🌲 Trail Work + River Vibes? Yes, Please! 🌲

Join us July 19-20 for a weekend of trail work and outdoor fun on the stunning North Fork of the Boise River! We're teaming up with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to clear brush, logs, and landslides along this wild and scenic river trail.

Starting from Deer Park Guard Station, we’ll hike through granite cliffs and shady pines, working to reopen this summer gem known for epic swimming holes and fishing spots! Come make a difference, break a sweat, and cool off by the river. See link in profile to learn more.

As part of our efforts to help our Forest Service partners fill gaps left by recent job and budget cuts, ITA launched a "strike team" program this summer, where crew leaders and experienced volunteers respond to unplanned trail work needs. The Krassel District of the Payette National Forest voiced a need for help clearing the route from Big Creek to Chamberlain Basin, the main trail connection between their workstations at the two locations. ITA also needs this trail to resupply several crews this summer. Normally, a Forest Service crew clears this 25+ mile route early in the season but because of staffing cuts they were unable to tackle the entire trail without help, especially after the first 3-4 miles of the trail burned in a late season fire last year.

Enter ITA's first "strike team"! Retired ITA Executive Director Jeff Halligan (and former FS packer), retired trail crew supervisor Patti Stieger, and longtime ITA volunteer Scott Acker teamed up for three days of tough work, clearing 40 logs and multiple large rocks off the first three miles of the Big Creek trail, making it passable for hikers and stock. They tied in with work done by the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation earlier in June in the Beaver Creek drainage, opening the first six miles of trail and allowing the small Forest Service crew a leg up for finishing the last 19+ miles to Chamberlain Basin.

This year, it's an all hands on deck approach to keeping trails open as our land manager partners navigate budget and staffing uncertainties. We are grateful for the dedication of our volunteers willing to make time for trail work on top of our already-busy planned schedule!

PC: Scott Acker

Eleven of us ITA volunteers that included a wonderful cook spent a week based out of the Magruder Ranger House while we cleared the Selway River trail from its trailhead near the house down to Upper Crossing. We brushed, cut logs, cleaned water bars and refreshed some tread areas— we ROCKED!

Beyond the wonderful camaraderie of this amazing set of people, our crew was visited by Peter Fromm, the author of Indian Creek Chronicles. He and his family had rented the cabin next to the ranger house for a few days. He regaled us with hilarious stories and answered lots of “fan” questions. We were also entertained by a cow dog named Sky who seemed to believe we were all cows as well as the mules and horses who munched on tall grass in the nearby meadow, making this place seem picture perfect! - Crew Leader Alisa Rettschlag

Photos: Patricia Scutier, Alisa Rettschlag, and Rodney Waller

We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that occurred on Canfield Mountain yesterday and our hearts go out to the families impacted. We all must come together in support of those who take care of our safety and our public land! Thank you to the brave responders who came out to protect us and Canfield Mountain! 🇺🇸♥️🚒🚓🚑

From June 18-25, ITA teamed up with SBFC and Forest Service to clear ~10 miles of trail along the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The team of 12 worked through heat, rain, and a bit of snow to remove trees, clear drains, redo/reroute tread, and brush various sections of trail. Impressive achievements of the week included the removal of two “Monderosas” very large Ponderosas, creating a “junk” wall of rocks, brushing lots of “see a no trail” Ceanothus (Buck Brush), and removing a “gigantic” rock from the trail.

Throughout the week we were greeted with some unexpected visitors including Ryan Ghelfi (SBFC Executive Director), Melanie Vining (ITA Executive Director), and her friend Val. A “surprise” visitor was Matt Bishop and his mule Eugene of Café Mule, who arrived with beer and coffee, yay!

Hats off to ITA volunteers: Amy, Charlotte, James, Justy, and Lee; SBFC partners: Abe, Noah, and Mary (a.k.a. The Holy Trio); FS Rangers: Harry and Eric; and FS Horse Packer: Tyler.

Thanks everyone for making this project a success.
-Crew Leaders Michelle & Glenn

Photos by: Michelle Florence, Glenn Florence, Justy Thomas, Abram Wilkinson, and Amy Lunstrum

⚡ Public Lands at Risk (Again) ⚡

A new proposal from Senator Mike Lee could force the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of public land near populations centers.

These close-to-home places are where we hike, bike, and connect with nature. Selling them would be a huge loss for access, recreation, and Idaho’s quality of life.

Examples of just a few places this provision could affect (thank you Conservation Voters for Idaho for these):

1. Boise and Eagle Foothills
2. Land surrounding Hailey and Ketchum
3. Scout Mountain outside of Pocatello
4. Hunting grounds and trails outside of Emmett

🗣️ Take action NOW before the Senate votes!

Call or email Senators Risch and Crapo and urge them to oppose this harmful land sell-off.

📞 Risch: (202) 224-2752
📞 Crapo: (202) 224-6142

or use Conservation Voters for Idaho's contact form here: www.cvidaho.org/idaho-public-land/

Let’s keep public lands in public hands!

Last week, the Alpine Way crew experienced the full range of Idaho summer weather, from jumping in the lake to cool off to bundling up under a tarp to stay out of the snow! Based at Marshall Lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness, the crew backpacked in and worked along the Alpine Way trail, clearing 163 trees over 2.6 miles toward Goat Creek. At camp, the crew swatted mosquitos away while admiring the spring runoff waterfalls surrounding them. Towards the end of the trip, the heat turned to rain and snow, and after deciding one freezing night was enough the crew gathered tools and packed out early. Fun crosscut work, great conversation, and the unfazed smiles of the crew amidst the obstacles made this a stellar project!!

pics by: Sarah A, Abigail M., Rebekah S., Drew S., Nic T., and Alex C.

🌲 Volunteers needed! 🌲
We have seven volunteer spots open on our North Fork Boise River weekend project happing July 19-20. Starting at the Deer Park Guard Station, this trail follows the river as it winds past granite cliffs and lush pine forest. Known for its access to swimming and fishing, this gem of the Boise National Forest gets blocked by brush and logs and further in, there are landslides which restrict access. Volunteers will spend a weekend working as far up as we can to chip away at opening this trail for the summer season. See link in our profile to learn more!

Thank you to our volunteers who cleared the Upper Priest Lake Trail in North Idaho! We had a lovely time together backpacking in to a gorgeous lakeshore campsite and clearing trail along the way. We sawed out 30 downed trees and cut back brush along the way, including a 200ft reroute due to an extremely large tree that had fallen along the path of the trail. We couldn't do it without our amazing volunteers! Thank you all!!

If you're interested in helping on another project, we are low on volunteers for our Stateline Trail project (8/2-8/3) and could really use some help to make it happen! Sign up on our website!

6 ITA volunteers spent 5 days clearing the Lake Creek trail in the Gospel Hump Wilderness. From the trailhead to Fish Lake, they cut 360 trees while fending off mosquitoes and daily thunderstorms. It has been a few years since this trail was open, so get out there and enjoy it before next season's trees come down!

An SBFC crew will continue work from the lake to the 233 road later this year.

Photos by Clay Jacobson, Dan Lynch, and Chuck McKenney