The “full court press” is on, as the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Proposed Wilderness “rolls out” all the big guns for front page displays in the Bonner County Daily Bee. Not everyone in Bonner County supports designating this 88,000-acres roadless backcountry into permeant wilderness, but you’d never guess it by all the front page press afforded by our saltwater state transplant publisher. Anyone with political clout, and/or name recognition, is being splashed in newsprint to insinuate support whether actual or assumed by association.

The reoccurring reference to, or photos of commissioners on the summit of Scotchman Peak; or the county supporting a resolution to introduce federal legislation; or, photographed standing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as a delegation in support; or, accompany participants of the EcoFlight, while buzzing my neighborhood, is a bit over the top; a reference to Karen Roetter … really … oh yes, an implied reference to Sen. Mike Crapo in his absence … nice touch; anything to get this designation before Obama leaves office.

In November 2015, Lightening Creek flooded taking out approaches to two bridges and washed out the road at two concrete culverts making access to the Lightening Creek drainage for the hunting sportsman almost impossible. The only press that received appears to be a press release from the U.S. Forest Service Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s public affairs staff on March 25, 2016, announcing temporary emergency road closures. Haven’t seen a thing since except a small laminated sheet of paper, attached to a Forest Service sign at the junction of Lightening Creek Road and Main Street in Clark Fork, threating anyone transiting these washed out areas by motorized means with arrest and a fine of $10,000. Oh yes, there is a small piece of faded out surveyors ribbon dangling to draw one’s attention while making a left-hand turn and navigating oncoming traffic so as not to have a collision.

Meanwhile, back in the high country, the summer 2015 Clark Fork Complex Fire occurred closing all access to the Scotchman Peak trails (65, 132, 135, 142, and 556). And being in a proposed wilderness area, the fire was basically let burn until it threatened private property or the Ross Creek cedars, where, “we can now pause while clearing trail 142 and grieve,” at the loss of a few dangerous, heart-rotted, burned-out hulks. Anyway, as soon as the fire was out that same area was closed allegedly due to mountain goats becoming aggressive … coincidently just before elk season and through mule deer season; but, miraculously opened during the snow season so the Scotchman Peaks winter enthusiast could access. And now we have “trail ambassadors” advising people not to feed the goats … antidotal as it may seem, some hikers have been told, “there are so many goats that it would be cost prohibitive to move them to a new location so if people don’t stop feeding them they will have to be killed.” Really?!

2015 and 2016 natural weather phenomena collide with the “locals”/Scotchman Peak’s enthusiasts’ version of access.

• Environmental groups combining with FSPW and the U.S. Forest Service to do pretty much as they like, building (digging and cutting) a half-mile mile of new trail (Trail 65) in an area already designated as proposed wilderness. All done under supervision of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest Service Sandpoint Ranger District management’s “administrative discretion,” which sends the message that hikers have priority; the same with and snow enthusiast with their backcountry “warming hut.” Meanwhile, John Q. Public hunter waits years, for the Department of Agriculture/U.S. Forest Service to allocate funding to repair closed roads (from two different funding sources since only one road, Road 419, is considered a public thoroughfare). What about Wellington Creek?

• Porcupine Lake motorized access may already be lost forever.

• Proposed wilderness roughly identified as 88,000 acres and displayed on a Forest Service map as red dots (which incidentally, at one point, runs down Lightening Creek Road (419) from approximately the Regal Creek Trailhead 132, to the East Fork of Lightening Creek). No real identifiable physical boundary markers … like Obamacare — “trust us;” you have to pass it to find out how it affects you.

While attempting to access my favorite hunting ground this fall I was confronted with the following thoughts:

1. If Scotchman Peaks Wilderness designation becomes law and, Lightening Creek Road is a boundary, and there is a wash-out, will the Forest Service be permitted to use mechanical equipment to make repairs?

2. Will one be able to park off the pavement on the north side of Lightening Creek Road and/or cut firewood with a chain saw?

3. Will we be able to take our game carrier up Morris Creek Trail to extract a kill or will the wilderness act prevent that because of the bicycle wheel(s); also a wheelbarrow since it has a wheel?

4. What will happen to these 88,000 acres if not designated a wilderness … it will remain as it is and still be hikable … view and the goats will still be there.

5. High visibility brings more people, people bring problems like road dust, feeding the goats, graffiti, forest fires, trespassing onto surrounding private property, litter, and did I mention road dust? Where will the trail ambassadors be in 10 years? Will Trail 65 have the ills of abused animals akin to the Sam Owen Peninsula deer population or the dilapidated signs announcing wildlife and geological attributes along the scenic byway of Highway 200 if and when FSPW has achieved its goal and no longer needs to dazzle the politicians?

6. Now FSPW has teamed up with EcoFlight “to inform and inspire” the politicians and media to support them. So, where is my inspiration when they buzz my neighborhood, destroying the solitude I moved here for? I searched long and hard to find a place to not hear the train whistles and FSPW wants to replace that with the drone of aircraft engines for the sake of a few votes … or, maybe there is even a more sinister goal … everything seems to be fair game for activist.

ALAN ROACH

Clark Fork