SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

“The idea of wilderness

needs no defense, it only

needs defenders.”

- Edward Abbey

In This Issue

Wilderness 50th Events

(Page 1 and 3)

Road/Trail Reports

(Pg.2)

Campground Info (Page

3)

Firewood Permits (Page

4)

White Mule’s Ears — blooming all over the Sawtooth Valley

The Trey McIntyre Project Join us on June 13th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sawtooth National Recreation

Area Visitor Center (8 miles north of Ketchum on Hwy 75), for the opening of an

exhibition of photographs by Trey McIntyre in celebration of the 50th Anniversary

of the Wilderness Act . This is a presentation of “Art, Wilderness and the Human

Connection” in partnership with the Society of Wilderness Stewardship and the

U.S. Forest Service. In addition, on June 14, at 8 p.m., Trey McIntyre and dancers

will tour Hailey, Idaho at the WRHS Performing Arts Theater at the Community

Campus for a once in a lifetime performance and presentation of this project, as

well as the company’s last appearance in Idaho. Trey will make a brand new work

in front of your very eyes and you can get the first glimpse of photographs Trey

took of the dancers in the wilderness surrounding the Sawtooth Mountains. For

more details and tickets, please see page three. (http://www.wilderness50th.org/)

The Wilderness Act

The Wilderness Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. It creat-

ed the legal definition of wilderness in the United States and protected several

millions of acres of federal land. The Wilderness Act is well know for its poetic and

clear definition of wilderness: “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 set-

tlement and growing mechanization, 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 condition…”

Recreation Report June 12, 2014

Road Conditions:

As we progress into summer, most of our Forest roads are opening up and a majority are

open to the trailheads. The exceptions are: Pole Creek (closed before Grand Prize due to an

avalanche) 6/12/14, and 4th of July, closed within a mile of the trailhead, due to wet condi-

tions 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 get-

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

Trail conditions north of Galena Summit:

Pole Creek: Open 4 miles to corrals trailhead.

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

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

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

Horton Peak: Trail good to switchbacks and then some snow but passable (6/4)

Fishhook Creek: Trail open to meadow, and a short distance beyond (6/11).

Bench Lake: Trail ok within 100 yards of lake, then snow (5/26).

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

Sawtooth Lake/Iron Creek: Trail has been maintained to creek crossing 3 miles in. Big

creek crossing and snow rest of the way to lakes. Sawtooth Lake frozen (6/11).

Stanley Lake Creek: OK to Alpine Way. (6/3)

Grandjean: Maintained a mile (avalanche pile removed). Snow beyond (6/11).

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

Big Casino: OK up to 4.5 miles and then snow. (6/4)

Elk Creek: Ok to trailhead (6/4).

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 8,000 feet in the

higher elevations are still snow covered,

but don’t let that stop you from getting

out. Early summer is a great time to ex-

plore the area’s trails below 8000 feet

and enjoy the wildflower show!

Murdock Canyon Trail: Open.

Harriman Trail: Open to Galena

Boulder Creek: Road passable, trail

unknown. (6/11).

Baker Creek: Trails are not accessi-

ble at this time due to fire rehab

beyond East Fork of Baker Creek.

Prairie Creek: Open to Prairie

Lakes, snow on the Mill Lake side.

(6/10).

Galena Trails: Most of Galena’s

trails are accessible to hikers and

Mt. Bikers.

Titus Lake: Trail from Hwy still has

two foot snow patches and downed

trees at the start. (6/8).

Boulder Mountains from Prairie Creek

North Cherry Creek near Galena Lodge

Summer Campground Opening Dates

Reservation and First Come, First Serve

Campgrounds:

The following campgrounds are now

open::

All Wood River Campgrounds: North

Fork, Wood River, Easley, Murdock,

and Caribou.

Alturas Campgrounds and Pettit

Campgrounds.

All Redfish Campgrounds

All Salmon River Campgrounds.

Hwy 21 Campgrounds: All open, in-

cluding Stanley Lake and Grandjean. I

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 serve basis.

Dispersed Camping:

Dispersed camping is any camping outside

of developed campgrounds and is becom-

ing 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

previously 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 relo-

cate more than a distance of 10 miles from

the original site for 14 days. South of Gale-

na summit the limit is 16 days and you

cannot relocate 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

from the original site.

RV Campers on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area

Wilderness 50th Events

Opening Celebration: Join us June 13 between 5:30 and

7:30 p.m. for a kick-off celebration of 50th anniversary

events and the opening of a showing of photographs by

Trey McIntyre as part of the Sawtooth Project: Art, Wilder-

ness and the Human Connection. For more information

visit: www.fs.usda.gov/sawtooth

Trey McIntyre Project Performance: Multi-media performance in celebration of

wilderness by this Boise based, internationally renowned dance company. Perfor-

mance date: June 14th at 8 p.m. at the Wood River High School Performing Arts

Center in Hailey, Idaho. Seating is limited, so get your tickets early! Tickets are

$15, available at http://treymcintyre.com/sawtooth or “The Wildflower” clothing

store in Hailey. For more information, contact Carol Cole at 208-727-5007 or http://

treymcintyre.com

Trey McIntyre Photo Exhibit: Join us for a showing of a breathtaking series of

photographs of TMP dancers, interacting with the elements of nature in the Saw-

tooth 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 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!

Other upcoming events:

Sawtooth Relay: June 14th. Runners and support vehicles will be on Hwy 75 be-

tween Stanley and Ketchum from midnight to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Slow down and

use caution. Plan extra time for your travels.

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

For more information and updates on events visit: www.wilderness50th.org

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: Opening June 13th, daily from 9:30-5:00

Spring Migration: As warm weather arrives, animals are migrating

back to the Sawtooth Valley from where they previously spent the win-

ter. 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 will be

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 closures

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

ous conditions. Free use permits will be required on all Sawtooth 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. Pickers

should use caution in fresh burned areas due to stump holes, falling

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 now

available. (We will be open

at HQ on Saturdays

throughout the summer, but

closed on Sundays and hol-

idays). The minimum pur-

chase 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 infor-

mation, contact the front

desk at 208-727-5000.

We are an equal opportunity

provider.