SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

“If we are to have broad-

thinking men and women of

high mentality, of good phy-

sique and with a true perspec-

tive on life, we must allow our

populace a communion with

nature in areas of more or less

wilderness condition.”

- Arthur Carhart

In This Issue

Wilderness 50th

Events (Page 1 & 3 )

Road/Trail Reports

(Pg.2)

Campground Info

( Page 3)

Firewood Permits

4th of July Trail Bridge

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 Wilder-

ness. 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

cjcole@fs.fed.us 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

community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who

does not remain.” In its own words, the Wilderness Act sought to: “assure that an

increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mecha-

nization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the U.S. and its possessions,

leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condi-

tion…”

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-

tion (date to be announced). Location: Personal trips anywhere in the Sawtooth

Wilderness. Contact: Kelly Conte: Kelly@sawtoothsociety.org or the Sawtooth

Society website: http://www.sawtoothsociety.org

Recreation Report June 26, 2014

Road Conditions:

As we progress into summer, most of our Forest roads are open to the trailheads. The ex-

ceptions are: Pole Creek (closed just beyond Germania due to an avalanche) 6/12/14, and

4th of July, closed within a mile of the trailhead, due to wet conditions and downed trees.

Many other roads at high elevations may be muddy or have snow. You may find downed

trees across roads and trails in some areas. Our trail crews are getting to these areas as

quickly as possible to make roads and trails accessible. If you do see road or trail access

hindered by a fallen tree or avalanche, please do not continue and report the damage to the

nearest Ranger Station or Visitor Center. Traveling on wet, muddy roads causes resource

damage. Please turn around if you encounter wet, muddy conditions that would cause dam-

age or ruts to the roadway, until the area has a chance to dry.

Trail conditions north of Galena Summit:

Pole Creek Rd: Open 7.6 m. Past Germania the trail is closed due to avalanche (6/24).

Hellroaring: Open at lower trailhead, to the lake. (6/3).

Boundary Creek: Trail good to the ridge and beyond. (5/26).

Fisher Creek: Loop is open. Use caution over wet areas. (6/10).

Horton Peak: Open. Fishhook Creek: Open to meadow and beyond.

Pettit Lake (Tin Cup) to Alice Lake out and back. Snow beyond. (6/24).

Redfish Canyon: .Redfish Inlet to Alpine Lake open. High creek crossings. (6/24)

Bench Lake: Trail open to lake (6/12)

Baron Creek: Trail good to about 2 miles, impassable stream crossing (6/2).

Sawtooth Lake/Iron Creek: Passable to Alpine and Sawtooth Lake. High creek cross-

ings.(6/24).

Stanley Lake Creek: Ok to Bridalveil Falls. (6/24).

Grandjean: Open to lodge.

Slate Creek: Ok to Hoodoo, and OK 3 miles up Livingston Creek. (6/3)

Big Casino: Open. Elk Creek: Open.

Warm Springs/Robinson Bar: Ok a few miles but crossing is impassable. (6/4).

Trail conditions south of

Galena Summit:

Most of the trails above 8,500 feet in the

higher elevations still have some snow,

and creek crossings are high. However,

temperatures are perfect and it is a great

time to explore the area’s trails below

8500 feet and enjoy the wildflower show!

Murdock Canyon Trail: Open.

Harriman Trail: Open to Galena

Boulder Creek: Road passable a

mile or two by vehicle, beyond that

only passable by ATV. Three foot

snow at the ruins (6/23).

Baker Creek: Trails are not accessi-

ble at this time due to fire rehab

beyond East Fork of Baker Creek.

Prairie Creek: Loop is open. High

creek crossings (6/24).

Galena Trails: Most of Galena’s

trails are accessible to hikers and

Mt. Bikers.

Boulder Mountains from Prairie Creek

Thompson Peak, Sawtooth Mountains

Summer Campgrounds

Reservation and First Come, First Serve

Campgrounds:

The following campgrounds can be re-

served at least three days in advance

(Approximately 27% can be reserved,

the remainder are on a first come, first

serve basis):

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,

Sunny Gulch Picnic Area, Glacier

View, Outlet, Point and North Shore

Picnic Area.

Hwy 21 Campgrounds: Stanley Lake,

Elk Creek, Sheep Trail, and Trap Crk.

The following campgrounds are

first come, first served:

Wood River Campgrounds: Wood

River, Murdock and Caribou.

Alturas Lake/Pettit Lake: North

Shore (Alturas), Alturas Picnic Area A,

Smokey Bear, Pettit Lake and Pettit

Day Use Area.

Redfish: Chinook Bay, Mountain

View, Mt. Heyburn and Sockeye.

Stanley Lake and Hwy 21: Lake

View, Stanley Lake Inlet, Iron Creek,

and Grandjean.

Salmon River: All eight campgrounds

are first come, first served.

Individual camping sites can be re-

served as early as 180 days in ad-

vance and group sites 360 days, in-

cluding picnic sites. To make reserva-

tions, call 877-444-6777 or online:

www.recreation.gov. There are 33 de-

veloped campgrounds within the Saw-

tooth NRA. Approximately 27% can be

reserved. The remainder are on a first

come, first served basis.

Clarks Nutcracker on a pine tree

Dispersed Camping

Dispersed camping is any camping outside of developed campgrounds and

is becoming available on forest roads that are open and dry. These

campsites are free and abundant throughout the Sawtooth NRA. We ask that

you stay on existing roads (see Forest travel map) and camp in areas previ-

ously used. If a campfire is desired, it should be built in an existing fire ring.

Pack it in, pack it out. The camping limit north of Galena Summit is 16 days.

You must relocate more than a distance of 10 miles from the original site for

14 days. South of Galena summit the limit is 16 days and you cannot relo-

cate anywhere in the Ketchum RD or the SNRA non-fee areas for 14 days.

Along the Salmon River Corridor, the camping stay limit is 10 days. You

must relocate more than a distance of 10 miles form the original site.

More Wilderness 50th Events:

Happy Birthday Wilderness! Join local wildlife puppet characters who have re-

ceived invitations to a birthday party for wilderness. When: August 30. Time: 4:00

p.m. Where: Redfish Lake Lodge, Stanley, Idaho. Presented by the Sawtooth In-

terpretive and Historical Association. For more information: http://

new.discoversawtooth.org

Leave No Trace Trainers Course: Get certified to teach LNT by the LNT travel-

ing trainers. When: September 13-14, 2014. Where: The two day course includes

a classroom session at the Sawtooth NRA Headquarters Visitor Center. Exact

campsite location TBA. Environmental and outdoor educators, outreach coordina-

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

participants. First come, first served. For sign up and further information, contact:

Gina Pearson, Leave No Trace Master Educator: gadpearson@gmail.com or 559-

936-1785. www.lnt.org

Wilderness Investigations Teacher Workshop: A teacher workshop for Ele-

mentary through High School teachers. Experience subject integrated lessons and

activities relating to wilderness. When: October 2 and 3rd, 2014. Where: Camp

Perkins Organizational Camp on the Sawtooth NRA. Limited to 30 participants.

Cost: $50 per person and includes lodging, lunch, dinner and breakfast. Credit

available through BSU. Sponsored by The Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical

Association. For more information, contact Susan Kranz: skranz@fs.fed.us or 208-

727-5018. http://carhart.wilderness.net/

Educational

Programs Offered

We are pleased to offer a

variety of educational activi-

ties, programs and services

to local schools and youth

groups. Several traveling

“Ed-venture” trunks are

available for loan to educa-

tors or group leaders. For

more information, please

call Susan Kranz at 727-

5018.

Sawtooth National Recreation Area Contact Information

Sawtooth NRA Headquarters: M-Sat, 8:30-5:00 - 208-727-5000

Stanley Ranger Station: M-F, 8:30-12:00 & 1:00-4:30 - 208-774-3000

Redfish Visitor Center: Daily from 9:30-5:00

Summer Animal Sightings: As warm weather arrives, animals

are migrating back to the Sawtooth Valley from where they previously

spent the winter. Drive cautiously and obey posted speed limits to

make room for animals crossing the highway. Slow down to allow for

passage of Pronghorn antelope, Sandhill cranes, deer and birds of

prey, to name a few. If you wish to observe these animals, please pull

completely off the roadway.

Mushroom Season: Mushroom gathering for personal use is cur-

rently permitted on the Sawtooth NF in the Beaver Creek Fire area on

the Ketchum and Fairfield Ranger Districts and the Kelley Fire area on

the Fairfield Ranger District. Be advised several road and area clo-

sures remain in place. Be aware of areas closed to the public due to

hazardous conditions. Free use permits will be required on all Saw-

tooth NF lands. You can obtain your free use permit and map of open

areas at any Sawtooth NF office. You will need to carry your permit

with you when you are gathering. Commercial mushroom harvest will

not be permitted in any of the burned areas on the Sawtooth NF. Pick-

ers should use caution in fresh burned areas due to stump holes, fall-

ing trees or loose soil or rocks. Pickers can harvest up to 5 gallons per

day until the permit expires.

Sawtooth National Recreation Area Private Lands Program

The 756,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area includes more

than 20,000 acres of privately owned land, primarily in the Sawtooth

Valley and Stanley Basin, and along the Salmon River for approxi-

mately 25 miles downstream from Stanley, Idaho. When the U.S, Con-

gress established the Sawtooth NRA in 1972, it sought to preserve

and protect the Area’s “natural, scenic, historic, pastoral, and fish and

wildlife values and to provide for the enhancement of the recreation

values associated therewith.” (Public Law 92-400). Our management

goals and commitment for conservation of the landscape are governed

by this law.

www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth

Firewood Permits:

Firewood permits are avail-

able. (We will be open at

HQ on Saturdays through-

out the summer, but closed

on Sundays and holidays).

The minimum purchase is

two cords at $25.00, each

additional cord is $12.50,

for up to 10 cords per

household. There will be no

free firewood this year. For

more information, contact

the front desk at 208-727-

5000.

We are an equal opportunity

provider.