1. From the Front lines: White Pine County update 2
I N S I D E
take a hike: Explore and protect the White Pine Range 3
in the Field: Lend a hand, save a wild place 4
Why i love Wilderness: Kurt Kuznicki 6
Calendar oF events: Friends’ summer activities 6
Friends of Nevada Wilderness
SUMMER 2006
Volunteers keep
‘wild’
Mail call / The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will use
public comment to create draft wilderness recommendations.
Find out how you can help on page 8 the
in wilderness
Humboldt-Toiyabe
forest needs your help Congressional
wilderness designation
is just the beginning.
Making sure
Find an wilderness stays wild
update requires diligent work
of recent on the ground. Friends
successes of Nevada Wilderness
and works to protect
upcoming wilderness areas and
projects on help them recover from
Toiyabe Crest / Brian Beffort
t
page 4 impacts. But we can’t do
it without volunteers.
Friends would like to thank all of our
wonderful volunteers, who have worked
to protect the health and beauty of
Nevada’s wildlands. We would also like
Y
to invite those of you who have not yet
joined us for a volunteer work trip in
our letters supporting wilderness roadless areas in
Mount Rose / Brian Beffort
wilderness. You can help wilderness
are needed by August 1 to the new plan. At
stay wild by joining one of Friends’
protect millions of acres of Forest Service stake are more
three stewardship programs: Adopt-A-
wilderness-quality roadless areas in than 2 million
Wilderness, Leave No Trace training,
Nevada and eastern California. acres of high
and Wilderness restoration projects.
Officials at the Humboldt-Toiyabe peaks, deep
They’re all free; all we ask is your time
National Forest (the “HT”), which covers canyons, lush
and passion for wild places. Whatever
6.2 million acres in Nevada and California meadows and
your interests and abilities, we have
(the largest national forest in the Lower old-growth forests, which offer beauty,
ways for you to become involved in the
48), have begun revising their forest plan. clean water, wildlife habitat and bountiful
protection and preservation of Nevada’s
By law, the HT must consider whether to opportunities for hiking, backpacking,
wilderness legacy. Please join us!
recommend wilderness designation for
continued on page 8 continued on page 4

2. 2 www.nevadawilderness.org
OUR MISSION
Friends of Nevada Wilderness
is dedicated to preserving all
qualified Nevada public lands as
wilderness, protecting all present FROM THE FRONTLINES
and potential wilderness from
ongoing threats, educating the
public about the values of — and
White Pine public lands take center stage
need for — wilderness, and
As this newsletter goes update of the Friends of Nevada Wilderness
improving the management and
restoration of public wild lands. to press, the White Pine logo to more accurately represent our
County Public Lands beautiful state. Additionally, the new look
Northern Nevada Office bill should shortly be of the newsletter is the result of awesome
PO Box 9754 introduced into Congress. design work of volunteer Laura Brigham.
Reno, NV 89507 Once Friends of Nevada And last but not least, a big welcome and
(775) 324-7667 Wilderness has carefully thanks to all our new members that joined
Shaaron Netherton reviewed the entire bill, us this quarter and to all of our members
Executive Director we will publish a special for getting involved – writing letters,
shaaron@nevadawilderness.org Shaaron newsletter informing our volunteering, etc. Our many successes
Netherton members on just what the bill provisions in protecting wild places in Nevada are
Brian Beffort
Conservation Director executive will do. because all of you made it so.
brian@nevadawilderness.org director Statewide, the Humboldt Toiyabe Check this newsletter for upcoming
National Forest has just come out with a wilderness stewardship and monitoring
Pat Bruce list of forest lands that they believe have opportunities. These trips are great ways
Field Project Coordinator
wilderness qualities. While it is a good start, to give back to our state and meet folks
pbruce@nevadawilderness.org
our analysis shows that many important who share many of your same interests
Richard Knox areas have been left off that list. Read more and values. You can also find out about
Membership Coordinator about what you can do in this issue. volunteer opportunities on our website
richard@nevadawilderness.org I’d like to give thanks to some special www.nevadawilderness.org.
Southern Nevada Office volunteers who have really helped out Get out this summer and explore
P. O. Box 230432 our organization. First, thanks to Sharon those wild places, be safe and wear your
Las Vegas, NV 89105 Schafer, a fabulous graphic artist, for her sunscreen!
(702) 650-6542
Susan Potts
Southern Nevada Organizer
fnwlv@earthlink.net
Eastern Nevada Office
Thank you, Sharon!
1313 1/2 Avenue I
Ely, NV 89301
(775) 289-8898 (office)
Fresh look for Friends’ logo
(775) 293-1007 (cell) We have always loved our Joshua tree logo, even
Pete Dronkers though we understand that it doesn’t represent
Eastern Nevada Organizer
pdronkers@sbcglobal.net all of Nevada. Thanks to the wonderful
Board of Directors
talents of Sharon Schafer, our logo now
Karen Boeger, Rural Vice-Chair better represents Nevada’s wonderful
Hermi Hiatt, State Chair
Bart Patterson, wild diversity. Sharon is the artist of the
Southern Vice-Chair
mural at the new Mt. Charleston visitors’
Roger Scholl,
Northern Vice-Chair center, and of many T-shirts at Red Rock Canyon
Marge Sill,
Secretary at-large and Mt. Charleston. Thank you, Sharon! If you’d like
Bob Abbey to contact Sharon, and see some of her art, you can
Peter Bradley
John Hiatt email her at skydancestudio@earthlink.net.
Ron Hunter
Macaire Moran
Sarah Perrault
fnw@nevadawilderness.org
www.nevadawilderness.org

3. www.nevadawilderness.org 3
TAKE A HIKE IN THE CURRANT MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS
Explore, protect, enjoy Mail
call
Your letters
can protect
the
White Pine
Range
Additions to the
Currant Mountain
Currant Wilderness and other
Mountain proposed wilderness
is one of areas in the White
Nevada’s Pine Range should
great wilder- be addressed in the
ness jewels. upcoming White Pine
County public lands
bill. Please write
Nevada’s Congressional
delegation; tell them why
you support wilderness
for the White Pine Range
Complex.
Senator Harry Reid
400 So. Virginia Street,
W
# 902
hen Congress designated
Getting there Reno, NV 89501
Phone: 775-686-5750
The White Pine Range stretches between Highway 50 east of
the 36,000-acre Currant Fax: 775-686-5757
Eureka, and Highway 6 between Ely and Tonopah.
Mountain Wilderness in The most scenic country is on the southern end of the range
1989, they helped protect Senator John Ensign
and is most easily accessed from Highway 6: From Ely, drive 26
one of Nevada’s great mountains, but 600 East William St.,
miles toward Tonopah on Highway 6. Turn right/west on Forest
# 304
they didn’t go nearly far enough in Service Road 1163 (if driving from Tonopah, turn left/west 22.5
Carson City, NV 89701
protecting all of the land that deserves miles past Currant on Highway 6), then drive 8 miles west on
Phone: 775-885-9111
wilderness in the region. 1163 to the White River campground, which is the only designated
Fax: 775-883-5590
Friends of Nevada Wilderness and campground in the area; this beautiful campground has 10 sites,
the Nevada Wilderness Coalition have pit toilets, cooking grills and costs $4 per night.
Representative Jim
You can also access this region from Highway 50: About 48
proposed additions to the Currant Gibbons
miles east of Eureka (40 miles west of Ely), turn south toward the
Mountain Wilderness and additional 400 S. Virginia Street,
Illipah Reservoir, then continue south on Forest Service Rd 400.
wilderness areas along the White # 502
There is a designated campground at Illipah Reservoir, with 14
Pine Range, stretching north toward Reno, NV 89501
sites, shelters and grills.
Highway 50 – all totaling more Phone: 775-686-5760
Although there are no designated trailheads in the region, there
Fax: 775-686-5711
than 150,000 acres. Together, this are numerous opportunities for hiking and exploring; hike to an
wilderness complex will conserve enticing high point for a view of what makes this area so special.
large tracts of wildlife habitat for sage Note: The nearest services are in Ely and Eureka. When
grouse, elk, and other species, as well traveling in this area, you need to carry all your own food, water
as ample opportunities to hike, hunt, and shelter. Watch your gas gauge. High-clearance vehicles are
recommended; roads may be impassible from weather or misuse.
and camp in big, wild and beautiful
country.
Find out for yourself why we think Managing agency
this area is so special. This region is US Forest Service, Ely Ranger District
a great place to explore by vehicle or (775) 289-3031; www.fs.fed.us.r4/htnf/districts/ely.shtml
on foot. Maps: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Ely Ranger
District, west half.
Brian Beffort

4. 4 www.nevadawilderness.org
Lend a hand,
Volunteer
for
wilderness
UPCOMING TRIPS
save a
c o n t i n u e d f ro m p a g e 1
Saving Nevada’s wild forests
wild sp
Friends’ new Forest Project
August 5, Black Rock Coordinator, Angela Dykema, will work
Desert. Join Friends and the with volunteers to provide the Forest
BLM for a restoration project Service with monitoring, inventory and
in wilderness. Details TBA. restoration work in wilderness areas
For information, call Brian
Beffort at (775) 324-7667.
across Nevada. We’re also looking for
volunteers to visit and evaluate roadless
August 23-27, Pine areas affected by the Forest Service’s
Forest Range. Join Friends forest plan revision (see the lead article
and the BLM for a restoration in this issue).
project on one of Nevada’s
great mountain jewels (come Adopt-A-Wilderness
for the full trip, or just a Nevada’s a big state, with diverse,
couple days). Green grass, rugged and remote wildlands. Funding
high lakes, sweeping views; to manage these areas is limited.
Nevada doesn’t get prettier
than this! For information, call
Adopting a wilderness will let you
Pat Bruce at (775) 324-7667. explore wilderness and play a vital
role in keeping it wild. By visiting
September 30-October your adopted wilderness a few times
1, National Public Lands a year, you can get to know the area’s
Day, Stevens Camp and beauty and report damage to the area’s
the High Rock Canyon managing agency.
Wilderness. Join us for our If you have a favorite place, or if you’d
biggest volunteer event of the like to find a new favorite, take the next
year – good work, good food, step and adopt it. Friends of Nevada
speakers and stargazing.
Details TBA.
Wilderness will provide you with all the
information you need to monitor and
More trips to be protect your adopted wilderness.
announced soon ... Check
out our website, Leave No Trace
www.nevadawilderness.org Leave No Trace camping and hiking
for updates. techniques will help you enjoy your
wilderness experience while reducing
your backcountry footprint. These
trainings are provided with the help of
the BLM and the Forest Service during
backpacking and car-camping trips in
Nevada’s wilderness areas. There are struggling wildlife populations, Friends Trained volunteer
several courses offered this year. Check of Nevada Wilderness is joining the guzzlers in wilderne
the schedule on our website. BLM, Nevada Department of Wildlife, NDOW with inform
and the Fraternity of Desert Bighorn. obtained from their
Adopt-A-Guzzler In March, volunteers met at the Arrow Consider adopting a
Without healthy wildlife populations, Canyon Range in northern Clark County in wilderness in Nev
wilderness is a lonely landscape. To to learn how to inspect and repair big- excuse to explore wi
provide quality habitat for Nevada’s game water developments (guzzlers). the wildlife before th
Find out more about Friends’ stewardship programs at our website, www
To get more details or sign up for a trip, contact Pat Bruce at (775) 324-7667 or p

5. www.nevadawilderness.org 5
Clockwise from left:
Our man Louis
pace
shows how much fun
working in the Black
Rock Desert can be. Thank you
A proud crew relaxes
after work well done to everyone
in the Mormon
Mountains.
Shaaron Netherton who has ever
working on the
Thomas Creek Trail.
volunteered to
keep
I LDERNTISS
W RA ON
E
Nevada
RESTO
wild.
Not only are you
Mormon Mission
On March 25, 2006, Friends of
A few hours and volunteers can keeping wildness
make a big difference, as you can
Nevada Wilderness volunteers and BLM tell from these before and after
staff completed a series of projects in shots from Mount Grafton WSA.
the Mormon Mountains Wilderness alive on Nevada’s
near Mesquite, Nev. While one team
restored a sensitive ecological area from
illegal vehicle damage, another removed landscapes,
overgrown bushes from a sensitive
archaeological site, helping to reduce
wildfire damage to the artifacts. perhaps more
Mt. Grafton Goodness
Up the North Creek drainage in the importantly,
Mt. Grafton WSA, illegal vehicle use
is creating “hill climbs” in the heart Friends of Nevada Wilderness
of the wilderness. In June, Friends coordinates with land you’re keeping
teamed up with the BLM to disguise two management agencies to identify
illegal vehicle routes with boulders and areas in wilderness that need
rs can now monitor downed material, then rehabilitated the some TLC—areas that have been it alive in our
ess areas, providing stream zone by transplanting wild rose impacted by irresponsible off-road
mation that cannot be and native bunch-grasses, erasing both vehicle use, invasive species,
fly-over inspections. routes in a couple of hours. and/or vandalism. Join us and hearts!
a guzzler somewhere With the work out of the way, we other like-minded volunteers as
vada. It’s a great headed back to the campsite for chicken we work to help these scars heal.
ild Nevada and help stew, black forest cake, stargazing and Restoration projects are a fun and
heir water runs dry. storytelling around the campfire. rewarding way for people to truly
experience Nevada wilderness. We
work hard, camp under the stars,
and take time to enjoy the area
w.nevadawilderness.org. while we’re out there.
pbruce@nevadawilderness.org.

6. 6 www.nevadawilderness.org
Why I Love Wilderness / KURT KUZNICKI
Friends
W
ilderness is about going back.
Back to a simpler time, when
I carried my youngest on my
summer shoulders while the oldest held
my hand as we hiked down the
activities trail. Back to when I first met my
wife and fell in love on a hiking
trip long ago. Back to a time, spent climbing
UPCOMING EVENTS peaks, and month-long backpacks with the
best of friends. Back to a time when the
greatest hero any boy could know, my father,
Join Friends of Nevada
Brian Beffort
showed me how to catch a wild trout. Back
Wilderness staff, board,
fellow members and to a time when the entire world was Wild and
coalition partners for the full of adventure.
following events in Reno
and Las Vegas:
V O L U N T E E R heroes
July 25, White Pine
County legislation party,
Great Basin Brewery,
Sparks. Join Friends and
other Wilderness Coalition
partners from 6 to 8 p.m. as Without dedicated people, wilderness designation wouldn’t
we examine the wilderness
proposals in the White Pine be possible. We’d like to say a big THANK YOU to a
public-lands bill. Call (775)
324-7667 for details.
couple people who have made a difference in our efforts to
conserve wilderness in White Pine County.
August 5, Festival In the
Pines, Las Vegas Ski
and Snowboard Resort, Peter Druschke is a student
Lee Canyon. Join Friends of geosciences at the University
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. of Nevada, Las Vegas, doing field
in this celebration of the work for his dissertation in the Egan
Spring Mountains. Call Range Wilderness Study Area in
(702) 650-6542 for more southern White Pine County. As a
information. critical resource of information to
congressional delegation staff and
August 19, Galena to our coalition, Peter has been the
Creek Park (south/2nd
most active in promoting the Egan
entrance). Join us for a
hike to Church’s Pond in Range. He’s spent so many weeks
the Mt. Rose Wilderness, hiking around the area, he’s lost
followed by a picnic among count. Keep it up, Peter!
Pete Dronkers
the pines. To RSVP or for
more information call
(775) 324-7667.
August 27, Cathedral
Rock picnic area,
Upper Kyle Canyon, Mt. Neil Marchington, of Ely, has been to nearly
Charleston. every proposed wilderness area in the county in
Join us for a hike into the the last two years, looking for undiscovered caves.
wilderness, followed by Providing photos, trip reports, and writing letters
a picnic in the cool, high- to support wilderness designation for these areas,
Nicole Marchington
elevation forest. To RSVP Neil has been a widely heard voice – not only in
(so we know how many Ely but in Washington DC as well. Living near
burgers to buy) or for more the Heusser Mountain proposed wilderness, Neil
information, call was instrumental during the county commission
(702) 650-6542.
hearings that led to its official recommendation for
wilderness. Thanks Neil!

7. www.nevadawilderness.org 7
DEDICATED TO WILDERNESS
Remembering Mark in the Meadow Valley Range WSA in 1996.
Mark Saylor
W
e at Friends of Nevada Mark named
Wilderness mourn the passing of Friends Leaving a legacy
Mark Saylor. He was a longtime of Nevada of wilderess
supporter of wilderness and served on Wilderness as
Howard Booth
Friends’ Board of Directors and then as a beneficiary If you would like to
State Chair from 1991 to 2000. of his estate, include Friends of
Mark, who traveled all over the world, helping us Nevada Wilderness in
strongly felt that Nevada’s wild places to continue your estate plans, your
were worth saving. He enjoyed the desert, his passion attorney or retirement plan
hiking, camping and exploring with his for wildlands protection into the future. administrator will need the
Jeep many areas in southern Nevada. “When you see your time on Earth coming following information:
Mark loved maps, and his work with to an end, you think about what matters to
the Technical Committee on an intensive you,” he told Friends of Nevada Wilderness Name: Friends of Nevada
inventory of BLM wildlands resulted in a few months before his death. “Wilderness Wilderness
wonderfully marked-up maps to show is fun and inspiring, and I like the idea of Address: 1 Booth St.,
more-suitable wilderness boundaries. leaving something to a group I believe in.” Reno, NV 89509
He was a man of wide-ranging Mark, thank you for everything you’ve Tax ID #: 88-0211763
interests, from bluegrass to equal rights. done for Nevada. We miss you. Your
He provided free dentistry to deserving memory, passion and generosity will For additional
communities in the United States, Mexico live on in our work to protect Nevada’s information, please call
and Africa through Doctors without wildlands. (775) 324-7667
Borders. Hermi Hiatt
Yes! I want to keep Nevada wild by joining
BECOME A MEMBER
Friends of Nevada Wilderness! I would like to learn
more about:
Name: ________________________________________________________ _____ Volunteering
Address:_______________________________________________________ _____ A slide show
at my company or club
City: ___________________________ State: _______ ZIP: ______________
_____ Leaving a legacy
Phone (day): _________________ Email: _____________________________ with a bequest
_____ $25 Supporter _____ $50 Friend _____ $100 Superfriend
_____ $500 Benefactor _____ Other _____ Monthly, charge my credit card
Thank
you!
Payment by: ______ check ______ charge (Visa & Mastercard only)
Card No.: _________________________________ Exp. Date: ___________
Signature: _____________________________________________________
Make checks and mail to: Friends of Nevada Wilderness, PO Box 9754, Reno, NV 89507

8. 8 www.nevadawilderness.org
Humboldt-Toiyabe Yosemite National Park.
Mail call
What you can do
lPearl Peak. 60,000 wild acres in
c o n t i n u e d f ro m p a g e 1 the southern Ruby Mountains; home to to keep Nevada’s
bighorn sheep, ancient bristlecone pines, forests wild
hunting, skiing, fishing and solitude. bountiful hiking and backcountry skiing.
In May, the HT released a preliminary lJob’s Peak. 21,000 acres of gorgeous Please write a letter to the Humboldt-
list highlighting roughly 1.5 million roadless mountains between Lake Tahoe Toiyabe’s Forest Supervisor by August 1.
acres with “high” wilderness capability. and Nevada’s Carson Valley. Urge him to recommend for wilderness all
Unfortunately, the HT also listed many lGeorge’s Canyon. 98,000 acres in the roadless areas identified as having “high”
other wilderness-quality lands as having southern Monitor Range, near Tonopah. wilderness capability in the HT’s revised
“low” wilderness capability. The HT will use lPine Grove South. 88,000 acres in forest plan. Please mention areas you
public comment collected on these areas to southern Lyon County. have visited.
create draft wilderness recommendations. lWilderness additions. The HT has For a list of roadless areas the Forest
Your strong support will be necessary identified roughly 250,000 acres of high- Service s considering for wilderness
to help both high-capability areas, and quality additions to currently designated recommendations, go to www.fs.fed.us/
deserving low-capability areas receive the wilderness areas. Expanding wilderness r4/htnf/projects/forestplan/index.shtml; or
recommendations they deserve. areas to include these deserving lands will www.nevadawilderness.org and click on
Here are a few of the remaining, significantly enhance Nevada’s legacy for the “Forest Service” link.
unprotected wild jewels: people and wildlife.
lThe Toiyabe Crest. 100,000 acres Despite their beauty and value to Send your comments to:
adjacent to the Arc Dome wilderness recreationists, communities and wildlife, Forest Supervisor
area; home to the Toiyabe Crest National these unprotected lands face increasing Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Recreation Trail. threats from off-road vehicle use, 1200 Franklin Way
lHoover Additions. 26,000 acres mining, development, and unwise energy Sparks, NV 89431
adjacent to the Hoover Wilderness in exploration. Your support will help keep
California; on the eastern boundary of them wild for future generations.
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
RENO NV
PERMIT NO. 318
Friends of Nevada Wilderness
PO Box 9754
Reno, NV 89507
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