the people · wilderness · stewardship WILDEST PLACE Newsletter of the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation SUMMER 2015 From the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR people · wilderness · stewardship he 2015 field season has begun! We have an outstanding group of six Wilderness Professionals and ten Wilderness Ranger TInterns, plus a lengthy list of eager volunteers. Staff and interns completed two full weeks of extensive training in May and received Wilderness First Responder and crosscut saw certification and Summer 2015 training. They also received excellent pack stock training from “Pack Guru” Jim Renshaw and the Binninger family—with kids, Flora and SBFC Staff Board of Directors Clem, teaching the how-tos of horse and mule handling. The Lochsa Historical Ranger Station was headquarters for training and housing—many thanks to Connie Sally Ferguson Ed Krumpe — CHAIR Saylor-Johnson and the Forest Service for this great location! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MOSCOW, ID We have 13 wilderness volunteer projects in the Selway and the Frank this season. Coby Gierke Lisa Gerloff — PAST CHAIR SB PROGRAMS DIRECTOR MISSOULA, MT We also have a new partnership project this year with the Wilderness Land Trust. Together Sue Webster Jerry Randolph — VICE CHAIR we will host a weekend volunteer project on the Salmon River. The historic Painter Mine was COMMUNICATIONS/MEMBERSHIP MCCALL, ID recently purchased by the Wilderness Land Trust and we will restore the site for inclusion in Claire Muller Dale Williams — TREASURER the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. For more information and to sign up for FIELD STEWARDSHIP COORD. FLORENCE, MT projects go to: www.selwaybitterroot.org/volunteer-now. Ben Stein Jane Holman — SECRETARY MOOSE CREEK TRAIL LIAISON MOSCOW, ID A warm welcome to Ari Kotler, our newest Board Member (see below). Greg Aerni John McBoyle October 22 - Save the date! SBFC is again bringing the Telluride Mountain Film POWER TRAILS LIAISON GRANGEVILLE, ID Festival to Boise’s Egyptian Theatre. Watch our Facebook page and website for film and Dylan Barbash Charles Miller ticket information. WILDERNESS TRAIL CREW LDR. HAMILTON, MT Eric Schweitzer Connie Saylor-Johnson Also in October, we are launching the SBFC Author Series at Rediscovered Books in WILDERNESS TRAIL CREW MBR. NEZPERCE, ID downtown Boise. Featured authors will include local and regional authors who will talk about Steph Wright Clare O'Connell a variety of topics relating to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. WILDERNESS TRAIL CREW MBR. MISSOULA, MT We are looking forward to a successful and memorable season followed by an action- Tom Kovalicky packed fall. GRANGEVILLE, ID Murray Feldman BOISE, ID Sally Ferguson Ari Kotler Executive Director DRIGGS, ID Chris Ryan MISSOULA, MT Boise Office Western Montana WELCOME Ari Kotler 322 E. Front St. Office e are pleased to welcome Ari Kotler to the Board of Directors Ste. 420F Missoula of the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation. Ari, who P. O. Box 1886 406.329.3603 lives with his wife and daughter in Driggs, Idaho, is owner of Boise, ID 83701 W North Central Idaho S.O.A.R. Northwest River Company. He has been an outfitter on the 208.373.4381 Office Selway for the past five years and will soon be outfitting on the Main Grangeville Salmon. Ari has a long history of non-profit work, a unique industry 208.373.4381 perspective, and a commitment to collaboration and partnership. Ari serves as Board Member on the Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association where he is River Vice President. Ari says that, “rivers are The Wildest Place is the membership newsletter of the the primary gateway to these great Wilderness areas and rivers are my passion. I take great Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation. With the pride in sharing and protecting the wilderness resources.” support of members, local businesses, and generous grantors, the SBFC is committed to connecting citizens Ed Krumpe and communities to assist in the stewardship of the Board President Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, and surrounding wildlands. EDITING: Sue Webster DESIGN & LAYOUT: Darci Thompson HAPPY TRAILS TO Eric Melson CONTRIBUTORS: Sally Ferguson & Coby Gierke COVER PHOTO: Adam Bussan, Goat Lake-Bighorn Crags area ric started with SBFC as an intern in 2009 (our first crop!). A young man with a pony-tail came on board with energy, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic – much needed skills for The Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation a fledgling organization. Too good to let go, Eric became our first program director, first is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. E for the Selway-Bitterroot and later for the Frank Church. Although he lost the pony-tail, Eric selwaybitteroot.org over his five years as a part of the SBFC staff, maintained his contagious enthusiasm and strong work ethic for engaging youth, volunteers, and partners in wilderness stewardship. We say facebook.com/selwaybitteroot farewell to a dear friend and wish Eric all the best wherever the next trail takes him. sbfc_foundation Lisa Gerloff Past Chair 2 Where Are They Now? his is the first installment of resource management. The LiDAR airborne surveys are eventually interviews collected from our past converted to data used to create the topographic maps we’re all familiar Tinterns. D Pettit, retired SBFC Board with. Drew’s first position was as a Ground Survey Professional which Member, spent several months contacting had him traveling around the country setting up GPS equipment to assist and corresponding with interns who have the aircraft. In fact, Drew’s first project was mapping the Mt. Jefferson graduated from college and started their Wilderness area. careers. Dee’s objective was to learn what the interns are doing now and if the SBFC It was the experience and training that he gained through his internship internship was a significant factor in their with the (then) Selway-Bitterroot Foundation, that gave him the career path. credentials to land a position with Watershed Sciences. Drew’s current job requires that he work unsupervised in the field for weeks at a time, it DREW WENDEBORN – SUMMER INTERN - 2010 was that same work experience with the SBFC that ensured that he was After Drew’s summer internship with the SBFC, he went back to school at trustworthy and could meet expectations without close supervision. Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Spatial Sciences. Drew’s first Drew is happy that the data he has helped to collect is still being used for job was a temporary position with the Bexar County Appraisal District Wilderness management. GIS department in San Antonio. He continued to apply for numerous permanent positions throughout the country. Drew is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to intern with the Foundation as it has directly shaped his trajectory in life. With After passing on multiple GIS job offers, Drew finally found a great backcountry in his blood, he continues to be an avid advocate for position with a remote sensing company, Watershed Sciences. Most of Wilderness Stewardship, and hikes and skis the Wilderness areas near his the work at Watershed Sciences involved airborne surveys for natural new home of Portland, Oregon. WELCOME 2015 Wilderness Ranger Interns This year the SBFC received over eighty Science. He’s held a myriad of jobs in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4 years Tyler is pursuing a double major in applications from across the nation for over the past few years, everything and served 2 tours of combat in Iraq. environment and sustainability, and the Wilderness Ranger Intern position. from the Resort Ranch at Paws Up, to Adam is currently finishing up his last recreation and outdoor education, We are proud to bring aboard ten new the Le Petite Bakery in Missoula, to IT semester with a degree in Parks, Tours, along with a minor in biology. He interns who are learning new skills, support on campus. In his free time and Recreation Management. Adam has career ambitions in the field of forging new territory, and creating their he loves backpacking, rafting, and hopes to eventually become a Wildlife wilderness management. own personal definition for stewarding reading. Nolan’s non-major studies Marshal for Montana FWP. our nation’s dedicated wilderness areas. range from film to philosophy. Being in Taryn Schreiner - Nez Perce- We are honored have such a fine group of the outdoors and enjoying the natural Melinda Horne - Bitterroot NF – Clearwater NF – Northern Arizona young people who are passionate about beauty of his home state have always University of Montana University the work we do and the work they will do been top priority for Nolan. Melinda is a junior studying Resource Taryn will be a senior next year moving forward. Conservation. She has a minor in studying Geology, Environmental Jake Henry - Nez Perce-Clearwater – Wilderness Studies and is interested Science, and GIS. She was raised in Peter Breigenzer - Payette NF – Eastern Kentucky University in the dynamic relationship between Enumclaw, Washington, a small farming University Of Montana Jake was born and raised in Wilmington, humans and the environment. In community located on the west of Peter is a senior studying Organismal Ohio. Jake’s major is Recreation Park January of 2015 she went with the the Cascade Mountains in western Biology & Ecology and Environmental Administration. During the school term College of Forestry to southern Chile Washington. Taryn’s long-term goal in Studies. He was born and raised in Jake works at the Climbing Rock Wall to study sustainable tourism and local life is to make a positive impact on the Glasgow, Montana and his hobbies and the High Ropes Challenge Course. livelihoods. In 2014 she was a crew preservation and conservation of our include hiking, climbing, and reading.