Steens Mountain in Southeast Oregon at Risk!

The view from the top of Steens Mountain (Alvord Desert below)

The BLM in Oregon is considering opening up Steens Mountain to Off Road Vehicles (ORVs).

Steens Mountain, nestled in the corner of Southeast Oregon, towers above the Alvord Desert and Hot Springs. I love this area because of the severe lack of people and noise. It's one of the best places to go hiking and backpacking with hot springs rewards waiting to soothe your aching body. This area is also composed of protected Wilderness and Wilderness Study areas.

The East side of Steens Mountain

The only other folks I've run into in the area are either locals, hikers, backpackers, Bighorn Sheep hunters and rock hounds. So, why does the BLM want to open up Steens Mountain to ORVs? My best guess is to provide hunters easier access to Bighorn Sheep. 90% of the hunters I've met were either drunk, lazy or both. I've heard complaints from the hunters that they can't get their rigs high enough up the mountain. It seems that the nice trails and brief hike are just too much for this out of shape group. And, we're talking about the east side of the Steens. On the west, one can drive the Steens Mountain loop all the way up to the top!

What the BLM is considering could seriously undermine the very qualities that make Steens special by dramatically increasing off-road vehicle (ORV) use and officially permitting ORVs in currently protected Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas!

We Need To Take Action!

There's still time left before the BLM formalizes their proposal. Click here to view, edit and send the BLM a letter!

More About Steens Mountain

Steens Mountain towers one vertical mile above the high desert. Here, one can explore glaciated valleys replete with majestic bighorn sheep, stands of quaking aspen and alpine meadows where golden eagles soar high above. Steens is an ideal place for quiet backcountry recreation and experiences, and is a jewel in our National Landscape Conservation System.

References:

• IdahoHotSprings.com, Guide to Hot Springs in Idaho and the Northwest
• The Wilderness Society

Anti-Wolf Rally in Boise Huge Embarrassment, Supported by Governor Butch Otter

In Boise today, an anti-wolf group which calls itself The Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) rallied on the steps of the capital building. The group of hunters came from around the state in hopes of generating public support for a federal proposal to eliminate crucial Endangered Species Act protections for wolves in the Northern Rockies. These are the same wolves that were almost wiped out in Idaho completely just a few years back.

The group claims that the reason for the rally is that wolves are killing livestock and sheep, and are ruining hunting opportunities. In realty, less than 1% of sheep and livestock are killed by wolves (Source: FWS.gov), and deer and elk populations have been relatively unaffected by the wolf reintroduction (Source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game). Meaning, hunter harvest rates have remained the same; hunters do not have less deer and elk to hunt because of wolves.

So, what do you do with a campaign founded on misinformation instead of science and facts? Bring on the Governor and the TV cameras, amplify that misinformation...

Idaho Governor Butch Otter stopped by to lend his voice and ultimately elevate the overall level of ignorance. During his speech, Otter stated how he eventually wants to see hunters kill enough wolves to bring the population down to about 100 wolves or 10 packs. That's the lowest threshold the federal government would allow before wolves again would be considered endangered. Hence, the cycle would start anew as taxpayers would again have to foot the bill for wolf reintroduction efforts.

Otter told the SFW hunters that once wolf-hunting is allowed, he wants to bid on the first ticket to shoot a wolf. Otter also supports an aerial gunning program where low-flying aircraft enter into protected wilderness areas in order to machine gun entire packs of wolves. However, he failed to mention the latter to the rally-goers. I wonder why?

What You Can Do

Please spread the word to your friends and family. Education is key. Please feel free to call Governor Otter’s office at 208-334-2100 and urge him to let science, not misinformation, guide Idaho’s wolf management plan.

Wolf Resources:

• Dr. Maughan's Wolf Reports: Read actual wolf tracking reports and see for yourself, Dr. Maughan has written many Idaho guide books and is one of Idaho's most recognized wildlife authorities
  
• SaveWolves.org: Wolves in Idaho and Alaska face the threat of aerial gunning population control programs
  

Additional Sources/References:

• Defenders of Wildlife/SaveWolves.org
• Idaho Department of Fish and Game: “Idaho, eleven years with wolves what we’ve learned.” News release, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, April 25, 2006.
• KBCITV.com
• KTVB.com

More Atlanta Hot Water....

Next up, in regard to my catch-up effort, is the two undeveloped Atlanta Annex Hot Springs. Two good looking soaks in the midst other great developed (non-commercial) hot springs soaks.

Lots of potential, but right next to the road

Two hot springs with potential lie between three other excellent hot springs. Coupled with high visibility (right next to the road), hot springers are best off continuing past the annexed hot springs to one of the other nearby soaks.

09.16.06 Trip Report

There's potential here. But why? Especially with 3 other great hot springs nearby; Atlanta, Chattanooga and Powerplant. If you are on you way to either of the 3 you'll drive right past Atlanta Annex 1 and 2. Each has a large pool with enough hot water flowing for pool development, but again, why? Leave the two annexed soaks alone and head down the road to one or three great hot soaks.

View Atlanta Annex Hot Springs 1 & 2 Complete Listing

Hot Springs in Atlanta.... Idaho

Here are the pics and trip report from one of many late season 2006 soaks that I'm playing catch-up on. All video clips are current, the individual hot springs listings are getting there! Best wishes, HSG

Atlanta hot springs features one large rock and mortar reinforced pool complete with benches and piped in hot and cold water. Please note that Red Spider Mites are known to inhabit this hot springs. This place is wildly popular with the citizens of Atlanta; where the hot springs is well-known and used - oftentimes for bathing! We all know using any kind of soap in a hot springs is a big no no and illegal.

The majority of roads into Atlanta close during winter save for one route which is sketchy, especially given the large amount of deaths that occur on this road during the summer months. Note: The Middle Fork Boise River Road is a rough one - this is one of my least favorite roads to drive on in Idaho due to the insane washboards. Just something to keep in mind. During the summer you can cut down on the drive time by taking on of the many FSRs off State HWY 21 to the Middle Fork Road.

Plenty of nearby National Forest campgrounds and primitive sites to choose from. Just .5 mi up the road there are free developed sites available for use at Powerplant Campground. This might very well be one of the last campgrounds in Idaho that remains free despite having water, tables and an outhouse.

09.16.06 Trip Report

I've been wanting to come here forever! Well, at least since I've been into hot springs, which has been the last 10 years of my life. The stories are true! The soaking was stellar despite Red Spider Mites (RSMs). I figured out long ago, that you can almost completely avoid RSMs by applying natural insect repellent lotion immediately AFTER soaking. The little buggars don't like the stuff and usually leave.
Rating A-

View the 09.16.06 Atlanta Hot Springs Video Clip

View the complete listing for Atlanta Hot Springs in Idaho

A Look Back at 2006

2006 was a great year for first-time visits to many stellar soaks, the most notable being:

• Olympic Hot Springs near the lush Washington Coast
• Goldbug Hot Springs in the mountains of nearby Salmon, Idaho
• Backpacking into Stanley Hot Springs in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho
  
• Bog Hot Springs in the northern Nevada high-desert
  

The best hot springs trip of 06, by far, was backpacking into Stanley Hot Springs in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in central Idaho.

• View the Stanley Hot Springs Video Clips, Pictures and Trip Report

New information was reported on 78 hot springs in 2006! Thank you to all of you contributors as well!

Coming in 2007:

• New general listing format, each hot springs listing will come complete with map options and GPS coordinates
• Completion of the Idaho commercial hot springs area
• Non-commercial hot springs map navigation

Best wishes to all of you, and please don't forget to pickup trash and tread lightly.

In Peace,

HSG