The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness will hold their annual get-together at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, at Oden Grange Hall. The program will feature mountain goat expert Gayle Joslin, who worked several decades with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, much of it studying and helping manage mountain goats. Joslin’s presentation will begin at 7:00 pm. The Friend will be providing appetizers and no-host beer and wine will be available as well.

FSPW Executive Director Phil Hough will give an update on the status of the Scotchman Peaks and the effort to get them designated as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, including a retrospect of the recent advisory vote.

“The outcome was disappointing,” Hough says, “but we’re still here and we’re still continuing out work. There are a lot of people who agree with us, and we wish to celebrate that, as well as our volunteers who work hard for the Scotchman Peaks.”

FSPW will also name their Old Goat of the Year, honoring a volunteer who has made a big difference in the FSPW efforts. Other volunteers who have helped with the “three-legged stool” of FSPW, advocacy, education and stewardship, will also be honored.

The FSPW Mountain Goat Ambassador training will also be held that evening, beginning at 5 pm at the same location. The Friends’ highly successful trail ambassador program, done in conjunction with the Forest Service, is entering its third season. Volunteers will be trained that evening to educate visitors to Scotchman Peak Trail #65 about relating to wildlife in a respectful and safe way, mountain goats in particular. Ambassadors will also learn about the Leave No Trace principles and how to deal in a positive way with visitors.

The May 31 State of the Scotchmans is a public event. All are welcome to join the Friends for their annual celebration of working to keep the Scotchman Peaks wild.