In 2023, the Outreach & Partnership Engagement (OPE) branch (formally known as the Access Branch) developed a collaborative tool to support USDA Forest Service programs in publicizing large scale programmatic activities and projects. Outreach of Interest (OOI) aims to engage the public, by soliciting project ideas and gauging interest through a structured submission process using the Narrative Statement Form, SF424, and the “Attachments” Form. OOIs serve as a mechanism to cultivate relationships, expand potential partners, and identify mutual beneficial project opportunities. Submissions are used to identify new partnership opportunities, enhance relationships, facilitate discussions, and refine project ideas between potential partners and the Forest Service.
Key Features of the Outreach of Interest:
- A non-competitive, non-funded announcement designed to solicit public feedback and project ideas. OOIs are posted on grants.gov (posted under “other”) for maximum visibility.
- Creates a new partnership model using agreements to mirror the federal grant award process.
- Maximizes the flexibility of Forest Services non-competitive legislative authority, while increasing the pool of partners.
- Designed to support large-scale programmatic efforts through collaboration and feedback from the public to meet increased project scope and funding demands.
- Serves as a market research tool helping programs understand current market trends and the landscape of their program areas.
- Through pilot testing, the OOI model can be refined for broad implementation as a standardized outreach practice.
- Submissions will be compiled into a searchable database for FS employees to identify potential partners by region, forest, state, and program area. This database is currently being constructed and is expected to be completed in time for this first round of OOIs.
Last year, the OPE collaborated with program managers across several program areas to develop OOIs addressing common on the-ground needs. These initial OOIs are a foundation and OPE will continue collaborating with program managers to create new OOIs that align with Forest Service priorities.
We currently have 11 OOIs published and available for submission, closing on February 7th (please see enclosed for details). Two additional OOIs will be released soon:
- one focused on workforce development across all programs
- another for region 5 that addresses visitor center support and recreation stewardship coordination
An email announcement will be sent publicizing these OOIs.
The Outreach & Partnership Engagement branch will be addressing submission related questions grants and agreement inquiries, and other general OOI concerns. For program specific questions, OPE staff will consult with subject matter experts.
If you have any questions or are interested in collaborating on developing an Outreach of Interest, please let us know.
Please share this information as you see appropriate with your staff areas.
Enclosed is the external announcement that we will be sharing in an email with current and potential partners. Feel free to share this external correspondence through your engagements.
In 1998 I adopted two BLM mustangs, Kestrel and Mestena. They were yearlings and had not been touched except for shots and freeze branding. The were small but I assumed that was due to their age, it turned out it was their genetics. Being wild horses in this dry mountainous area of Nevada, smaller horses had an advantage over larger so over time the herd standard size was around 12 hands, and hardy. I soon realized that the mare was going to be a great kids horse not adult and for me my first pack horse. Over the years she carried loads on multiple wildernesses pack trips and on trail maintenance project in the Boise, Payette and Sawtooth National forests. She was Moosely’s mom and they were siamese twins rarely being over fifty feet apart, always eating from the same feeder and if she went anywhere he had to go or would throw a total hissyfit.
She knew her job so well that leading her was optional, she knew her place was behind her lead horse. This was very handy as I only had to lead one horse and could take the group to water or anywhere else I wanted to go. When I took my granddaughter riding, even though she had no experience, I knew Mestena would just follow me and would take care of her load, be it pack bags or a kid. Age and laminitis lead to her retirement in 2024 and the fall grasses to founder in both front feet and time to say goodby.
1860 – 1869
Prior to the gold rush of the 1860’s, Native Americans camped in Round Valley to hunt and to dig and dry camas roots. Packer John Welch, who had contracted to freight supplies from Umatilla Landing on the Columbia River to miners of Idaho City, established a camp on Gold Fork Creek and a brush cabin on Clear Creek in the 1860’s. He also established a station near what later became the town of Cascade.
1870 – 1879
During the 1870’s, prospectors and miners followed in Packer John’s footsteps to scour the valley and surrounding mountains for gold. The Clara Foltz mines opened on Paddy Flat, and other diggings commenced on Boulder and Gold Fork Creeks. Also during the 1870’s, two salmon fisheries operated seasonally on Payette Lake.
In the late 1870’s, the last of the Sheepeater Tribe was removed from Long Valley and Round Valley to a reservation. As the gold sources dwindled, a few of the miners took up squatter’s rights. James Horner built a cabin on Clear Creek in 1881. Other miners settled on the Payette River. In 1883, S.M. Sisk, a young miner from New York, settled near the old town site of Crawford. Later the same year, L.S. Kimble came from Illinois and began to cut trees at Tamarack Falls. A year later he moved to the site of VanWyck and opened the region’s first blacksmith shop. After Kimble came W.D. Patterson, T.L. Worthington, L.M. Gorton, John DeHaas, E.A. Smith and many others who contributed to the development around VanWyck, Crawford and Alpha.
1880 – 1889
In the 1880’s, a man named Maxey came to Round Valley to fatten hogs on the camas roots. Caroline Jarvis bought his homestead in 1888. Then in 1892, W.A. “Billy” Bacon, who came to Boise in 1863, married Sarah Jarvis and built a log cabin to begin his homestead in Round Valley.
In 1886, Jack Jasper established a homestead near what is now Roseberry. He estimated then that there were about thirty families in the valley. The Mark Cole and Blankenship families arrived in 1888 and, with Jack Jasper and the Pottengers, founded Roseberry. Also in 1888, the first post offices in Valley County were opened at VanWyck, on March 14, with L. Kimble as postmaster; and, at Alpha, on July 12, with James Horner as postmaster.
In 1889, Louis McCall took squatter’s rights on Payette Lake. Other settlers in the area were the Yorkes, Albert Gaekel, Louis Heacock and Arthur Rowland. Their homesteads were the nucleus of what would later become the town of McCall.
A post office opened at Lardo in 1889 with John Lane as postmaster. Also, W.H. Boydstun established a freight stop at Lardo to service the increased mining activity at Warren Meadows. READ MORE
Happy Thanksgiving! This season, we’re grateful for wild places and the people who care for them— people like you.
If you or someone you know is looking for an unforgettable summer adventure in the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church Wilderness areas, we’re hiring for four seasonal roles:
- Wilderness Trail Crew Leaders
- Wilderness Assistant Crew Leaders
- Youth Wilderness Expedition Leader
- Wilderness Volunteer Project Leader
Applications are open now and close January 12—but we review on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged! Learn more and apply today!
Wilderness Ranger Fellowship positions will be announced later in December.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday weekend!
Read the text of the bill HERE.
The National Park Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Friends of Acadia, Boone and Crockett, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation are among many groups supporting the legislation. Click HERE for a full list of statements of support.
America-the-Beautiful-Act (PDF)
Pictures taken near Stanley Lake, SRA
by Melanie Vining, Executive Director
Ok, so this could be the title of an article at the end of pretty much any summer lately. Snowpacks melting earlier, heat waves lasting longer and fall rains coming later are the new normal in the West, but with the west central Idaho Lava Fire almost out my backdoor and a recent trip to Salmon, which took me through the Wapiti Fire burned area, thoughts about a big fire season are on my mind. Thankfully, rain drips from the roof as I write this, but that brings its own challenges. More to come on that.
In the face of climate change and its effects- like longer fire seasons and more intense precipitation events- it’s hard not to feel helpless. With access to real time data through apps like Watch Duty, we can see maps of fire perimeters and almost watch them grow on our phone screens. Smoke fills the air, and we picture our favorite trail, lake, or campground blackened.
This overwhelmed feeling got me thinking: what can I- we- do? Not about climate change- that’s a longer blog and well outside my wheelhouse. No, I’m thinking about what we can do, and maybe as importantly, about how we can think about wildfire when it comes to recreating on public lands. Maybe some of you have already achieved enlightenment, but I struggle with this; maybe others out there do too. READ MORE
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.
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.
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!
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
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)
Descending into the ancient volcano feels like being swallowed by a monster. I set up camp in the mouth of the beast, surrounded by 200-foot cliffs—and am immediately overwhelmed with peace and quiet. But the tranquility in the crater bottom belies a violent past: Two-thousand years ago, molten rock gushed from these cracks in the earth, while ferocious explosions from thousand-foot-high cinder cones sent car-size boulders hurtling through the air. A quick foray from my campsite, 3.8 miles deep in Craters of the Moon National Monument, reveals evidence of this rocky past. Cylindrical cavities mark the spots where trees were entombed in flowing lava before rotting away, leaving their hollow forms in the hardened rock. Jagged chasms exist where ancient tunnels of lava formed and collapsed. A weekend of exploring these geologic wonders only fuels my curiosity—and ensures that I’ll be back soon. Link to story
Anna Daly writes: Craters of the Moon National Monument hit a big milestone this month – turning 100 years old.
On May 2nd, 1924, the more than 1,100 square mile area of volcanic formations and lava fields in Central Idaho’s Snake River Plain was designated a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge.
If you see smoke in the air to the northeast of Boise – it doesn’t mean forest fire season has gotten an early start.
Instead, forest managers are set to do a pair of prescribed burns. The idea is to “reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires to nearby communities and natural resources,” Boise National Forest managers said.
First, Crews will set fire to 173 acres in the Mores Creek area, about four miles east of Idaho City along Rabbit Creek Rd. on Tuesday.
Next, they’ll tackle an area eight miles southwest of Idaho City, near the intersection of Grimes and Clear Creeks. This time, they’ll burn 250 acres starting May 1.
In both cases, the burn operation will take one to two days, with another week or so where they monitor and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.
Boise National Forest folks say they try to pick times where the smoke won’t have a major impact — and also note that the dates could change if conditions warrant.
(Photo: Courtesy National Park Service)
,
ABOUT THE DESIGN: Indigenous artist Thomas “Breeze” Marcus designed the logo in collaboration with the Sierra Club. Breeze was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona on the Salt River Pima- Maricopa Reservation, just east of Scottsdale. In an overarching sense, his designs are reminiscent of his Akimel and Tohono O’odham cultural heritage—these Native Southwestern tribes are historically known for creating beautifully coil-woven baskets that feature interlocking geometric designs.
All are welcome to use this graphic in your outreach and celebrations around the 60th Anniversary this year. Images are available here:
Wilderness 60 logo (color with text)
Wilderness 60 logo (color without text)
Wilderness 60 logo B&W (without text)
Wilderness 60 logo grayscale (without text)
Wilderness 60 Webpage
Looking for a place to stay up to date on all of the exciting events happening around the many wilderness milestones this year? Wilderness Connect has you covered – their Wilderness 60 webpage is live! This is the place to share information, messaging, communication materials, and event details related to the 60th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
Riggins man dies after tree falls on him in Idaho County
Local authorities responded to a call of an unconscious man being transported to Riggins, where he later died.
Author: KTVB Staff
Updated: 12:24 PM MDT March 26, 2024
RIGGINS, Idaho — Just before 1 a.m. on March 20, Idaho County Dispatch received a call regarding a 28-year-old man who was hit by a tree while cutting firewood, according to a news release from Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.
The call they received informed dispatch that there was an unconscious man with a pulse being driven to Riggins.
The man, Tyrel Walker, of Riggins, was up on the Big Salmon in the Allison Creek area when the incident happened, and was transported to Riggins to meet the ambulance. The ambulance met the man and his colleagues on Main Street in Riggins, and Life Flight was dispatched, while Riggins Ambulance performed life saving measures.
At roughly 1:11 a.m. Riggins Ambulance informed dispatch that life saving measures would be stopped, and Life Flight was canceled.
Idaho County Deputies and Idaho County Coroner responded, and investigated the situation later that day. The incident happened six miles up French Creek Road. It appeared to investigators that Walker had chopped down a tree, then was hit by another tree, striking him in the head.
Officials say Walker’s injuries were consistent with that of someone being hit by a tree.
Listen
2023 Garmin inReach® SOS Year in Review
From hikers on daytrips to drivers on road trips, the inReach SOS data from 2023 shows that inReach devices are an important tool for adventurers and commuters alike. In 2023 the largest percentage of SOS incidents came from hikers and backpackers, but the biggest increase resulted from driving-related situations. Read on for a look at the statistical breakdown.
Since 2011, Garmin inReach satellite technology1 has helped individuals stay in touch globally, send and receive messages outside of cellphone service areas, navigate routes, track and share journeys and, when necessary, trigger an interactive SOS message to the Garmin Response℠ emergency response coordination center. Many individuals’ lives have been changed from the help they received after triggering an SOS message on their inReach device.
With 100% global Iridium® satellite network coverage, an SOS can be triggered globally. The locations of SOS incidents speak to the power of the Iridium satellite network, the intel of inReach technology and the Garmin Response team’s ability to make timely connections with emergency resources all over the world.
Garmin Response is a leader in 24/7 emergency monitoring and incident response coordination services. Using a proprietary emergency monitoring platform that connects to a global database of first responders and emergency services, the dedicated team of skilled emergency response coordinators serves more than 200 countries and territories and supports more than 210 languages.
Just this year, dispatch responses varied from local police and ambulance services on major interstate highways to highly technical helicopter rescues on the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. Responses all over the world — from New Zealand to Norway to Argentina to Canada — were coordinated for plane crashes, grizzly bear encounters, sinking sailboats, skiers in avalanches, stranded divers, injured climbers and many more.
The largest percentage of SOS triggers this year came from adventurers who were out hiking or backpacking. The next highest number of SOS triggers came from driving and motorcycling incidents. This emphasizes the importance of having an inReach on hand for everyday “just in case” situations, such as witnessing or being involved in a motor vehicle accident, experiencing mechanical issues outside of cellphone service or encountering adverse weather while driving.
In 2023, we saw the biggest increases in driving-related SOS incidents, followed by climbing/mountaineering and fishing. Other common activities include boating, snowmobiling, camping, hunting, skiing/snowboarding, off-roading and more. READ MORE
What’s Different About inReach Technology?
Staying connected, informed and safe — regardless of geographical location — has become an essential and expected part of our lives. So what makes inReach® satellite communicators stand out? Below are some of the top reasons why it’s advantageous to keep a device with inReach technology active and available1.
Connection to the Only Satellite Network with Global Coverage
The Iridium® satellite network, the world’s largest commercial satellite constellation, is the system that allows inReach devices to work globally. Its low orbit satellites enable inReach satellite communicators to relay messages, provide weather forecasts, navigate and trigger SOS alerts — even when you and your device are well out of range of cellular coverage. Plus, the multidirectional, purpose-built antennas in inReach devices help ensure a prompt connection, which is especially important in an emergency when every second counts.
Interactive SOS
With an inReach device and an active subscription, you can trigger an SOS message and connect directly to the Garmin ResponseSM team. When an SOS alert is received, team members pinpoint the incident location. Then, via two-way messaging, team members gather information from the user, coordinate the rescue response and connect with emergency contacts.
Internal Emergency Monitoring
A unique part of the inReach experience is that SOS activations are managed by Garmin’s in-house emergency monitoring team and incident response coordination center, Garmin Response. Operating since 2007, Garmin Response is staffed by trained professionals. They use proprietary emergency handling software to manage each SOS alert and work with a private global database of local first responders. The Garmin Response team has handled more than 10,000 inReach SOS alerts.
Below that, will be a series of five bills we are asking you, hunters, anglers and public land advocates of Idaho, to help IWF defeat.
From potentially increasing poaching, reducing already deficient protections from chronic wasting disease, continued encroachment of the legislature on our wildlife management agency’s autonomy, trading once-inn-a-lifetime tags for wolves, we struggled to think of a sportsman in our state that wouldn’t be negatively impacted if these came to pass.
IWF respects that our subscribers have different interests, and work hard to serve you with the information most important to you.
Do NOT use Bear spray from your saddle, getting it in your stocks eyes will lead to a wreck!
Sweet, Idaho/Price, Utah – Leon E. Berggren, 80, passed away on Christmas Day 2023 in Boise, Idaho. Dad is finally free! Leon was born on February 8, 1943, to Alta Marie and Carl S. Berggren of Imperial Nebraska, he was the second child of three children.
Leon moved around a lot with his family before graduating from Socorro High School. There, he met the love of his life Margaret Scott. They were married on February 2, 1964. Leon went on to New Mexico State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Wild Life Management.
In 1966, Leon and Margaret welcomed a son Scotty, and in 1970, they welcomed another son, Eric. Leon enjoyed spending time with his sons, hunting, fishing, camping, boating, running rivers, and bucking hay, just
to name a few. He was an avid outdoors man.
Leon’s job took him to many states, working in New Mexico, California, Utah, and retiring in Idaho in 1999. Leon loved retirement having cattle of his own in Sweet, Idaho. Leon enjoyed working his cattle with Margaret by his side. There, he had many happy memories with his children and grandchildren, who he loved with his whole heart.
Leon will always be remembered as a BLM man, firefighter, husband, dad, grandpa, papa, and great grandpa. Leon will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, son Scott, and wife Stacy, son Eric, and wife Ralynn. Five grandchildren, Carl Russell, Brian (Aspyn) Berggren, Tiffanie Perkins, Cassie (Brady) Moore and Taylor Berggren. Four great grandchildren, Jackson, Gentry, Leah, and Carl Judson. Other surviving relatives include sister Anita Little, and husband Jack, nieces Arlene and Janice along with their families, cousin Walt, and many more cousins. Preceeded in death by his parents Carl S. and Alta Berggren, brother Carl Thomas, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Per Leon’s wishes, cremation has taken place by Bowman Funeral Parlor, Garden city. A memorial service/celebration of life will take place at a later date this spring in Sweet, Idaho, with an interment at the Sweet Idaho Cemetery.
Leon & Margaret Berggren
PO 126
Sweet, ID 83670
Margaret, Lorraine & Chick at Wilson Creek
Those who lament they never have enough places to drill and scrape have a narrative about the huggers that love trees more than people. They can get vicious with their accusations. A local publisher castigated me for depriving our children of education dollars and the hospital of revenue because I legally opposed an exemption for a Williams project on a Bureau of Land Management Area of Critical Environmental Concern west of Rawlins.
The concept of stewardship using the best available technology has been rejected time and again. If those principles had been adopted, we would not be facing the choices we are now.
Our governor recently spoke against rules limiting methane releases, even though the producers in our state have egregiously spewed it into our atmosphere for years.
When the Atlantic Rim coal-bed methane area was developed, Yellowstone-like mud pots bubbled throughout the riparian areas there. But, that was only a small stream of the methane that sniffer technology found gushing into the atmosphere there. In fact, some joked that there could be a geyser of fire if a match was struck. Ironically, those seeps had been happening for years, and yet developers and regulators ignored the fractured geology of the area as they maximized drilling. READ MORE
2023-Project-Report-ICT 
READ FULL REPORT: 2023-Project-Report-ICT
Updated on 02/28/2024 BLM Owyhee Travel Management Update 02-28-2024
BLM Issues Decision for Silver City Travel Management Plan March 25, 2024
# * # * # * # * #
The 3rd of the five Owyhee Travel Management Plan (TMP) draft Environmental Assessments (EAs) is now open for public comment. Area covered is the Morley Nelson Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, South (or just NCA).
The first and second TMP processes resulted in “Alternative D+” Decisions: Canyonlands East; Canyonlands West. Silver City and Grand View areas are expected to enter the draft EA process and be completed by March 2024.
Comments will be accepted for NCA until January 8, 2024, through BLMs web portal (see “Participate now”) at the E-panning page for NCA South.
(Please do not submit comments to any BLM email address, they will tend to go into a black hole– use the Portal linked above.)
Using the BLM NCA South Alternatives map (see special instructions further down) and your knowledge of the ground, form your comments advocating for the most possible access (Alt D), siting route numbers and reasons to support keeping a route open such as looping opportunities. Alt A will not be selected; it is for showing “existing condition” based on the inventory BLM arrived at during previous process in 2016-7 and IDPR and stakeholder feedback. (Click on routes on the BLM map to get #s.)
Compared to IDPR’s current map for the area, access to several singletrack trails is proposed to be added under Alt D, fewer under Alt C. (Off-designated-route travel has been prohibited since passage of the 2009 OPLM Act.)
The NCA South Travel Plan covers approximately 112,087 acres of BLM-managed lands, the portion of the Birds of Prey NCA south of the Snake River. It analyzes 448 miles of routes inventoried by the BLM pursuant to the 2009 OPLM Act which requires travel management planning to be completed for all BLM ground in Owyhee County. The range of action Alternatives being considered (B, C, D) would designate between 154 miles (Alt B) to 341 miles (Alt D) of motorized routes for public use.
Access would include routes near or across Highway 78 from existing Rabbit Cr and Fossil Cr OHV trailheads, and other routes north of the Canyonlands East and West travel management areas.
Anyone interested in a GeoPDF map of NCA with Alternative D Routes added, please reply with that request. We will work to produce these if requested.
The most motorized access option, Alternative D, proposes the following route mileages per Draft EA page 17:
(Note “Open” = full-width, and there will be no 50″ or under designations.)
BLM NCA web map https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=255cd29a2da448a4b18639af92cbb029
Pull down the Layer List, UNCHECK “Routes – Alternative A” and check “Routes – Alternative D”. Expand by clicking the small arrow to see the Legend symbology colors.
Leaving “D” checked, you can toggle the boxes for “C” or “B” to show the differences between the Alternatives by route type and whether proposed to be Open or Closed.
Which inReach Device is Right for You?
Giving the gift of inReach® this holiday season? Planning to invest in a new device for yourself? To help you choose from the growing inReach product line, we’ve put together an overview of our current devices and the best activities to use them for.
The first of five related Environmental Assessments (EAs) for Owyhee County Travel Management Areas (TMAs) has been finalized by the BLM.
Alternative D has been chosen in a Decision Record for Canyonlands East Travel Management Plan (TMP). Released October 25, a 30-day objection period has begun. Alt. D yields the most motorized access proposed of any of the Action Alternatives (B, C, D).
Decision Record and related documents here: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/12503/570
While a map has been issued within the Decision Record (page 11), it should be considered preliminary since adjustment could occur during Implementation of the EA. Implementation will occur after all five related Owyhee TMPs have been decided, anticipated to be wrapped-up in March 2024. Publishing of finalized travel maps will follow the Implementation phase.
Decisions on EAs are still to come for four TMAs: Canyonlands West (comment period closed 10/23), Grand View, Silver City, and Birds of Prey NCA South (last three EAs not yet opened for comment).
The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness is the most remote and largest contiguous wilderness in the Lower 48. That’s why it’s no surprise someone seeking a life of self-efficiency and solitude – would choose to live there.
Along with other homesteaders, like Polly Bemis – mountain man Sylvan Ambrose Hart – commonly referred to as ‘Buckskin Bill’ – made a home on the bank of the Salmon River and lived there starting in 1932 up until his death in 1980. The area is so remote, that today the only way to get to it is by jetboat or plane.
Hart, who was born in Oklahoma, not only earned a degree in English and attended a graduate program in petroleum engineering, but he also studied and could speak many languages including German, Russian, Swahili, Portuguese, Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and Norwegian.
When Hart first came to Idaho, he bought 50 acres of land at Five Mile Bar. Here he survived and lived off the land by by fishing, hunting, growing a garden, and making his own tools like guns and knives, and clothes.
“Forest Service rangers who encountered Hart nicknamed him “Buckskin Bill” because Hart dressed in deerskin clothing,” Hells Canyon Tour’s website notes. “Although he tanned the hides, he allegedly wore the deerskin with the hair against his skin.”
Hart’s compound consisted of a two-story cabin, a blacksmithing shop, and a bomb shelter that he built himself. As rafting became more popular on the Salmon, Hart began to see visitors who would stop and say hello.
Reported by Margaret Carmel – BoiseDev Sr. Reporter
Like the rest of the Treasure Valley, Emmett is drawing in new residents for its mountain setting and small-town feel.
But, you might not necessarily pick up on that by taking a stroll down the few blocks of Main Street near Washington Avenue.
Thirteen storefronts across 10 buildings in downtown Emmett are all owned by the same Boise company, Huckleberry Properties Idaho LLC, according to public records obtained by BoiseDev. This company purchased all of the buildings at once in December of 2018 and has owned them ever since, leaving six spaces empty. READ MORE
Pack Animals:
Pack animals have been helping humans for thousands of years carry heavy payloads from one destination to another. Here in North America the most common pack animals are undoubtedly horses & mules. They have become a staple for most hunters, ranchers and outdoorsmen that live near the Rocky Mountains.
Chances are if you have, hiked, camped or hunted the backcountry in the western states you have most certainly had some kind of interaction with horses or mules. When it comes to llamas not many sportsmen can say they have crossed paths with one and if you have; you were probably too shocked to remember much about the experience.
Why Llamas:
Llamas are often called the Beast of Burden. In ancient times llamas were key to the success and survival of the Inca culture. Today we use llamas to carry the weight we cannot carry ourselves. We love the backcountry of the Western United States and our llamas carry our camp, food, water and gear to each destination we seek. When you pack with trail hardened pack llamas for the first time you begin to understand why people have been packing with them for centuries, it’s just in in their DNA.
Llamas balance 65-70% of their body weight on their front legs. Their feet have a leather pad similar to that of a dog, and a split toe that allows for larger surface area and gripping ability. When it comes to rocky, steep, and tough to navigate terrain llamas excel where some pack stock might fall short. They are smaller than horses and thus they eat and drink much less in comparison. READ MORE / FOR SALE