rescue Calling for help when you’re deep in the Idaho mountains is determined on a case-by-case basis. Below are some general tips on finding help if you’re lost: Try getting back to a cell service area to call for help. If you feel lost, use a handheld GPS, compass or map to help get you back, according to the National Park Service.
If you’re lost and have no way to get help, following a drainage or stream downhill can be used as a last resort, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
When waiting for help, follow these tips, according to the Department of Agriculture: Immediately call dispatch or 911 and stay calm. A higher heart rate will pump the venom through your bloodstream faster.
Wash the bite gently with soap and water, and remove any tight clothing or jewelry around areas that may swell. If possible, keep the bite below heart level. This will prevent the venom from reaching your heart as quickly.
Do not restrict blood flow by applying a tourniquet or icing the wound. Many amputations from rattlesnake bites occur because the wound is iced or blood flow is restricted.
Do not try to suck the poison out with your mouth. The poison could possibly enter another cut in your mouth or be swallowed.
Dan working with Brian Burbridge and Mark Ottman on his “C” Bucker Certification
Dan evaluating at the Stanley Sawyer Workshop
BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has announced its plans to begin soil testing underneath the historic Rainbow Bridge on Highway 55, to collect data for future construction plans for a new bridge.
According to ITD, the bridge has been standing since 1933 and no longer meets current highway safety standards. Environmental and design planning began last spring, but ITD will begin drilling in 18 locations around the existing bridge this June to collect samples.
“Prior to the drilling, ITD will remove trees and vegetation near each drilling location to allow a helicopter to safely lower equipment,” officials said. “The ground will be re-seeded after drilling. Results will be used for designing the bridge foundation, supports and retaining walls along State Highway 55.”
The Idaho Transportation Department said the project would also decide the future of the existing bridge, adding ITD wanted the process to be as transparent as possible.
“Public input will be a key consideration in the final recommendation for the new bridge and the existing bridge,” ITD’s Dan Gorley said.
Sampling will last throughout June, and ITD said drivers should expect 15-minute delays as officials will be drilling. However, work will stop for the weekend at 12 p.m. each Friday.
Construction of the new bridge is expected to start in 2027 or 2028, ITD stated.
Forest Service News Release
Boise National Forest
Contact: Mike Williamson, Public Affairs Officer, 208-373-4105, michael.williamson@usda.gov
Forest Service’s Sage Hen Road Temporarily Closed for Repairs
BOISE, Idaho, May 30, 2024 – The Boise National Forest will temporarily close Road 626, also known as Sage Hen Road, beginning June 3 at 7 a.m. through June 7 at 6 p.m. to allow for construction crews to replace culverts and install road stabilization structures. The closure will begin at the intersection with Forest Road 644, located about 1.5 miles west of Smiths Ferry and extend 16 miles to the intersection with Forest Road 653 about nine miles north of Ola.
This closure is part of a larger road improvement effort that will extend into the fall and to other nearby National Forest System roads in 2025. While no other closures are expected this year, the public may experience temporary delays throughout the summer as crews complete road resurfacing and other improvements.
“We understand this closure will be an inconvenience to those visiting the Sage Hen Reservoir area,” says Boise National Forest Engineering Staff Officer Brett Barry. “By closing the road for five days and allowing the contractor to complete the needed work, we avoid having staged closures stretched out over several weeks.”
During this road closure the Sage Hen Reservoir area can be accessed via Forest Road 653 beginning 13 miles north of Ola at the Third Fork Guard Station, easterly to Forest Road 609, then southward to the reservoir.
For more information contact the Emmett Ranger District at 208-365-7000
By Mindy Gould on Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
HARNEY COUNTY (Released by the Burns Interagency Fire Zone)-‘Tis the season! Effective last Friday, May 24, 2024, on all BLM-administered public lands in Oregon and Washington, the following are PROHIBITED:
Discharging or using fireworks or pyrotechnic devices. Discharging or using combustible or explosive composition or chemical devices, including but not limited to exploding targets. Discharging or using tracer, explosive, or incendiary ammunition. Discharging steel component (core or jacket) ammunition, except a person with a valid state hunting license actively engaged in the legal take/pursuit of Game/Non-Game species in accordance with the current hunting seasons. Releasing or causing to be released any sky lanterns, airborne paper lanterns, aerial luminaries and/or fire balloons. Shooting at any metallic object, including but not limited to using metal targets for target shooting.
Nearly 90% of wildfires are human-caused. Follow these restrictions and help keep our public lands and surrounding communities safe!
Those who violate the restrictions can be fined up to $1,000 and/or receive a prison term of up to one year. In addition, those found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression.
Local questions, contact your local dispatch center for more information.
The Latest News on Idaho’s Public Lands
Our work reviewing project proposals and permits—both exhaustive and sometimes exhausting—pays off in big ways.
The Idaho Board of Environmental Quality recently issued a decision invalidating Perpetua Resources’ air pollution permit for the proposed Stibnite Gold Mine. The Board found that Perpetua Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) failed to follow regulations designed to protect people from arsenic-laden dust. The decision remands Perpetua’s air pollution permit, sending it back to the administrative hearing officer to reconsider ways to better control arsenic emissions and reduce cancer risks from the proposed mine.
In response to another protest by ICL and our partners, a Hearing Officer with the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) also established minimum stream flows to Perpetua’s water withdrawals that are more protective of fisheries.
Finally, if you care about the four million-acre Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in north central Idaho, then you’ll be interested to learn about the status of the Forest Service’s efforts to revise the Land Management Plan.
ICL participated in a three-day administrative hearing to voice objections to the agency’s near-final new plan, arguing that it would harm wildlife, wildlands, and wild rivers by increasing off-road vehicle and snow machine access while shrinking the boundaries of the proposed Great Burn Wilderness Area. The Forest Service has also preliminarily stated that the North and South Fork Clearwater Rivers are not “suitable” for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It is unclear how the Forest Service will respond to the objections of ICL and other conservation groups, but a written response is due to be published sometime in June. Until then, stay tuned!
Comment period is open until June 5 for the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) affecting the future of Travel Management in the East Fork South Fork (EFSF) Salmon River portion of the Krassel Ranger District, Payette National Forest.
Proposals in the Draft range from no-change in motorized access, to adding up to about 26 miles of public road and trail access beyond the current inventory.
The Forest will issue a final Decision Notice and implement the plan estimated October 2024. The Decision will guide how motorized access is managed to this portion of the Forest going forward. No losses are expected, but gains are possible depending on the Forest’s final Decision.
Learn more about the Draft plan here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/payette/?project=60889
Comment submission form here: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=60889
(Attaching a DOC or PDF of your comments is recommended; else, type or paste text into the form fields provided.)
The Forest presently manages motorized access in the EFSF area under the 2007 Payette Travel Management FEIS, the 2008 McCall/Krassel and 2010 Big Creek Yellow Pine TMP Records of Decision, and the 2024 Motor Vehicle Use Map. A 2017 settlement to a lawsuit which challenged the 2007/2008/2010 TMPs requires this Plan to be completed. (Two of three Plans total required by the settlement were previously Decided and are in the process of being implemented: Big Creek and South Fork RAMPs.)
IDPR has submitted its commentary based on the themes summarized below. Additional requests are based on routes which stakeholders have for many years been asking the Forest to implement.
- IDPR Supports Alternative D, plus proposed modifications:
- Re-open Sugar Creek Road 51883 as a Trail for 70” and under OHVs (closed ~2016)
- Re-open Crater Lake Road as a Trail for 70” and under OHVs (closed ~2016)
- Re-open Parks Peak Trails 069 and 074 to 2-wheeled OHVs as-proposed in Alt D, and also re-open connecting Rainbow Ridge Trail 070 to create a loop (each closed ~2000)
- Give greater consideration for the economic survival of the Yellow Pine community, which recreation visitation will ensure
Please inform fellow recreationists of this public process.
Hi everyone,
A big thank you to those who were able to join us for Monday’s SCNF Pre-Season Partner meeting. I know it’s a busy time of year for this group. Attached are meeting notes, which have also been uploaded to the SCNF External Partner Folder in Box. A reminder, this folder also contains some general safety documents, Risk Assessments, our Grants Calendar, etc. If any of you have trouble with this link, let me know and I’ll make sure to get you access.
If you have any questions, go-backs, or other things you wanted to talk about that we didn’t get to, don’t hesitate to reach out. We hope each of your organizations has a safe and memorable season and look forward to connecting with some of you in the field this year! SCNF PreSeason Partner Meeting Notes 5.6.2024
