SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Recreation Report July 2, 2014 Wilderness 50th Events Trey McIntyre Photo Exhibit: Visit us for a breathtaking series of photographs of TMP dancers, interacting with the elements of nature in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Dates: June 13 through July 6, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Sawtooth NRA Visitor Center, 8 miles north of Ketchum on Highway 75. For more information, contact Carol Cole at [email protected] or 208-727-5007. To view online: http://treymcintyre.com/ image/portfolios/sawtooth-project/. Stay Tuned for more events coming in July and August! The Wilderness Act The Wilderness Act was signed by President Lyndon B. John- son in 1964. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States and protected several millions of acres of feder- al land. The Wilderness Act is well know for its poetic and clear definition of wilder- ness: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its “It is a wholesome and neces- community of life are untrammeled (uncontrolled) by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” In its own words, the Wilderness Act sought to: sary thing for us to turn again “assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the U.S. and to the earth and in the contem- its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in plation of her beauties to their natural condition…” know of wonder and humility.” Keep Wilderness Wild and Clean: All summer, volunteers can help clean the Sawtooth Wilderness and join the Sawtooth Society for an end of season celebra- - Rachael Carson tion (date to be announced). Location: Personal trips anywhere in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Contact: Kelly Conte: [email protected] or the Sawtooth Society website: http://www.sawtoothsociety.org In This Issue Wilderness 50th Events (Page 1 & 3 ) Road/Trail Reports (Pg.2) Campground Info ( Page 3) Firewood Permits Galena Cabin Trail conditions south of Thompson Peak, Sawtooth Mountains Galena Summit: Road Conditions: Most of the trails above 8,500 feet in the As we progress into summer, most of our Forest roads are clear to the trailheads. Excep- higher elevations still have some snow, tions are: Pole Creek cleared to Three Cabin Creek trailhead (avalanche blocking beyond and creek crossings are high. However, this point) 6/30/14. Headwaters of the Salmon River Rd is open to the end, but with one temperatures are perfect and it is a great snow bank remaining and several high creek crossings and rough areas. Other roads at time to explore the area’s trails below high elevations may be muddy or have snow and possibly downed trees across roads and 8500 feet and enjoy the wildflower show! trails in some areas. Our crews are getting to these areas as quickly as possible. If you do Murdock Canyon Trail: Snow free. see access hindered by a fallen tree or avalanche, please do not continue and report it to the nearest Ranger Station or Visitor Center. Please turn around if you encounter conditions Harriman Trail: Clear to Galena that would cause damage or ruts to the roadway. Traveling on wet, muddy roads causes resource damage. Boulder Creek: Road passable a mile or two by vehicle, beyond that Trail conditions north of Galena Summit: only passable by ATV. Some snow at the ruins. Hell Roaring: Trail snow free to the lake. Prairie Creek: Loop is open, but not Fisher Creek: Loop is snow free and good all the way through. recommended for horses. Still has large trees down and high creek Horton Peak: Snow free. Boundary Creek: Snow free. crossings (6/24). Pettit Lake (Tin Cup) to Alice Lake patchy snow. Creek crossings very high and swift Galena Trails: Most of Galena’s (6/30). trails are accessible to hikers and Yellowbelly and Pettit Creek: Trails have been maintained the first couple of miles. Mt. Bikers. 4th of July Creek Trail: Some snow on the trail, a few campsites free of snow. Washing- Titus Lake: Trail from Hwy and Ga- ton Lake: lots of snow between Washington and 4th of July (7/1/14). lena is open and full of wildflowers. Clear of snow (6/30). Fishhook Creek: Snow free to meadow and beyond. Redfish Canyon: Redfish Inlet to Alpine Lake, snow before the lake. (6/24). Cramer Lakes: Creek crossing high. Snow en route but lakes thawed. (7/1). Bench Lake: Trail snow free to first lake (6/13). Sawtooth Lake/Iron Creek: Very little snow to Alpine Lake. Trail clear to the top of the pass to Sawtooth Lake. Snow covered beyond. High creek crossings.(7/1). Stanley Lake Creek: Good to Bridalveil Falls. (6/24). Big and Little Casino: Trails have been partially maintained. Cherry Creek near Galena Champion Creek: Trail maintained to South Fork Junction. Summer Campgrounds The following campgrounds can be re- served at least three days in advance: Wood River Campgrounds: North Fork, Wood River Group, and Easley. Alturas: Inlet Campground, Alturas Picnic Area B and Chemeketan Group Campground. Redfish: Sunny Gulch Campground, Sun- ny Gulch Picnic Area, Glacier View, Outlet, Point and North Shore Picnic Area. Hwy 21 Campgrounds: Stanley Lake, Elk Camping in the Sawtooth Wilderness Creek, Sheep Trail, and Trap Ck. The following campgrounds are first come, first served: Dispersed Camping Wood River Campgrounds: Wood River, Dispersed camping is any camping outside of developed campgrounds and Murdock and Caribou. is becoming available on forest roads that are open and dry. These campsites are free and abundant throughout the Sawtooth NRA. We ask that Alturas Lake/Pettit Lake: North Shore you stay on existing roads (see Forest travel map) and camp in areas previ- (Alturas), Alturas Picnic Area A, Smokey ously used. If a campfire is desired, it should be built in an existing fire ring. Bear, Pettit Lake and Pettit Day Use Area. Pack it in, pack it out. North of Galena Summit the camping stay limit is 16 days. You must relocate more than a distance of 10 miles from the original Redfish: Chinook Bay, Mountain View, Mt. Heyburn and Sockeye. site for 14 days. South of Galena summit the limit is 16 days and you cannot relocate anywhere in the Ketchum RD or the SNRA non-fee areas for 14 Stanley Lake and Hwy 21: Lake View, days. Along the Salmon River Corridor, the camping stay limit is 10 days. Stanley Lake Inlet, Iron Creek, and You must relocate more than a distance of 10 miles form the original site. Grandjean. More Wilderness 50th Events Salmon River: All eight campgrounds are first come, first served. Happy Birthday Wilderness! Join local wildlife puppet characters who have re- ceived invitations to a birthday party for wilderness. When: August 30. Time: 1:00 Individual camping sites can be reserved as pm and 3:00 p.m. Where: Redfish Lake Lodge, Stanley, Idaho. Presented by the early as 180 days in advance and group sites Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association. For more information: http:// 360 days, including picnic sites. To make reser- new.discoversawtooth.org vations, call 877-444-6777 or online: www.recreation.gov. There are 33 developed Leave No Trace Trainers Course: Get certified to teach LNT by the LNT travel- campgrounds within the Sawtooth NRA. Ap- ing trainers. When: September 13-14, 2014. Where: The two day course includes proximately 27% can be reserved. The remain- der are on a first come, first served basis. a classroom session at the Sawtooth NRA Headquarters Visitor Center. Exact campsite location TBA. Environmental and outdoor educators, outreach coordina- Keep it clean to avoid bear encounters tors, volunteers, youth group leaders, resource managers, etc., will greatly benefit from this course and are encouraged to attend. Cost is $85 per person. Limit is 12 Bears often develop a strong liking for human participants. First come, first served. For sign up and further information, contact: and pet foods. Store food in hard sided vehi- Gina Pearson, Leave No Trace Master Educator: [email protected] or 559- cles or bear-proof containers; keep sleeping 936-1785. www.lnt.org areas, tents and sleeping bags free from food and food odors; and wash up, change clothes Wilderness Investigations Teacher Workshop: A teacher workshop for Ele- and remove all scented articles nearby before mentary through High School teachers. Experience subject integrated lessons and going to bed. activities relating to wilderness. When: October 2 and 3rd, 2014. Where: Camp “A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear.” Perkins Organizational Camp on the Sawtooth NRA. Limited to 30 participants. Cost: $50 per person and includes lodging, lunch, dinner and breakfast. Credit Wild bears avoid people, but bears conditioned available through BSU. Sponsored by The Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical to human food can be aggressive and may be Association. For more information, contact Susan Kranz: [email protected] or 208- euthanized if problems occur. 727-5018. http://carhart.wilderness.net/ Sawtooth National Recreation Area Contact Information Fireworks are Prohibited Sawtooth NRA Headquarters: M-Sat, 8:30-5:00 - 208-727-5000 On all of our National For- Stanley Ranger Station: M-F, 8:30-12:00 & 1:00-4:30 - 208-774-3000 ests year-round. Even if it’s “green”, please practice Redfish Visitor Center: Daily from 9:30-5:00 good sense at all times by using caution with fire, www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth smoking and motorized ve- hicles or equipment (spark arresters are required).