your national forests winter/spring 2015

A Celebration of Past & Present

EXPLORING THE WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST

Pushing the Boundaries

JOINING THE WINTER 4000 FOOTER CLUB OF THE WHITE

MOUNTAINS

Board of Directors Executive Committee

Craig R. Barrett, Retired CEO/Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation (AZ), Chair

John Hendricks, Hendricks Investment Holdings, LLC (MD), Vice Chair

Max Chapman, Chairman, Gardner Capital Management Corp. (TX), Vice Chair

Lee Fromson, President and COO, Goal Zero (UT), Treasurer

Timothy P. Schieffelin, Senior Wealth Director, BNY Mellon Wealth Management (CT), Secretary

Caroline Choi, Vice President, Integrated Planning & Environmental Affairs, Southern California Edison (CA), Member

Peter Foreman, Sirius LP (IL), Member

Board of Directors

David Bell, Chairman, Gyro, LLC (NY)

Mike Brown, Jr., General Partner, Bowery Capital (NY)

Coleman Burke, President, Waterfront Properties (NY)

Blaise Carrig, President–Mountain Division, Vail Resorts, Inc. (CO)

Robert Cole, Partner, Collins Cockrel & Cole, P.C. (CO)

Bart Eberwein, Executive Vice President, Hoffman Construction Company (OR)

Robert Feitler, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Weyco Group, Inc. (IL)

Barry Fingerhut, CEO/Owner, Certification Partners, LLC (AZ)

Rick Frazier, Chief Product Supply & Service Officer, Coca-Cola Refreshments, North America Group (GA)

Roje S. Gootee, Co-Owner & Manager, Rush Creek Ranch, LLC (OR)

Jeff Paro, CEO, InterMedia Outdoors (NY)

Patricia Hayling Price, President, LiveWorkStrategize, LLC (NY)

Susan Schnabel, Managing Director, aPriori Capital (CA)

Mary Smart, President, Smart Family Foundation (NY)

Thomas Tidwell, Ex-Officio, Chief, USDA Forest Service (DC)

Chad Weiss, Managing Director, JOG Capital Corp. (WY)

James Yardley, Executive Vice President, El Paso Corporation, Retired (TX)

®2014 National Forest Foundation and Old Town Creative Communications, LLC. No unauthorized reproduction of this material is allowed.

SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL FORESTS

Donate today to ensure these resources last for tomorrow.

$50 will plant 50 trees — helping ensure the health and vitality of our remarkable National Forests and Grasslands.

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Use the envelope enclosed to contribute. Or visit www.nationalforests.org/give today.

Sharpening Our FocusBy Bill Possiel, NFF President

I am pleased to tell you about a number

of significant recent developments at the

National Forest Foundation (NFF). If you

read Your National Forests regularly, you

have been following our Treasured Landscapes,

Unforgettable Experiences campaign.

Just over five years ago we launched this ambitious

campaign focused on site-based conservation at 14

National Forests and Grasslands that are extraordinary

examples of America’s natural and cultural heritage. At

the end of Fiscal Year 2014, we greatly exceeded our $100

million goal in this unique public-private partnership. We

did it because of the leadership of our amazing volunteer

Board of Directors, the hard work of the NFF staff, and the

generous support of hundreds of donors who understand

and appreciate the role that the 193-million-acre National

Forest System plays in providing fresh water, renewable

resources, exceptional fish and wildlife habitat, and high

quality recreational experiences.

About one year ago, while anticipating the successful

completion of the campaign, we went to work to explore

how we could leverage our success. We focused on what

it would take to build momentum to address the need for

greater awareness of the relevance of these landscapes

to all Americans, while delivering tangible conservation

results. The result is a Board-approved plan that sharp-

ens our focus on two central themes: forest health and

outdoor experiences.

Addressing these two themes, the NFF seeks to lever-

age public and private support to deliver measurable

improvements in ecosystem vitality within the National

Forest System at scale. And, with a focus on outdoor

experiences, the NFF seeks to enhance human enjoyment

of public lands and connect a more urban public to the

wonder and benefits of outdoor recreation and volunteer-

ism. As we transition to our new strategy, the Board has

approved an extension and expansion of the Treasured

Landscapes campaign by one year, increasing our goal to

$125 million.

The first new

project we eval-

uated that aligns

the organization

with our new

strategy is an ex-

pansion of the work we initiated in 2009 in the San Gabriel

Mountains of the Angeles National Forest. Our work on

the Angeles began with restoration activities following the

Station Fire, which burned over 160,000 acres leading to a

variety of significant environmental impacts. One of the

most rewarding efforts the NFF has led is the involvement

of youth through partnerships with organizations like the

Los Angeles Conservation Corps and Pacoima Beautiful.

On October 10, 2014, President Obama recognized the

importance of the San Gabriel Mountains by declaring

346,177 acres a National Monument. The NFF responded

by initiating a process to engage local interests in prioritiz-

ing early investments in the new National Monument, and

announcing a commitment to raise $3 million to assist

with early implementation. This commitment provides an

exciting opportunity to connect underserved communities

with the natural beauty of the San Gabriels, while pro-

tecting the source of 33 percent of the water for 18 million

residents in the Los Angeles area.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Your National Forests,

and that you will find the time to introduce your family

and friends to America’s backyard – the spectacular Na-

tional Forest System!

Winter – Spring 2015 1

welcome letter

10

features

From Balopticons to iPhonesA century of image-making has been key to National Forest acceptance and advancement

18 Pushing the BoundariesWinter ascents of 48 peaks over four thousand feet in the White Mountain National Forest

22 A Celebration of Past and PresentA brief history of the White River National Forest in Colorado

1

3

4

5

6

8

16

26

29

30

WelcomeSharpening Our Focus

Where in the WoodsHow well can you identify your National Forests?

Forests by the NumbersWhite River National Forest versus White Mountain National Forest

Kids and NatureLearn to recognize animal tracks

Forest NewsUpdates from our National Forests

Tree SpotlightIs there a perfect Christmas tree?

Voices from the ForestNational Avalanche Center makes a big difference on a small budget

Field ReportsCapacity and collaboration

Voices from the ForestInterview with NASCAR Driver Elliot Sadler

Ski Conservation FundPartners make it easy to give back to your National Forests

on the coverSkiers hiking through the clouds up Highlands Bowl

at Aspen Highlands, White River National Forest.

© David Clifford Photography / plywerk.com/art-store/store/2

2 Your National Forests

Photo © Kenneth D. Sw

an Photographs and Audio Tapes, A

rchives and Special Collections, The U

niversity of Montana-M

issoula; Allison N

adler; US D

epartment of A

griculture / flickr.com

inside this edition

This National Forest is named for a prominent figure in U.S. Forest Service history.

See page 32 for the answer.

National Forest Foundation

Building 27, Suite 3 Fort Missoula Road Missoula, Montana 59804 406.542.2805

Your National Forests magazine is printed on recycled paper with 30% post- consumer content. This magazine’s use of FSC certified paper ensures the highest environmental and social standards have been followed in the wood sourcing, paper manufacturing, and print production of this magazine. To learn more log on to www.fsc.org.

The National Forest Foundation is a proud member of EarthShare, the country’s leading federation of environmental and conservation organizations accepting Combined Federal Campaign workplace contributions from federal civilian, postal and military employees. Look for the National Forest Foundation— CFC #12053—on EarthShare’s website at earthshare.org.

Your National Forests

The Magazine of the National Forest FoundationEditor-in-Chief Greg M. PetersContributors Hannah Ettema, Ray A. Foote, Emily Olsen, Marlee Ostheimer, Greg M. Peters, William J. Possiel, Vance RussellGraphic Artist David Downing, Old Town Creative Communications, LLC

National Forest Foundation

President William J. PossielExecutive Vice President Mary MitsosExecutive Vice President Ray A. FooteEdward Belden Southern California Program AssociateSheree Bombard Director, AdministrationKaren DiBari Director, Conservation ConnectHannah Ettema Communications and Development AssociateRobin Hill ControllerLisa Leonard Oregon Program ManagerAdam Liljeblad Director, Conservation AwardsZia Maumenee Conservation Awards AssociateLuba Mullen Associate Director, DevelopmentMarlee Ostheimer Development AssociateGreg Peters Director, CommunicationsLee Quick AccountantVance Russell Director, California ProgramEmily Olsen Conservation Connect AssociateMarcus Selig Director, Southern Rockies RegionDeborah Snyder Manager, Development ServicesEmily Struss Conservation AssociateWes Swaffar Senior Program Manager, Ecosystem ServicesDayle Wallien Pacific Northwest Development Manager


Photo © pfly / flickr.com

where in the woods

10,000,000 5,000,000

4,600,000population of Boston

2,600,000population of Denver

Average driving time from Denver, COthe closest major city

Average driving time from Boston, MAthe closest major city

180minutes

6,142'elevation of

Mount Washington the tallest in the Eastern U.S.

14,270'elevation of

Grays Peak

148,000750,000

55 mileslength of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail on the White River National Forest

12 SKIRESORTS

1891year established as a Forest Reservein 1905, the Forest Service began managing the Forest

1,400 milesof hiking and horse riding trails

511”snowfall Vail Resort received during the 2010-2011 season,

the Resort’s snowiest ever

100 mileslength of the

Appalachian Trail on the White Mountain

National Forest

8 SKIRESORTS

1918year established

as a National Forest

1,200 miles

of hiking trails

231mphtop wind speed recorded on the summit of Mt. Washington, the

highest ever recorded in the U.S.

total acreage

2,285,970total acreage

750,852

White River National Forest Colorado

White Mountain National Forest New Hampshire

This issue of Your National Forests explores the White River

and White Mountain National Forests. Though they are

separated by thousands of miles, both Forests provide nearby

metropolises with incredible outdoor recreation opportunities.

Learn a bit more about these iconic forests below.

NUMBER OF ANNUAL VISITORS*

ACRES DESIGNATED WILDERNESS

* approximate number of annual visitors.

tallestpeak


forests by the numbers

Hop, Scurry, or Stride?By Greg M. Peters

Learning to recognize animal tracks

is one of the best ways to get kids

interested in nature. Winter provides

some of the best opportunities for

learning about animal tracks and identification.

The best scenario for winter tracking is hard packed snow covered by an

inch or two of fresh powder. This combination allows you to see the tracks of

smaller animals like mice, squirrels and skunks and the tracks of larger ani-

mals like coyotes, deer and elk.

Snowshoe hares, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, foxes, mice and deer are some

of the best animals to track because they are usually active during the winter.

When identifying tracks with smaller children, simply finding an animal

track can be a fun challenge. It’s often helpful to pose a few questions to the

youngster before you even head out. What animals live in the forest you’re

visiting? Which ones are awake during the winter? How do they move? Do they

hop like rabbits, scurry like mice, or stride like deer?

When you find tracks, first make sure the route they take is safe for chil-

dren and then follow them for a bit. See where they go and use that infor-

mation to help with basic identification. Did the animal stop for food? Do the

tracks stop at a tree or bush?

For older children, keying out the specific track is a fun challenge. Again,

ask some basic questions. Does the track show claw marks? Canine, skunk and

raccoon tracks will typically have claw marks, while feline tracks don’t. How far

apart are the tracks? Elk and moose take much longer strides than deer. Is there

scat or urine along the trail? Those clues can help identify animals as well. Fox-

es often urinate every 20 feet or so, leaving bright yellow dots in the snow.

With kids of any age, figuring out where the tracks go is a great way to learn

about animal behavior. Encourage your kids to speculate where the animal is go-

ing and why. Is it searching for food or water, finding a home for the night, evad-

ing a predator? You don’t have to know all the answers, just asking the questions

and discussing with your kids will get them thinking about the natural world.

Perhaps the best thing about winter animal tracking is that with each new

snowfall, there’s a new opportunity to see what critters are out and about in

your local forest.

Regardless of whether you accurately identify the species that made

certain tracks or simply follow a set through the woods, seeking out animal

tracks is a fantastic way to get kids interested in nature during the long, cold

months of winter.

For more winter tracking tips and resources, visit nationalforests.org/blog/wintertracking.A SNOWSHOE HARE LEAVES TRACKS IN THE SNOW.


Photo © N

PS / nps.gov

kids and nature

Restoration in ArizonaThe NFF and longtime part-

ner Salt River Project (SRP) have

launched the Northern Arizona

Forest Fund (NAFF) to provide SRP’s

customers and other Arizona busi-

nesses and residents an opportunity

to support restoration on several

Arizona National Forests. The NAFF

will address critical watershed resto-

ration needs on the National Forests

that provide Phoenix and other

Arizona cities with water.

“The Upper Beaver Creek Forest

Health Project and the Oak Creek

Erosion Control Project, the first two

priority projects identified by the

NAFF, will improve the health of the

Verde River watershed by reduc-

ing the risk of severe wildfire and

improve water quality by decreas-

ing erosion and sedimentation that

can end up in streams, rivers and

reservoirs that supply the drinking

water we depend upon,” said Bruce

Hallin, SRP’s director of Water Rights

& Contracts.

SRP has kicked off the NAFF with

a $100,000 donation to the NFF. This

donation will be matched with addi-

tional funds from Arizona residents

and invested in the Upper Beaver

Creek and Oak Creek projects.

“With declining forest health and

tighter federal budgets, local partner-

ships and active stewardship are

more critical than ever,” said Hallin.

“The NAFF's projects will also create

jobs and provide volunteer opportu-

nities in local communities.”

Learn more at nationalforests.org/azforestfund.

Forest Service to Conduct Winter Travel Planning for Over-the-snow-vehicles

In 2005, the Forest Service released

regulations to govern off-highway-

vehicle (OHV) use on National Forests

across the country.

Through a process called “travel planning,” individual forests analyzed all

their roads and trails and released “Motor Vehicle Use Maps” that dictate OHV

access. The rule covered ATVs, jeeps, motorcycles, and traditional passenger cars,

but did not include motorized over-the-snow-vehicles (OSVs) like snowmobiles.

In 2013, a lawsuit forced the agency to include OSVs in travel planning. In

the summer of 2014, the agency solicited public comments on draft regulations

designed to guide the travel planning process for OSVs. The public submitted

approximately 20,000 comments, including roughly 18,000 form letters. Due

to the volume of public comments and the requirement that the U.S. Depart-

ment of Agriculture review the final rule, the agency missed the court-imposed

deadline of September 9th to issue the final rule. The judge overseeing the case

extended the agency’s deadline to January 31, 2015.

Learn more at http://1.usa.gov/1wxJiZM.

CORPORATE PARTNERSince 2009, the Salt River Project has been a proud partner of the NFF. Together we have planted more than 600,000 trees on Arizona’s National Forests. Additionally, our support of aspen restoration ensures this biologically significant species is here for generations to come.

forest news


Photo © Tom

asz Kobiela / istock.com

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

O n October 10, 2014, President Barack Obama

declared 342,000 acres of the Angeles National

Forest and 4,000 acres of the San Bernardino

National Forest as the San Gabriel Mountains National

Monument. The new monument borders one of the most

populous metropolitan areas in the country—more than

18 million people live within a 90 minute drive of the San

Gabriel Mountains. The monument will be the eighth na-

tional monument managed by the Forest Service.

In conjunction with the monument’s declaration,

the NFF announced a $3 million San Gabriel Mountains

National Monument Fund. “We are excited to expand our

work with the Los Angeles communities that depend on

these treasured public lands,” said Edward Belden, the

NFF’s Southern California Program Associate. “This fund

will ensure that we hear from the diverse communities

surrounding the monument and that we prioritize resto-

ration and recreational infrastructure improvements to

meet the needs of the millions of visitors who enjoy the

natural and cultural amenities the monument provides,”

he continued.

In 2009, following the devastating Station Fire that

burned more than 160,000 acres of the Angeles National

Forest, the NFF designated the Forest’s Big Tujunga Canyon

as a Treasured Landscapes conservation campaign site. “The

NFF has a proven track record of working with the Los An-

geles community. Since 2009, we have raised and invested

$1.4 million for post-fire restoration work on the Angeles

National Forest. We have supported a number of commu-

nity organizations that connect young people to fantastic

outdoor experiences,” said NFF president Bill Possiel.

The Angeles National Forest represents 70 percent of

Los Angeles County’s open space and provides 30 percent

of the County’s drinking water. More than three million

people visit the Angeles National Forest each year, and

Forest Service officials predict the new monument will

draw even more visitors.

Learn more about the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument at www.fs.fed.us/visit/san-gabriel-mountains-national-monument.

Map of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

CORPORATE PARTNERThe Sierra Nevada Conservancy recognizes how important the Tahoe National Forest is to California. We believe our investment in the NFF’s Treasured Landscapes conservation campaign for the Tahoe National Forest will pay dividends for years.

forest news


Photo © U

SDA Forest Service

The Best Christmas TreesBy Marlee Ostheimer

Ninety percent of American families pull out their wallets

and buy their Christmas tree from a lot or a “cut your own”

Christmas tree farm. But if you are craving a woodsier

Christmas tradition, consider channeling your inner Paul

Bunyan and pull out your saw instead. Getting your tree from a National

Forest can be a fulfilling and adventurous family outing, but it does

require a few extra considerations. First and foremost: which tree species

do you choose?

Balsam FirIf you live east of the Mississippi, you're likely familiar

with Balsam fir (Abies balsamea). Also known as “blis-

ter pine” due to the numerous resin-containing blisters

present on its bark, Balsam fir grows throughout the

Forest Service’s Eastern Region, an area stretching from

New England south to Pennsylvania and west to the Great

Lakes states. Balsam fir has the greatest geographical

distribution of any North American fir species, limited

only by its need for abundant moisture and humidity. Bal-

sam fir grows from sea level to just below the summit of

Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Eastern U.S. Its

dark green, fragrant, long-lasting needles and perfect cone

shape make it the most popular choice for a Christmas

tree in the East.


Photo © U

SDA / flickr.com

tree spotlight

Marlee OstheimerMarlee is the NFF’s Development Associate. Her young

son, Ellis, keeps her pretty busy whether he’s checking

out trees, planes, trains or dirt. Reach her at

[email protected].

CELEBRATE LIFE’S SPECIAL MOMENTS

• Graduations,• Birthdays,• Memorials, • Anniversaries,• Weddings,• and more.

Deborah Snyder: [email protected]

Your gift of any size will help create a lasting legacy on our National Forests. Simply visit our website or contact:

NATIONALFORESTS.ORG

Douglas-firAbundant throughout the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain, Intermountain,

Southwestern and Pacific Regions, Douglas-fir tends to be the most common

Christmas tree choice for westerners. Douglas-fir is not a true fir, hence the

hyphenation in its name. Its scientific name, Pseudotsuga menziesii, literally

translates to “false” (pseudo) “hemlock” (tsuga). Confusingly, both Douglas-fir’s

common and scientific names indicate what Douglas-fir is not, rather than

what it is. Pseudotsuga is its own genus, distinct from both fir and hemlock.

The Pseudotsuga genus contains only two species: coast and Rocky Mountain

Douglas-fir. Commonly living more than 500 years and sometimes as long as

1,000 years, coast Douglas-fir is the

second tallest conifer species in

the world. Douglas-fir needles are

sweet-smelling, adding to its value as

a Christmas tree. Like the Balsam fir,

Douglas-fir bark, especially the bark

of younger trees, has resin blisters.

Subalpine firA popular Christmas tree that

grows wild throughout high-elevation

forests from the Yukon to Arizona is

the Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). Its

nicely spaced branches are ideal for

showcasing your favorite ornaments

and, unlike the draping fronds of the Douglas or Balsam fir, the Subalpine’s

stout branches won’t bend under the weight of even your largest decorations.

Subalpine fir’s blue-green needles are long-lasting and have blunted ends,

making them soft to the touch. Requiring cool summers, cold winters, and deep

snowpack, the Subalpine fir grows best at elevations above 2,000 feet.

Whichever tree you choose, you’ll want to be aware of any regulations such

as allowable tree height, prohibited tree species, and authorized cutting areas.

Generally, Forest Service officials ask that folks select one tree from a clump,

which promotes forest health through thinning. Also be sure to observe stump

limits. These rules protect trees from “topping”—the practice of cutting down

a large tree just to take the crown. Most forests require an inexpensive permit

to harvest a Christmas tree, and you’ll definitely want to stop in to your local

Ranger District office to check cutting dates and get your permit. The extra

effort will not only save you money but will make a great new tradition for you

and your family.

To learn more about cutting your own Christmas tree, visit nationalforests.org/blog/christmastree.

The Subalpine’s stout branches won’t bend under the weight of even your largest decorations.


tree spotlight

Yakima woman on Columbia National Forest (now named Gifford Pinchot National Forest), 1933.

10

From Balopticons to iPhones: Picturing and Pitching National ForestsBy Ray A. Foote

The hundred-year-old glass slides were luminous and

surprisingly heavy. It was easy to lose track of time that

September afternoon as I pored over pictures in the K.D. Swan

Collection at the University of Montana Library. The slides and

large negatives brought to life vivid moments from the earliest years of

our National Forests: a ranger in high leather boots and a necktie; a river

chock-a-block full of logs; a laughing Yakima woman whose face almost

leapt off the glass.

A Nascent Idea, Poorly UnderstoodBorn into a vacuum of public understanding and

appreciation for its mission, the U.S. Forest Service had to

move quickly and decisively to cultivate awareness and

support in order to succeed. Fortunately, Gifford Pinchot,

the agency’s first Chief Forester, intuitively understood the

most potent way to sell an idea was through powerful im-

agery. In fact, during his five years with the fledgling agen-

cy, Pinchot traveled widely giving “lantern slide shows,”

which illustrated not only the beauty of wild lands, but

the enormous damage caused by unbridled harvesting.

Pinchot’s visual advocacy was important to the passage

of the seminal 1911 Weeks Act which greatly expanded

National Forests in the East. The Act provided funding for

the purchase of more than five million acres of forests.

Pinchot’s adroitness in telling a story with pictures

predated his service as Chief. As the private forester for

the massive Biltmore estate in western North Carolina, he

concocted a grand display for the 1893 Chicago Exhibition,

including enormous panel prints of the Biltmore Forest so

guests could “walk into” the woods he managed. It was a

strategy he applied to the much larger woods—the early

National Forests—he introduced to an entire nation in 1905.

Pomona College historian Char Miller has noted that

“Gifford Pinchot thought that the camera was the most

important instrument that the Forest Service had at its

disposal, not the ‘pulaski,’ the great instrument they used

to fight fire.” Miller has also written about how Pinchot

brought cumbersome photographic equipment on a piv-

otal 1897 trip west at the request of Secretary of Interior

Cornelius Bliss. Charged with evaluating and reporting

back on “forest reserves,” the controversial precursors to

the National Forests, Pinchot was determined to illus-

trate for policymakers and others that a more intentional

forestry approach of active management could achieve

simultaneous benefits of sustainable timber production

and ecological conservation.

Holding a Swan transparency in the Archives.


unforgettable experiences

Photos © 014835 (opposite), Kenneth D. Sw




issoula; Ray A. Foote (this page)

Pinchot’s unrestrained views on deforestation fill his

posthumous autobiography, Breaking New Ground. He

wrote: “the common word for our forests was ‘inexhaust-

ible.’ To waste timber was a virtue and not a crime. There

would always be plenty of timber…The lumbermen…

regarded forest devastation as normal and second growth

as a delusion of fools…And as for sustained yield, no such

idea had ever entered their heads.”

Eight years after his 1897 expedition west, Pinchot was

tapped by President Theodore Roosevelt to lead the new

U.S. Forest Service, a position he held until 1910.

An Amateur’s Growing VisionThe year after Pinchot left the agency’s topmost posi-

tion, a young graduate from Harvard Forestry School, Ken-

neth Dupee Swan, entered the same agency at the very

bottom. Hired as a forest assistant in Missoula, Montana,

“K.D.” left his eastern roots and embraced the western wil-

derness. Swan was immediately fascinated by the West’s

open spaces, rugged terrain, pioneering spirit, and promise

of what was possible from a natural

resources perspective. According to

his daughter, Helen Swan Bolle: “…he

was totally enchanted by being out

west and doing something primary

in the Forest Service.”i His interest

in photography grew quickly, with

his early work consisting of Forest

Service personnel doing mundane

tasks, locals in small towns, Missou-

la scenes, and sensitive treatment

of Native Americans on nearby

National Forests. Swan was shaped

by his adopted region, and he began

developing an aesthetic that revealed

the West’s wild places and sparse

populations in a new way.

It became clear that Swan had

both a deep interest in forest management and a good eye

for telling stories through photography, and in time, he

was given official full-time photographic responsibilities.

Swan ended up serving in the Forest Service for 36 years,

leaving a prodigious 300,000 images and negatives that

provide an invaluable resource for forest historians today.

Swan recalled in his 1968 memoir, Splendid Was The

Trail, that “[I]n the late Twenties it became apparent that

if the Region was to…build up a comprehensive picture

record of our effort to prevent and control forest fires a

photographer would have to be assigned…I was chosen as

that man; the job was exciting and presented a real chal-

lenge. For many summers I stood ready to leave Missoula

on a minute’s notice day or night.”

The idea of a full-time photographer struck many as

odd, so Swan had to create its legitimacy. He recounted

how the summer of 1929 had been extremely dry and

fire-prone. One day he got a call to shoot a fire: “[W]ithin

an hour I was on the road in a Model A Ford loaded with

camera equipment, a bedroll, and a few emergency ra-

tions. A parting word of advice from [coworker] G.I. Porter

is still remembered: ‘Don’t let them put you to work, K.D.,

keeping time or doing other menial jobs. Your assignment

is to travel around and get pictures.’”

But there was a far larger and more profound pur-

pose behind the recording of agency duties. Following in

Pinchot’s path, Swan created a visual record of places

few Americans would ever see, yet which needed their

support. His photos revealed majestic open country nearly

unimaginable to people in crowded Eastern cities or small

farms. Like Ansel Adams’ work in the early decades of

the National Park System, Swan’s images conveyed an

inherent, if dimly understood, value in wild places. If

the Forest Service was ever going to achieve any level

of brand awareness, it had to have

iconic imagery. Even his candid and

informal pictures such as the ones

of his family camping delivered a

strong message: these places we call

National Forests are special. They

are part of America’s character. They

matter. By showing people actively

enjoying the forests, he was tapping

into the rising trend of outdoor recre-

ation that would fully blossom in the

decades after World War II.

At the same time, Swan showed

the productive uses of forest land

including vivid images of logging

operations. Pinchot had laid the

groundwork for the public’s early

understanding of how forests could

be both harvested and sustained—a seeming contradiction

resolved only through the novel idea of “forest manage-

ment.” Swan helped translate that idea to the public. His

memoir notes that his colleague Theodore Shoemaker,

who ran the Office of Public Relations for the Forest Ser-

vice’s Northern Region, observed: “There are people living

in eastern Montana who know little or nothing of the aims

of our forest conservation policy….We need to reach these

people and tell them in terms they can understand just

what benefits they will gain from proper management of

the forests—their forests.”

“The common word for our forests was ‘inexhaustible.’ To waste timber was a virtue and not a crime.”



It was the powerful idea inside just those two words—

“their forests”—that animated Swan’s craft and drove him

to share the forests’ glories and potential for sustainable

use. For example, in the fall of 1926, Swan launched what

he called his “Showboat” campaign to carry these messag-

es to remote parts of the agency’s Northern Region. His

government issue Model T pickup truck was loaded with

a screen, a DeVry motion picture projector, and a large

device for showing still images known as a “Balopticon.”

The Showboat made it to 28 small towns and was seen

by more than 5,000 people in what was major grassroots

outreach effort for its day.

Historian Miller has noted that “Swan had twin au-

diences: he had to get buy in from the agency to institu-

tionalize photography as a management tool, but he also

was cultivating the understanding and appreciation of the

general public.” And he reached both audiences success-

fully. His images became staples in Forest Service publica-

tions (many of which he also authored), and he began to

achieve broader recognition through such publications as

National Geographic, The New York Times, and The Christian

Science Monitor.

From Glass Plates to Satellites: Imaging Proliferates

The still photos by Pinchot, Swan, and many others

told the Forest Service’s early stories. In subsequent

decades, the scientific application of photography took

off quickly. As the National Forest System grew, so did

the need for data to inform decisions about increasingly

complex challenges.

Photography became “imaging,” growing and evolving

at the Forest Service as a tool for everything from eval-

uating tree cover to assessing fire risk to understanding

wildlife behavior and habitat. Aerial photography, first

used in forestry in 1919, offered a powerful new tool for

forest managers. An unexpected but profound boost to

imaging technology came from the military’s development

of extensive satellite capabilities during the Cold War. At

the same time, NASA accelerated development of remote

sensing approaches that revolutionized how the Forest

Service could gather critical information about forest

conditions. By the 1980s, the availability of computing

power ushered in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

that remain the foundation of how we understand and

manage complex public lands.

“Don’t let them put you to work….Your assignment is to travel around and get pictures.”

K.D. Swan in the field with poles for his film-changing tent, 1920s.


Photo © 014761, Kenneth D. Sw




issoula


Veteran Forest Service employee and National Remote

Sensing Manager Everett Hinkley sums up the challenge:

“For any land management agency, everything happens

on the ground.” And the Forest Service has to know what

those things are. For example, satellite imagery can reveal

key forest health indicators about pests and disease.

Because fire has always been a major threat to National

Forests and today takes up nearly half the agency’s an-

nual budget, achieving superior mapping of fire location,

behavior, and intensity is critical.

Despite its power and widespread availability, satel-

lite imaging has not fully replaced aerial reconnaissance.

Today, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) provides

exceptionally accurate contour mapping by scanning the

ground below and creating a “point cloud.” These scans

can reveal the amount of timber in a stand, can generate

a bare earth elevation map, or can indicate areas of blight.

Hinkley explains that today nearly 100 Forest Service

professionals are dedicated specifically to developing

imagery for use by thousands agency employees as

well as the public, scientific organizations, and other

government agencies.

Land-based photography still remains a key tool, and

its importance has even been enhanced in recent decades

with motion-activated camera traps which are especially

useful in wildlife research, and smaller, lighter, ever more

capable cameras in general. The awkward 40-pound packs

that Pinchot and Swan hauled to get their shots (which

they wouldn’t see for days or weeks) are a far cry from

today’s extremely versatile and sophisticated devices.

Storytellers AllThe story of photography for National Forests is one

of gathering useful information in ways that reveal truths

and trends, and it has evolved inexorably with technology

and increasingly scientific approaches to forest man-

agement. Interestingly, it is the complexity of the Forest

Service’s mission that demands thorough documentation

and interpretation of these places. In the earliest days, it

was the need to engender familiarity for lands that were

remote and seen by many as mere troves of valuable

resources for exploitation. As America pushed steadily

westward, it was also urbanizing and industrializing;

setting aside lands for all time under exotic notions of

“conservation” required intentional messaging that drew

its power from iconic imagery.

Mission Mountains, Montana, 1920s.


treasured landscapes

Photos © 0014821 and 014852 (opposite), Kenneth D. Sw




issoula

It worked. As Char Miller notes: “we are still indebted

to and part of the legacy of K.D. Swan and Gifford Pinchot.”

And, the way we tell today’s forest stories continues to

evolve. Our modern day analogue to Swan’s “Showboat”

is social media where we share engaging images and key

facts about the promise and perils of a challenged Nation-

al Forest System. It’s why the National Forest Foundation

and the Forest Service have recently teamed up to create

dozens of new Facebook pages, to tweet timely informa-

tion, and continually to enhance our web presence.

The stories that flow from an awe inspiring landscape

photograph or the challenges re-

vealed by a technical map of a forest

fire’s likely spread each point to the

same need: the American public

must understand the many roles

their National Forests play and how

forest health affects our country.

The lives of countless Americans and their commu-

nities are indeed touched by these special places. We are

indebted to those who have brought “the People’s Lands” to

life through the hundred-plus years of the Forest Service’s

history, whether by satellite data, Balopticon devices from

the back of a Model T, or the mobile device in our pocket.

To see more of KD Swan's photographs, visit nationalforests.org/blog/kdswan.

i From The World of K.D. Swan: Early 20th Century Photographer and Conservationist,” a 2009 documentary by Marcia Hogan & Libby Langston. © Digital Magic Video.

Ray A. FooteRay is an Executive Vice President at the NFF based in the

Alexandria, VA office. He spends his free time outdoors with

his family, playing the piano, and taking photographs. Reach

him at [email protected].

Logging in Petty Creek, near Alberton, MT, Lolo National Forest, 1940s.



From Howitzers to HotlinesBy Greg M. Peters

In a country where lambasting

government waste is a national pastime,

it’s heartening to learn about federal programs that make a real

difference on a very small budget. The U.S. Forest Service’s National

Avalanche Center is one such example.

Avalanches kill more people on National Forests than

any other natural hazard. In a typical winter, the U.S. has

about 30 avalanche-caused fatalities, nearly all on Na-

tional Forests. It’s the job of the Forest Service’s National

Avalanche Center and its affiliated backcountry avalanche

centers to reduce these numbers, even as backcountry

skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling use skyrockets.

And it’s a challenge this small crew of dedicated ava-

lanche experts do on an annual federal budget of roughly

one million dollars.

This modest federal investment is doubled by fund-

ing from nonprofit “friends groups” that work with the

14 Forest Service backcountry avalanche centers around

the country. For some perspective, the agency spent $967

million fighting forest fires in 2013.

Founded in 1999 and consisting of only two full-time

positions, the Center’s mission includes overseeing 14

backcountry avalanche centers and the military artillery

program that provides ski resorts with avalanche control

technology they otherwise could not get. In addition, the

Center provides expertise to field units, provides public

and employee avalanche education, transfers new tech-

nologies to the field, facilitates avalanche research, and

serves as a single point of contact for all things related to

avalanches for the Forest Service.

Pre-dawn HowitzersThe National Avalanche Center builds on a long his-

tory of Forest Service avalanche expertise that began in

the 1940s. Forest Service Snow Rangers were some of the

agency’s first employees skilled in assessing and mitigat-

ing avalanches. They focused on the growing network of

resorts that operated on National Forests, working with

ski patrols and resort management to keep skiers safe.

Over time, ski resorts developed their own expertise and

assumed the majority of their avalanche mitigation.

By the late-1980s, the agency played more of an

oversight role with ski areas, but maintained its responsi-

bility in supplying ski resorts with the artillery needed to

mitigate avalanches through carefully controlled explo-

sions. This is still a critical component of the National

Avalanche Center’s mission, which serves as the primary

point of contact with the U.S. Army for the program. Mil-

itary weapons provide a way to safely deliver explosives

to remote starting zones, triggering controlled avalanches

that reduce the danger on access roads and resort slopes.

In the predawn cold, well before skiers and riders get

in line for the first chair of the day, Forest Service Snow

Rangers work with highly trained ski patrollers to load

artillery shells into frost covered howitzers and lob explo-

sives onto snow-laden ski runs. The explosions send white

clouds of snow down the slopes, effectively releasing an

avalanche long before a skier might trigger it. Because

of the requirements surrounding the safe handling, use,

and disposal of these weapons, the Forest Service plays a

crucial role in operating this program in conjunction with

several ski resorts.

Backcountry ResponsibilitiesThe Center’s most visible work is its backcountry

avalanche program. Begun in the 1970s, this network has

grown to 14 locations, mirroring the growth of backcoun-

try activities.

Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are some of the

fastest growing sectors of the ski industry. Recent advanc-

es in snowmobile technology allow riders to get farther

into the backcountry than ever before. These pressures

underscore the importance of the backcountry centers’

work. As more and more people venture into the back-

country, the need for high-quality and accurate avalanche

forecasting grows even more critical.


voices from the forest

Dr. Karl Birkeland, the National Center’s Director

explains: “We work in all National Forest Regions except

Region 8 [the Southern Region]. We have our avalanche

centers across the country, each with a director and one to

three additional avalanche specialists. The centers broad-

cast avalanche advisories, host educational opportunities,

and work with their local communities and friends groups

to raise awareness about the dangers of avalanches.”

If you’re a backcountry aficionado, you’ve probably

called your local avalanche hotline or visited its website

for the current advisory. And you’re not alone; Birkeland

estimates these advisories are accessed nearly six million

times a year. The training sessions and lectures organized

or sponsored by the backcountry centers reach tens of

thousands of people annually.

Forecasting for avalanches in states from Alaska to

New Hampshire is an immense challenge, making it all

the more impressive that these centers accomplish what

they do on a shoestring budget. Most advisories cover

multiple mountain ranges that can stretch for a hundred

miles or more. Differences in wind, temperatures, snowfall

amounts, and existing snowpacks can make for compli-

cated forecasting. Some regional centers are small, and

staff can only provide updates twice a week, while others

post daily.

Birkeland explains the strong relationships between

the backcountry centers, the public, and the ski resorts

operating nearby: “The National Avalanche Program and

its backcountry centers function as clearinghouses for

snow and avalanche data. Our staff work with ski patrol-

lers at nearby resorts, backcountry guides, volunteers, and

backcountry users to provide the public with the most

accurate and comprehensive information possible.”

The grassroots friends groups host fundraisers, organize

and co-sponsor education efforts, and share real-world

information from backcountry users to help keep other

backcountry users safe.

No amount of forecasting can obviate personal respon-

sibility, which includes being properly educated about risk

and conducting one’s own assessments while venturing

into the backcountry. However, the backcountry adviso-

ries provide an essential tool for mitigating the inherent

dangers of playing in the mountains in the winter. Add

that to the role the National Avalanche Center plays in

ensuring that ski resorts have safe access to the artillery

they need for reducing avalanche risk and you truly have

a top-notch program for a bargain price.

Learn more about staying safe in avalanche terrain at: fsavalanche.org, avalanche.org, and aiare.info.

LCC Avalanche in action.

Bruce Tremper, Director of the Utah Avalanche Center on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, inspects an avalanche crown.



Photo courtesy of Bruce Tremper

Pushing the BoundariesBy Hannah Ettema

Miriam Underhill was born in the

nineteenth century but left a

good mark on the twentieth. You

may have heard the saying, “she

moved mountains,” and while Miriam didn’t

move mountains, she did conquer some of the

highest, coldest and most dangerous peaks in

both North America and Europe.

Born in New Hampshire in 1899, Miriam started climbing mountains at an

early age. At 15, she traveled to Europe with her mother and seven-year-old

brother. While in Chamonix, France, Miriam later wrote how she and her moth-

er “walked the 5,000 feet up to the Le Brévent.” Soon, she began making regular

trips to Europe to scale mountains, ultimately leading the first women-

only climbing teams up some of the Alps most iconic peaks.

Without the latest gear and gadgets from her local

outfitter and without an iPhone or Instagram to brag

of her peak-bagging adventures, Miriam broke

boundaries and challenged the climbing world

to accept elite female athletes as equals.

A New GameA New Englander at heart, she grew up ex-

ploring “the Whites”—the locals’ parlance for

New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Always

one for a challenge, Miriam and her hus-

band Bob decided that scaling the Whites’

48 peaks over four thousand feet in sum-

mer wasn’t hard enough, so they created

the “Winter Four Thousand Footer Club,”

an offshoot of the Appalachian Mountain

Club’s (AMC) popular “All Season Four

Thousand Footer Club.”

The rules of “the game” as she called it

are quite simple. Using your feet, whether

with boots, skis or snowshoes, ascend the

White Mountains’ 48 peaks over four thou-

sand feet during winter. Exactly winter.



“Winter was to be measured exclusively by the calendar,” she wrote.

Hikers cannot start their hike until after the exact time of winter sol-

stice and must complete their hike by returning to the peak’s official

trailhead before the moment of the spring equinox.

“We very strictly hold to that,” explained Eric Savage, Chair and

Corresponding Secretary of the AMC Four Thousand Footer Com-

mittee. A few years ago, one aspiring Club member made it back

to his campsite before winter ended. Unfortunately that was

not enough. According to the rules, he had to return to the

trailhead by winter’s end.

“And to that guy’s credit, next year rolled around and

sure enough, I got an application with a new date for

those peaks,” Savage recounted.

Brutal But Beautiful ConditionsThe 48 peaks of the Four Thousand Footer Club all

lie within New Hampshire’s White Mountain National

Forest. Whether it’s Mount Tecumseh at 4,003 feet or

Mount Washington, the region’s tallest at 6,288 feet,

ascending the Whites is not a simple walk through

Christmas card-like scenery.

Wind pushes the boundaries of hikers’ physical and

mental stamina. The highest wind speed recorded in the

U.S., 231 mph, was recorded at the summit of Mount Wash-

ington. Savage described the wind conditions on one of his ascents: “On the

way over the ridge, it was 40 mph winds with gusts up to 55 mph that you

could hear coming and would ‘brace for impact’ to let the gust go through

you. By the time we came back, the wind was a steady 50 or 55 mph and gusts

were probably hitting 70 mph.” Because of the wind, the group was forced to

crawl. “One of the craziest mental pictures I have is seeing the other hiking

groups spread out across the ridge, and everyone was down on all fours.”

According to Savage, the temperature on a typical winter hiking day is in the

teens with winds at 20-30 mph. “You get those conditions, you’re like ‘Yup, that’s

winter in the Whites,’” he said.

Some days, you head out but don’t reach the summit.

“There will be trips where things will seem fine and you’ll get to tree line and

you’ll just look around and realize this is not an ‘above tree line day.’ So you turn

around and go back,” Savage recalls.


Illustration © Appalachian Mountain Club


Miriam and Robert Underhill geared up for a winter outing in the 1960s.

20

Photo © C

ourtesy of the Appalachian M

ountain Club Library &

Archives

“There was a group who

talked about taking an hour and

a half to go half a mile because

between the steepness and

amount of snow, it made for

very slow progress.”

For another hiker, it took

eight attempts to ascend Mount

Jefferson in the winter.

But, there are magical

moments, too. Allison Nadler, a

Massachusetts teacher, recount-

ed her adventure up Mount

Lafayette and Mount Lincoln

as: “So, so gorgeous…Once you’re on that ridge, you’re just completely within

the elements. You have to combat all the wind. Or if it rains or hails or snows,

you’re in it.”

Jim Radmore, a teacher out of Maine, appreciates the diversity: “Every time

the conditions change, the mountains change.”

A Growing GroupDespite the distance, the wind, and the cold, more and more people are

completing the challenge first set by the Underhills.

Thanks to ever improving gear and a growing community, the number of

applications to the Winter Four Thousand Footer Club has nearly tripled from

twenty years ago. Up until the mid-1980s, fewer than ten people a year applied.

In the last ten years, anywhere from 20-45 people apply for membership.

Savage explained that as more people hike in the winter, the trails become

more worn and accessible. As of spring 2014, 642 hikers have completed the

challenge since its inception.

Nadler credited the sense of community to help her be just nine peaks

away from completing the challenge.

“It’s a little niche group. You’ll be working on number 30 and you’ll find

someone else who’s working on number 35. You get to see how everyone pro-

gresses. You meet people who are doing something crazy like you. You don’t

feel like you’re doing it on your own.”

Although Radmore lives near mountains he knows he could climb over and

over, the list takes him elsewhere.

“The list gets me going different places in different seasons. Things I wouldn’t

see if I wasn’t doing my list.”

Through the Winter Four Thousand Footer Club, Miriam’s spirit of exploring

the outdoors lives on, even if the mountains haven’t gotten any shorter and

the weather any kinder. Her words capture the simple essence of challenging

nature, weather, and gravity: “The delight of climbing! It has been with me all

my life. For when you have spent in the hills most of the time you have for

recreation and pleasure, they come to mean much more than just the fun of

acrobatics…And in occasional times of strain just to walk in the hills brings

a strengthening of the spirit, a renewed courage and buoyancy.”

The White Mountain National Forest is one of the NFF’s 14 Treasured Landscapes conservation campaign sites. Learn more at nationalforests.org/treasured.

Hannah EttemaHannah is the Communications

and Development Associate at the

NFF. When she’s not running the

NFF’s Social Media program or

lending her design skills to

fellow staff, she’s out exploring

Montana’s National Forests. Reach

her at [email protected].

“You meet people who are doing something crazy like you. You don't feel like you're doing it on your own.”



Photo © A

llison Nadler

The White River National Forest A Celebration of Past and PresentBy Emily Olsen

A brilliant lawyer, President Benjamin Harrison tackled his most

difficult cases in the same way he often addressed supporters

from his front porch, by discussing the facts and allowing

sound logic to illuminate his conclusions.

In 1891, Harrison’s dark, critical eyes focused on Col-

orado’s forested landscapes. Armed with clear evidence—

rampant deforestation and silt-clogged rivers contami-

nated with mining waste caused by the twin railroad and

mining booms—Harrison’s keen mind saw few options. To

ensure the preservation of these vast forests for coming

generations, he had to act. So on October 16, as the aspens

were flaming gold and yellow, Harrison declared what is

now the White River National Forest as a “forest reserve,”

the second such designation in our country’s history.

Reserving lands for public forests was a novel, un-

familiar idea in a place where endless opportunity and

Manifest Destiny gripped the public’s attention. In the

year’s prior to Harrison’s bold declaration, gold discoveries

spurred Denver’s fledging economy, new rail lines paral-

leled canyon contours to connect the Front Range to the

Western Slope, and prospectors arrived with bright eyes to

Independence and other towns, eager to strike it rich.

22

Photo © Brian Pfaltzgraff

The New WestToday, the White River National Forest defines Col-

orado and the “new west.” During the first half of the

20th century, Denver transitioned from a scrappy gold

mining town to the financial and commercial hub of the

Rockies. The second half saw the emergence of a pow-

erful outdoor-based economy as former mining towns

like Breckenridge and Aspen transformed into glamorous

all-season destinations. Visitors flock to Highway 82 along

the Continental Divide, cresting 12,095-foot Independence

Pass, where dilapidated remnants of the once-booming

Independence are now a tourist attraction.

The White River National Forest still provides opportu-

nities for mineral exploration, grazing, logging, and oil and

gas development, but recreation reigns. Ten million people

visit each year, distinguishing the Forest as one of the most

visited in the county.

Altitude and SolitudeThe rugged Elk and Sawatch Ranges tantalize the eyes,

attracting skiers from around the world to carve arching

lines along the Forest’s twelve ski areas, trek to backcoun-

try huts, or simply enjoy one of the frequent bluebird

days. The Maroon Bells oblige to their ever-growing duty

as luminaries to the surrounding landscape. These incred-

ible peaks, hailed as the most photographed mountains in

America, call the most hardy of visitors to “ring the bells”

by traversing their four 12,000+ foot mountain passes. The

Bells along with six other massive peaks over fourteen

thousand feet offer plenty of altitude to satisfy even the

most ambitious peak baggers.

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The White River boasts eight designated Wilderness

areas including the renowned Collegiate Peaks, Flat Tops,

and Eagles News Wilderness Areas. Over 2,500 miles of

trails that open up 1.5 million acres accessible to back-

country travel offer a lifetime of hiking, biking, and

off-highway-vehicle opportunities in a wildflower paradise.

Wheels, paddles, rods, and rifles are common forest

accessories. Mountain bikers hammer up the Government

Trail’s 1,000 vertical feet, paddlers maneuver through rap-

ids along the Roaring Fork and Eagle Rivers, and anglers

eye native cutthroat trout lingering under the surface of

Trappers Lake, a blue-ribbon trout fishery. Big-game hunt-

ers stalk the open rangelands and alpine meadows in the

autumn months, hoping to bag an elk from the nation’s

largest herd.

Contrary to the early Manifest Destiny believers, the landscape’s resources are not endless.

The White River’s multiple, world-class uses contin-

ue to draw new patrons. However, contrary to the early

Manifest Destiny believers, the landscape’s resources are

not endless, and even a 2.3-million-acre-backyard is not

big enough for everyone. As recreation use skyrockets, the

clash between past and present has pushed the White Riv-

er to be a model of balance between

tremendous outdoor experiences and

the protection of fragile ecosystems.

In recent decades, eco-terrorists

have torched expensive vacation

homes and protested ski resort

expansion plans. In 2013, the threat

of a lawsuit forced Vail Resorts to

mitigate potential damage to lynx

habitat so that it could expand its Breckenridge Ski Resort.

The Forest’s eight Wilderness areas see so many visitors it

is often challenging to find solitude. The agency has gone

so far as to designate some of the most popular Wilder-

ness areas as “high-use,” meaning the agency can improve

the area’s recreational infrastructure to better accommo-

date the influx of visitors. However, the Wilderness Act’s

protections prohibit many of the improvements needed to

accommodate the growing number of visitors, such as pit

toilets and established campsites.

Creating a Shared VisionAlong the Continental Divide, north of Independence

Pass and near Leadville, Colorado, the Eagle River tumbles

from craggy peaks to support elk, bear, lynx, and other

wildlife. Camp Hale lies at the headwaters of this storied

river. Established as a winter and mountain warfare train-

ing camp, Camp Hale housed almost 15,000 soldiers who

learned to ski, mountain climb, and survive in winter con-

ditions. Beginning in the 1940s, thousands of Army-hired

construction workers streamed into the 9,300-foot-high

valley. They straightened and channelized the Eagle River,

effectively turning this critical headwater stream into a

ditch. They flattened three miles of the valley floor with

giant graders and constructed acres of concrete barracks

and mess halls.

Yet, like so many places on the Forest, Camp Hale’s

legacy is complicated. Many of the soldiers who trained at

Camp Hale went on to establish or manage ski resorts in

Colorado, Montana, California, and New Hampshire, laying

the foundations of America’s ski industry. The dilapidated

concrete barracks that stand as silent sentries along the

grid of roads scarring the valley floor are an important

reminder of the sacrifices war demands of a nation.

An alpine meadow in the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, within the White River National Forest.


Photo © Jeff W

erner


The straightened and channelized Eagle River.

Mountain bikers pedaling through wildflowers on the White River National Forest.

Seeking to restore the ecology of this area, while preserving and celebrat-

ing its role in American history, the NFF has selected Camp Hale and the Eagle

River headwaters as one of 14 Treasured Landscapes conservation campaign sites

where we are concentrating our work. Our collaborative work with citizens,

organizations, and local leaders created a shared vision for this historically and

ecologically significant place, ensuring that Camp Hale continues its transition

from a military training camp to a vibrant celebration of all that visitors love

about the White River National Forest.

The days of gold mines, narrow-gauge rails, and military camps may have

passed, but President Harrison’s legacy persists. The future of the White River

National Forest as a model for sustainable recreation, forward thinking man-

agement, and almost endless opportunity shines a golden light on the 21st

century—and beyond.

The White River National Forest is one of the NFF's 14 Treasured Landscapes conservation campaign sites. Learn more at nationalforests.org/treasured.

Emily OlsenEmily is the NFF’s Conservation Connect Associate and an avid

hiker who spends as much time on Montana’s National Forests

as she can. Reach her at [email protected].


Photos © Jack A

ffleck; Steven C D

eWitt Jr


Building Capacity for Resilient ForestsBy Vance Russell

Praise and denunciation. These seem to be the bookends of

opinion for forest management. When the Southwestern Crown

Collaborative in Montana landed a $4 million Collaborative Forest

Landscape Restoration project grant in 2010, proponents praised

the group. The project promised 156 jobs and the restoration of 52 miles

of stream and 7,600 acres of wildlife habitat. But critics quickly protested

that the project was just a front for the Forest Service to log 814,000 board

feet of timber and accused the massive project of shifting needed resources

away from the Lolo, Flathead, and Lewis and Clark National Forests.

This praise and denunciation typified decades of pub-

lic discourse surrounding National Forest management.

But one simple fact remained: a landscape-scale forest

management project that included both timber harvests

and restoration activities had actually been green-lighted.

Successful collaboration had come a long way since Con-

gress created the precursor to the Forest Service in 1876.

Drawing the Battle LinesInitially tasked with assessing the state of forests in

the United States, the “Division of Forestry,” a small office

housed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was limited

in its scope. However, as the nation began to set aside

more and more public forests through the Forest Reserve

Act of 1891 and again with the Weeks Act of 1911, the Di-

vision’s name and purpose changed. In two short decades,

the small USDA office that assessed the nation’s forests

evolved into the U.S. Forest Service, the primary federal

agency responsible for managing public forest lands.

Through the 1960s, the Forest Service acted as the

sole arbiter of forest management, leaving little room for

meaningful public participation. That role shifted in 1970

with the signing of the National Environmental Policy

Act and further in 1976 with the passage of the Nation-

al Forest Management Act. But even though these laws

opened the door for public comment on forest plans, the

agency’s role as expert persisted, and public participation

was primarily reactive rather than proactive. The Forest

Service presented the public with management options,

the public submitted their comments back to the agency,

and the agency charted whatever course it thought best.

Concern over federal public lands management gained

significant steam in the 1980s. Small grassroots watershed

and conservation groups formed to focus on local issues.

On the national stage, groups like Earth First! pushed

traditional environmental organizations to become more

aggressive in their critiques of the Forest Service, and in

the years following President Reagan’s election, the battle

over the future of our National Forests was in full swing.

The Northwest Forest Plan proved a particularly

ugly battle. Adopted in 1994, the Plan aimed to protect

the long-term health of forests, wildlife, and waterways

with a special focus on the Northern Spotted Owl. While

the plan did implement significant protections for this

“charismatic” species, local timber-dependent communi-

ties blamed it for job losses because it curtailed logging

in the Pacific Northwest’s old-growth forests. The fallout

from this plan—significant job losses, the pitting of people

versus animals, and the highly publicized battle between

the local communities, environmentalists, and the Forest

Service—catalyzed a different approach.


field reports

Getting to YesEven as the battle over the Pacific Northwest Plan

raged, increasing public interest in alternative conflict

resolution began to take hold across the country. People

from all sides of the debate began to realize that the

incessant fighting, near constant litigation, and even the

outright sabotage of timber machinery were symptoms of

a deeper problem, the lack of proactive community

engagement. The answer, popularized through books such

as Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In,

was collaboration.

Collaboration seemed simple.

Rather than relying on the Forest

Service to present management

options that inevitably became

embroiled in litigation and bred

mistrust and division, the agency,

environmentalists, and communi-

ties would get together to develop

plans to improve forest manage-

ment in ways that also respected

the economic development of rural,

resource-dependent communities.

However, in practice, collaboration

was far more challenging. The skills

and techniques required to build

trust, reach consensus, and move

forward with complex management

options were difficult to learn and

the collaboratives themselves proved

time-intensive and costly.

These initiatives required small

grassroots organizations, staffed

largely by volunteers, to meet for hours each month to

hash out plans to keep their neighbors employed while

protecting their drinking water or a threatened species.

Similarly, for small independent contractors working in

forests, time spent in collaboratives meant time not spent

in the forest, earning money to support families.

Many of these early collaboratives such as the Apple-

gate Partnership in Oregon and the Watershed Research

and Training Network in California proved effective. But

others failed. As the country moved into the new millen-

nium, forest managers and organizations like the National

Forest Foundation, which has done this work for more

than a decade, realized that one of the biggest challenges

to successful collaboratives was building the local capaci-

ty to participate meaningfully in them.

To specifically address this capacity challenge and ulti-

mately increase the pace and scale of large-scale resto-

ration, the NFF and the Forest Service started the Commu-

nity Capacity and Landowner Stewardship Program (CCLS)

in 2011 in the Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest Region. In

2012, CCLS expanded to Alaska and in 2013, to California.

Its primary goals are to help organizations more effec-

tively implement landscape-scale restoration and bring

socioeconomic benefits to communities. The program

gives a wide berth for innovation and customization by

partners at the local and regional

level, and the $300,515 awarded to 14

nonprofits in California since 2013 is

beginning to pay dividends.

Bringing Old Adversaries Together

Mega-fires bring old adversaries

together and can unite communities

in unexpected ways. When the Rim

Fire exploded in the Stanislaus Na-

tional Forest and Yosemite National

Park, ultimately torching 257,314

acres, it re-energized Yosemite Stani-

slaus Solutions (YSS). The Forest Ser-

vice originally convened YSS in 2010

to address declining forest health

issues. But YSS members reformu-

lated the group to better address the

potential polarization of its members

following the Rim Fire.

Mike Albrecht, Chairman of YSS

and owner/operator of a local logging

firm, explains: “Collaborative efforts stand the greatest

chance of delivering the economic and environmental

returns state and federal leaders envision and restoring

California’s landscape. YSS represents a diverse cross

section of our community.”

If YSS did not exist, there would be virtually no pros-

pect for identifying the common ground that is needed

to find balanced solutions. Instead, the Forest Service

would find itself in a crossfire of frustrated, angry inter-

ests, making an already herculean job impossible. Scott

Tangenberg, Stanislaus Deputy Forest Supervisor, credits

YSS for “…taking the right approach. Our decisions are

more thoughtful and appreciative of diverse perspectives

because of YSS input. YSS continues to provide support in

the face of challenges and criticism of those decisions.”

“The skills and techniques required to build trust, reach consensus and move forward…proved time-intensive and costly.”


field reports

Collaboration vs. Capacity Building

Capacity building and collabo-

ration are easily confused. NFF pro-

grams focused on capacity building

often fund collaborative capacity,

but capacity building is about any

kind of investment that builds the

strength of an organization, expands

its operations, improves its ability

to implement programs, and trains

individuals within the organiza-

tion. Importantly, capacity building

investments do not support actual

on-the-ground implementation.

Collaboration for public lands

management is essentially a vol-

untary process involving diverse

interests typically organized around

a specific geography. Collaboratives

focus on improving problem solving

around forest and natural resource

issues and but can take many forms.

Collaboration is transparent and

non-proprietary—the solutions and

ideas are not from any one entity—

and typically lead to longer lasting

solutions.

Vance RussellVance is the NFF's Director of

California programs. When he's

not visiting forests, he is busy

chasing his daughters, skiing,

cycling, running and fishing

through them. Reach him at

[email protected].

The Power of SCALEAt a much larger scale, the Sierra Cascade All Lands Enhancement (SCALE)

collective is attempting to advance an inclusive “all-lands” restoration ap-

proach by coordinating three Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR)

projects: the Dinkey Creek Collaborative, the Amador-Calaveras Consensus

Group and the Burney-Hat Creek Collaborative. CFLR, a national program initi-

ated by the Forest Service, focuses on collaborative landscape-scale forest man-

agement. Jonathan Kusel, of the Sierra Institute for Community and Environ-

ment notes: “The power of SCALE is in forging new relationships and enhancing

transparency in project expenditures and on-the-ground outcomes.”

SCALE's challenges and goals are intertwined. The challenges include

navigating a complex network of land ownership and generating matching

funds required by the CFLR program for restoration projects. The goals include

successfully reducing the long-term risk of severe wildfire by returning the

landscape to a fire regime that can respond to climate change.

Increasing the pace and scale of landscape-scale restoration while address-

ing the economy, community needs, and the environment is complicated. By

working with SCALE, the three CFLR groups are learning from one another,

affecting forest management policy, and using SCALE as a tool to disseminate

knowledge, all of which leads to stronger individual collaborative efforts and a

more effective regional approach.

It’s All About PeopleUltimately collaboratives are an experiment where communities, the Forest

Service, and environmental organizations are trying to work better together.

The NFF, the Forest Service, and our partners believe it is worth investing in col-

laborative capacity building because it produces better projects, longer lasting

solutions, and ultimately healthier communities and forests.

However, collaboration is not a panacea. Skeptics point out such approaches

are too costly, may sidestep regulatory requirements, and don’t necessarily elim-

inate litigation. In fact, even the most well-intentioned collaboratives sometimes

generate controversy due to poor facilitation, participants’ lack of time, and

inadequate resolution of past conflicts. But in the last two decades, collaboration

has emerged as the most effective way to accomplish on-the-ground work.

Collaboration gives communities a better understanding of how the Forest

Service operates while educating the agency about what communities need.

By involving multiple voices and identifying needs for how resources are man-

aged, collaboratives can maximize technical and cultural knowledge to create

long-lasting solutions for the health and resilience of our National Forests.

Investing in the capacity of people to participate in these intensive initia-

tives has proven a key strategy to creating successful on-the-ground projects

that marry forest management, restoration, and community development.

Adam Liljeblad, the NFF’s Conservation Awards Director summed up the NFF’s

investments in building collaborative capacity: “Forest management doesn’t

happen in a vacuum any more. It happens when people sit down and learn

from each other. The CCLS program invests in people because it’s people who

either make or break forest management.”

For more information see is.gd/nff_capacity.


field reports

Photo © D

aphne Hougard

Nine Questions with Elliot SadlerIn April 2014, OneMain Financial partnered with the NFF to plant more

than 200,000 trees on two National Forests. OneMain Financial also sponsors

NASCAR driver Elliot Sadler, who drove an NFF-themed car during an April race

at Richmond Speedway in Virginia. Sadler, an avid outdoorsman, has planted

thousands of trees on his property in Virginia. The NFF took the chance to sit

down with Sadler and ask him a few questions about his outdoor passions, the

racing industry, and National Forests.

NFF: What role did the outdoors and forests have in your childhood?

Sadler: My favorite childhood memories are hunting and racing with my

dad. We hunt over 50,000 acres now. When I’m not behind the wheel of my

racecar or hanging out with my family, I’m in the woods. I love being outdoors.

NFF: What are some of your favorite activities to do outside?

Sadler: Hunting, deep-sea fishing, playing softball, golf.

NFF: How are you environmentally conscious in your everyday life?

Sadler: My family recycles, and we also make sure no one is doing illegal

dumping on our land that we hunt and farm.

NFF: What can your fans do to help be environmentally conscious at races

and in their lives?

Sadler: Race fans love the outdoors. We encourage them to plant trees

through an initiative with OneMain Financial. I suggest the fans throw their

trash away when they attend NASCAR events.

NFF: I understand you’ve planted a lot of trees on your property in Virginia.

What motivated you to do that?

Sadler: I love the outdoors and am a huge hunter. The trees are great for

wildlife habitat.

NFF: What is your favorite type of tree?

Sadler: Dogwood.

NFF: What’s your favorite National Forest?

Sadler: The George Washington-Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.

NFF: Which National Forest is closest to your house?

Sadler: The Croatan National Forest in North Carolina.

NFF: Which do you prefer? RV or tent camping?

Sadler: I stay in an RV over 30 weeks a year. It’s my home away from home.

I do enjoy a tent and a good campfire when I get the chance, though.

Sadler’s OneMain car with its NFF-themed wrap.

CORPORATE PARTNEROneMain Financial is proud to support the NFF’s Trees for US program. Our partnership with the NFF has supported the planting of more than 200,000 trees on the Chippewa and Shasta-Trinity National Forests.



Photo © N

igel Kinrade Photography, LLC

Protecting the Places We PlayBy Greg M. Peters

The NFF’s Ski Conservation Fund and

Forest Stewardship Fund programs

provide opportunities for guests

staying at ski resorts and lodges

near National Forests to give back to the places

they play. Since 2006, these partnerships with

some of the most iconic ski resorts and lodges

in the country have generated funds for local

restoration efforts that improve watersheds, wildlife

habitat, recreational opportunities, and community engagement.

Guests donate a dollar or two per room night, lift ticket or season pass

purchase, and resorts send these contributions to the NFF. Through

grants to local nonprofit partners, the NFF invests these contributions

(augmented by matching funds from the NFF), in projects on the National

Forest where the resort or lodge operates.

The programs achieve impressive restoration results

because of matching funds from the NFF and nonprofit

partners carrying out the work. Since 2006, we have

invested more than $4 million in National Forest resto-

ration projects through the two programs. But the value

of conservation work that we’ve accomplished is much

higher than that. With all cash and in-kind contributions

included, the projected conservation value of the projects

to date exceeds $14.7 million.

This year, the NFF is pleased to welcome new partners

into the program: Loon Mountain Resort, The Omni Mount

Washington Resort and the Nordic Inn, all in New Hamp-

shire’s White Mountain National Forest. Funds donated

by the guests of these resorts will be invested in the NFF’s

White Mountain National Forest Treasured Landscapes

conservation campaign site. In Summit County, Colorado,

guests of Breckenridge Grand Vacations and Beaver Run

Resort and Conference Center are now able to contribute

to prioritized restoration efforts on the White River Nation-

al Forest through the program.

You can be part of this success

story, too. When you book your next

vacation, consider staying with one of

our partners and giving back to your

National Forests.

GREG M. PETERSGreg is the NFF’s Communication Director. When he’s not lost

in a mountain of paperwork at his desk, Greg enjoys skiing,

hiking, canoeing, and getting home after dark. Reach him at

[email protected].


ski conservation fund

Photo © W

ildland Restoration Volunteers

2014 Partners

California

Mt. Shasta Ski Park,

Shasta Trinity National Forest

Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, Tahoe National Forest

Colorado

Arapahoe Basin Ski and Snowboard Area,

White River National Forest

Beaver Creek Resort, White River National Forest

➤ Inn at Beaver Creek ➤ The Seasons at Avon ➤ The Pines Lodge

Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center,


Breckenridge Ski Resort, White River National Forest

➤ Double Tree by Hilton ➤ Great Divide Lodge ➤ Mountain Thunder Lodge ➤ One Ski Hill Place, a RockResort ➤ The Village at Breckenridge

Breckenridge Grand Vacations, White River National Forest

Copper Mountain Resort, White River National Forest

Keystone Ski Resort, White River National Forest

The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, a RockResort,


Vail Ski Resort, White River National Forest

➤ The Lodge at Vail, a RockResort ➤ The Arrabelle at Vail Square, a RockResort

Winter Park Resort, Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest

Idaho

Pend Oreille Shores Resort, Idaho Panhandle National Forest

New Hampshire

Loon Mountain Resort, White Mountain National Forest

The Nordic Inn, White Mountain National Forest

Omni Mount Washington Resort, White Mountain National Forest

Town Square Condominiums at Waterville Valley Resort, White Mountain National Forest

The beautiful Omni Mount Washington Resort and Bretton Woods Ski Resort on the White Mountain National Forest.

New Mexico

Ski Apache Resort, Lincoln National Forest

Oregon

Cascade Vacation Rentals, Deschutes National Forest

Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, Mt. Hood National Forest

FivePine Lodge, Deschutes National Forest

Lake Creek Lodge, Deschutes National Forest

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, Deschutes National Forest

Sunriver Resort, Deschutes National Forest

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, Mt. Hood National Forest

Utah

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Snowpine Lodge, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest

Washington

Lake Quinault Lodge, Olympic National Forest

Skamania Lodge, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Stevens Pass Mountain Resort, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Wyoming

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Bridger-Teton National Forest

CORPORATE PARTNERSince joining the Ski Conservation Fund program in 2007, Copper Mountain Resort’s guests have donated more than $290,000 for restoration projects on the White River National Forest. We are proud of the big collective impact from these small individual donations.


Photo © C

ourtesy of Om

ni Mount W

ashington Resort

ski conservation fund

Answer from page 3

This National Forest is named for a prominent figure in U.S. Forest Service history.

Washington’s 1.3-million-acre Gifford Pinchot National

Forest features the towering peaks of the Cascades, old-

growth forests, glaciers and volcanic peaks. Many of the

Forest’s visitors find their way to the Mount St. Helens

National Volcanic Monument or take in the sights of the state’s second

tallest volcano, Mount Adams. Originally part of the Mount Rainer Forest

Reserve, it became the Columbia National Forest in 1908, and in 1949 it

was renamed for the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Less than two

hours from Portland, the Gifford Pinchot includes many points of interest

such as Lower Lewis Falls (pictured on page 3). From historical places to

ecological wonders, the Gifford Pinchot does its namesake proud.

Mount St. Helens looms over the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.


where in the woods

Photo © C

arlo Spani

NFF CELEBRATES21 YEARS OF SPORTING CLAYS

PLEASE JOIN US IN MAY 2015 FOR THE 21st ANNUAL SPORTING CLAYS INVITATIONAL.

Contact Hannah Ettema at [email protected] to learn more about participating or sponsoring a team.

Our special thanks go out to last year’s sponsors:

TITLE SPONSORGATEWAY CANYONS

RESORT & SPA

EVENT SPONSORSPAUL & SONIA JONES

CRAIG & BARBARA BARRETTBNY MELLON

WEALTH MANAGEMENTMAX CHAPMAN

INTERMEDIA OUTDOORS /SPORTSMAN CHANNEL

FRITZ & ADELAIDE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION

POLARISSIRIUS FUND

WATERFRONT NY

STATION SPONSORSBAILEY FOUNDATION

DAVID BELLBENTLEY USA

BETTERIDGE JEWELERSBOWERY CAPITALROBERT FEITLER

ROBINS ISLAND FOUNDATIONTIM & SUSAN SCHIEFFELIN AND

SPENCER & TOMOKO HABERTHE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

The NFF’s Annual Sporting Clays Invitational is a great opportunity to connect with friends and celebrate all that America’s National Forests provide.

We invite you and your company to join us next May for the 21st Annual Sporting Clays Invitational in upstate New York.

For the past 20 years, many generous sponsors and friends of the National Forest Foundation have gathered for a memorable shoot in New York. This event is a vital fundraiser for the NFF’s conservation mission and we are deeply grateful for the participation and generosity of all.

Help Protect America’s Backyard

nationalforests.org

Join the hundreds of thousands of Americans who help care for our National Forests. Find out where to play, stay up-to-

date on conservation news and receive insider tips.

your national forests winter/spring 2015

Documents

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