Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen February 2006

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2 January 5...Chapter Meeting 7...Board Meeting February 2...Chapter Meeting Horse Affair (Back Country Horsemen of Idaho Booth) 25...SBBCH Dutch Oven BBQ & Ride (Spirit Horse Ranch) March 2...Chapter Meeting 11...SBBCH Fun Ride Birds Of Prey (Snake River Canyon) 25...Leave Only Tracks (Back Country Skills Clinic) Circle G Ranch April 6...Chapter Meeting BCH Rendezvous (Lewiston Fair Grounds) 15...SBBCH Fun Ride Hard Trigger Owyhee s Horse Expo (Caldwell fair grounds) May 4...Chapter Meeting 6...SBBCH Poker Ride (Location to be 10...Road Cleanup 13...Forest Service Chain Saw Certification (Date may Change) 20...Completive Orienteering Ride (Location to be determined, contacts Terry McDonald & Brian Dix) Memorial Day Camping & Ride (Cuddy Mountain-Hells Canyon) June 1...Chapter Meeting Draft June 3..National Trail Day (Project to be Trail Project & Ride (Trail to be July Horse Camping Trip 6...Chapter Meeting Trail Project & Ride (Trail to be Helping Hands Freedom Trail Trail Project & Ride (Trail to be August 3...Chapter Meeting Trail Project & Ride (Trail to be Trail Project & Ride (Trail to be September 7...Chapter Meeting H Trail Riding skills day 23/24...Trail Project & Ride (Trail to be October 5...Chapter Meeting 7...SBBCH Fun Ride & BBQ (Sprit Horse Ranch) 21...SBBCH Fun Ride (Location to be November 2...Chapter Meeting 11...Road Cleanup 18...SBBCH Fun Ride (Location TBD) December 7...Chapter Meeting (Elections) 9...Chapter Christmas Party

3 Editor s Note: Rob Adams, VP SBBCH, has been corresponding with Both Brad Tuininga and Cavan Fitzsimon who are referenced in the following correspondence. Mr Tuininga, Project Director for Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship, and Mr Fitzsimmons, Trails Coordinator, Salmon-Challis National Forest, have created a very aggressive campaign for restoring trails in the Frank Church RONR wilderness and have asked for help from the SBBCH. At this point many details need to be worked out. Here is an from Mr Tuninga to Rob explaining some of what will be attempted this summer. Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship Brad Tuininga, Program Director PO Box 2667 Bellingham, WA What Forest Service District is the Alliance working with? I am working most closely with Cavan Fitzsimmons, Trails Coordinator for the Salmon Challis National Forest. However, there are many others involved at an advisory level for the project. Those folks include the district rangers from the Middle Fork and North Fork ranger districts, board member from my organization, the Wilderness Coordinator for the Frank, and others. What roll with the Alliance play in the FC-RONRW Trails Project? In summer 2006, the Citizen Stewardship Trail Clearing Campaign will focus on the Salmon - Challis portion of the FC-RONRW. We are piloting a new model for addressing the trail needs in the Frank with the intent to expand to a Wilderness wide effort in The idea is that through building partnership and working together with all the stakeholders in the Frank we will be able to accomplish more than working independently of one another. The trail clearing campaign requires the input and expertise of those who know the Frank Church Wilderness best - its residents, outfitters and guides and USDA Forest Service staff. Our organization is working on convening the many partners to identify our assets and then recruit, outfit, train, and supervising Citizen Stewards to work on clearing trails in the Frank (for example, a group from Audubon Society in Twin Falls may come and volunteer for 3 days). Different groups will have different needs based on their skills, time availability, and experience our organization will work with groups to develop a schedule, timeline and workload that is suitable. Your group certainly wouldn't have the same needs as other less experienced groups, but I would welcome the opportunity to find ways that we may support one anothers efforts in addressing trails in the Frank. I would like to see the Squaw Butte BCH as partner in this effort as I'm sure that your knowledge and experience will be a great contribution to the project. I see potential contributions of the Squaw Butte

4 Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen Chapter in a number of different ways: 1. Help us to identify the trails of greatest need in the areas that you travel. In other words, what trails do you use most or which ones rank highest for use and need for attention. 2. Provide some pack support to FS lead backcountry crews (there will be 5 crews consisting of 1 FS crew boss and 2 interns, with Citizen Steward groups working along side when scheduled). 3. Schedule single or multiday trail clearing and maintenance on trails of interest (we can February 2006 determine what support you may wish to have and what we can help provide). Cavan Fitzsimmons, Trails Coordinator for the SalmonChallis National Forest sent SBBCH this draft plan of the trails that they hope to work on this summer. Cavan is hoping that SBBCH will be able to help with the logistic support of some of the trail crews. ALL OF THE MIDDLEFORK TRAIL!!! Falconberry Guard Station: June, -Loon Creek blow out above temp ford USFS, Blow out below ford Scott Farr (101) - Jack Creek (108) -Castle fork, (003) -Mayfield (114) -Salt Creek, (115) - Cottonwood (117) Falconberry, Sleeping Deer: July-August -West Fork Camas (128) - Kir Creek, (?) - Mahoney, (?) - White Goat Mountain Ridge Trail (211) - South fork Camas, Pole creek (last possible late season) (125) Boundary Creek to Indian Creek: June -Middle fork trail, (001) -Indian up to base of Pistol - Indian (225) Pistol Creek: July-August -Little Pistol (229) - Pistol Creek JE blow ponde s in bottom of Pistol Creek (228) - Browning Creek? - Forty-five creek (230) - Big Baldy Creek (227) - Summit Creek (?) Little Creek: June - East Fork Thomas Creek - Little Loon - Marble Creek (past Mitchell) Bear Valley: July-August -Porter Creek (?) - Bernard Lake (008) -Camptender -Bear valley/marsh Creek - Sulphur Creek (030) - West Fork Elk Creek (006)

5 President s s Letter Dear SBBCH Members, Wow, what a lot of rain we ve had in the last few weeks. A lot of snow in the mountains may relieve our drought but I hope it doesn t hold us back from getting out and doing our riding and trail work. We had a great meeting last month and past our revised constitution and standing rules. I would like to thank every one worked so very hard on getting it done and to all the other members for their opinions and comments. I met with the USFS concerning the lack of funding for tail maintenance. Between us we came up with several possible ways they may be able to rectify that. I ll fill you all in at our next meeting. Phil Ryan suggested we have a raffle for a fund raiser. I think we should consider it as a way to help with this year s budget, another topic for the February meeting. We will need people to man the booth at the horse Affair on Friday, Feb 17, so please check you schedule and see if you can help out. And don t forget to mark your calendar for our semi-annual ride and cook-off at Sprit Horse Ranch February 25 th. I hope you can al attend the Feb meeting as we are having a great speaker. Dr. David Hayes, DVM from Star. He has done a lot of packing so his talk should be relevant and informative. There will be a question and answer period as well. So we ll see you at the meeting, and don t forget your check book 2006 dues need to be paid by that day. Bob by Bob Howard his is a short story about my grandfather who was a packer for the USFS. In August 1919 there were forest fire burning all across North and North Central Idaho. My grandfather and another packer were going down the north fork of the Clearwater River with a string of mules when they were blocked by fire. Their only way out was to ford the river to a small island. In those days the packers did not tie their mules together. They used a bell mare to lead them. At the sight and terrible sound of the fire some of the mules split off and did not make it to the island but there was nothing to be done about it. As they sat in the middle of the river watching everything burn around them a two Nez Perce, a man and a boy, came out of the fire and joined them on the island. After the fire passed the packers found their lost mules in the only unburned spot for miles around. If you ever get up that way you will find a plaque marking the spot of Survival Island.

6 By Ellen Knapp What is minimal impact and why should we care about it? Does it really matter if we cut switch backs? Does it really matter if we wash our dishes in the river or lake? Does it really matter if we build a table at our campsite? Does it really matter if we stuff our TP under a rock? Does it really matter if we clean out our horse trailer at the trailhead parking lot? We have about 1.2 million visitors to our own Idaho Sawtooth Mountains annually. We have over 300 million visitors to our National Parks annually. We have over 1 billion visitors to our National Forests annually. Even if only 1 percent of the visitors cut switchbacks, washed dishes in the rivers and lakes and left their TP under rocks, it would be very obvious to the rest of us visitors. I bet many of us love to feel that sense of being the first person to lay eyes on a beautiful valley or lake. While we know we probably aren t *really* the first one to experience the beauty, we do like to fantasize that we are. However, that feeling can be quickly dashed once we spot someone s pop can or sandwich wrapper or, worse yet, their TP stuffed under a rock. Because visitations to our national lands have dramatically increased since the seventy s we now need to talk about how to visit these areas with the least amount of impact and evidence of our being there so that each of us can get that sense of being the first. So just what is The Back Country? Does it start once you pass the Entering Wilderness sign? Or does it start once you pass the Entering Boise National Forest sign? The back country is not that limiting; it is really just outside your door. It is the Eagle Foothills. It is the Gem Cycle Park. It is The Owyhees. And it is the designated wildness areas. Practicing minimal impact is not simply a recipe for visiting the back country. It is an attitude. It is a way of life. It is what you do when no one is watching. And it is for all of us users of the back country hikers, back packers, hunters, horsemen, ATV riders, skiers, river runners; to list just a few recreation groups. Minimal impact is not an all or nothing concept. There are varying degrees. We all need to find out what will work for each of us; what we can live with; what we will automatically do when no one is watching. The goal of minimal impact is to employ methods to minimize the evidence of our passing so that others that follow can have that same feeling of being the first. And in some cases, though increasingly rarely, we are fortunate enough to be the only ones that follow. There are seven basic principles to cover when discussing methods to minimize the impact and evidence of our passing in the back country. 99.9% of our back country experience can be covered by these seven basic principles. They are: 1. Plan Ahead And Prepare 2. Travel And Camp On Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose Of Waste Properly 4. Leave What You Find 5. Minimize Campfire Impact 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Considerate Of Other Visitors

7 On the following two pages are the sessions and assignments for the SBBCH Pack Clinic March 25 th Sessions Station #1 (bleachers) (1-1) Backcountry medicine - human. A discussion on what to do if confronted with an injury while in the backcountry. This discussion will be lead by Sally Schindel (MD) and Kelly Creamer (EMT) (1-2) Backcountry medicine stock. Items covered will include symptom and suggestions on what to do until you can get your stock to a vet. This session will be lead by JoAnne Stroeder (1-3) Recreational opportunities in the Boise National Forest. This discussion will be lead by members of the Emmett Ranger District (1-4) BLM Wild Horse Program. This discussion will be conducted by the BLM wild horse manager for southwestern Idaho (1-5) Stock hoof health. This session will cover how to evaluate the health of your horse or mules feet. Melissa Smith will lead the discussion. (1-6) Where to go A discussion of some places within reasonable driving distance of Boise that provide great trail riding and camping opportunities. Station #2 (camp site) (2-1) Minimum impact camping. This session will cover camping at trailheads and in the backcountry. Following these simple common sense guild lines will increase your enjoyment of the backcountry and preserve it for the future. (2-2) Stock containment while on public lands. This session will discuss a number of ways that you can contain your stock while at a trailhead and in the backcountry that are safe for them and easy on the land. A must if you want to do more then day ride.

8 (2-3) Useful knots This session will cover a number of very useful knots that are very handy if you re traveling in the backcountry. Do you really know the best way to tie your horse? Can you tie a bowline or clove hitch? Learn how (2-4) Equipment - Suggested equipment that will make your trail riding and backcountry camping experience more enjoyable and safer. Station #3 (Live Stock will be at this station) (3-1) Fundamentals of packing equipment. Learn the parts and basic functions of a packsaddle. How to fit and care for it for a lifetime of use in the backcountry (3-2) Packing Skills Boxes and Bags. Learn some simple ways to secure loads on to your pack stock. This session will cover loading box, bags and securing top packs. Hitches covered with include the basket and Decker diamond. (3-3) Packing Skills Cargoing This session will cover using Manties and securing loads to your stock. Skills learned in the session will allow you to pack a range of items from bails of hay to an elk. Station #4 (4-1) Load Building Learn the correct way to pack boxes and bags. How to build a top packs. This session will cover the things you need to know to build safe loads that your stock can carry all day over any trail you feel like riding. (4-2) Load Building Learn the correct way to mantie a load. This session will cover the skills know as Cargoing. This session is a must for anyone who might want to pack out game or pack in anything that doesn t fit well in a bag. (4-3) Load Building - Cargoing large or odd shaped items. This discussion will be lead by Bob Howard Sr. who has packed thousands of miles in the Idaho backcountry of the last 60 years. Station #5 (Dutch oven cooking sessions will be 90 minutes long) (5-1) Backcountry Cooking Meal planning and pre trip preparation. Want to save money, weight and eat better. Do not buy prepackaged freeze-dried meals that are expensive and taste like salty sawdust. Learn how you can easily put together great meals that are easy to prepare, are almost as light and cost a lot less. Marybeth Conger, author of Easy Dehydrated Gourmet Meals will lead this session. (5-2) Backcountry Cooking dutch oven cooking. Learn how to make savory meals. This session will cover the fundamentals of Dutch oven cooking. A number of recipes will be prepared during the sessions and will be sampled at lunch.

9 Squaw Butte Chapter Back Country Horsemen of Idaho 2006 Membership Application $25.00: Individual Membership $40.00: Family Membership Make check payable to SBBCH Mail to: Charles Lox, 2790 E. Black Canyon Hwy, Emmett ID Name: Phone: Address: City: State: ZIP: address(es): address(es): Birthday Month(s): Names of family members if this is a family application: Name Birthday Month Name Birthday Month What types of demonstrations or information would you like to have at the monthly meetings? What level do you consider yourself and/or family in camping? Beginner Some Experience Experienced What level do you consider yourself and/or family in packing? Beginner Some Experience Experienced What activities or committees would you be interested in helping with? Trail Maintenance Phone Calls Meeting Demonstrations Organizing rides, work projects, or other activities Newsletter Parties Education Other Specify: What training or certifications do you have? Current FS Chain Saw Certification First Aid Certification LNT Do you have Pack Stock? Current FS Cross Cut Saw Certification CPR Certification Other Specify: Other Specify: Applicants 18 and over please read the following paragraph carefully and sign below. (If a family membership is being applied for, then all adults over 18 living in the household should sign.) Thank You! Recognizing the fact that there is a potential for accidents whenever livestock use is involved which can cause injuries to livestock, riders, and spectators and also recognizing the fact that Back Country Horsemen chapters, officers, directors, or members cannot always know the condition of trails or the experience of the riders or animals taking part in BCH functions, I do hereby release the above mentioned from any claim or right for damages which might occur to me, my minor children, and/or my livestock. Signed: Date: Signed: Date: Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen Chartered 3/92

10 01/05/2006 Regular Meeting Minutes Name Adams, Rob & Linda Argo, Doug & Teri Berggren, Leon & Margaret Burak, Nadine Bush, John & Jackie Carlock, Deborah Carpenter, Vern Conger, Bill & Marybeth Crawford, Bob Crawford, Danielle & Fred Navarro Creamer, Kelley Dann, Tony & Diane Davis, Justin Edwards, Harold & Renee Erickson, John Ewell, Jason Present John Findling, Ken & Cheryl Fine, Larry Forrester, John Fry, Martin Gaskell, Lou Ann Goslin, John Guinn, Lettie Hezeltine, Alex & Sherrie Howard, Bob & Christy Howard, Robert & Donna Johnson, David Kroush, Debbie Bob Lox, Charles & Ellen Knapp Lyons, Barney & Judy Hudson Barney MacDonald, Terry & Gail McClendon, Mike & Cathy Nielsen, Dolores Terry Prindel, Sharon Richards, Tom Rindlisbach, Claudia Ryan, Phil & Kay Schantz, Shannon Schindele, Robbin & Sally Schiro, Anthony & Susan Schmidt, Sam Selkirk, William Sharp, Ron Smith, Lisa Stroeder, JoAnna Taipale, Robbie Thielges, Jim Waters, Randy Young, Gene 2006 SBBCH Officers and Board of Directors: President: Robert Howard, Sr., Vice President: Rob Adams, Treasurer: Charles Lox, Secretary: Kay Ryan John Bush Past President State Directors (2): Phil Ryan, Bob Howard, Jr. Alternate State Director: Leon Berggren Foundation Director: Sally Schindele Alternate Foundation Director: Margaret Berggren Regular meeting brought to order at 6:52 P.M. by President Robert Howard, Sr. Pledge of Allegiance Introduction and Welcome to Guests: Russell & Kay Burdine, Darla & Tom Pyne, Sandy Hight, Ed Sacks Introduction and Welcome to New Members: No new members MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER MEETING Robbin Schindele moved to accept the minutes of the December meeting as distributed at the meeting. Bill Conger seconded the motion which passed. TREASURER S REPORT Beginning Balance: $1, Deposits: +$ 0.00 Expenditures: - $1, Ending Balance: $ Phil Ryan moved to accept the Treasurer s report. The motion was seconded by Robbin Schindele and was passed. COMMITTEE REPORTS Public Liaison Report: Harold Edwards reported that in 77 years he has seen a lot of changes but some of the ones that are being proposed now give him real concern. He said many of the changes will directly affect and impact recreational use. For example, contractors are building in areas previously used as winter range for animals. Four actions are of great concern to him: 1 Avimore Project: Proposed large housing development of 830 acres on the Spring Valley Ranch along Hwy 55. If approved, it is very likely 26,600 more acres more will be developed extending from Hwy 55 through the foothills north of Eagle. This area is considered important elk and deer winter range. 2 Cliffs Development on Hammer Flat: Proposed large housing development in foothills east of Boise and west of Lucky Peak reservoir. Developer claims he can improve the winter range for wildlife.

11 3 HR3855: A House bill co-sponsored by Butch Otter, proposes to sell off 15% of prime BLM and National Forest land within Idaho and other states to finance disaster relief. (Otter has since withdrawn his support.) 4 Revision of 1872 Mining Law: Revision allows claim holders to purchase adjacent blocks of public land at reduced prices thus turning over many acres of public land to private ownership. Terry also mentioned that Governor Kempthorne s proposed highway will go through Buck s Basin and will also destroy that area. Harold recommended that as individuals or as a group, we need to let our voices be heard by our representatives in Congress. Sally asked if there are other groups that we can align ourselves with to be a more powerful voice. Harold said that the first thing we need to do is to speak as individuals. State Directors Report: Phil reminded the group that we will need five items to donate to the State organization to be raffled off. He said that items with a western flavor that are hand made seemed to bring more dollars. He asked everyone to think about things that can be made and donated. Education & 501(C)3 Report: Sally said she has nothing to report. Work Projects and Rides Report: Rob Adams said he is working on the proposed schedule for projects and rides for the New Year with some fun rides and FOOD. He says he hopes to have a ride in February in the Owyhees, we will have the Packing Clinic in March, and possibly a Dutch Oven/BBQ and ride at Ellen & Charles. John mentioned the Horse Affair and Horse Expo and said someone will need to get with Alice Millington of the Treasure Valley Chapter to determine who will coordinate the events. Robbin reported that the proposed grant for the Boiling Springs project was determined to be too expensive. He will keep looking and working on possible projects. Audit Report: John Bush reported that he and Margaret Berggren conducted the audit and found everything to be in order. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Standing Rules: Copies of the proposed new Standing Rules were provided to the members. Discussion occurred on several of the items and the language was clarified. Bill Conger moved to accept the Standing Rules and Linda Adams seconded the motion which passed. NEW BUSINESS Dues Structure: An increase to the dues was discussed. Bill moved that the dues for a single membership be increased by $5.00 and the dues for a family membership be increased by $ Robbin seconded the motion which was passed. This means that a single membership is $25 and a family membership is $40. Ellen asked what should be done about those individuals who paid their dues in advance before the change. It was decided that these people should be grandfathered in at the rate they have already paid. Phil said that looking at the state of our funds, we probably need to come up with some money making ideas. He suggested that we have a tack sale during the Packing Clinic. Terry MacDonald suggested a Poker ride. Most said they do not want to resort to bake sales. Adopt-a-Highway: Bob reported that he as sent in the paperwork for the new contract for 2006 to adopt the area we have had in the past. Frank Church Wilderness Alliance: We have received an inquiry from an organization who is soliciting interest in working on trails in the Frank Church Wilderness area. Bob said he would be concerned if the work was going to be in the northern or southern end because it would be difficult for us to reach the northern part. Rob said he would check into it. Equestrian Motor Plan: Kay Ryan said a friend pointed out that some auto insurance plans with extended motor plans do not cover occurrences when pulling a horse trailer or when carrying a camper. An organization called US Rider provides a plan just for horse owners. She pointed out a few of the features and suggested those interested look at their website: Charles said he contacted his insurance company and that at least State Farm does cover horse towing rigs but that others may not. GOOD OF THE ORDER Notices: Kay reported that our meeting information will be appearing free of charge in a new publication called Wild Idaho News which is to be published every two weeks. We can also post any of our events. Contact can be made at Kay said she received a phone call from Helen Watts who said she had seen an article in the Statesman that there is a proposal to change Squaw Creek to Spring Creek. She asked that the Chapter consider changing its name from Squaw Butte to Emmett Butte because some ethnic groups may object to our name. John moved that we keep our name as it is. The motion was seconded by Terry and passed. Door Prizes: Martin Fry was the lucky winner of a 50# bag of horse cubes donated by Pet Corral. JoAnna Stroeder won a ticket for two adults to attend a concert sponsored by Crime Stoppers. Meeting was adjourned at 8:34. Respectfully submitted by Kay Ryan, Secretary, SBBCH

12 Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen P.O. Box 293, Emmett, ID C&C Sutlery Emmett Idaho Your Full Service Civil War & 1800 s Period Clothing Supplier All clothing is Made in America Web: info@ccsutlery.com Printing Donated by: Phone: G Spirit Horse Enterprises Emmett Idaho Equine & Livestock Supplies including High Country Plastics info@ccsutlery.com Phone: