O R EG O N
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Weber, Ronan Sunset
Photo courtesy of Bugeater, Fish On!
Photo courtesy of Kirt Edblom, Anyone for Balloons
Photo courtesy of Brent, IMG_0235
Table of Contents The History of Oregon.................................4-5 The Oregon Trail.........................................8-9 Oregon Experience Your Horizons............10-11 Ocean Safety..........................................12-13 Oregon’s Secret Suprises........................14-15 Montana Welcome to Big Sky Country.....16-17 Gold in Montana.....................................20-21 Bear Paw Battlefield...............................25-26 Wildlife Viewing......................................26-27 Welcome to Idaho...................................28-29 SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS IN THIS PUBLICATION CALL US TODAY! 844.800.3656 SunnMediaMarketing.com
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Idaho, Your Next Adventure.....................30-31 Best Fly Fishing in Idaho.........................32-33 Cover photo courtesy of Jonathan Miske, Crater Lake.
Sunn Media Marketing is not responsible for misinformation, misprints, typographical errors, etc. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information in this publication. Please contact Sunn Media Marketing with any additions or corrections. The information contained herein is for the sole purpose of information and education. Some information has been provided by third party sources. www.SunnMediaMarketing.com | Travel & Rec Life
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Photo courtesy of Zach Dischner, Mt. Hood. I Miss You
The History of
Oregon Very few states can compete with Oregon’s vast amount of natural beauty, Crater Lake and the Ble Mouintains are unique in diversity and quantity of wildlife and nature. Adding the states number of beaches, mountains, forrests and farms.
Photo courtesy of Sheila Sund, Lucky cows
229, Photo courtesy of m01 se - Bandon, Oregon
Coquille River Lighthou
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O R EG O N
Photo courtesy of Ian Sane, Across The Tracks
Photo courtesy of Elvert Barnes, 18a.OSU.FamilyActivities.CampusCommunity.SFF.WDC.4July2012
Photo courtesy of Matt Kern, Waiting to drop
Oregon was inhabited by many indigenous tribes before Western traders, explorers, and settlers arrived. An autonomous government was formed in the Oregon Country in 1843 before the Oregon Territory was created in 1848. Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859. While there is considerable evidence that Paleo-Indians inhabited the region, the oldest evidence of habitation in Oregon was found at Fort Rock Cave and the Paisley Caves in Lake County. Archaeologist Luther Cressman dated material from Fort Rock to 13,200 years ago,[46] and there is evidence supporting inhabitants in the region at least 15,000 years ago. By 8000 BC there were settlements throughout the state, with populations concentrated along the lower Columbia River, in the western valleys, and around coastal estuaries.
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During the prehistoric period, the Willamette Valley region was flooded after the collapse of glacial dams from Lake Missoula, located in what would later become Montana. These massive floods occurred during the last ice age and filled the valley with 300 to 400 feet (91 to 122 m) of water.By the 16th century, Oregon was home to many Native American groups, including the Chinook, Coquille (Ko-Kwell), Bannock, Chasta, Kalapuya, Klamath, Klickitat, Molalla, Nez Perce, Takelma, Tillamook, Umatilla, and Umpqua. The first Europeans to visit Oregon were Spanish explorers led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo who sighted southern Oregon off the Pacific Coast in 1543. Francis Drake made his way to Nehalem Bay in 1579 and spent 5 weeks in the middle of summer repairing his ship and claimed the land between 38–48 degrees N latitude as a Symbolic Sovereign Act for England. Exploration was retaken routinely in 1774, starting with the expedition of the frigate Santiago by Juan José Pérez Hernández (see Spanish expeditions to the Pacific Northwest), and the coast of Oregon became a valuable trading route to Asia. In 1778, British captain James Cook also explored the coast. French Canadian and métis trappers and missionaries arrived in the eastern part of the state in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many having travelled as members of Lewis and Clark and the 1811 Astor expeditions. Some stayed permanently, including Étienne Lussier, believed to be the first European farmer in the state of Oregon. The evidence of this French Canadian presence can be found in the numerous names of French origin in that part of the state, including Malheur Lake and the Malheur River, the Grande Ronde and Deschutes rivers, and the city of La Grande. www.SunnMediaMarketing.com | Travel & Rec Life
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Craine Prairie Resort At Big Spruce R.V. Park we not only have a place for your R.V. to park overnight but we also have boat rentals which allow you to take a boat out for 3 hours with 3 crab traps and 3 bait to get yourself some crab.
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Grocery Store · Shopping/Retail • Wine, Beer & Spirits
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Oregon Trail the
In the spring of 1843, the first ripple of a coming tide of would-be settlers piled everything they owned into canvas-covered wagons, handcarts and any other vehicle that could move, and set out along a dim trace called ‘the Emigrant Road.’ They went by way of a route that was a broad ribbon of threads, sometimes intertwining, sometimes splitting off into frayed digressions. It ran beside waterways, stretched across tall-grass and short-grass prairies, wound through mountain passes, and then spanned the Pacific Slope to the promised lands of Oregon and California. One in 17 never made it. This road to the Far West soon became known by another name–the Oregon Trail. Even today, ruts from the wagon wheels remain etched indelibly in the fragile topsoil of the Western landscape. 8
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The Oregon Trail opened at a time when the westward settlement and development of the trans-Mississippi West had stalled at the Missouri River; Mexico still claimed all of California, and Alaska remained Russian territory. Everything from California to Alaska and between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean was a British-held territory called Oregon. The trail pointed the way for the United States to expand westward to achieve what politicians of the day called its ‘Manifest Destiny’ to reach ‘from sea to shining sea.’ In 1843, the trickle of emigrants into Independence, Mo., began to swell. They
came from all directions, by steamboat and over primitive roads that a day or two of heavy rain turned into quagmires. For the most part they were farmers–family men, with wives and children–who had a common goal of seeking a promised land of milk and honey in far-off Oregon, about which they knew as little as they did about how to get there. They did know that the back country of Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas had not proved to be a shining paradise. It was said that snow did not exist in California’s golden valleys, that the black soil of Oregon was bottomless, that vast
After several days on the trail, certain routines were followed: ~ 4:00 am: a bugler blows a trumpet or a rifle is fired by the night
O R EG O N
A Day on the Trail
guards to wake up the camp. ~ 5:00 am: cattle are rounded up after being allowed to graze during the night (except when Indians threatened). ~ 5:30 am: women and children are up and fixing breakfast of usually bacon, corn porridge or “Johnny Cakes” made of flour and water. ~ 6:30 am: women rinse plates and mugs and stow bedding, while the men haul down tents and load them in the wagons. ~ 7:00 am: after every family has gathered their teams and hitched them to wagons, a trumpeter signals a “Wagons Ho,” to start the wagons down the trail. Average distance covered in a day was usually fifteen miles, but on a good day twenty could be traveled. ~ 7:30 am: men ride ahead on horses with shovels to clear out a path, rivers afforded easy transportation, and that no forests barred the way to migrating wagons. Ignorance allowed travelers to advance where fuller knowledge might have rooted them with apprehension. But they were farm folk and had pioneered before. They were adept with wagons, livestock, rifles and axes. The women were used to walking beside the men as wilderness equals. Above all, they were restless– once a farm had been tamed, the narrow horizons of the backwoods communities closed around them. Vast and unclaimed riches far to the west, across the Great Plains, beckoned. It was as if the land itself were pulling the people westward. ‘As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea,’ wrote novelist Willa Cather in My Antonia. ‘And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running837 shriveled the value of land and
if needed.
Lions roaring in the morning sun Searching for a longer day People feeling like the light has just come We must never stop the way
~ “Nooning Time”: animals and people stop to eat, drink and rest. ~ 1:00 pm: back on the trail. ~ 5:00 pm: when a good campsite with ample water and grass is found, pioneers stop to set up camp for the evening. Wagons are circled into a corral.
the price of crops, and malaria ravaged the bottomlands that once had promised so much.
~ 6:00 pm: families unpack and make supper. ~ 7:00 pm: mothers do chores, men smoke & talk, young people dance. ~ 8:00 pm: camp settles down for the night, guards go out on duty ~ Midnight: night guards are changed. www.SunnMediaMarketing.com | Travel & Rec Life
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Oregon
Photo courtesy of John Fowler, Thor’s Well Enhancement
Expand your horizons
Traveling to Oregon for the first time is a life-altering experience. The unique culture and the beauty of the spectacular landscapes, alone, are enough to amaze you.
T
he state where winter storm watching is a recreational activity! You might say that the State of Oregon has it all!
Miles of the most beautiful coastline a person could ever dream of… where calm waves ease their way onto the sand and a short distance away they crash wildly against rocks and mammoth columns and through caves. Mountains that touch the sky with an awesome beauty. Deserts and craters that hold the mystery of life frommillions of years ago. Lush farm lands and stark empty deserts where 10
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each grain of sand holds a story it will never tell. Oregon is also the place where the long journey ended on the Oregon Trail. This is the place where a new life began for thousands of brave pioneers. Oregon is Mother Earth in all her glory. It is treasured bythe Native American Indians who now share this amazing state with all who take the time to visit. Travelers to Oregon will never forget their journey. Most will return again and again to experience everything from Metropolitan Portland, to the many small communities where people are friendly and hold great pride in their heritage.
Taste the wine, enjoy a little Shakespeare, experience the powerful, exciting white water and have the thrill of catching that first fish. You could live every day to its fullest and never have time to do it all! But one thing is certain…you will never forget every moment you’ve spent here! Oregon is a must on your visit to the Pacific Northwest!
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Ocean
Safety Rip currents are responsible for deaths on our nation’s beaches every year, and for most of the rescues performed by lifeguards.
Every summer, people pack their bathing suits, sunscreen, flip flops and a good book for a trip to the beach. Or, perhaps where you live, you are fortunate to have beach weather for the greater part of the year. Regardless of how often you get to sink your toes into the sand, we have some some beach safety tips and steps you can take to be make sure you and your family remain safe. Swimming in the ocean takes different skills, so before you get your feet wet, it’s best to learn how to swim in the surf. You should also swim only at a lifeguardprotected beach, within the designated swimming area. Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards.
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While you’re enjoying the water, keep alert and check the local weather conditions. Make sure you swim sober and that you never swim alone. And even if you’re confident in your swimming skills, make sure you have enough energy to swim back to shore. Other beach safety tips to keep in mind: Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets in and the around water. No one should use any other type of floatation device unless they are able to swim. Don’t dive headfirst—protect your neck. Check for depth and obstructions before
diving, and go in feet first the first time. Pay especially close attention to children and elderly persons when at the beach. Even in shallow water, wave action can cause a loss of footing. Keep a lookout for aquatic life. Water plants and animals may be dangerous. Avoid patches of plants. Leave animals alone. Rip Currents Rip currents are responsible for deaths on our nation’s beaches every year, and for most of the rescues performed by lifeguards. Beachgoers should be aware of how dangerous rip currents are, and swim only at beaches with lifeguards in the
O R EG O N
designated swimming area. Rip currents can form in any large open water area, such as low spots and breaks in sandbars, or near structures such as jetties and piers. For your safety, be aware of the danger of rip currents and remember the following: If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight the current. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can’t swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore. If you feel you can’t make it to the shore, draw attention to yourself
by waving and calling for help. Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist near these structures. If someone is in trouble in the water, get help from a lifeguard. If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1. Throw the victim something that floats – a lifejacket, cooler, inflatable ball and yell instructions on how to escape the current.
When at the beach, check conditions before entering the water. Check to see if any warning flags are up or ask a lifeguard about water conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards.
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OREGON’S
SECRET
Suprises! Known primarily for the quirky city of Portland, Oregon is a mostly rural state that holds a landscape diversity to rival anywhere in the US. Big hitter destinations like Mt Hood, Crater Lake, Cannon Beach and the Columbia Gorge get heavy fair-weather traffic but there are plenty of other amazing destinations where tourism flourishes lightly for only a few weekends a year. Long distances from major metropolises have kept many places pristine and the wow-factor makes them worth the drive. 14
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book/ David Hill, Photo courtesy of face Vineyards & Winery
Sip 47 The Willamette Valley can get packed with Pinot Noir–tasting wine lovers on sunny weekends. Don’t skip the wines but do avoid the masses by taking the region’s low-key back roads along bucolic Hwy 47, dubbed ‘Sip 47’ for its bevy of great vineyards. Our favorite wineries here include Elk Cove (elkcove.com), one of the valley’s pioneer wineries with a sprawling view over the hills and vines, and Kramer Vineyards (kramervineyards.com), a mom and pop style place that specializes in delicious sparkling wines.
O R EG O N Photo courtesy of Cyri l Fluck, Oregon Dunes Nationa l Recreation Area
The Wallowa Mountains The state’s tourism department may have named the Wallowa Mountains one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon, but the mountains are so far east (about 330 miles from Portland) that, outside of summer weekends, few make it out this way. Accurately called ‘Little Switzerland’, these snow-topped, granite hills are covered in wild flowers through mid-summer and look a whole lot like the fabled mounts of Europe. Hike or horseback ride to clear glacial lakes or take the Wallowa Lake Tramway (wallowalaketramway.com) up steep Mt Howard (elevation 8255 ft) for views over Wallowa Lake and more hiking opportunities. For a taste of the Wild West gone artsy, head to the cowboy mountain towns of Enterprise and Joseph.
Photo courtesy of edd
iecoyote, Lost lake_00
Lost Lake Between lofty Mt Hood and the lush Columbia Gorge, photogenic Lost Lake takes in the best of both worlds and offers a cool place for a swim. While it’s relatively unknown to Oregon newbies, locals in the know love this place; the 148 camp sites, seven lodge rooms and handful of cabins and yurts at the only lodging option, Lost Lake Resort (lostlakeresort.org), book fast on summer weekends. It’s also a beautiful, 85-mile day trip from Portland and the no motor boat rule makes it a peaceful spot for canoeing, hiking and trout fishing – all with an amazing view of pyramid-shaped Mt Hood.
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area Other states may be better known for their beaches but the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area holds the longest stretch of coastal dunes (40 miles) in the US. Not only that, but some tower up to 500 ft above sea level and in some areas the undulating sand extends three miles inland. A popular activity here is ATV and dune buggy riding, but the northern areas of the dunes hold peaceful spots for hiking, kayaking and fishing. Unsurprisingly, these beachy hills are partly what inspired one-time Oregon resident Frank Herbert to write his sci-fi novel Dune.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Out in the middle of nowhere, about 200 miles southeast of Portland, lies John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, some of the most amazing natural rock formations you’re likely to see anywhere. The highlight here is the psychedelic, horizontally striped Painted Hills that resemble crazy sand sculptures, but don’t miss the blue-green spires of the Sheep Rock Unit or fossil-filled palisades of the Clarno Unit. The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center sits conveniently between these three areas, so you can get an idea of what happened on Earth millions of years ago to create such unusual and striking geology.
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Photo courtesy of m01229, Kayaks & canoes at Swiftcurrent Lake - Glacier National Park
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Photo courtesy of Bugeater, fish that soft water
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MONTANA WELCOME TO BIG SKY COUNTRY
MONTANA IS LIKE NO PLACE ELSE ON EARTH. Dinosaurs once roamed here, and majestic bison, elk, and grizzly bears still do. You don’t have to visit many Montana art galleries or museums to realize that there is something truly inspiring going on in Montana. Montana is the home to about 48,000 Native Americans. Their ancestors called the region the “Land of Shining Mountains” because the sun shines on its high, snow-capped mountains. In 1876, General George Custer and 266 of his men were killed by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians at Little Big Horn. The Indians were led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. The famous battle is known as “Custar’s Last Stand” and was probably the biggest force of Indian warriors to gather in Western history. Montana’s name comes from the Latin or Spanish word for mountainous. The state is sometimes called “The Big Sky Country.” Billings is Montana’s largest city and Great Falls is the state’s second largest city. The abbreviation for Montana is MT. Montana is a Rocky Mountain state bordered by Canada to the north, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and Idaho to the west and south. It is the largest Rocky Mountain state and the fourth largest state in the country; only Alaska, Texas, and California are bigger. However, Montana is the third least densely populated state in the country; only Wyoming and Alaska have fewer residents per square mile. Montana’s land runs from the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide in the western part of the state to rolling plains in the eastern part of the state. Twothirds of Montana is in the Great Plains.
The state’s beautiful landscape includes forests, prairies, highlands, and valleys. Montana is a leading state in gold, copper, lead, zinc, platinum, and palladium mining, and has the largest coal reserves in the country. Because of the state’s great abundance of minerals, especially gold and silver, it is known as the “Treasure State” and the “Bonanza State.” When gold
Vast, unspoiled, and wild, “Big Sky Country” represents the very best of the American West. was discovered in Montana in 1862, many prospectors rushed to the region. Mining camps were established very quickly.
as the law in these lawless communities and hanged many of the outlaws, who had been terrorizing the miners. Last Chance Gulch, now Helena, was one of the mining towns established. Last Chance Gulch is now the name of the main street in Helena, Montana’s capital. Manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism are important parts of Montana’s economy. Irrigation and insecticides have made farming less risky. Montana produces a large amount of wheat and barley. It is a leading sheep grazing state. Montana’s cattle ranches are stocked with carefully bred Angus and Herefords. Tourists visit Montana to experience the American frontier. See the state’s mountains, battlefields (like Custer Battlefield National Monument in the Valley of the Little Big Horn), and old gold camps. Tourists can experience a spectacular view of mountains, lakes, and about 50 glaciers in Glacier National Park. The park has mountains that are so steep and remote that no one has ever climbed them. If you’re in the park in late October, you can see a gathering of bald eagles feasting on the salmon in lower McDonald Creek.
Prospectors weren’t the only people who came to the area; outlaws also went there. Groups of citizens called vigilantes acted www.SunnMediaMarketing.com | Travel & Rec Life
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GOLD in Montana Montana is called the “Treasure State� for good reason. Millions of dollars in gold and precious metals have been mined in Montana since the early gold discoveries here. Montana has a rich mining history, and the state is ranked as the 7th largest producer of gold in the United States by the US Geological Survey. The vast majority of gold districts in Montana are in the western part of the state, near the border of Idaho. The geological conditions are more favorable in the rugged ountains along the Continental Divide than the flatter two-thirds of the state. The first gold discoveries in Montana occurred in 1852, but it was the major strike on Grasshopper Creek in 1862 that brought gold seekers into the southwest corner of the state. The town of Bannack (west of present day Dillon, Montana) was built and soon thousands of miners were scouring the creeks and hillsides for the yellow metal. By the spring of the next year, huge gold deposits were found in Alder Gulch at Virginia City. Modern day prospectors will be right at home in Montana. The state has produced thousands of ounces of gold each year since the initial discoveries here over 150 years ago. There are hundreds of locations that gold can be found in the state, much of it on federal lands open for mineral exploration. As mentioned previously, with a few exceptions, most of the richest gold bearing areas will be found in the western part of the state. Search for old mine sites 20
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and rich gold bearing creeks with historic placer gold productions. A few are well known areas are listed below: The creeks and rivers near the old towns of Bannack and Virginia City still have gold to be found.Missouri River near Helena, Montana, site of the Last Chance Gulch gold strike.
The first gold discoveries in Montana occurred in 1852, but it was the major strike on Grasshopper Creek in 1862 that brought gold seekers into the southwest corner of the state.
The headwaters of the Clark Fork of the Columbia River near Butte Montana. Much of the gold production in this region has come as a byproduct of the massive copper produced from this area. The Highland Centennial Nugget was found not far
from Butte, and weighed over 25 ounces. Confederate Gulch east of the Missouri River between Helena and Townsend. This was one of the richest placers in Montana history; some gravels reportedly paid over $1000 per pan! Nearby areas also include Boulder Creek, Cement Gulch, Montana Gulch, and Montana Bar. Hydraulic operations were operated on much of the ground in this area. The Ottawa District in western Montana produced rich placer deposits in Silver Creek, and many lodes have also been found since. Rich lode deposits were found in the Georgetown District west of Anaconda. Far east of most of Montana’s gold districts is the Kendall and North Moccasin Districts in Central Montana. Much of the gold here was in the form of low grade ores. The Radersburg on the eastern flank of the Elkhorn Mountains. Placer gold is present in many of the creeks in this area. The Jardine District is located north of Yellowstone National Park. It has extensive hardrock deposits, and has also produced its fair share of placer gold as well. The entire area around Cooke City, Montana has significant gold. Much of it
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can be found in small lode deposits and prospects that are scattered around the region. Montana is a huge state, and there is no doubt that many rich gold deposits are yet to be discovered. Large gold nuggets have been found here, so a metal detector would be an ideal prospecting tool if you are searching for gold. Panning, sluicing,
and dredging will all produce gold if you find a good area. Remember that although Montana has a significant amount of public lands open to prospect, much of the richest and easiest accessible areas are already claimed. Respect the rights of mineral claim owners by always getting permission before doing any prospecting. If you are only panning or using a small sluice box, claim owners will often grant
you access to do some prospecting. If not, continue exploring and you should be able to find a good area to prospect without too much difficulty.
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The San-Suz-Ed All Vacationers RV Park, Campground and Bed & Brekfast
See Glacier Park's beauty from The San-Suz-Ed RV Park, Campground and Bed & Breakfast Located 2 miles west of West Glacier, Montana on Highway 2
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Bear Paw
Battlefield
Bear Paw Battlefield is the final stop on the 1300 mile Nez Perce National Historic Trail that traces the retreat of this tribe’s non-treaty bands during the 1877 War. 24
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Located 16 miles south of Chinook, Montana on Route 240 “Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Tulhuulhulsuit is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, yes or no. He who led the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are, perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my
children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead.....from where the sun now stands, I will fight no more, forever” Chief Joseph, Nez Perce – October 5, 1877 – 2:00 PM Bear Paw Battlefield is the site of the last battle of the four-month Nez Perce War of 1877. The battlefield is a part of Nez Perce National Historical Park and Nez Perce National Historic Trail. It was here that Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce spoke those immortal words. You have heard
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of the brilliant way that the Nez Perce outwitted the Army and came so close to the Canadian border and freedom. Now you can visit this historical area, hear the plight of these brave people at the numbered stops on the trail and know that it remains today a burial ground to the Nez Perce people who lost their lives while seeking freedom. This is their story. The Nez Perce Indians, were long known as friends of the whites. They had welcomed Lewis and Clark, fur trappers and missionaries to their homeland in the mountains, valleys and along the rivers of southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon and north-central Idaho. In 1855, Washington Territorial Governor, Isaac I. Stevens, responding to increasing white expansion, negotiated a treaty with the Nez Perce chiefs, their traditional homeland and establishing it as a reservation of some 5,000 square miles. In 1860, prospectors, encroaching on Nez Perce lands, struck gold. In the ensuing rush, disregarded Steven’s treaty. The United States Government engaged the angered Nez Perce in new treaty talks
the tribe.
It was here that Chief Joseph spoke his famous words, ‘From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.’
that culminated in a large treaty council in 1863. Nearly all-tribal bands were represented. When the Government tried to get some of the bands to cede all or most of their lands, they refused to do so and left the council. In their absence, other chiefs, without tribal authority to speak for the departed bands, did just that, ceding the lands of those who had left the council. Their act resulted in a division of
For some years, the non-treaty bands continued to live on their lands, insisting that no one had the right to sell them. But conflicts increased, particularly in the Wallowa country, the homeland of Chief Joseph’s band. In May, 1877, the Army finally ordered the non-treaties to turn over their land to the whites and move onto a small reservation. Rather than risk war with the Army, the non-treaty chiefs decided to move onto the reservation at Lapwai, Idaho. Several embittered young warriors decided to kill some whites, avenging the past murders of tribal members. That shattered the peaceful life at Lapwai and the flight of the Nez Perce began on June 15, 1877. Pursued by the Army, flight to Canada became their only hope. Their long desperate and circuitous route, as they traveled and fought to escape pursuing white forces, is what we now call the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. 750 Nez Perce led by Chief Joseph and other
leaders, fled. Only 250 of them were warriors, the rest women, children and old or sick people, together with their 2,000 horses fought defensively for their lives in some 20 battles against a total of more than 2,000 soldiers. Their route through four states, dictated by their own skillful strategy, covered over 1,100 miles before they were trapped and surrendered at Montana’s Bear Paw Mountains just short of the Canadian border and safety on October 5, 1877. The Blaine County Museum, located downtown in Chinook, presents an audiovisual history lesson with “40 Miles to Freedom”. Combining video, sound and lighting effects detailing the events leading up to the Battle and Siege of the Bear Paw. The museum is open daily Memorial day to Labor Day. There is no admission charge and guided tours are available. Books and gifts are also available at the museum gift shop.
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WILDLIFE V I E W I N G
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Photo courtesy of Clydehurst, Moose Eating
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Knowing more about where to look, how to look and what you are looking for in a given environment can greatly enhance your wildlife watching experience. People often miss animals that are very near because they are not thinking about looking for wildlife. Where to Look
decrease your chances of seeing wildlife. Animals in parks and refuges are more accustomed to seeing people and cars and may let you get closer, even if you wear perfume, glittery jewelry, etc., but generally animals in the wild will slip away before you get a chance to see them.
lines.
Think like wildlife Learning a little about what wildlife needs to survive gives clues to where you can find them. Different species have different habitat requirements for water, food, shelter and adequate space. Look to the edge Watch the edges of the desert, forest or stream. Most wildlife species spend their time along habitat edges. The border between two habitats is a prime viewing spot. How to Look The key to both finding and watching wildlife is “quiet, but active viewing.” Use the following techniques Be natural Relax and make yourself small and unassuming. Move slowly in a consistent fashion and make frequent stops. Don’t stare! Most animals see this as a threat. Wear muted colors and fabrics that don’t ‘rustle’ when you move. Use the lay of the land: hills, drainages and gullies provide cover, while skylines leave you easily spotted. Use light to your advantage: stand or sit with the sun behind you to stay in the shadows. Talk softly only if you must. Look in different ways Scan the landscape with “soft eyes” to see the landscape versus focusing on details. Look at a distance, then in the foreground and back. Use peripheral vision to pick up movement. Use binoculars and other optics. Magnify and focus your vision. Optics allow you to watch from a distance with less risk to humans or animals. Even if you don’t see wildlife, use your optics to scan suitable habitat and you may catch a glimpse of an animal. What to Look For Shapes Look for parts of an animal, such as its head, tail, ear, wing, or antler.
Color Look for color contrasts against the natural background.
For better vision, shade your eyes with a cap or visor.
Movement Motion is the big giveaway. Look above and below you to catch a glimpse of something walking, flying, feeding or scratching.
Leave pets at home. When you enter an area
What lives there
Learn to slow down! Stop and look for several minutes. Sit down and use all of your senses. Listen for movement and calls. Catch the smells of your surroundings.
Look for signs that give you clues about what animals live there. Watch for tracks, trails, rubbing spots, nests, droppings, tunnels, food remains, webs, gnawed wood or dams.
Look ahead. When you walk through an area, the wildlife may slip away unseen because you’re too close. Ahead, the animals may not be aware of your presence yet.
When to Look Time of day
If you choose to sit in one place and wait, flatten yourself against a tree or rock to blend with the landscape. Sit in a place that provides cover for wildlife. Rarely will wildlife cross a big, open space to pass by you.
Dawn and dusk are often the most active times for the majority of wildlife species. Some wildlife is active in daylight hours. Other species are only out at night.
If you are close to rushing rivers or streams, look upstream and down. Often the noise of the flowing water will deaden your noise, and an animal will not realize you are there.
Nocturnal or night-time wildlife tends to be more active during full moon periods. Season of the year Some wildlife appears only during certain seasons, such as when they are migrating. Some sleep through the winter cold or the summer heat.
When you see wildlife If you glimpse an animal, freeze. Staying absolutely motionless is the same technique many animals use to keep from being detected.
Mating seasons make wildlife easier to find because they are more active and often preoccupied with mating rituals.
If an animal you are watching sees you, but doesn’t flee, avert your eyes. “Staring” is a threatening gesture to most wildlife, so glance out of the corners of your eyes.
Consider the weather
If the animal seems to tolerate you, try to get a little closer by focusing your attention on the ground and walking in a slow zigzag direction, moving closer to the animal. Watch for signs that you are getting too close.
Wildlife is often active in poor weather, although most will seek cover during really bad weather. Many animals become lively again just after the inclement weather breaks. Wildlife is typically less active in the heat of the day.
Remember to respect the environment during your wildlife watching adventures: step lightly and leave rocks, logs, flowers, nests, etc., as you found them.
Before you go Don’t use perfumes, personal care products with fragrance or other unnatural scents when you go out to observe wildlife.
Notice things out of place, such as strange shapes, or contrasts between colors, patterns and textures.
Wear muted, natural-colored clothing. This will help you blend in with the environment. The further you go into the wilderness, the more important this is.
Focus on lines that do not match the surroundings, such as horizontal lines in a vertical landscape or curves among straight
Dress in clothing that is quiet when you move. Rustling windbreakers, nylon knapsacks, rattling plastic bags and clanking canteens
Always practice responsible and safe viewing. Don’t pursue wildlife. It saps the animal of its energy and causes stress. Intruding too far into an animal’s space could also pose a danger for the viewer if the animal perceives the person as a threat.
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Welcome to IDAHO
Idaho has earned its bragging rights through its rich history, geology, natural beauty and, of course, its famous Potatoes.
I
daho’s name began with a deception. George M. Willing, a mining lobbyist in 1860, presented Congress with a new territory he wanted to name ‘Idaho’. Willing claimed the name was derived from a Native American word meaning ‘Gem of the Mountains’. Once Congress discovered Willing had made up the word Idaho, they chose to name the new territory ‘Colorado’. Regardless of the origin, Idaho became common usage across the United States, so when Congress created another new territory, they named it Idaho. How lucky are we to be called the Idahoans? It was later discovered the state was rich in over 240 minerals, making Idaho a true ‘Gem State’. Most of these treasures are rare and can only be found in museums, private collections or through gem dealers. Although gold attracted the first white settlers in the late 1800’s, silver is Idaho’s cash cow today — Idaho mines almost 45% of all silver in the United States.
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Factoid: The Star Garnet can only be found in Idaho and India. You won’t find these rare four or six-ray stars in any commercial jewelry store. But you can find them if you go rockhounding in northern Idaho. The US Forest Service operates the Emerald Creek where anybody can extract up to 5 pounds of Star Garnet with a permit. There are 3,100 miles of rivers. No other state has this bragging right. These rivers are lifelines for ranchers and farmers, a playground for outdoor enthusiasts and a refuge for fishermen seeking solace on the banks of their slow-moving waterways. Factoid: The Salmon River, ‘The River of No Return’, is the longest free-flowing river contained within a single state. The next time mountains start calling your name, you better listen to their echo! Chances are they are reverberating throughout Idaho’s
81 mountain ranges. Yes, that’s right, 81! The loudest and clearest echo will be bouncing around the Lost River Range located within the Challis National Forest in eastern Custer County — home to Idaho’s highest peak, Mount Borah (12,667’). Idaho is 83,557 square miles with two-thirds of it being federal land including 4,792,969 wilderness acres. Now that’s a HUGE playground worth exploring! Idaho’s Hells Canyon and Shoshone Falls were carved from the flood of Lake Bonneville about 15,000 years ago. Hells Canyon river gorge is 7,900 feet deep compared to Grand Canyon’s 6,000 feet. The Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls plunges to an impressive depth of 212 feet – over 40 feet further than Niagara Falls. The Craters of the Moon National Monument was established in 1924. Volcanic eruptions and lava flow created 83 square miles of spatter cones and fissure vents beginning 15,000 years ago and lasting until 2,000 years
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Photo courtesy of Charles Knowles, Alice Lake Sawtooth Mountains Idaho
ago. A visit to this National Monument may have you believing you are walking on the moon. Go ahead, take one giant leap for mankind…I dare ya! The Sun Valley Lodge in Sun Valley was America’s first destination ski resort, built in 1936 (celebrating its 80th birthday in 2016!). All you needed was a quarter to ride on the first alpine chair lift. Beginning in September 2014, the Sun Valley Lodge went through a major renovation. Don’t worry folks…the bowling alley is still there boasting six new high-tech regulation-length lanes.Famous Potatoes Since 1950, Idaho has been the United States top potato producer – supplying two-thirds of all processed potatoes. This is why Famous Potatoes has been Idaho’s slogan on license plates since 1957. Primitive hunting tools and fossils of extinct animals found at Wilson Butte Cave (east of Shoshone) can be traced back to 12,500 B.C. Imagine being a bipedal roaming the Idaho countryside in those good ol’ days!
Photo courtesy of Joe Nuxoll, 120705-Idaho-ClearwaterRiver-JN200
As promised, here are some unusual Idaho laws. There has to be a reasonable explanation behind them. Doesn’t there? It is illegal for an Idahoan to give their sweetheart a box of candy weighing over 50 pounds. If you’re the recipient, indulge yourself in mountains of chocolate! If you’re the giver, you’ll spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder. Smile! It’s illegal to walk around with a frown on your face in Pocatello, Idaho. If you’re over 88, you can’t ride a motorcycle in Idaho. Don’t ride a merry-go-round in Idaho on a Sunday – you’ll be breaking the law! You would be considered a criminal if you were to fish from a camel’s back in Idaho or fish from a giraffe’s back in Boise. Huh?
and the gallows at the Old Penitentiary in Boise. Adventure tourism, history and culture are a part of Idaho’s heritage. Whether it’s the mountains or rivers that bring you to Idaho, you’ll always find an excuse to come back. This hidden Gem State is more than just Famous Potatoes — it’s your gateway to unexplored escapades! Idaho State facts: Bird: Mountain Bluebird Horse: Appaloosa Fish: Cutthroat Trout Fruit: Huckleberry Flower: Syringa Gem: Star Garnet State Motto: “Esto Perpetua” meaning “It is forever”
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Experiences
IDAHO,
YOUR NEXT
E R U T N ADVE A road trip with friends can be a blessing It comes out to be a roller coaster of emotions, but more than likely, you will have an amazing experience. Idaho is full of suprises. It has a natural and cultural diversity as great as that of any other state in the nation. It’s also a large state covering over 83,000 square miles, making it larger than all of New England. The border with Washington and Oregon extends nearly 500 miles from north to south. The northern panhandle is less than 50 miles wide, but the southern portion of Idaho stretches 300 miles from east to west. Most of northern Idaho is forested while the most notable feature of southern Idaho is the Snake River Plain, which sweeps across the state from Ashton in the east to Weiser in the west. Much of central Idaho is pristine wilderness that covers a granite rock called the Idaho Batholith. This wealth of high country sprawling between the Snake River Plain and the panhandle is an outdoor paradise. It has been said that if all of Idaho’s 30
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mountains were flattened out the state would be as big as Texas. Indeed Idaho is a majestic land with mountains and hills everywhere. Every
give your family and friends a truly memorable experience.
county in the state has a lake, a reservoir, a river and countless streams, all loaded with game fish.
Backcountry comfort.
High alpine lakes are so numerous that many remain nameless yet are still accessible via trails. Chances are good for encountering wildlife on a pack trip or hike into Idaho’s mountains. Here in Idaho, the deer and the antelope really do play. Most of Idaho’s major cities are in easy reach of its great outdoors, much to the delight of its citizens.Visitors will find many ways in which to explore outdoor Idaho. There are numerous small towns and villages with pleasant Bed and Breakfast Inns and Lodges, whose proprietors can suggest recreational pursuits nearby. Staying at a guest ranch or lodge in Idaho’s back country will
Because Idaho has more backcountry adventures than any other state in the lower 48, you may need some help finding the right place for your unforgettable vacation. Assistance and advice are readily available from the guest ranches and outfitters identified in this publication. They will help to ensure that your trip is in good hands, and provide you and your family with valuable information. Idaho outfitters must be licensed with the Idaho Outfitters & Guides Licensing Board. Each must meet rigid standards of performance and comply with all state and federal regulations. They must be certified in first aid and thoroughly know the area in which they operate.
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E Photo courtesy of Loren Kerns, Hike
Photo courtesy of Social Geek, Rafting the Salmon River
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BEST FLY FISHING IN IDAHO Photo courtesy of Luyen Chou
Photo courtesy of Luyen Chou
Where’s the best fly fishing in Idaho? A better question might be: Is there really a bad place to fly fish in Idaho? IDAHO FLY FISHING ACCESS
PROTECTING IDAHO’S TROUT
More than 65% of Idaho land is government owned, which means a lot of that land will continue to be protected as we move forward. And of the remaining 30-plus percent, much can also be fished thanks to the state’s water access laws--which for the most part allow anglers to fish below the high-water mark in a similar fashion to the laws in nearby Montana. (Provided fishermen access the stream legally, without trespassing.)
The key here will be protecting those rivers and the species in them from pollutants that stem from mining and other man-made activities, along with keeping non-native invasive species from harming those waters.
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Idaho is no longer the sure-fire haven for cutthroat trout it once was, due to the introduction of rainbow trout and brook trout, among other species. But I still find Idaho to be as good as it gets
when it comes to Western river fly fishing--right up there with Montana. FAVORITE IDAHO FLY FISHING DESTINATIONS It’s tough to pick a handful of favorite fly fishing destinations when it comes to Idaho, just because the state is so large and there are so many unique, amazing fisheries. So I’ll go region by region and list off some of my favorites, which don’t always match up to what the masses believe. The criteria
In other words, a popular lake that pulls out monster fish and is #1 on everybody else’s list might not make my list. NORTHERN IDAHO In Northern Idaho, I love fishing out of Coeur D’Alene and Lewiston, just because those are such fun towns; and because there are other out-ofstate options that are close, as well--in Montana and Washington. In Idaho, I’ve really enjoyed my time on the Clearwater River, which is a great fall destination for big trout on terrestrial baits. Closer to the Montana border, if you make it in that direction, are a couple of fun destinations in the St. Joe River and often-overlooked Kelly Creek. If you can find some time on any of those fisheries, there are some fun fish to be caught.
CENTRAL IDAHO
National Park. Now, the Park can get crowded in the summer, but the spring and fall are always great times to fish. And even in the summer, there are guided trips that can get you away from the crowds.
Then there’s the heart of Idaho, fly fishing big waters such as the Big Lost River (East Fork, Lower River) and the Salmon River (Main, Upper and Middle Fork).
Must-fish waters on this side of the state include Henrys Lake and Henrys Fork, Falls River and the South Fork Snake River. Many believe the South Fork is the backbone of the state’s fly fishing waters, with 60 miles of unbelievable fishing. The most accessible section is probably the stretch from Swan Valley Bridge to Black Canyon, although if you can access Table Rock or downstream from Palisades Dam, by all means, enjoy the ride. There are some monster brown trout down there that can surely take you
When it comes to the Big Lost rivers, check with the shops in nearby Sun Valley for the best bites, but you can’t go wrong fishing the East Fork near Copper Basin, or the stretch below Mackay Reservoir. On the Salmon River, there’s nothing better than a spring fling. Get out on the East Fork below the city of Salmon, away from the crowds.
for a ride.
If you are up early, the confluence with the Pahsimeroi River near the hatchery can be good, but it gets crowded in a hurry once the word gets out that fish are striking. EASTERN IDAHO But most of the best fly fishing takes place in the eastern part of the state, below Yellowstone
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I’ve used is not only to catch big fish, but also to get away from the crowds and enjoy the scenery as much as possible, too.
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