Meet Barb Crumpacker, a longtime Coeur d'Alene resident and secretary of the Tubbs Hill Foundation Board. She loves wildflowers and watching the activities of ospreys and bald eagles, along with her love of all things Tubbs.

1) When and why did you become a Friend of Tubbs Hill?

I was invited to join the board by longtime Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Ron Edinger in 2007 after we became acquainted when I had testified at council meetings about various concerns facing the city at that time. Ron was the liaison from the council to the board and he knew how much I cared about maintaining the public use of the hill.

2) Why does Tubbs Hill matter, and why should people care about keeping it clean and preserved?

Tubbs Hill has been called "a gem" and is a one-of-a-kind treasure located right in town, making it very accessible to both locals and visitors. A recent trail use counter estimates that over 175,000 folks access the trail every year (not counting dogs who join their families too!). With such heavy use it is a challenge to maintain it in its pristine condition.

3) What is your favorite spot, trail or other landmark on Tubbs and why?

As a dedicated swimmer, the favorite spots on the hill are the adjacent beaches. My family and I are heavy users of the various swings that allow folks to vault off into the water (the parks folks would prefer we NOT do this and remove them!)

4) What's something people would be surprised to know about you?

Folks would be surprised to know that I was one of 21 babies born at the Farragut Naval Base and was baptized at First Presbyterian Church downtown on Easter Sunday, 1945. Also, in 1954 I got polio during a big outbreak here in Coeur d'Alene, which my mother always blamed on me contracting while swimming in the lake. I had to learn to walk again.

5) In recognition of Earth Day, how can we be better stewards of our beautiful Tubbs Hill and other natural, undeveloped areas in our region?

To be better stewards of the hill, we need to respect it and help visitors understand that it is a fragile ecosystem. There are excellent reasons to not leave a footprint by removing plants and trees, restricting use of wheeled vehicles, packing out trash, hiking off trail, keeping pets leashed and other common sense regulations. There is also fire danger when smoking, using fireworks, camping and use of any fire-causing element. A few years ago there were 14 fires started by one individual. This behavior threatens future users of the hill but also the surrounding homes and businesses. If we want to be able to share the hill with our kids, grandkids and visiting friends, there is an inherent obligation to behave as if that area belongs to all of us, because it does! This applies to all our parks, beaches, waterways and other public use areas.