ITA – Pack-In & Out PNF Blackmare Lake

18. June 2023 · Comments Off on ITA – Pack-In & Out PNF Blackmare Lake · Categories: Trail Volunteer Groups, Work Parties and Projects

A short update on the Idaho Trails Association South Blackmare Trail trip June 11-17

We had a good trip last week. Due to imclimate weather we had a few mid afternoon stops earlier in the week, but ended the week with some nicer weather. We worked mainly on Trail 302, but also did some logging and brushing along Trail 100 as we went in and out to better accommodate stock. The 8 participants removed approximately 379 trees from the trails – either cut out or moved, as well as performed brushing along the majority of the approximately 1.6+ miles of trail 302 we were able to cover. We also did tread work in a number of areas.

More details and stats to come, but I wanted to give you an overview. The attached KMZ has the trail from near where we camped (perhaps the southside of Blackmare creek) to where we turned around. Work was also done from camp up to the junction with Trail 100.

Please let us know if you have any questions we can address in our more detailed report.

Kirsten Severud
ITA Crew Leader


I packed them in and snapped just a couple photos bc it was raining much of the ride.  I will send more pics of the work the crew got done (about 2 miles past where Blackmare and SF Blackmare split) over the week when I get them. This was truly a “lost trails found” effort, as the trail was almost entirely overgrown and even required scouting to find it, and some tread reestablishment. A good effort by the crew and one more hitch would probably be enough to get to the lake but we won’t get to it until next year.

The first mile or so is the most exposed trail- like Jeff said, steep granite slopes. The rest is mellower.

Melanie Vining, Executive Director Idaho Trails Association

So yesterday was the ITA pack out from Blackmare lake in the south fork of the salmon. The trip went well, weather forecast was sunny and 70 degrees. The high I saw was was 59 and rain most of the trip. The trail was in great shape though the elevation gain and loss was about 2000 feet and most of the 4.5 miles in you are hanging on granite outcroppings that are sticking out of 70 degree side slopes of sand. The crew of six people made for big loads on 3 mules. Everything went well and got to spend the day in a beautiful canyon on horseback.  Jeff Halligan  BCHI


400,000+ acres protected in the Owyhee Canyonlands!

18. June 2023 · Comments Off on 400,000+ acres protected in the Owyhee Canyonlands! · Categories: Current Events

Today we are celebrating a major conservation win for Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands!
The Bureau of Land Management’s newly released plan for this wild, remote and iconic expanse of Oregon’s high desert establishes new protections for more than 400,000 acres of the region’s most ecologically important habitats.  The Owyhee Canyonlands are a national treasure, featuring miles upon miles of deep, rugged canyons, supporting a rich diversity of wildlife and preserving some of the darkest night skies in the country. The Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan Amendment is the BLM’s blueprint for managing this far-flung corner of the state.
The new plan addresses everything from conservation of wildlands and cultural resources to livestock grazing, off-road vehicle use and the increasing impacts of climate change on public lands. And its decision to protect more than 417,190 acres of “Lands with Wilderness Characteristics” is precedential: the BLM has never before proposed to protect so many acres of “LWCs” for wilderness values in a single BLM district.This achievement is a direct result of your efforts conducting wilderness inventories, advocating for conservation and pressing for strong, science-based decision-making for public lands.
New and stronger conservation management of this landscape will promote climate resilience, support the recovery of key species like the greater sage-grouse, and provide for abundant backcountry recreation in one of Oregon’s most remote landscapes. In the coming weeks, we’ll continue to review this plan, delving into its management prescriptions, charts, maps and appendices.
We look forward to updating you on all that we discover. All the while we will continue pressing forward on Senator Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley’s recently-introduced legislation that would establish more than 1 million acres of wilderness protections in the Owyhee Canyonlands. In the meantime, we’re glad to share this news and take a moment with our community to enjoy this remarkable conservation outcome for eastern Oregon. Thank you for your abiding support for conserving the Owyhee Canyonlands and Oregon’s high desert!
Ryan Houston
Executive Director

Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship

18. June 2023 · Comments Off on Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship · Categories: Education

In this illuminating book, brain scientist and horsewoman Janet Jones describes human and equine brains working together. Using plain language, she explores the differences and similarities between equine and human ways of negotiating the world. Mental abilities—like seeing, learning, fearing, trusting, and focusing—are discussed from both human and horse perspectives. Throughout, true stories of horses and handlers attempting to understand each other—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—help to illustrate the principles.

Horsemanship of every kind depends on mutual interaction between equine and human brains. When we understand the function of both, we can learn to communicate with horses on their terms instead of ours. By meeting horses halfway, we achieve many goals.

We improve performance.

We save valuable training time.

We develop much deeper bonds with our horses.

We handle them with insight and kindness instead of force or command.

We comprehend their misbehavior in ways that allow solutions.

We reduce the human mistakes we often make while working with them.

Instead of working against the horse’s brain, expecting him to function in unnatural and counterproductive ways, this book provides the information needed to ride with the horse’s brain. Each principle is applied to real everyday issues in the arena or on the trail, often illustrated with true stories from the author’s horse training experience. Horse Brain, Human Brain offers revolutionary ideas that should be considered by anyone who works with horses.