Idaho’s pristine roadless areas need a little of your help. The majority of roadless land in the United States is shared between Idaho and Alaska. FYI, roadless land only represents approx. 2% of all land nationwide. There isn’t much left.
Why Idaho?
Idaho is the ONLY state not covered by the Roadless Rule. Over 9 million acres are at risk! Please sign the Roadless Idaho Petition asking President Obama to restore Roadless Rule protections to the state of Idaho.
Apologies for the lack of updates… however, that only means one thing – I’ve been out and about. I would have had a video clip of Jerry to post, but Revver has been gummed-up lately. Looks like I’ll have to go with YouTube when I’ve got some time to re-upload the clip.
Not hot springs related, but here’s some incredible pics of Coeur d’Alene Lake that I recently took while traveling…
I just received an email update from Will about Loftus (Boise National Forest) Hot Springs stating that the springs are clean save for glass in the upper pool… most was removed (courtesy of Will, many thanks friend) but not all was completely removed.
Rnspringer posted on the forums about a recent visit to Pine Burl and Moondipper (Boise National Forest)… you can check that out here…
A good friend of mine, Conedog, just returned from the Warm Lake area where last weekend was the once a year weekend when the Nez Pierce and Shoshone tribes are granted fishing rights to the area. My knowledge is pretty weak regarding the ordeal, and will be researching this soon, but it sounds like the rights are granted as part of a treaty or some kind of agreement for tribes that inhabited the land prior to the deal making. Please chime in if you’ve got some knowledge to share. Anyway, Conedog was fortunate enough to share a soak with a Nez Pierce family that enlightened him of the situation. The family also told him that there was a tribe hunting in the area that shouldn’t be… i.e. they were not involved in the agreement, but are taking advantage of the right. Conedog mentioned that they used nets to trap the fish, then a modified spear to bring ‘em in. I had no idea.
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule AKA RAC Rule AKA Roadless Rule controversy is heating up again… thank goodness! I’ve gone on and on and on about this… and decided to create RoadlessIdaho.com, please visit, take action, link-up and spread the word. Let me know if you link-up, and I’ll add you to the supporters list on the site. Please take a minute to send a message to the prez – Earthjustice style – Ask Obama to Protect America’s Roadless Forests!
I’ve also received brief, positive reports for Goldbug, Molly’s Tubs and Juntura (Oregon). Overall, it seems I’m getting more reports of cleaned-up hot springs vs those that are trashed. I would love to see that trend.
Hope you are all out enjoying the great outdoors, or have got plans to do so. Please remember to pick up all trash and never bring glass. Happy Trails!
I’m generally not very political these days… except when it comes to the environment. That, I understand better than the many other faucets of our quagmired yet multi-dimensional political system. What I do know, is that many of our current politicians have continuously levied attacks against the environment for no better reason than to make money. Not for the country, not to serve the people, but either for themselves or for political gain. The expense? A few more thin slices are cut from America’s last piece of public land pie.
The evidence is overwhelming here in Idaho; the state with the most open space in the lower 48 – the only state not covered by the nationwide Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Even despite the economic viability of fishing, hunting and backpacking – and the combined outcry from these groups; Idaho’s roadless land remains virtually unprotected. Keep in mind, less than 2% of all land in the US is roadless (Source: Wilderness Society). That means Idaho and Alaska are about it. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take summer in Idaho over rainy, cold, mosquito-infested (yet absolutely beautiful) Alaska anytime.
Living in the reddest state of the US has proved enlightening. Aggravating too. Urbanization of Economics depicts that the reason why people live in Idaho is primarily singular – they come for the wilderness. It also teaches that cities (economies) are nothing without a core group of people – the working middle class. But yet, this evidence eludes many. Our political leaders tend to support causes that promise them big business in the future by use of methods that go against what sustains cities to begin with. I’m not saying I want to see Idaho all blue or all red, just a bit more balanced.
Growing your business in Idaho, be you a politician, small business owner, corporate worker or Joe the Plumber, should utilize methodology that supports what makes Idaho – Idaho. Grow in a way that conserves, preserves, promotes and protects Idaho wilderness – instead of making the easy choice to support methodology that undermines the reasoning of why people choose to live in Idaho.
It seems, that once you’ve lived in a frontier state like Idaho, it’s easy to forget that the other 48 states don’t have roadless forests, open desert and intact ecosystems that aren’t swarming with people and problems. In some states, they just plain don’t exist.
Even now, the day after the election, there is hope. Environmental organizations are scrambling to embrace a new forthcoming administration, one that favors protecting the environment in hopes of protecting our future.
A Victory for the Environment and Wildlife
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
I’m generally not very political these days… except when it comes to the environment. That, I understand better than the many other faucets of our quagmired yet multi-dimensional political system. What I do know, is that many of our current politicians have continuously levied attacks against the environment for no better reason than to make money. Not for the country, not to serve the people, but either for themselves or for political gain. The expense? A few more thin slices are cut from America’s last piece of public land pie.
The evidence is overwhelming here in Idaho; the state with the most open space in the lower 48 – the only state not covered by the nationwide Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Even despite the economic viability of fishing, hunting and backpacking – and the combined outcry from these groups; Idaho’s roadless land remains virtually unprotected. Keep in mind, less than 2% of all land in the US is roadless (Source: Wilderness Society). That means Idaho and Alaska are about it. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take summer in Idaho over rainy, cold, mosquito-infested (yet absolutely beautiful) Alaska anytime.
Living in the reddest state of the US has proved enlightening. Aggravating too. Urbanization of Economics depicts that the reason why people live in Idaho is primarily singular – they come for the wilderness. It also teaches that cities (economies) are nothing without a core group of people – the working middle class. But yet, this evidence eludes many. Our political leaders tend to support causes that promise them big business in the future by use of methods that go against what sustains cities to begin with. I’m not saying I want to see Idaho all blue or all red, just a bit more balanced.
Growing your business in Idaho, be you a politician, small business owner, corporate worker or Joe the Plumber, should utilize methodology that supports what makes Idaho – Idaho. Grow in a way that conserves, preserves, promotes and protects Idaho wilderness – instead of making the easy choice to support methodology that undermines the reasoning of why people choose to live in Idaho.
It seems, that once you’ve lived in a frontier state like Idaho, it’s easy to forget that the other 48 states don’t have roadless forests, open desert and intact ecosystems that aren’t swarming with people and problems. In some states, they just plain don’t exist.
Even now, the day after the election, there is hope. Environmental organizations are scrambling to embrace a new forthcoming administration, one that favors protecting the environment in hopes of protecting our future.
That gives me hope.
More info. on Idaho Roadless Rule
Defenders of Wildlife Election 08 Wrap-Up Video:
2008 Election Wrap-Up from Defenders Action Fun on Vimeo.
| Posted in commentary, roadless, video | 3 Comments »