By Melissa Hendrickson and Barry Johnson

 

 

The Idaho Chapter’s Stewardship Chair, Barry Johnson, proposed doing a partnership project with the Idaho Trails Association, another non-profit where he volunteers as a crew leader. He picked out a project trail local to the Boise area where he lives which provides backcountry angling opportunities.

Barry also put Melissa Hendrickson, the Co-Chair from North Idaho, in touch with the project coordinator for the northern part of the state. She worked with ITA to pick out a project near where she lives to cosponsor.

 

Clearing Trail on the Boise Project

 

The first project up was on July 20th, where Idaho BHA members joined forces with Idaho Trails Association volunteers to clear a section of the North Fork Boise River trail that was overwhelmed by rock slides, brush and fallen trees. The trail, which had become nearly impassable after years of neglect, is hike-able once again, improving access for fishing, hunting and enjoying the beauty of this rocky river canyon. At the end of a hot day's work, the 16 volunteers gathered for an evening of barbecue and fellowship, marking the completion of another great effort to keep Idaho's public lands accessible to all.

 

The Fault Lake project crew

 

The north Idaho project occurred on July 25 - 27 as a planned overnight backpacking trip to Fault Lake, a popular high mountain angling spot. Eleven volunteers departed from the trailhead and worked on brushing the overgrown sections of the portion of the Idaho Centennial Trail that leads to up to the lake. Over the course of the three days, the volunteers tackled sections of trail you couldn’t see through as they were so overgrown with alder. They also completed several small sections of treadwork. Evenings were spent camped at Fault Lake, with several members of the group fishing for brook, rainbow, and cutthroat trout.

 

One of the Fault Lake participants showing off her catch