Citations issued, warnings given on North Fork

IPNF stresses safe outdoor recreation

Officials with the Idaho Panhandle National Forests are asking folks to be safe and responsible when they recreate outside.

With certain outdoor activities being given the OK from Gov. Brad Little’s office, residents of North Idaho (and beyond) have been flocking to state and federal lands recently when the weather is accommodating.

Shoshone County is one such place in the Panhandle that offers a wide array of outdoor recreation opportunities.

This was apparent last weekend when both local and official sources noticed an unseasonably high amount of visitors in popular outdoor areas, such as the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River.

Michelle Norton, acting public affairs officer for the IPNF, spoke with U.S. Forest Service officers who patrolled the area from Friday to Sunday and was told that they were definitely busy.

“They did a lot of education regarding what a developed closure looks like,” she said.

Since Gov. Little announced the new round of stay-home orders on April 15, those traveling (or in this case, recreating) to Idaho are required to self-quarantine for a 14-day period, unless they are here for essential services.

USFS officers on the North Fork did not write any citations over the weekend specifically for out-of-state recreationalists breaking the new order, but that doesn’t mean no action was taken.

Both locals and out-of-state campers had to be cleared out of Bumblebee Campground three times over the course of Friday and Saturday.

All campgrounds, picnic grounds and toilet facilities at most developed recreation sites are typically closed until mid-May each year and are still currently closed. Officers also dealt with a wide variety of more common violations that they see during any given year.

“The citations that were handed out over the weekend were for very standard things such as resource damage, hill climbing, off-roading, and even a drug charge,” Norton said.

Two individuals were also cited for out-of-state fishing, as their licenses had been revoked due to the stay-home order.

To help manage the larger-than-normal crowd on the river, Shoshone County Sheriff Mike Gunderson has brought back his offices’ “river” deputy early this year. Normally seen around June/July, the river deputy will be a presence on the North Fork going forward.

Norton stresses that the No. 1 priority for USFS officers is resource protection and safe recreation.

Approved recreation opportunities at this time include hiking, biking, and dispersed camping, but recreationalists need to practice social distancing and recreate responsibly when going out. Dispersed camping means no services, such as trash removal, and little or no facilities, such as tables or fire pits, being provided.

Since it is still early in the year, many back roads still have large amounts of snow on them. As a result, these paths can be dangerous and susceptible to sudden changes.

“While I encourage people to get outside and enjoy their public lands, please remember that with snow melting off and spring conditions, it could delay motorized public access into many areas and forest roads of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests,” Forest Supervisor Jeanne Higgins said. “I ask you to help us by staying off roads and trails when they are too wet to travel on.”

IPNF officials also ask residents to consider some friendly reminders when planning their next adventure:

• Always take extra gear, clothes, food, and water! Especially in cold and snowy weather, be sure to layer up to stay warm!

• Pack it in, Pack it out. Help keep the forest a clean and fun place for everyone to enjoy by packing out your garbage including dog waste!

• Seek trails with few people, leave plenty of space between you and other trail users

• Know the road and trail conditions before you head for the hills! Call your local Forest Service office to get the latest updates. For additional information, please visit the IPNF website.