THE WILDERNESS LAND TRUST SPRING 2021 NEWS

46810NEW MEXICO: THE PARTNERS DEVELOPMENT CONVERSATION THE LAND OF BEHIND OUR THREAT REMOVED WITH A ENCHANTMENT LAND TRANSFERS IN COLORADO SUPPORTER The Trust has 10 projects FROM THE PRESIDENT underway across Washington state, including eight in the Wild Sky and Henry M. Jackson Wilderness areas.

SPRING: Noun. A time or season openly committed to conserving at of growth or development. least 30 percent of our nation’s land and ocean areas by 2030. Last night as I laid down to sleep, the sound of Pacific tree frogs drifted In the pages that follow, you will find through my open window, a distinct new stories that explain how the Trust’s work addition to the nightly hoots of Barred plays an important role in this historic

Owls or yip-howl of during effort, as well as profiles about generous g n i l t

the winter. I couldn’t help but smile. people – just like you – who make it all r

MISSION a B A changing of the seasons is upon us. possible. We Keep the Promise n o of Wilderness – by D acquiring and transferring Spring is a time of renewal and growth, Our ultimate goal is to ensure future the beginning of something new as we generations experience a landscape private lands to public The Ferruginous Hawk is a ownership to complete surface from the tenebrific darkness of more resilient to the impacts of a winter. And like the emerging season, changing climate, wilderness areas that threatened and endangered designated and species in Washington state The Wilderness Land Trust is embracing are ecologically intact, biologically A SNAPSHOT OF proposed wilderness t s that is often found in the r

the opportunity to work with a new diverse and well-connected to adjacent o

areas, or directly protect B

Juniper Dunes Wilderness in

administration to develop and advance wildlands to ensure safe passage of d

a RECENT SUCCESSES wilderness values. r Washington state. additional wilderness projects across wildlife, and a national wilderness B the American west. preservation system that continues to VALUES expand with every acre we purchase While the Trust has made meaningful and transfer. We revere our remaining THE WILDERNESS LAND TRUST is dedicated to acquiring private land WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON? wild places, a legacy strides to remove the threat of private within and adjacent designated wilderness before transferring it to public to pass on to future development within and adjacent Thank you for your generous investment ownership to be incorporated into the surrounding wilderness. With each land We look forward to sharing more generations, the tenacity designated wilderness during the past in the work of the Trust, and your valued purchase, the Trust not only removes the threat of potential development success stories with you. We are to work until the job is four years, progress towards transferring partnership on all our projects. We are within the designation’s borders, but also helps protect the health of an actively working in designated and done and treating those same properties slowed to a crawl deeply grateful for your support. ecosystem that depends on wilderness to thrive. Some of our recent successes proposed wilderness areas in Alaska, everyone with fairness. as the prior administration focused over the last six months include: Arizona, , Colorado, Idaho, on a different set of priorities for our Montana, Nevada, , cherished public lands. Purchased a 236-acre property – the last private inholding – in the heart Oregon, Utah, and Washington. VISION of the 7,000-acre Juniper Dunes Wilderness in southeast Washington In doing so, you have helped remove the threat of future development We envision a National We have approximately 5,700 acres of – Brad Borst, President state. Keep up with our work at on this harsh, beautiful area. The Trust is now working through the complex Wilderness Preservation property waiting to be transferred off The Wilderness Land Trust by process of transferring this property to the Bureau of Land Management and System that is complete, our books and into the hands of public following our adventures on when we’re done, this wild and windy wilderness will be complete. secure and accessible. ownership. During the coming year, we Facebook, Instagram, and at look forward to significantly boosting www.wildernesslandtrust.org . the number of project transfers and Purchased 160 acres that straddle the Wild Sky Wilderness in This land is located near the Silver Creek drainage where Our e-news is also a great way we are grateful this administration is Washington state. the Trust has eight active projects underway. The Wild Sky Wilderness is part to be the first to hear about our of a 2.6 million-acre wilderness complex in Washington state that crosses the wilderness projects. If you aren’t Cascade Mountain Range from Canada south to Snoqualmie Pass. already signed up, email [email protected] Our ultimate goal is to Transferred the 21-acre Colombine Hondo property to public ownership to be included. We promise to ensure a national wilderness as part of the directly adjacent to the Colombine never sell or share your information Hondo Wilderness in New Mexico. with anyone. preservation system that continues to expand with Transferred 581 acres of the Rimrock Rose Ranch – Sabinoso Wilderness every acre we purchase Project to the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and an additional 320-acre Lagartija Creek – Sabinoso Wilderness project parcel to TPL where they will soon be Thank you for your On the cover: and transfer. transferred to public ownership. By combining these parcels with TPL’s unwavering support of Organ Mountains pending donation of the former HOBO Ranch to the Bureau of Land our work to protect our in New Mexico Management as the latest addition to the Sabinoso Wilderness, all these Wayne Suggs photo wilderness landscapes! properties will become designated wilderness with one transfer.

2 3 Vibrant desert landscapes. Towering snowcapped mountains. Breathtaking national monuments. New Mexico’s peaceful and diverse landscapes are NEW MEXICO AT A GLANCE steeped in heritage thousands of years in the making, inspiring adventurers 5,005 ACRES PROTECTED SO FAR from across the country to descend upon this southwestern state. It’s no surprise New Mexico is known as... 1 GILA WILDERNESS The Gila Wilderness was the One parcel acquired • 21 acres world’s first protected wilderness. Private development prevented, Today adventurers from across the spring protected near East Fork country flock to New Mexico to Gila River backpack the Gila’s high mesas, rolling hills and deep canyons.

2 COLUMBINE HONDO The headwaters of the Rio Hondo WILDERNESS and Red River, both major One parcel acquired • 20 acres tributaries of the upper Rio Grande Private development in northern New Mexico, flow prevented, trail access through the Columbine Hondo protected Wilderness, providing surface water for downstream agricultural communities.

3 EL MALPAIS NATIONAL El Malpais is Spanish for “the THE LAND OF CONSERVATION AREA badlands,” the perfect description Two parcels acquired • 90 acres of a region of New Mexico where Private development prevented, prior volcanic eruptions sent rivers elk habitat protected of molten rock and flying cinders over the valley floor, leaving a stark landscape created from three million years worth of hardened lava. s p i l l i h P

a s i L 4 ARROYO DE LOS FRIJOLES Located south of Abiquiu, this INVENTORIED ROADLESS AREA is one of several roadless areas One parcel acquired • 53 acres surrounding the Canones rom the Sangre De Cristo Without it, this beautiful landscape is This project builds on our 2020 Private motorized access and cabin Creek National Trail that have use prevented, creek, wet meadow the potential to become future Mountains to the Organ Mountains vulnerable to permanent destruction acquisition of 98 acres on the north 2 and everywhere in between, from oil and gas development, mining, end of the wilderness. Both sites secure • Taos habitat and trail access protected wilderness. FNew Mexico’s geologic evolution commercial logging and other threats. future public access and prevent has created a colorful patchwork of residential development encroaching on 4 • ORGAN MOUNTAINS The striking granite crags and mountains, valleys and basins with a Since 2004, the Trust has been working the designation from nearby Las Cruces. Santa Fe 6 5 WILDERNESS, ORGAN spires of the Organ Mountains biological diversity that has evolved to conserve this land by removing • Albuquerque MOUNTAINS-DESERT PEAKS range from 4,600 to just over over 700,000 years. private use threats in the Gila, Our Achenbach Canyon project is NATIONAL MONUMENT 9,000 feet and offer incredible Columbine Hondo and Sabinoso directly east of Las Cruces. By 3 Seven parcels acquired • 207 acres hiking trails, important wildlife But despite boasting some of the Wilderness Areas and the El Malpais purchasing it, we are dispersing Residential development habitat, and watershed nation’s most majestic wildlands, New National Conservation Area (NCA). increased public use from Las Cruces, prevented, public access and protection. Mexico has less protected wilderness which will protect native plants and wildlife habitat protected than any other western state. Only This spring, the Trust partnered with other sensitive wildlife. We are grateful 2.5 percent of New Mexico’s total land Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert to all our supporters who have helped 1 area is protected as wilderness and Peaks National Monument to purchase us protect New Mexico’s breathtaking 6 SABINOSO WILDERNESS The Sabinoso Wilderness is located 10.5 percent held as tribal lands, with and protect a 109-acre property adjacent landscapes, preserving this land of 13 parcels acquired • 4,246 acres in remote northeastern New an estimated five million additional the entrance to the Achenbach Canyon enchantment for us, our families and • Las Cruces Public access provided to Mexico. Spectacular Canyon Largo roadless acres deserving of protection. in the Organ Mountains Wilderness. future generations. 5 Sabinoso Wilderness for the stretches 16 miles through its first time since designation landscape, with upper elevations Designated Wilderness reaching 6,200 feet. Its diverse For more information on these efforts, please contact Aimee Rutledge at [email protected] or 415-606-5895. National Monument The Trust’s work in this area microenvironment is home to + has increased the size of this mountain lion, black bear, mule wilderness by 25 percent. deer, New Mexico Dahl sheep, blue heron, Rio Grande turkey and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks migratory water fowl. National Monument 5 THE PARTNERS BEHIND A NEW TRAIL EMERGES OUR LAND TRANSFERS IN THE WILDERNESS

Once The Wilderness Land Trust acquires a property, the Trust staff begin the BECKY BRAND process of transferring the land to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Realty Specialist, U.S. Forest Service Management or for permanent protection. However, this process is more complex than simply signing over the deed. It takes a Tenure: 21 years. Becky was struggling dozen or more steps to add our land to the surrounding wilderness. to make her home improvement store job work with her children’s scheduling These steps could not be completed without our strong agency partnerships. needs. Her sister worked for the Forest Working hand in hand with our staff, these specialists help us keep the promise Service and encouraged her to apply of wilderness. As an expression of our gratitude, we wanted to feature a few because it was a family-friendly agency. of these dedicated folks starting with the U.S. Forest Service. She fell in love with the work and never looked back. The Region 5 office is made up of real estate specialists who process land “Conservation, public access, acquisitions to protect our forests, critical habitat areas and endangered species. and quality outdoor experiences With their help and the help of our other agency partners, we have protected Favorite Wilderness Land Trust are important. It’s more than Trout Creek 2 and 3 – 160-acre nearly 35,000 acres in California. project: just a career.” Trout Creek 2 provides access to the – Kathy Valenzuela w e r

Los Padres National Forest and 324- C

e r acre Trout Creek 3 provides access and In late 2020, the Deadwood Fire i F

KATHY VALENZUELA SANDRA LEW Crew built a significant portion of d

is adjacent to the Santa Lucia o

Senior Realty Officer, U.S. Forest Service Realty Specialist, U.S. Forest Service o Wilderness. an officially designated trail leading w d a

from to Heart Lake. e “Somewhere north of 40 35+ years. Sandra spent a lot of D Tenure: Tenure: “In order to transfer land, we have 20 or years.” After spending time in a Youth time at local parks and lakes growing more documents to prepare, including Conservation Corps program, Kathy up, followed by summer camping trips title reports, water and mineral rights, ditched her plans to become a to national forests and parks. That, and a physical examination of the property, Buying land is just the first step To protect the area, the Trust veterinarian because she liked being seasonal parks and recreation job fueled surveyor review, hazmat exam, funding in a long process that not only coordinated with the U.S. Forest outside and working among trees. her love of the outdoors and led to her approval, and more. All of these steps conserves wilderness, but also Service and Mt. Shasta Trail long career with the Forest Service. need to be completed before we get protects the health of an entire Association to devise a plan to Favorite Wilderness Land Trust the green light to move forward. We “I consider the Forest Service ecosystem that often depends on its create an officially designated trail – 1,257 acres of project: Favorite Wilderness Land Trust need to evaluate everything and the my legacy job. Most of my connection to the land to thrive. leading from Castle Lake to Heart land adjacent to the Castle Crags 29-acre Milpitas purchase, project: process takes about a year to complete. work will live on forever and Lake. In late 2020, the Deadwood Wilderness that protected mature forest Los Padres National Forest, Ventana that’s important.” When The Wilderness Land Trust Fire Crew built a significant portion and critical wildlife habitat, as well as Wilderness edgeholding The Trout Creek 2 property involved – Sandra Lew purchased a privately owned 637-acre of this trail with plans to complete provided a positive economic impact a court case over some title issues. parcel of land that straddles the it this spring/summer. for local communities through “The Milpitas purchase was a tiny I worked with Aimee Rutledge (vice border of the ruggedly beautiful additional public recreation access. project with a really big impact because president and senior lands specialist) Castle Crags Wilderness in northern The trail traverses the Trust’s newly of where it was located. When the Trust and she was able to work with the title California, it saved the Little Castle purchased property, which will “The Trust’s Castle Crags purchase purchased the land and transferred it to company to get it cleaned up before Lake area from private development eventually be transferred to the was a one of a kind for me. We were the Forest Service, they provided access the land transferred to the Forest and the potential closure of the Forest Service as part of the Castle approached by the landowner but direc t to thousands of acres of the Los Padres Service. The Wilderness Land Trust staff popular trail that leads to Heart Lake. Crags Wilderness. land purchases by the Forest Service are National Forest.” are really good at thinking outside the time consuming and frustrating so we box and coming up with great ideas Unfortunately, the thousands of Thank you to our partners connected them to the Trust. This one on how to work around the different people who enjoy this sometimes hard for helping us protect this started out as just another project, but pieces of the puzzle that make up each to find trail every year have created a special landscape: when we watched a virtual fly over of project. I can’t imagine not having the spider web of unofficial routes across • U.S. Forest Service Region 5 the land, the Crags took my breath Trust as a partner. They do so much for “It’s so great to know that the landscape in their quest to find • Mt. Shasta Trail Association away. By purchasing and transferring us and are a wonderful asset to the what we do will protect the Heart Lake, to the detriment of the • Siskiyou Land Trust this land, the Trust made that area Forest Service.” land for our kids, their kids surrounding ecosystem. • David and Lucile Packard Foundation whole, and provided an amazing and generations to come.” recreational opportunity for hikers and – Becky Brand the rock climbing community.” For more information on these efforts, please contact Aimee Rutledge +at [email protected] or 415-606-5895.

6 7 Below: the Roaring Fork River, which runs directly below the DEVELOPMENT THREAT REMOVED Trust’s Collegiate Peaks Wilderness property. With the preservation of FROM INDEPENDENCE PASS the property, the river downstream is now protected from debris and runoff from development. e d n Numerous wildlife species rely on o C

y l the river corridor for their survival, l e making it a great place to view K elk, bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, moose, mule deer, and more. A cabin of historical significance will remain on the property. e d n o C

y l l e K

From wind swept summits to lush, vibrant meadows, the Collegiate Peaks Denver Wilderness in Colorado is said to possess the highest average elevation of any Aspen • • wilderness in the lower 48. It is also home to eight “fourteeners” (peaks higher Collegiate than 14,000 feet in elevation) and an expansive variety of high valley flora Peaks and fauna characteristic of the Rocky Mountains. Wilderness

In Fall 2020, The Wilderness Land Trust Oak Foundations, as well as numerous transferring it to public ownership. purchased a 19-acre property east of individuals in the Aspen area, the Trust This work includes removing a metal Aspen just off of Highway 82 in the raised the funds needed to acquire roof, wood burning stove and other Independence Pass area of the this critical property. debris from in and around a cabin. Collegiate Peaks. Because the cabin is of historical In the last three years, the organization significance, the log walls will remain. This land is a special region known for has purchased two other properties Once cleanup of the property is its incredible alpine landscapes. It is totaling an additional 19 acres and with complete, the Trust plans to transfer also visible from the road and along a this most recent purchase, the Trust has the property to the USFS to be popular hiking trail. Without protection, removed the last remaining threat of incorporated into the surrounding it was vulnerable to residential private development in this area of the wilderness area. development, which would have Collegiate Peaks. disrupted plant and animal habitat We are grateful for our partnership and threatened access to the trail. Permanent Protection in Progress with the Independence Pass Foundation With a generous matching grant from Purchasing this land is the first of a and the generous support from local a local resident and contributions two-step process. The Trust is now organizations and residents who from the AABC, Alpenglow, BF, working with the U.S. Forest Service jumped in to help us protect this Independence Pass, Iselin and to clean up the property before piece of Colorado paradise.

For more information on these efforts, please contact Kelly Conde + at [email protected] or 208-223-3964.

8 9 INSPIRING WILDERNESS PROTECTION LEAVE A Getting to know Fred Dietrich WILDERNESS LEGACY

Science, conservation, giving back to . In the late 1960s when grass at the bottom of the lake, Why Fred Dietrich Supports With each land purchase, The Wilderness Land Trust the community, the value of spending I was about seven, he started taking me grabbed the fish, swam to the surface The Wilderness Land Trust not only conserves the wild land within its project’s time with family. These are at least four on trips. First to and returned his fly and the fish. That borders, but also helps protect the health of an ecosystem things you will learn about Fred and later to the now Ansel Adams evening we had a delicious fireside Fred has been a Wilderness Land that depends on wilderness to thrive. Dietrich, Ph.D, should you have the and areas, King’s meal of fresh cooked trout.” Trust supporter since 2010. Having opportunity to meet him. On any given Canyon National Park and more. It was hiked and backpacked in the Sierras Our work provides permanent protection for vital habitat, day Fred can be found researching always great to get out in the woods What Fred values most about his for decades, Fred says it’s important ensures corridor connectivity for wildlife to roam free, genomic technology with my dad.” adventures is the time he has spent to see land that has the potential for and safeguards streams and waterways that provide fresh in his lab at Duke “Preserving an area of bonding with family and friends on the development become part of the clean water for plants, animals and humans. University, leading a wilderness my dad loved is Fred may now live in countless backpacking and hiking trips surrounding wilderness instead. trail building project the perfect way to honor North Carolina, but his throughout his life. Fred credits his dad Help us protect our National Wilderness Preservation with a local youth him... generations of hikers favorite wilderness for igniting his passion for wilderness “My goal is to continue helping to System and the legacy of designated wilderness for future group, planting walking through the canyon memories reside in and the importance of protecting it. preserve properties in the Sierra generations. The creation of a bequest in your will is a trees to restore will look up at the beautiful California. Like the Something he says he hopes to inspire Nevada Wilderness areas because relatively simple and powerful way you can support our areas in local canyon walls, undisrupted time his dad took him in others. that’s the area I grew up exploring. work to protect the wild places you and your family love. protected lands, by development.” backpacking over Hell It’s important to give back and protect helping scouts plan for Sure Pass in the Sam Dietrich passed away in 2008. these areas. I appreciate what the Speak with a knowledgeable, reputable financial advisor and carry out Eagle Scout projects, or . “I was 11 years To honor him, Fred worked with the trust does and am glad to support today to help you get started. other trail work projects on the North old and it was a big deal for me to carry Trust to protect the Upper Lundy Lake its mission.” Carolina Mountains-To-Sea Trail. a heavy pack over that pass.” Or the property in Lundy Canyon, a 49-acre To learn more contact Brad Borst, President, at time his dad got upset while fly fishing former mining claim within the Inyo 206-842-1214 or [email protected] It was Fred’s dad who got him at Edith Lake in Yosemite because his National Forest and adjacent to a interested in the environment, favorite fly snagged the bottom of the popular hiking trail in Lundy Canyon. Thank you for your generosity. wilderness and science. Sam Dietrich lake after he hooked a trout. “I had “Preserving an area of wilderness my often recruited Fred and his sister learned to tie flies and my dad loved dad loved is the perfect way to honor Lura to volunteer at the local recycling using them. him,” says Fred. “Generations of hikers coalition and lobbied for the city to walking through the canyon will look include recycling as part of waste So when his line snagged I took off all up at the beautiful canyon walls, disposal. At the same time, Sam was my clothes, jumped in the water and undisrupted by development. They also volunteering his time and resources followed his line. I reached into the won’t know exactly how this land came to protect threatened resources such to be protected, and that would be just as Mono Lake and Mineral King in fine with my dad, as long as future California where he grew up. generations can create memories as we did in those mountains.” “My dad started backpacking in the Sierra in the late 1950s before the h c i r t e i D

d e r F h c i r t e i D

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Fred’s niece Anika Nichols on Fred and his father Sam on a a recent trip to the Trust’s 1995 trip through the Southern 49-acre Lundy Canyon property Emigrant Wilderness. in the .

10 11 NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID HELENA, MT PERMIT NO. 221

PO Box 11697 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 wildernesslandtrust.org

SPRING 2021 NEWS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Denise Schlener, Chair, Washington, DC Karen Fisher, Vice Chair & Treasurer, California Andy Wiessner, Secretary, Colorado Jim Blomquist, Washington Danna Bowers, Washington Craig Groves, Montana Joaquin Murrieta-Salvidar, Arizona Bill Pope, Washington Zack Porter, Vermont Doug Scott, California Sarah Chase Shaw, Colorado Paul Torrence, New York Mark Trautwein, California Jacqueline Van Dine, California Liz Wilson, Washington Jon Mulford, Emeritus, Nebraska

STAFF President This spring, the Trust will transfer its 154-acre Windham Bay property in Brad Borst, Aimee Rutledge, Vice President Alaska to the U.S. Forest Service. Once complete, we will have protected and Senior Lands Specialist the largest remaining private inholding in the Chuck River Wilderness. Kelly Conde, Lands Specialist This land is dense with wildlife-rich rainforest that hosts grizzly and Ingrid Ougland, black bear, moose, wolves, and many other species. It is also home to Director of Communications Spruce Creek, a known salmon stream, and muskeg wetlands.