Help friends stay strong for the future

From the Front Lines: Help friends stay strong for the future 2

I N S I D E
WeLcome: New staff member in Las Vegas 2
take a hike: Sweetwater Range 3
restoration: Public Lands Day 4
2007 voLunteer trips: Mark your calendar 7

Friends of Nevada Wilderness
OCTOBER 2007

Wilderness for Lyon,
Meghan Sural:
Confessions
Mineral counties? of a wilderness
volunteer
A new public land bill
process begins Aaaaahhh. The second week in June.
Two weeks before the season’s solstice—

I
n June, Senators Harry making days not yet their longest, but
Reid and John Ensign, long enough. Warmer weather has set
and Congressman in, but before the heat hits hardest.
Dean Heller announced It’s Friday, and I’ve signed up to go on
the beginning of a public a wilderness restoration trip with Pat
process that could result Bruce from Friends and a few other
in new wilderness areas in lucky volunteers. We hit the road for
Lyon and Mineral counties. Mt. Grafton Wilderness, and a wave
Some of the outstanding of excitement pulses
places Friends is committed through me—my first
to getting designated trip across Nevada on
include the Gabbs Valley Highway 50.
Range and Burbank Canyon Having grown up in
wilderness study areas the east, I feel a whole
and the Excelsior and new form of wilderness
Huntoon Springs roadless in Nevada. There I knew
areas in Mineral County. lush rhododendrons
In Lyon County, candidate and the smell of Want to try
wilderness areas include Appalachian dirt always a wilderness
the northern tip of the in the air. Now I smell
scrubby sweet-scented
restoration
Sweetwater Mountains
(called the Sisters Proposed sagebrush. There trip? Turn to
Wilderness) and the South thick, green vegetation page 7 to find
Pine Grove Roadless surrounded me. Now
Area (called the Wovoka waves of smooth velvet out how.
Proposed Wilderness, milk chocolate peaks t
after the Native American roll into long ranges that
spiritual leader and father meander to the horizon.
of the Ghost Dance, who Dipping and climbing
was born near, and spent through basin and range, I feel a rush of
much of his time in, the emotion, a vibrant and positive sensation,
area in the 1800s). Friends rushing the self-erected walls of everyday
is working with the Nevada life. Cocooned by house, workplace,
Wilderness Coalition The E. Walker River flows through the Wovoka Proposed Wilderness. relationship, and comfortable lifestyle,
to identify additional Photo by Kurt Kuznicki my body and spirit are thirsty for some
deserving wilderness wild relief.
candidates in both counties. lands bills that passed public-lands issues in Lyon We arrive at Mt. Grafton in the dark, set
Like the Clark County, in 2002, 2004 and 2006 and Mineral counties. As up camp quickly, keeping the tops of our
Lincoln County and White respectively, legislation Nevada’s Congressional
Pine County public- for Lyon and Mineral
would address a variety of continued on page 6 continued on page 6

2 www.nevadawilderness.org

OUR MISSION
is dedicated to preserving all FROM THE FRONTLINES

Help Friends stay strong for the future
qualified Nevada public lands as
wilderness, protecting all present
and potential wilderness from
ongoing threats, educating the In early September, I will always be wilderness warriors and
public about the values of — and
need for — wilderness, and
hiked up to a ridge in the guardians, Friends of Nevada Wilderness
improving the management and middle of the Mt. Rose has taken a generous legacy gift to step
restoration of wild lands. Wilderness to gain some toward a more secure future by opening
perspective. The hot endowment accounts with the Community
Northern Nevada Office summer air was dry and Foundation of Western Nevada in Reno,
PO Box 9754 smelled of vanilla from the and the Nevada Community Foundation in
Reno, NV 89507 ponderosa pines; the view Las Vegas. If you are interested in making
(775) 324-7667
expansive. I gave thanks a gift to either account, I would be happy to
Shaaron Netherton Shaaron to all the folks whose talk with you. As long as there is wilderness,
Executive Director Netherton steady vision protected this place from there will be Friends of Nevada Wilderness.
shaaron@nevadawilderness.org
executive development. I am amazed at the variety of I am excited to introduce you to the
Brian Beffort director people I see up there—young families with newest member of Friends of Nevada
Associate Director kids in backpacks, as well as scouts, couples Wilderness, Adriane Zacmanidis. Adriane
brian@nevadawilderness.org and lots of seniors. Some hike alone; others joined us in August as our Southern Nevada
in groups; some are veteran hikers; some Director. She will soon be contacting our
Pat Bruce
Field Project Coordinator
escaping from the city for the first time, but members in southern Nevada to get to know
pbruce@nevadawilderness.org all delighting in this special place. you better and gain from your wisdom.
We are fortunate to be kicking off In these last days of warmer weather,
Angie Dykema another wilderness protection campaign, join us for one of our wilderness hikes. We
Forest Project Coordinator this time in western Nevada (Lyon and are also scheduling a whole new season
angie@nevadawilderness.org
Mineral counties). Collectively, we have of restoration trips and hikes for this
Richard Knox the opportunity to set aside places like coming spring and summer for southern
Membership Coordinator the Gabbs Valley Range, the Sweetwater and northern Nevada. Check out the
richard@nevadawilderness.org Mountains and Bald Mountain (Wovoka) schedule and I’m sure you will find great
Rose Demoret south of Yerington. In order to ensure there opportunities to join us in wild Nevada.
Administrative Director
rose@nevadawilderness.org

Southern Nevada Office
PO Box 97373
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Welcome, Adriane!
(702) 650-6542 Adriane Zacmanidis joined Friends in August as
our Southern Nevada Director in Las Vegas. She
Adriane Zacmanidis
Southern Nevada Director
brings a wealth of experience that greatly enhances
adriane@nevadawilderness.org our efforts to conserve wilderness in southern
Nevada.
Board of Directors “For me, the desert is home” she says. “I love the
Hermi Hiatt, vast open spaces, the mountains, desert lakes, the
State Chair
Karen Boeger, flora, the fauna, the colors, and the unique smells. I
Rural Vice-Chair am an extremely active outdoors person and I am so
Bart Patterson, connected to this land that I couldn’t fathom calling
Southern Vice-Chair
Roger Scholl, anywhere else in this world home.”
Treasurer Adriane spent the last 15 years working in
Sarah Perrault, museums, building community partnerships,
Secretary
Bob Abbey outreach programs and curricula for teachers and
Peter Bradley museum staff. She also worked with volunteers and
John Hiatt designed interactive websites. She holds degrees in
Kurt Kuznicki Public History, Archaeology and Museum Sciences
Marge Sill
and Education. “Protecting and acting as a steward
fnw@nevadawilderness.org for this land and its cultural resources has been my
www.nevadawilderness.org personal passion and life’s work thus far, and I really
http://nevadawild.blogspot.com couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling journey.”
Adriane, we’re glad to have you on the team. Photo by XXX

www.nevadawilderness.org 3

TAKE A HIKE

Luke and Sparky’s excellent VOLUNTEER
heroes
Sweetwater adventure
By Karen Boeger

Luke and Sparky the burros
get bored with domestic life
on 70 acres in the Pah Rah
Mountains. In mid-July,
they put their hooves down
and demanded their geezer Giving back is a way of life
guardians, Dan and Karen, get for Howard and Ursula Booth.
them out into Big Wild Nevada. They helped found Friends
The solution: the Sweetwater of Nevada Wilderness 23
Mountains, which stretch years ago, and they’re still
volunteering for Nevada’s wild
between Wellington and
places today. In February,
Bridgeport, Calif.
Ursula and Howard joined the
The burros petitioned to Friends’ volunteer projects
camp at the spring water and in the Rainbow Mountain
lush grass at the cow camp and Black Canyon wilderness
oasis trailhead. Dan’s signature areas.
diamond hitch lashed packs on “I like to be outside,” said
them instead. Several sweaty, Exploring the wild beauty of Nevada’s Sweetwater Mountains.
Photo by Dan Heinz
Ursula. “I like to be active, I
puffing hours followed, up like to see things looking nice

G
a rocky, steep canyon. If the at a perfect burro-pleasing and in a natural state, and it’s
burros hadn’t been so hot etting there. To nice to work with friends and
meadow by a creek. Luke
and grumpy, they would have explore Nevada’s decided that night to “help” get to know people I haven’t
noticed the starkly beautiful Sweetwater with the cooking. A burro nose met.”
rock formations, numerous in one’s lap, let alone in a pot “Nevada has given a lot to
Mountains, Drive south from us,” Howard said. “We try to
birds and wildflowers, and burning on the stove was not to
been thankful for the shade Carson City on US 395. North be encouraged. “Discussions” give a little bit back. Without
along the way by fragrant of Topaz Lake, turn left/east on volunteers, things in this
resulted in a shortened tether
stands of mountain mahogany. country would really fall apart.
Highway 208. At Wellington, veer rope on the offending party.
All was forgiven when the I think that when you have
Sadly, the next day required enough volunteers, it reaches
gang reached high rolling right and head south on Hwy
a return to civilization, but we a critical mass. It catches on to
alpine meadows, obviously 338. After about 15 miles, turn decided to explore a new route a wider group, and everyone
quite wet in Spring, just below right/west onto Forest Road on the way out to maximize says ‘I need to get in on this,
towering East Sister (10,404’), new scenery. Back down
050. Drive until the exploring too.’ That’s when things start
signaling an end to the climb. Coyote Creek, past lovely aspen getting better.”
Even better was the spectacular looks good. The road is passable
stands along the ever-gurgling Ursula turned 70 in
view from the pass: Middle in good weather, but storms stream, to a juncture with a February, and Howard turned
Sister looming to the South might make the road impassable. faint horse trail that led over a 80 in March. They have
(10,854’), the distant craggy pass with outstanding views, attended numerous Friends
ranges of the Sierra to the west then down through Little Smith restoration projects, and
and, more alluring to Luke creatures. After a colorful Valley to the cow camp and the Howard’s beautiful photos
and Sparky, the lush expansive Sierra, we all slept under burro trailer. have graced our calendars,
meadows of Little Smith Valley dazzling stars in the clear night After we loaded up the brochures and websites for
just below them. sky. burros and started the truck, years. In 2005, Howard won
No sooner did Karen and The next day led us up another black bear charged the John Muir Award from the
Dan set up camp among the aspen-dotted meadows to startled right across our path. A Sierra Club, the club’s highest
willows, than a healthy black another pass on Middle Sister. Nevada wilderness with bears, honor.
bear, tawny fur golden in the Below were more meadows now that’s a primo adventure! Thank you very much,
late afternoon light, sprinted and Coyote Creek dropping Ursula and Howard, for
up the hillside and out of sight, away to the a magnificent view everything you have given to
Karen is a founding member
apparently unwilling to share of the Sierra on the western Nevada’s wild places!
of Friends’ Board of Directors
his meadow with these strange horizon. Camp that night was


Summer stewardship
successes
During this busy summer, Friends has worked hard to connect volunteers with
their public lands to help land management agencies keep Nevada wild.
National Public Lands Day

Each year on the last
weekend in September,
more than 100,000
volunteers work across the
country come together to
give back to their public
lands. Here in Nevada.
Friends helped organize
two projects: in High Rock
Canyon country north of
the Black Rock Desert,
and in the Boundary Peak
Wilderness.

Clockwise from top left: Fixing a trailhead sign at
Boundary Peak (photo by Kevin Johnson), Pat
Bruce swinging Dutch ovens like no one else can
(Kurt Kuznicki), enjoying a well-deserved break at
Boundary Peak (Kevin Johnson), and Finley and
Logan surveying the work (Brian Beffort).


Clockwise from far left:
Volunteer David Von
Seggern heading into
the Boundary Peak
Wilderness to clear the
trail (Kevin Johnson
photo), the team
celebrating a great day
above High Rock Canyon
(Kurt Kuznicki), Black
Rock NCA ranger Justin
Robbins happy to have
the help (Kurt Kuznicki).

Friends of Nevada Wilderness helped
make landscape restoration a part
Burning Man festival

of the 2007 Burning Man festival.
In honor of the “Green Man” theme,
our volunteers worked to protect the
sensitive Coyote Springs Dunes on
the Black Rock Playa. This unique
dune complex is home to a rare spring,
sensitive plants and kit fox dens.
Volunteers raked away the off-road
vehicle tracks that have destroyed
much of the natural vegetation in the
area, transplanted native vegetation to
help the natural recovery process, and
erected a rustic fence to protect the
area from further damage by off-road
vehicles.


We’ll miss you,
Alanah!
Making a difference: The power of one
Imagine hiking along in the wilderness
By Brian Beffort with your canine companion when he begins
howling in pain, caught in a leg trap meant for
Alanah Woody, Executive bobcats. After several of these incidents near
Director of the Nevada Rock the Mt. Rose Wilderness in Reno, Carol Tresner
Art Foundation, died on July and Trish Swain decided it was time to do
19. She was 51. something.
“I am a rock art evangelist,” When trapping in public areas became a hot-
Woody told Smithsonian button issue in the local paper, Trish and Carol
magazine in 2005. “Give me sprang to action, designing a TrailSafe website,
people who think rock art is gathering letters of support, speaking out at
nothing more than a bunch various meetings and gathering 700 signatures
of old graffiti on a boulder or on a citizens’ petition requesting changes in
cave wall. Let me take them out trapping regulations.
into the desert to see 10,000- The next steps were
year-old petroglyphs, and I a formal petition Trailsafe.org
guarantee they’ll begin to feel a before the Nevada
Wildlife Commission,
got the word out
connection with the people who
lived here long before we came then a meeting with about steel jaw from the Tahoe Rim east, and from Mt. Rose to
along.” the Nevada Trappers Interstate 80. It was unanimously approved.
Woody also supported Association. Dialogue leghold traps. “Tenacity, media exposure, organization,
Friends’ work for wilderness. had begun; trapping flexibility, wise counsel, compromise and
She viewed rock art as part of was a hazard to the technology all factored in,” said Carol, reflecting
the landscape, and in order to public, and the trappers knew this. Many people on her success. “Yes, luck and timing, too.”
protect the resource, we needed reacted emotionally to recreational trapping, This small but significant victory started
to work on behalf of the land. but what could be realistically achieved now? when two hikers gave voice to what many others
Nevada has lost a great After more negotiation and compromise, Carol endorsed—all in six months. This is proof that
defender of Nevada’s heritage, and the trappers presented a joint petition the person who greets you each day in the
whose work will continue in to the Nevada Wildlife Commissioners that mirror might be a world-changing force waiting
those she inspired. prohibited snares and leg-hold traps on trails to manifest. WHAT’S YOUR ISSUE?

Volunteering Lyon, Mineral campaign
continued from page 1

tents open to stargaze and
continued from page 1

Delegation stated in a June 26
Mail call
sleep simultaneously. In a press release, a main goal of Help designate
few hours the sun peaks over this process would be to resolve
Mount Wheeler to the east—the litigation over water rights in
wilderness in Lyon
wilderness is calling us to her. the Walker River basin. and Mineral counties.
We eat heartily and hike up Friends of Nevada Wilderness
to the wilderness boundary. is looking forward to working Write Nevada’s Congressional
Mesmerized by the rocks with with interested citizens and delegation. Urge them to
their beautiful swirls, stripes elected officials at all levels to support wilderness
and glitter, I allow the dust to conserve some of this region’s for the Gabbs
coat my skin and hair as I stop last beautiful and wild open Valley Range,
to touch each dazzling stone. spaces. Burbank Canyon,
This does not make me a If you are familiar with some Excelsiors,
productive volunteer, and at of these areas, know Lyon or Huntoon
times I have to pull myself Mineral county residents who Springs,
from some shiny jewel so I would like to keep some of their Wovoka and
can help the others finish our backcountry wild, or if you the Sisters.
work to cover vehicle scars in Meghan Sural rockin’ the wilderness. would like to help protect these
this wilderness. Heaving large Photo by Pat Bruce special places, please contact Senator Harry Reid
rocks, I feel my spirit reveling in Brian Beffort at (775) 324-7667. 528 Hart Senate Bldg.
reconnection to the land. Each For maps and more Washington D.C. 20510
senses inside with freedom and
touch of a rock, each sniff of devotion. As wilderness floods information about proposed
the sage, butterflies bounding Senator John Ensign
this inner plain, I reconnect wilderness areas in Lyon and
about, wildflowers popping 119 Russel Senate Bldg.
with my own wilderness inside Mineral counties, and a copy
open—each is a salve soothing Washington D.C. 20510
and realize that she is a part of of the press release issued
my senses, a thousand rivulets me. She deserves my attention by Reid, Ensign and Heller, Congressman Dean Heller
connecting me to the land, and respect. And in turn, my visit our website at www. 1023 Longworth Office Bldg.
filling the cracks of my parched very being needs her. nevadawilderness.org Washington D.C. 20515


Wild fall hikes and restoration trips
Friends of Nevada Wilderness organizes
Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness staff and board on a dayhike to a wild
volunteer restoration trips to help
gem near you. Space is limited, so call now for more information or to RSVP at
wild landscapes recover from noxious
(775) 324-7667.
weeds, illegal vehicle use and other
impacts. You can explore scenic
Wovoka Proposed Wilderness Area (1 hour south of Carson City), Nov. 3
Nevada and help keep it wild at the
Join Kurt Kuznicki to explore the Pine Grove Hills south of Wellington in Lyon County.
same time! Our trips are free. The
These were the home turf of Wovoka, the Paiute mystic who started the historic
beautiful wild places and smiling faces
Ghost Dance of the 1800s. Open cross-country hiking. 10+ miles. Moderate
of others who love giving back to the
land are priceless! Please join us on
Mount Charleston Wilderness (NW of Las Vegas), Oct. 27
one of our upcoming trips!
Spend the day with Friends’ board members Hermi and John Hiatt as we enjoy
the changing aspen, rare plants and tremendous beauty on the slopes of southern
We are currently scheduling winter annd
Nevada’s highest peak. 5 miles. Moderate.
spring trips for southern Nevada. For the
most up-to-date schedule of volunteer
Wine and Cheese in the Wee Thump Widerness (south of Las Vegas), Nov. 14
opportunities, log onto
The quiet beauty of this Joshua tree forest west of Searchlight will be a perfect locale
www.nevadawilderness.org
to enjoy the finer things in life: good friends, good food, good wine and natural beauty.
Join Friends’ Associate Director (and author of Afoot & Afield Las Vegas) Brian Beffort
adn Friends’ Southern Nevada Director Adriane Zacmanidis. Easy: less than one
mile. Transportation available. Limit 12.

LEAVE A LEGACY OF WILDERNESS ... FOREVER!
Support the Friends of Nevada Wilderness endowment.
Contact the Community Foundation of Western Nevada (Reno) at (775) 333-5499,
or the Nevada Community Foundation (Las Vegas) at (702) 892-2326.

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 presentation
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


Save the date!
Friday, November 30, 2007
So many reasons to celebrate...
Join us to honor the birthday of Marge Sill, Nevada’s Mother of
Wilderness, to thank all of our volunteers who have helped heal
wild places this year, and to toast the wonderful holiday season.

Hosted by the following merchants at Arlington
Towers, 1st and Arlington Streets, Reno: Get your WILD calendar
Our latest and greatest wall calendar is available,
Se7en tea house and bar featuring handsome photos of Nevada’s beauty
The Far East Corner boutique from across the state. The cost is (still)
Aquarius eco-salon only $12 for a single calendar (less if you
La Terre Verte eco-friendly boutique order in quantity).

Look for your order form in the mail soon,
Look for your invitation in the mail, or check or order yours today by calling (775) 324-7667
out www.nevadawilderness.org or securely on our website,
for more information www.nevadawilderness.org.

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Reno, NV 89507
PO Box 9754

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