In February, Squaw Butte has an annual event, a fun ride between the cliffs and the river where in the past Indians spent the winter and today hawks and falcons soar.
This year 16 members and friends meet at 10:00 in the Celebration park trail parking area. It was a sunny day with at time a brisk breeze blowing.
With Laurie, Linda and Janine leading the way we headed east along the river to the trail head. From there we had the choice of a number of different routes, making each ride here unique. 
After about five miles of wandering through house size bolder and bowls of sand we stopped at an old coral for a lunch break. This gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs after winter month of not riding. With their heavy winter coats the horses enjoyed the break, getting a chance to cool down. 
From the coral the group looped south and rode a river trail back to the trailers. It total the group rode ten miles in a bit over three hours. 
By ERIC MELSON
February 20, 2015
The next generations of conservationists want to hike and explore wild landscapes like the Boulder-White Clouds, just as the first travelers who discovered them. The only difference is we use fancier equipment.
My generation, the “millennials,” hikes, backpacks and floats the wilderness just like our forefathers have. But advances in materials and technology now allow us to go farther and lighter than ever before. You can now pack two weeks of food and gear into a 65-liter pack that weighs only 30 pounds. I know this because for the last six years I worked as a wilderness ranger in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and spent my summers backpacking while clearing trail with cross-cut saws and axes.
I consider myself a public servant, care taking wilderness for the benefit of all Americans. I love wild places just as much as anyone else, but that doesn’t mean I’ve sold off my mountain bikes because they’re nonconforming uses in wilderness.
The traditional conservation demographic has shifted. Instead of just backpackers, hunters, anglers, boaters and climbers speaking up for healthy landscapes, mountain bikers are voicing their concerns about access to and protection of America’s wild places. Adrenalin-fueled activities piloted by younger activists should now have a seat at the table. So what does that look like for the future of conservation and our beloved Boulder-White Clouds?
It means a community approach to management on a trail-by-trail basis. It means reaching across the table to negotiate for the benefit of the landscape – not to benefit a particular party or interest. It means being flexible, patient and professional.
The Wood River Bike Coalition working with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA), The Wilderness Society, Idaho Conservation League, Outdoor Alliance, along with numerous other organizations, 46 businesses, and local county and state officials all support a national monument because of its ability to reflect Idahoans’ broad interests. A monument delivers the conservation objectives, while also preserving prime recreational opportunities.
The Obama administration, like them or not, has proved it wants to hear and consider local sentiment before moving forward, and any action will be based off decades of local involvement. Well, the BWC have been a conservation topic for the last 40 years; Rep. Mike Simpson’s CIEDRA bill was introduced over a decade ago, and reintroduced several times since.
And while the latest iteration of CIEDRA is a noble attempt, it has yet to result in a bill that represents the full interests of Idahoans. Now more than ever, there are additional recreation pressures that need to be considered. National monument status is sensical, does not need legislative approval and has room to negotiate travel planning for all parties, especially mountain bikers.
The collaborative group has worked together to find a balance – ensuring sensitive areas get heightened protection to safeguard critical habitat, yet allowing mountain bikes to access some of the most distinctive backcountry rides in the country. This community-based approach is the future of conservation. A national monument is the Idaho solution.
The millennial generation has just as much, I would wager more, skin in the game to decide the future of the Boulder-White Clouds as any of the old guard. We’re the ones who will end up managing it, maintaining it and ultimately paying for it. And yes, it’s true, management comes at a price, but to us the price of protection in perpetuity is worth it. #MonumentsMatter #GetLoudForTheClouds
Eric Melson, of Boise, served as the Frank Church program director for the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation from 2010 to 2015. He is a graduate of Colorado State University.
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Our next National Monument: Idaho’s Boulder-White Clouds (Feb 27, 2015)
By former Rep. Larry LaRocco (D-Ida.)
Last week was historic with three more national monument designations: Pullman in Chicago, Honouliuli in Hawaii and Browns Canyon in Colorado. President Obama has now designated 16 national monuments using the executive authority of the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act gives the President authority to permanently protect places of natural, cultural and historic value and, as an Idahoan who loves the outdoors, I support the Boulder-White Clouds as national monument number 17.
The congressional efforts to save Central Idaho’s Boulder-White Clouds, the largest unprotected roadless area in the U.S. outside of Alaska, are dangerously stalled. And as a former staff member of Sen. Frank Church (D-Ida.) and former member of Congress myself, I fear further waiting won’t yield a favorable outcome. Church instilled in all of his staff a great passion for untrammeled public lands, a legacy that remains today. In his four terms from 1957 to 1981 representing Idaho in the U.S. Senate, Church was an influential leader on many fronts, but is perhaps best known for preserving much of Idaho’s spectacular wild lands and waters.
He was an integral player in the passage of the landmark Wilderness Act in 1964, one of America’s greatest conservation achievements. In Idaho, he led successful efforts to protect some of the state’s most treasured landscapes– Gospel Hump, the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, the Sawtooth Wilderness and National Recreation Area, and later the River of No Return Wilderness, re-named the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in his honor. And he and his wife Bethine backed protection of the Boulder-White Clouds region.
The Boulder-White Clouds is considered one of the last best wild places in North America and deserves permanent protection. Fishing and hunting opportunities abound. There is a stunning array of animal species from chukar partridge to wolverine; rugged, alpine terrain for hikes and climbers alike. With the addition of the East Fork of the Salmon that provides abundant clean water, the area is a literal heaven for sportsmen and outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
Idahoans are grateful to Rep. Mike Simpson (R) for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Boulder-White Clouds for the past 11 years. Unfortunately, his bid to gain Wilderness status has repeatedly failed to gain traction in Congress. The gridlock shows no sign of breaking even now after he’s made several concessions to try to win support. This is no fault of the Congressman’s but rather another indicator of protracted congressional malaise.
After waiting for decades, I recently joined 43 of my former colleagues from Church’s office and asked Obama to protect Church’s legacy by proclaiming a Boulder-White Clouds National Monument. Church’s work isn’t over and it’s time Obama used his authority to protect one of the last “crowning jewels” of Idaho as a national monument.
LaRocco served in the House from 1991 to 1995 and was the author of the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, PL 103-64.
From Everett Lewis, a Washington Backcountry Horseman, comes this wonderful video that is just as applicable to those of us riding the horses as the bikers and hikers that also want to learn how to be safe around equines. Everett has distilled the myriad of “what should happen” items into three easy to remember steps that we can share with the growing number of people on the trail. The life you save my be your own.
STOP – Horses spook easily, and may perceive movement, especially quiet movement, as a predator — and bolt.
TALK – Human speech is reassuring and comforting for the horse. Continue to talk until the horse has passed.
MOVE DOWN – to the low side of the trail. If horse gets spooked, you don’t want it going off the steep side or horse and rider can be injured. Enjoy the video that Everett produced to help educate hikers and bikers, as well as horsemen on how to share the trails together.
A Non-Profit Service Organization
Unconsciously my chin lowers slightly, followed by an imperceptible movement of downcast eyes in answer; “Oh, yeah – he’s just a trail horse.”
“Just a trail horse.” How many times have I been set back by that simple statement? The same statement heard time and again that sets my blood to boil. The same statement I am ashamed to admit has come from my own lips.
Probert, Cheryl -FS <cprobert@fs.fed.us>
Here’s a video we did on the Bridger – Teton stock program to try to raise support for stock use internally.
Horses are used all over the National Forest System, especially in the west to get work done on trails and in Wilderness areas. What’s interesting about the Blackrock Ranger Station in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, is the way they get such specialized horses. They use wild mustangs that have been rounded up off of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and given to the Forest Service for free as weanlings or yearlings and then they train them to do work in the Wilderness.
click on pictures to watch video’s
SBBCH BOARD OF DIRECTORS/COMMITTEE MEETING
Sunday January 18, 2015
Agenda Notes respectfully submitted by Marybeth Conger, Sec Pro Tem
SBBCH Leadership Team Meeting Notes
SAWYER CERTIFICATION LEVELS
Apprentice Sawyer – “A” Sawyers have completed the nationally approved classroom and field training for general saw work (such as bucking, limbing, and the first basic steps in felling) or specialized uses. (such as construction, maintenance, and fencing) Generally they are trained at the local unit and must be supervised by a B or C level Sawyer during saw work activity, which may include slashing and felling in the least complex situations. During certification, the certifier has the authority to impose restrictions on Apprentice Sawyers as deemed necessary based on the skills demonstrated.Intermediate
Intermediate Sawyer – “B” Sawyers are skilled saw operators capable of performing saw tasks as specified on their certification card without Supervision. Intermediate Sawyers are not permitted to certify other Sawyers. The certifier has the authority to impose restrictions on Intermediate Sawyers as deemed necessary based on the skills demonstrated.
Publications and training manuals
BCHO Sawyer Page / Squaw Butte Training / Test your Situational Awareness
President’s Corner January 2015
President’s Corner February 2015
presidet’s corner March 2015
president’s corner April 2015
president’s corner May 2015
president’s corner June 2015
president’s corner July 2015
president’s corner August 2015
president’s corner September 2015
President’s corner October 2015
President’s Corner November 2015
president’s corner December 2015
Suggested by Robbin Schindele
Adventures at Tölt Speed with Riding Iceland
Mustang herd seen through a Go Pro
From Evangeline Ann Adams and her family Christian, Rebecca, Linda & Rob to all BCHI members and friends.
One year ago, Laurie’s grand daughter Sophia was at the Aurora Colorado Children’s Hospital after she had fallen about 5 feet onto the concrete basement floor. She had an orbital fracture and a fractured skull and the biggest shiner ever. One year later she is asking Santa Claus for a horse and a set of guns so she can shoot balloons with her Grandma. Sophia and brother Emmett. Link to Laurie’s 2014 Christmas Story
Saturday, Dec 20, 2014, the BCHI President Karen Kinball drew the calendar winners for 2014 and delivered a Christmas surprise for two Squaw Butte members. Phil Ryan and Robbin Schindele both won $1000.00 gift cards in this years raffle. So remember as you’re selling calendars to keep a couple for yourself and don’t forget to mail in your cards!
2014 Calendar Winners (BCHI Web Site)
Jason Winters Middleton, Id
Robin Schindele Emmett, ID
Carol Young Boones Mill, VA
Bonnie Stacy Jerome, ID
Debi Riggin Walla Walla, WA
Ray Robinette Grangeville, ID
Les Chapman Meridian, ID
Brenda McRoberts Grangeville, ID
Cassidy Lindsey Meridian, ID
Sharon Katzke Caldwell, ID
Jo Hardy Grangeville, ID
Phil Ryan Emmett, ID
This is the link to the SDPB program. The first 10 minutes is on the Harney Peak Tower restoration project and the next five and a half minutes is on the Black Hills Back Country Horsemen of South Dakota.
Tom Dorrance: A Most Extraordinary Horseman
by Jim Overstreet, copyright 1994, published by permission of the author
Thirty or more unbroke horses milled restlessly in a large corral at Cow Camp, summer headquarters on Montana’s Flying D ranch. Boots Shell, the manager, asked a small, dark-haired horseman what kind of horse he’d to like ride when he roped the broncs. “Something that’s never been handled much would be best,” he said. The other cowboys, who had only met the quiet man the night before listened incredulously. It was the summer of 1964 and Tom Dorrance was already fifty-four years old.
Some of the horses waiting to be ridden were five, six, and seven year olds that for one reason or another had never been handled. Although their breeding was a mixture of good Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse blood, they’d spent most of their lives just eating grass in the big ranch pastures. They were corralled once or twice a year with the riding horses only to be turned out again untouched. Several others had been broken “at,” that is someone had attempted to break them but hadn’t been successful.
Available Soon at the BCHA On-line Store
Tamara Applebaker, Oregon, High Desert Trail Riders BCH
Tamara has learned to love the back country on horseback and appreciate the beauty and solitude there. She has been an active participant on trail projects and with fish packing. She helps with the Kid’s Corral at the Horse Packing and Wilderness Skills Clinic and is making it her Senior project this year at Klamath Union High School. She participates with the Packing Clinic committee organizing the event as well. The Bob Marshall two week pack trip this last summer was a huge experience for Tamara after being on some shorter trips in Oregon and California.
The Rose Parade and the week long series of events that precede it, are steeped in tradition and pageantry. Last year, 80 million people (including 55 million Americans) from 115 countries and territories worldwide watched the Rose Parade on television and streaming online. Three-quarters of a million people are expected to line the parade route along Colorado Boulevard this year. The backdrop of the parade, as it is every year, will be the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains of the Angeles National Forest.
In 1897, the first Forest Rangers in California rode out of Pasadena into the (then) San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. On January 1, an entourage of Forest Service Rangers in period uniforms and anchored by three traditional mule pack strings, will emerge from the forest and step onto Colorado Boulevard, representing all 35,000 employees and the thousands of volunteers who care for our national forests. The mule pack strings will be expertly guided by Region 5 packers Michael Morse, Lee Roeser and Ken Graves, who have an average of 37 years of experience in the saddle. As the centerpiece of our entry, Regional Forester Randy Moore will be joined in a vintage wagon by Chief Tom Tidwell, a national wilderness volunteer award winner and, of course, Smokey Bear. A crew of U.S. Forest Service wild land firefighters will also hike in the parade alongside the wagon and pack trains. A traditional color guard will lead the way.
The Rose Parade is a special event and we believe our entry is something for which all Forest Service employees can be very proud. It represents the culmination of many months of hard work and planning by the Region 5 Packers and many other employees and volunteers. In fact, there are currently employees from nine forests, the Regional Office (Public Services, FAM & PAC) and the Washington Office that are involved. Our entry is a celebration of many things. Key themes include the Wilderness 50th celebration, the historic role of packers in supporting wild land fire and other Wilderness operations and appreciation of our outstanding volunteers. More details on this in Update #2.
The Tournament of Roses (TOR) includes many associated events leading up to the parade and Rose Bowl game. One of these is the “Equestfest” which we’ll be participating in on December 29 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. This lively exhibition provides the audience an up-close view of each of the equestrian entries in the parade. For more information on the Equestfest and a complete list of TOR events and times, visit: www.tournamentofroses.com.
Interested in volunteering to support the Forest Service Rose Parade entry? Please contact Michael Morse by December 5th at 760-924-5511. This would be for work from December 27-31st.
Back Country Horsemen of America Invites New Generations to Join Them
by Sarah Wynne Jackson
The tradition of traveling long distance through wild lands by horseback is older than our country itself. Back Country Horsemen of America cherishes that heritage and protects our right to carry on that legacy. The participation of younger folks who hold the same passion ensures that the tradition will thrive long into our country’s future. Back Country Horsemen of America has always put a priority on younger folks, and the Flathead Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Montana took that idea and ran with it.
Keeping the Tradition Alive
For a number of years, the Flathead Chapter has sought to attract and retain younger generations of members. The general membership, with an average age of about 55, held a wealth of hard-earned knowledge, experience, and know-how, but very few younger folks to pass it on to. Recognizing the value of maintaining the tradition of traveling through America’s landscape with saddle and pack stock, and all the skills that go along with that adventure, the Flathead Chapter started reaching out to youth and younger adults.
Life Skills
Five years ago, chapter members Andy Breland and Chuck Allen started an annual packing clinic for the vocational-agricultural students of the Kalispell Public Schools. They learn about the basics of arranging a load on a pack horse or mule, how to manty (wrap a load in canvas), how to fit a pack saddle, different ways to tie on a load, gen¬eral horse handling safety, and Leave No Trace basics.
Typically, between 30 and 35 students participate in this outstanding program each year. Past students have carried their newfound proficiency into their chosen careers, such as work with the US Forest Service; membership in a hotshot crew of elite firefighters specially trained in wildfire suppression; treating animals as a veterinary technician; and as wranglers for a back country outfitter.
Girl Power
For the past six years, Andy and Chuck have been teaching for Be¬coming an Outdoor Woman, created by the University of Wisconsin with workshops taking place in most states. This non-profit, educational program offers hands-on workshops to women 18 and older in outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, archery, rifle shooting, and camping. Approximately 30 women participate in Andy’s and Chuck’s packing clinic, Leave No Trace workshop, and outdoor cooking segment.
In Demand
The Flathead Chapter of Back Country Horsemen of Montana also started a program with the local 4-H group. Back Country Horseman Alden Tot¬ten became a certified 4-H leader so he could conduct a packing clinic at the Flathead Valley 4-H camp. Fifteen young 4-Hers were excited to learn about packing and the work BCHA does for the US Forest Service.
With those popular programs in place, word got around. The nearby Family Life Church asked chapter member Rick A. Mathies to give a packing dem-onstration at their first Kids Camp. Children learned about lots of activities including horseback riding, horse training, camping, swim¬ming, and packing. Rick showed about 15 kids how to fit a pack saddle, how to manty, and how to tie on a load. Then each child mantied up a bar of soap with a miniature manty and string, a take-home memento of their experience.
Creating Lasting Relationships
These successful ventures brought in new members eager to learn even more about traveling through our wild lands by horseback. Veteran members invited the fresh folks to go with them on projects, sharing their knowledge one on one and building their confidence for their first packing trips.
The chapter also planned fun activities to help establish ties between the various generations. They kicked off the new year with a chapter bonfire party, then organized the annual Meadow Creek trail clearing and cleanup, which includes a campout. Members’ families, including kids and grandkids, were welcomed and put to work on appropriate tasks.
When the US Forest Service Swan Lake Ranger District need¬ed help returning Owl Creek Trailhead and Packer Camp to its original purpose as a packers’ trailhead, the Flathead Chapter used the opportunity as packing training for new members. Most of the 55 members who participated had joined the chapter recently. For many, this was their first packing trip.
Fostering a Love for the Back Country
Back Country Horsemen of America encourages members and all horsemen to find ways to introduce youth and young adults to the back country. When we build the public’s awareness and understanding of our wilderness areas, and help them to experience what got us hooked on enjoying the landscape by horseback, they also will see the need to protect our wilderness lands and keep trails open for horse use. As this generation passes, the next one will take the reins and preserve our right to ride horses on public lands for the generation that comes after them.
About Back Country Horsemen of America
BCHA is a non-profit corporation made up of state organizations, affiliates, and at-large members. Their efforts have brought about positive changes regarding the use of horses and stock in wilderness and public lands.
If you want to know more about Back Country Horsemen of America or become a member, visit their website: www.backcountryhorse.com; call 888-893-5161; or write PO Box 1367, Graham, WA 98338-1367. The future of horse use on public lands is in our hands!
The funeral mass for Ken Ausk will be December 13 at 11AM with prayer vigil at 10 and lunch to follow. The funeral will be at St Richard’s Catholic Church, 1210 9th Street West in Columbia Falls MT
Phyllis Ausk (Ken’s wife)
3020 Middle Road,
Columbia Falls MT 59912
khaos@bigsky.net
Ken’s daughters who are members of Back Country Horsemen
Keni and Ralph Hopkins
3115 Middle Road,
Columbia Falls MT 59912
rkhopkins@centurylink.net
Theresa and Tom Kolczak
PO Bos 3255
Columbia Falls MT 59912
tkolczak@centurytel.net
From Phyllis & Family to BCHA Members
To all the 14,000.00 members who made Ken’s life so much richer by your dedication to BCH. Many of you attended the service, sent beautiful cards and contributed to the beautiful flower arrangement. I and all of Ken’s family thank you for the kind words and outpouring of love you have shown us. Keep up the good work and have a Blessed Christmas.
Idaho Public Television’s Outdoor Idaho will end the year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act at 7 p.m. Sunday with an hour-long special that appears to be spectacular.
The IPTV team went to every wilderness area in the state to examine the places, the issues, the controversies and the wonder that Idaho has in these special places. Many call us the wilderness state with reasons this television presentation makes obvious Read More
I never imagined myself undertaking a shopping experience of this nature and yet here I am, scrolling through online pages of justwalkers.com, perusing the latest fashion in clip on walker baskets. Here’s a cool one, I wonder if the plastic flower comes in camo?
The events leading to the root cause of this sudden interest in therapeutic medical devices yanks me back to the past approximately twenty years ago. To a time when I was young and likely thought myself invincible. I would learn that invincible meant one thing and breakable something altogether different. Read More
GARY HOLT and TINA MAE WEBER visit with JIM MCGARVEY chairman of BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN of AMERICA. What the recent agreement with BCHA and the National Park Service means to you, the Trail Rider!
Wilson Corral Trail Report – Oct 2014
USFS TR 135 trail discription
Nancy & Shannon’s Adventure
Our adventure started early Saturday morning, we left Shannon’s house by 7:30 am, and thought how great we are actually leaving on time. We were so proud of ourselves. Then we get to the cutoff for Sagehen and had to decide which fork to take. That should have been the first clue that things were not gonna turn out good. From the directions posted it said take the 2nd fork. So we did, and boy howdy we had no idea what we were in for. Not only was the road skinny for a horse trailer and no pullouts,but from the rain the night before the black mud was like grease in spots. Once we almost lost traction on a very curvy hill. So needless to say we have calluses from holding the steering wheel and finger prints in the dash .. When we finally reached the expected meet up place we found lots of hunters and no place to turn around, and no Rob either.. We asked the hunters if they had seen Robs rig and they assured us they had not. So we thought well we may as well get the heck out of there, besides how many more gray hairs could Shannon sprout.. ?? The hunters moved vehicles so we could get turned around and we went back 3rd fork which was like a freeway compared to 2nd fork. We came straight back to the Eagle foot hills and rode there just to unwind a little and say we had rode this day.. So make sure you don’t take 2nd fork with a trailer and especially if it has rained. (The route they took was the middle option, the directions suggest 3rd fork, the blue option)
2014 Developing The Next Generation of Conservationists Project List
2015-NextGen-RFP-Final-10-14-14
Response to the Ryan T Bell piece in Western Horseman on the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act
Ryan Bell Response (BCHA Letter to Editor – Western Horseman)
October 21, 2014 10:28AM
The horses from the Hard Trigger Wild Horse Herd Management Area will be available at the Boise Wild Horse Corrals off Pleasant Valley Road in south Boise.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Twenty-three wild horses gathered in southwest Idaho will available for adoption in Boise on Friday and Saturday.
Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management say the horses from the Hard Trigger Wild Horse Herd Management Area will be available at the Boise Wild Horse Corrals off Pleasant Valley Road in south Boise.
Adoption hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday October 24, 2014 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday October 25, 2014.
The 2014 Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion Matt Zimmerman will conduct training demonstrations both days.
Those wishing to adopt a wild horse must be at least 18 years old, never have been convicted of animal abuse or cruelty, and have proper facilities and transportation. BLM Wild Horse Program
After a life threatening injury from a horse accident in August of 2011, I signed up for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. Not knowing if I was going to be physically able to train, but having the determination and the desire to reach my goals is what gave me the strength. A few quotes wandered my way about the time I was picking up my mustang and they read— “If you can dream it, you can believe it, then you can achieve it!” and “A champion wins first, then walks into the arena, and everyone else walks into the arena and tries to figure out what to do!”
My philosophy is that every horse must have trust before they can go on and accomplish anything. This is done by doing the correct groundwork to achieve respect and control of the horse without instilling fear. If the correct foundation is laid down from the beginning, then you will have a solid horse that will do anything for you and go anywhere you want without protest. I personally like to have all the horses that I start do a wide range of things so that they are diverse, because I feel it keeps the mind fresh and that keeps your horse wanting to be a willing partner. Plus, having a versatile horse gives you more options if some unforeseen thing happens and your horse can no longer compete in his specified field.
Extreme Mustang Makeover
The purpose of the competition is to showcase the beauty, versatility and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the BLM under federal law. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources. Thousands of the removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption. More than 3,300 wild horses have been adopted through Mustang Heritage Foundation events and programs since 2007
On October 12, seven members of Squaw Butte had a great fall ride in the the north eastern corner of the Succor Creek BLM management area. Succor Creek Loop Ride
Idaho decided the best way to move beavers was to airdrop them!
Just the title – “Transplanting Beavers by Airplane and Parachute” – of this 1950 report in the Journal of Wildlife Management raises questions. Like, for goodness sake, why? And how? Did they specially make tiny beaver-sized parachutes and goggles, and push them out of the cargo hold, one by one, like a tiny dam-making army? Once on the ground, did the beavers suffer post-traumatic stress from the sudden drop? Or did they spend the rest of their days mourning in rivers, longing for another taste of the sky? Read More
Beavers, Their Dams Put to Work Restoring Streams Read More
Beavers as neighbors Read more
On September 14 a small but enthusiastic group of 4 riders set out into the Payette National Forest to clear trail and explore the Bucks Basin area. Once at the trail head, the lower trail was well defined and in good shape. There were only two areas that required some minor deadfall cleanup. Further up the trail the path became less defined as it passed through a meadow and cattle loafing area. Due to the lack of a visible trail, the group did a bit of “bush whacking” up a rocky slope in search of the trail. Once above the meadow, a few scattered cairn and trial markers guided us to the summit above Lake Basin. The views were fantastic and we spotted a small group of mule deer near the top. After a relaxing lunch in Lake Basin, the group struck back for camp. The weather was dry and pleasant and all rider and mount performed well.
MATTHEW DOPERALSKI
What begins as a relaxing, back to nature backpacking trip into Oregon’s rugged Eagle Cap wilderness soon evolves into a three month adventure of a lifetime for three people and a big white dog.Physically unprepared and ill equipped, the party sets out on a three day hiking trip only to discover Mother Nature is not always willing to accommodate such novice trespassers in her back yard.Forced to confront the challenges of nature’s wrath head on, each hiker learns true loss is not in the absence of material things, but rather the failure to discover the strength which is inside each of us.Follow the incredible journey as these ragtag wanna-be hikers set out to discover new trails and discover instead that sometimes it’s not always the destination, but the journey that is most remembered See more Eagle Cap Pictures
Enclosed is a report that summarizes the listening sessions held this spring across the Intermountain Region, including the sessions in Boise. The Regional Leadership Team has discussed the report information and there has been clear value to them to read the contents. Thank you for your participation.
David R. Olson
Public Affairs Officer
Boise National Forest
1249 S. Vinnell, Suite 200
Boise, ID 83709
208-373-4105 (w)
208-861-0768 cell
The story of a Chainsaw Chaps Injury (Blog Post)
Watch this Chap demonstration video
Chain Saw Safety – Training Video
Chainsaw Accident Statistic
Chainsaw Chaps Guide
When was the last time you checked your trailers tire pressure? Just a few pounds of pressure low can make a huge difference in handling and load capacity. Just a quick look before loading can prevent a picture like this somewhere along the road. Use a tire pressure gauge on each tire & spare before using your trailer. That few minutes can save you a lot of grief and expense later.
Click on picture
Learn how to read your trailer tires Proper tire Care & Safety
Trailer Safety Check List Trailer Safety Inspections and Maintenance