Briefs: ‘State of the Scotchmans’ sized up in Sandpoint
WILDERNESS – Once a year the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness gather for a little party and update on what they’ve accomplished and plan to do in their campaign to secure wilderness status for the 88,000-acre roadless area northeast of Lake Pend Oreille.
The annual State of the Scotchmans gathering is Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Forrest M. Bird Charter School.
Bruce Smith, a leading authority on mountain goats and author of Life On The Rocks, will be the guest speaker. The presentation is timely considering the group’s role in educating hikers on coexisting with mountain goats on the area’s namesake Scotchman Peak.
Last year, the popular Forest Service Trail 65 to the peak’s summit was closed after goats had become aggressive because of human interactions.
Friends group members will update progress toward getting Congress to consider wilderness designation and detail the past year’s stewardship projects.
The 2016 Old Goat – the FSPW volunteer of the year – will be crowned.
The public is welcome to join the group for the program. Appetizers will be provided by the students at the Charter School and a no-host bar by Eichardts is available.
Directions: From US Highway 2 at the west edge of Sandpoint turn south on Division Street. Watch for a sign pointing to the right toward the School. The meeting is in the building at the end of that street.
Antoine Peak trail work Saturday
PARKS – The Washington Trails Association will be celebrating National Trails Day on Saturday with one in a series of volunteer work days at the 1,076-acre Antoine Peak Conservation Area in Spokane Valley.
“No experience is necessary” for project volunteers, says Holly Weiler, WTA project organizer in the Spokane area.
The first phase of planned trail projects involves building a new trail with moderate grades from the Lincoln Road trailhead up the East Ridge to the 3,373-foot summit.
Volunteers on Saturday will hike in 1-2 miles to clear brush and trees from the trail corridor and dig trail tread at the proper width and slope for a variety of trail users.
Sign up and get details at volunteer@wta.org or call (206) 625-1367.
Wolves kill cow in Stevens County
PREDATORS – Wolves killed a 9-month-old Holstein heifer last week on private property in Stevens County, the Washington Fish and Wildlife confirmed Tuesday.
“The wolf pack associated with the depredation has not been determined,” said Donny Martorello, the agency’s wolf program leader, indicating the investigation is ongoing.