Friends of Scotchman Peaks Fall Hikes
Fall Hiker Crossing East Fork Creek
From an easy stroll in the cedars, to a strenuous hike up namesake Scotchman Peak; from overnight back country experiences to "Todd's Labor Day Triple Play Challenge", our expanded schedule includes something for everyone! You can even exercise your civic mindedness and help us pick up litter from our adopted section of highway 200 or help maintain trails and benefit Spokane Inner City Youth. Intrigued? We hope so!
The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness hiking program enters the fall season and we are proud to announce new additions to our exciting line up of wilderness walks!
From an easy stroll in the cedars, to a strenuous hike up namesake Scotchman Peak; from overnight back country experiences to "Todd's Labor Day Triple Play Challenge", our expanded schedule includes something for everyone! You can even exercise your civic mindedness and help us pick up litter from our adopted section of highway 200 or help maintain trails and benefit Spokane Inner City Youth. Intrigued? We hope so!
Space on hikes is limited, so contact the hike leader early to make sure you have a spot! And while you are out, don’t forget to take pictures. These are the closing days of our 2nd Annual Scotchman Peaks Photo contest! Submission deadline is Wednesday September 30th, e-mail entries are preferred, full rules and details are available on our website.
Can’t make one of our organized hikes? Check out our webpage on "Self-Guided Hikes" for more trail information.
For hike details or more information about our photo contest visit our website:
SCHEDULE
| Hike Date | Hike Rating | Hike Destination | Hike Leader | Description/Contact Info |
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| Saturday Sept 5 through Monday Sept 7 | S | Spruce Lakes, Savage Peak, Drift Peak | Phil Hough | Come explore seldom visited areas at the north end of the Scotchmans. Join us for a backcountry excursion, off trail, as we follow the high ridges along the Scotchmans northern spine, we will visit Spruce Lakes, Savage Peak, and drift peak among other hidden gems. Contact Phil Hough 208-946-9127 nowhere_man97@hotmail.com |
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| Saturday Sept 5 | S | Goat Mountain | Todd Dunfield | Goat Mountain - Steep and stunning! First of Three separate day hikes over the labor day weekend led by Todd Dunfield. If you do ALL three hikes you can collect on Todd's "Labor Day Triple Play" challenge and receive a complimentary Scotchman Peaks Bandana, in your favorite color! Contact Todd Dunfield 509-230-9960 dunfield@gonzaga.edu |
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| Sunday Sept 6th | S | Scotchman Peak | Todd Dunfield | Scotchman Peak - it's not the length (4 miles) but the elevation gain (almost 4,000 feet) that make this hike strenuous, and rewarding! Climb to the highest point in Bonner County and soak in the Scotchman views. Contact Todd Dunfield 509-230-9960 dunfield@gonzaga.edu | |
| Monday Sept 7th | S | Star Peak | Todd Dunfield | Star Peak - Another steep, strenuous hike with stunning views of the Cabinet Mountains and Clark Fork Valley - Contact Todd Dunfield 509-230-9960 dunfield@gonzaga.edu | |
| Sun Sept 13th | E | Lightning Creek | Joyce Pence | A leisurely fall stroll up the Lighting Creek Road along the boundary of the Scotchman Peaks roadless area with views of Lightning Creek. Contact Joyce Pence joyce.pence@yahoo.com 208-266-1107 | |
| Sat Sept 26th | E | Adopt-a-Highway (re-scheduled) | Jacob Styer | Join in with other “Friends” of Scotchman Peaks to help beautify our section of State Highway 200. There is potential for a post-cleanup hike in the area. Contact Jacob for more details jacob@scotchmanpeaks.org or 208-265-3408 | |
| Oct 3 and 4 | M | Trail Maintenance | Jace Bylenga | A two day trail maintenance project in late September or early October, in the Scotchmans, to benefit the Spokane Inner City Youth Outings. For details contact: Jace Bylenga at Bylenga@gonzaga.edu or call 509-313-5524. | |
| Sat October 10th | E | Ross Creek Cedars | Joyce Pence | Discover the majestic forest cathedral that is Ross Creek Cedars. This easy loop trail winds through a grove of ancient cedars perhaps a thousand years old. Lush ferns and mosses grow profusely in this magnificent example of an inland temperate rainforest. Picnic tables are available to eat lunch by Ross Creek. Contact Joyce Pence joyce.pence@yahoo.com 208-266-1107 | |
| Sunday October 11th | S | Scotchman Peak | Phil Hough & Deb Hunsicker | Climb the highest point in Bonner County - Scotchman Peak. Enjoy fall colors, stunning panoramas of Lake Pend O’Reille and the rugged countryside of the Proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness area. Mountain goats frequent these peaks. The trail is a steep and steady climb with no on-trail water. Bring good shoes or boots, as well as your binoculars and cameras. Volunteers from the “Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness” will talk about our efforts to protect this special place. nowhereman_97@hotmail.com or 208-255-2780 | |
E=Easy, M=Moderate, S=Strenuous
Roughly 60 miles south of Canada, the 88,000-acre Scotchman Peaks roadless area spans the Idaho-Montana border. Since the 1970s, when the U.S. Forest Service carried out extensive evaluations of lands suitable for wilderness, this rugged, scenic and biologically diverse portion of the Cabinet Mountains has been managed for its wilderness potential. The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is working to ensure permanent protection for the 88,000-acre Scotchman Peaks – one of the last and largest wild areas in the region – for the benefit of future generations.
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Phil Hough
Phil graduated from Colby College in 1981 with a BA in English Literature. After 20+ years in Hotel/Hospitality management, organizing and directing staff, assisting with sales and marketing and coordinating events and conventions, Phil moved to Sagle, Idaho in 2002.
He is a past president of the American Long Distance Hikers West Assoc (ALDHA-WEST), a past president of the Kinnikinnick Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society, and the former chair of the Bonner County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force. His love of the wilderness has led him to thru hike the entire Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest trail (twice) and most of the Continental Divide Trail as well as to paddle the length of the Yukon river, among many other shorter trips to most of the corners of our continent.
During the summer months Phil leads back country trips for the Galena Ridge School for troubled teens.
In May 2009 Phil was presented with a "Brass Lantern" volunteer award by the Montana Wilderness Association and in May 2007 Phil was awarded the Idaho Conservation League's highest award for environmental activism for his work on the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Area.
Phil is shown here with his better half and hiking partner, Deb Hunsicker.
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