SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Recreation Report August 29, 2014
What is Wilderness? Wilderness is the land that was—wild land beyond the frontier...land that shaped the growth of our nation and the character of its people. Wilderness is the land that is—rare, wild places where one can retreat from civiliza- tion, reconnect with the Earth, and find healing, meaning and significance.
The United States was the first country in the world to define and designate wilder- ness areas through law. Subsequently, countries around the world have protected areas modeled after the Wilderness Act. In 1964 our nation’s leaders formally acknowledged the immediate and lasting benefits of wild places to the human spir- it and fabric of our nation. That year, in a nearly unanimous vote, Congress enact- “Something will have gone out of ed landmark legislation that permanently protected some of the most natural and undisturbed places in America. The Wilderness Act is one of the most successful us as a people if we ever let the U.S. environmental laws, standing for almost 50 years without a substantial remaining wilderness be de- amendment, and as such, continues to be the guiding piece of legislation for all wilderness areas. The Act describes wilderness areas where the earth and its stroyed, we simply need that wild communities of life are left wild and free from human manipulation, where the pri- country available to us, even if we mary forces of nature are in control, and where people themselves are visitors who do not remain. never do more than drive to its edge and look in.”
— Wallace Stegner from “The Sound of Mt. Water”
In This Issue
The Wilderness Act (Pg.1)
Road/Trail Info (Pg. 2)
Wilderness 50th Events (Pg. 3 )
Campground Info (Pg. 3)
The signing of the Wilderness Act into law by President Firewood Permits (Pg. 4) Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964. Senator Frank Church is in the background. River Mitigations due to spawning salmon:
The following sections of the Salmon Trail damage from flash flood at Joe Daley Trailhead River are closed or restricted to portages due spawning salmon: Road Conditions: Roads are open. However, recent flooding in some areas has washed debris across roads. August 15 Closures: Buckhorn Bridge If you do see access hindered by a fallen tree or flooding, please turn around and report it to to Stanley, Mormon Bend to Yankee the nearest Ranger Station or Visitor Center. Fork, Torrey’s Takeout to E. boundary Sawtooth NRA. Trail conditions north of Galena Summit: Quiet Zones: Indian Riffles and Torrey’s The Sawtooth National Forest would like to advise trail users to anticipate obstacles and Hole. debris on many of our back-country trails. Due to continued extreme weather this summer, we have many trails with more downfall than usual. Our Forest Service trail crews are work- Float boaters are required to 1) Float the ing diligently to clear and improve trails. With recent storms, trails that were maintained early deepest channel, 2) Avoid any known in the season now need to be cleared again. Expect to encounter the challenges and risks of redds by as wide a margin as possible, changing weather and rugged geography. Plan accordingly, travel safely and be prepared to 3) Remain in the boat, 4) minimize pad- turn around if necessary. Your safety is your responsibility. The following trails have been dling, and 5) Refrain from water play, maintained as of early August: sudden movements, and excessive noise. Quiet zones are intended to give North Fork of Baron: Many large trees across trail, hard to go around. Ok for hikers, not salmon that begin spawning (before clo- advisable for stock. Baron Lake Trail from Grand Jean: Large trees cut out– passable to sures take effect) a better chance of hikers and okay for stock (8/19). success.
Stanley Lk to McGowan Lks: Good, only a few trees on trail, easy to go over or around. August 29th: Mandatory Portages:
Pettit Lake to Sunnyside Pass: Trail clear and passable to Toxaway (8/19). Indian Riffles: Float boaters are required to take out at Lower O’Brien Edna Lake to Cramer Lakes: A few trees down. Easily negotiable for hikers and stock. Campground and portage their boats approximately 1.5 miles along the Robin- 4th of July to Robinson Bar: Cleared trail, lots of hazard trees. Washed out section son Bar road. about 3 miles past Garland Junction, dangerous for stock. 4th of July to Chamberlain Basin: Trail is clear of trees and brush. A few side hill blowouts but easily crossed by all Torrey’s Hole: Float boaters are required users. Born to 4th of July: Trail clear of trees (8/25). to take out at the Snyder Springs boat ramp at mile post 208.8. Garland Creek from Warm Springs Creek: Trees cleared through burned area. Trail is easily negotiable but overgrown in parts. Creek crossings have bridges. (8/20). September 3rd: The entire river clos- es to float boating and reopens on Iron Creek: Trail in good condition. Clear of trees to Alpine Lake (8/23). September 23rd.
Little Queens to Browns Lake: Large trees on trail with small washed out areas. Open to hikers, challenging for stock. (8/25). Queens River Trail: Several large washouts with one very deep blowout. Ok for hikers, impassible to stock (8/25).
Chamberlain to Baker Lake: Two larger trees down. Easily passable. (8/26).
Middle Fork of Boise River: (Leggit Jct to Flytrip Jct): Twenty plus trees on trail and 25 mile avalanche debris pile over trail south of rock creek jct—makes route/trail finding Salmon Alevins difficult. Leggit Crk to Leggit Lake: Challenging route finding due to washouts.
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 at Outlet Campground on Redfish Lake Creek, Sheep Trail, and Trap Ck.
The following campgrounds are first come, Dispersed Camping first served: Dispersed camping is any camping outside of developed campgrounds. Wood River Campgrounds: Wood River, These campsites are free and abundant throughout the Sawtooth NRA. We Murdock and Caribou. ask that you stay on existing roads (see Forest travel map) and camp in are- as previously used. Pack it in, pack it out. North of Galena Summit the camp- Alturas Lake/Pettit Lake: North Shore ing stay limit is 16 days. You must relocate more than a distance of 10 miles (Alturas), Alturas Picnic Area A, Smokey from the original site for 14 days. South of Galena summit the limit is 16 Bear, Pettit Lake and Pettit Day Use Area. days and you cannot relocate anywhere in the Ketchum RD or the SNRA non Redfish: Chinook Bay, Mountain View, Mt. -fee areas for 14 days. Along the Salmon River Corridor, the camping stay Heyburn and Sockeye. limit is 10 days. You must relocate more than a distance of 10 miles form the original site. Stanley Lake and Hwy 21: Lake View, Stanley Lake Inlet, Iron Creek, and Wilderness 50th Events Grandjean. Birthday Bash! Join us on Wednesday, September 3rd, from 6-8 p.m. at the For- Salmon River: All eight campgrounds are est Service Park in Ketchum for a Wilderness 50th celebration party with a free first come, first served. barbecue, free beer and live music. Forest Service booth with animal pelts and Individual camping sites can be reserved skulls, including activities for kids. Information about wilderness areas across the as early as 180 days in advance and state and the country. This event is family friendly! group sites 360 days, including picnic Happy Birthday Wilderness! Join local wildlife puppet characters who have re- sites. To make reservations, call 877-444- ceived invitations to a birthday party for wilderness. “Eagle is sent on a journey to 6777 or online: www.recreation.gov. There gather wilderness songs and learns that it might not be what you think.” This show are 33 developed campgrounds within the was written especially for the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act. A delight for Sawtooth NRA. Approximately 27% can be kids of all ages! When: August 30. Time: 1:00 pm and 3:00 p.m. Where: Redfish reserved. The remainder are on a first Lake Lodge, Stanley, Idaho. Presented by the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical come, first served basis. Association. For more information: http://new.discoversawtooth.org
Keep it clean to avoid bear encounters Wilderness Investigations Teacher Workshop: A teacher workshop for Ele- mentary through High School teachers. Experience subject integrated lessons and Bears often develop a strong liking for hu- activities relating to wilderness. When: October 2 - 3rd, 2014. Where: Camp Per- man and pet foods. Store food in hard sid- kins. Limited to 30 participants. Cost: $50 per person and includes lodging, lunch, ed vehicles or bear-proof containers; keep dinner and breakfast. Credit available through BSU. Sponsored by The Sawtooth sleeping areas, tents and sleeping bags Interpretive and Historical Association. For more information, contact Susan free from food and food odors; and wash Kranz: [email protected] or 208-727-5018. http://carhart.wilderness.net/ up, change clothes and remove all scent- ed articles nearby before going to bed. “A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear.” Wild bears avoid people, but bears conditioned to hu- man food can be aggressive and may be euthanized if problems occur. Sawtooth National Recreation Area Contact Information Fire Restrictions Lifted
Sawtooth NRA Headquarters: M-Sat, 8:30-5:00 - 208-727-5000 Due to frequent rain show- (Open Monday of Labor Day weekend; closed thereafter on Sat/Sun) ers, cooler weather and low- er fire dangers, this has Stanley Ranger Station: M-F, 8:30-12:00 & 1:00-4:30 - 208-774-3000 prompted federal wildfire officials to lift Stage 1 Fire Redfish Visitor Center: Daily from 9:30-5:00 until Mid-Sept. 208-774- Restrictions within the Saw- 3376. tooth National Recreation Area. This went into effect www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth August 15, 2014.
Lifting restrictions means Redfish Center Events: Redfish Center and Gallery and the Stan- the public is free to build a ley Museum have daily programs for all ages throughout mid- campfire, use a charcoal September. barbecue or sheepherder stove outside of designated The Friday Forum and Lecture Series will feature a presentation on campgrounds and recrea- “Then and Now: The lives of Wilderness Rangers” with John Rember tion sites. Fire mangers re- and Katy Nelson. Join us at 5 p.m., Friday, August 29th at the Stanley mind people to use water to Museum and 8:00 pm at Redfish Center. put out all campfires and to soak all charcoal and hot Interpretive Programs: Daily programs range from guided walks at the ash from barbecues. Redfish Center, Junior Ranger Programs, Discovery Stations, and a variety of interesting topics. We also provide evening programs at the amphitheater and Redfish Lake interpretive boat tours. Check our website for weekly schedules. You can also pick up a copy at the Stanley Ranger Station, Sawtooth NRA Headquarters Visitor Center, Firewood Permits: or Redfish Center. See Redfish Center’s website for more lecture se- ries details at: www.discoversawtooth.org Firewood permits are avail- able. (We will be open Sat-
urday and Monday of Labor Sawtooth National Recreation Area Private Lands Program Day Weekend, and then The 756,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area includes more closed on Saturdays and than 20,000 acres of privately owned land, primarily in the Sawtooth Sundays after Labor Day Valley and Stanley Basin, and along the Salmon River for approxi- weekend). The minimum mately 25 miles downstream from Stanley, Idaho. When the U.S, Con- purchase is two cords at gress established the Sawtooth NRA in 1972, it sought to preserve $25.00, each additional and protect the Area’s “natural, scenic, historic, pastoral, and fish and cord is $12.50, for up to 10 wildlife values and to provide for the enhancement of the recreation cords per household. values associated therewith.” (Public Law 92-400). Our management goals and commitment for conservation of the landscape are governed by this law.