Wednesday, January 22, 2025

ARTICLES BY PHIL HOUGH

Why wilderness? For us, our kids, the future

Americans came together 49 years ago to celebrate the first Earth Day. We committed to making our planet a more liveable place. We’ve cleaned up our water. We’ve reduced air pollution. We can drink and breathe easier now.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 5 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Give thanks to the wild – especially volunteers

Thanksgiving is a time to show gratitude. Each year I give thanks for our wild places. Like so many other people, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, skiing in the backcountry and wilderness have brought me joy and, more importantly, taught me many lessons. I am thankful these special places are preserved …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Let's talk about the Scotchman Peaks, vote

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, and others, have been involved for many years in the effort to protect the Scotchman Peaks as wilderness to ensure it will always stay the same. Naturally, we are disappointed by the outcome of the recent Bonner County advisory vote.
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Scotchman Peaks: A community gem

Bonner County voters will be asked if they favor the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness proposal on the May 15 primary ballot. Although a non-binding, advisory vote, our County Commissioners and Senator Jim Risch have said they will honor the outcome. This vote matters; your vote matters!
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Scotchman Peaks is a true community gem

Bonner County voters will be asked if they favor the Scotchman Peaks on the May 15 primary ballot. Although a non-binding, advisory vote, our County Commissioners and Senator Jim Risch have said they will honor the outcome. This vote matters; your vote matters!
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 6 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Why wilderness? Let me count the ways

When I was 10 years old, my dad and I took a 10-day adventure along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a canoe route established in northern Maine by that state’s Legislature in 1966 to preserve and protect the wilderness character of this unique area. This magnificent 92-mile-long ribbon of lakes, ponds, …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 7 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Wilderness act proposal deserves kudos

On behalf of the board, staff and many volunteers and supporters of Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, I would like to applaud Sen. Jim Risch’s vision and leadership in introducing the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act of 2016. When eventually passed, this legislation will both protect and preserve roughly 14,000 acres …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Thoughts on wilderness, recreation management

Stan Myers raised a number of interesting questions in his letter about the Scotchman Peaks. (Daily Bee, Nov. 1) Some of these questions are more about recreational or wildlife management than wilderness. I’d like to offer some clarity on these different management themes as well as where the roadless and …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Now is the time for the Scotchmans

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness have been climbing the path towards Wilderness designation for just over ten years. Now, we believe we have the summit in sight!
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Celebrate 50 years of wilderness

This week, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Preservation System. With the stroke of a pen, President Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law on Sept. 3, 1964. As stated in the opening line of the act itself, the purpose is to “establish a National Wilderness Preservation System …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 10 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Earth Day: An expression of enduring hope

Earth Day: a celebration of hope and dirty fingernails. As Americans, we’re dreamers and hard workers; our ideals and innovation launch great visions which sometime create problems requiring more ingenuity to solve. Earth Day and wilderness: two uniquely American solutions intertwined with each other and with our eternal hope for …
BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

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