BRUCE REICHERT, OUTDOOR IDO WRITER/HOST: IT'S NOT VISIE FROM ANY OF THE STATE'S HIGHWAYS.

YOU HAVE TO GO LOOKING FOR CASTLE PEAK.

AND YET ONE COULD ARGUE THT THIS IS IDAHO'S MOST SIGNIFICANT MOUNTAIN.

CECIL ANDRUS, FOUR-TERM IDO GOVERNORD): YES, THAT'S THE MOUNTAIN THAT CREATED A GOVERNOR.

AND IT IS.

IT GAVE ME THAT EDGE IN 19.

REICHERT: THE OPEN PIT MOLYBDENUM MINE PLANNED ATE BASE OF CASTLE PEAK NEVER MATERIALIZED, THANKS TO GOVERNOR ANDRUS, SENATOR FK CHURCH AND OTHERS.

THEIR SOLUTION WAS THE 1972 SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATIN AREA, ENCOMPASSING THE WHIE CLOUDS AND THE BOULDER MOUNTAINS.

IT PROVIDED JUST ENOUGH PROTECTION TO KEEP THE ARIZONA-BASEASARCO MINING COMPANY AT BAY.

RICK JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IDAHO CONSERVATIN LEAGUE: THE WHITE CLOUD STY GOES BACK TO CECE ANDRUS AD THE MINE, BUT THE MODERN CHAPTER IS REALLY ABOUT MIE SIMPSON AND MOVING THE BILL FORWARD.

IN THE BEGINNING HE SAID, U KNOW RICK, YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND MY IDEA OF A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE IS WN MY GOLF BALL GETS UGHT IN THE ROUGH.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED LATER ISH STARTED GOING OUT THERE, AD IT CHANGED HIM.

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS.

REICHERT: IN 2015 CONGRESSD SOMETHING QUITE OUT OF CHARACTER.

WITHOUT A SILE DISSENTING VOTE, THE U.S. HOUSE AND THE U.S. SENATE AGREED THAT THE WHIE CLOUDS DESERVED OFFICIAL WILDERNESS STATUS.

AND NOT JUST THE WHITE CLO, BUT TWO ADJACENT AREAS AS WELL: THE NEARBY BOULDER MOUNTAINS AND THE LESSER-KN JERRY PEAK AREA.

OUTDOOR IDAHO GOES EXPLORING...

BEYOND THE WHITE CLOUDS.

FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR IDAHO, "BEYOND THE WHITE CLOUDS,"S MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATIO, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATF IDAHO... BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUC TELEVISION... BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBC BROADCASTING... WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE, INSPIRING AND EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO BE INNOVATIVE, PRINCIPLED AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS... BY THE IDA PUBLIC TELEVISIN ENDOWMENT, AND BY VIEWERS E YOU.

REICHERT: THERE ARE THREE W WILDERNESS AREAS IN CENTRAL IDAHO, THE CECIL ANDRUS WHE CLOUDS WILDERNESS, THE HEMINGWAY BOULDERS WILDERN, AND THE JIM MCCLURE JERRY K WILDERNESS.

YOU KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS BAK EAST WONDERED IF MAYBE IDAHOANS HAD FIGURED OUT TE MAGIC FORMULA FOR CREATING WILDERNESS.

NOT REALLY, PERSERVERENCE, COLLABORATION, COMPROMISE, ...OH, AND THE THREAT OF A NATIONAL MONUMENT.

HI, I'M BRUCE REICHERT AND WELCOME TO OUTDOOR IDAHO.

YOU KNOW FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THESE WILDERNESS AREAS WOUD NOT BE EASY TO GET TO, SO E THOUGHT WE'D CHECK THEM OUT AND REPORT BACK.

REICHERT: BY ANYONE'S RECKONING, THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY COUNTRY.

MORE THAN 150 MOUNTAIN PEAS ABOVE 10,000 FEET, AND ALMT THAT MANY MOUNTAIN LAKES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT.

THE HEADWATERS OF SEVERAL RIVERS COURSE THROUGH THIS LANDSCAPE, ALLOWING CHINOOK SALMON TO CONNECT THIS COUY WITH THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THERE'S ALSO EXCEPTIONAL SUMMER AND WINTER WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR MOUNTAIN GOATSD BIG HORN SHEEP, DEER, ELK D MOOSE, BEAR, WOLVERINES AND MOUNTAIN LIONS.

IN SHORT, THIS IS TRULY WID COUNTRY.

BY LAW, BY STATUTE, THE THE BY LAW, BY STATUTE, THE THE OFFICIAL NAMES: THE JIM MCCLURE-JERRY PEAK WILDERN, APPROXIMATELY 117,000 ACRE; THE WHITE CLOUDS WILDERNES, APPROXIMATELY 91,000 ACRES; AND THE HEMINGWAY-BOULDERS WILDERNESS, APPROXIMATELY 68,000 ACRES.

IN ALL, THAT'S ALMOST 276,0 ACRES ADDED TO THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM.

BUT FOR MANY FOLKS, THIS WL PROBABLY ALWAYS BE KNOWN AS THE BOULDER-WHITE CLOUDS.

AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHAT IT S CALLED FOR MORE THAN 40 YE.

MIKE SIMPSON, U.S. CONGRESS, 2ND DISTRICT, IDO (R): OKAY, LET ME OFFER THS TOAST: TO YOU, TO YOUR DEDICATION TO PRESERVING IO AND KEEPING IT THE WAY IT S FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE AND R PATIENCE IN STICKING WITH S AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS HAPPENED.

TO RICK FOR ALL OF HIS WOR.

TO LINDSAY FOR ALL HIS WOR.

BUT MOST OF ALL, TO GOD'S WORK, TO THE BOULDER-WHITE CLOUDS JERRY PEAK WILDERNES AREA.

THANK YOU ALL.

REICRT: THE EXHILARATION AT REDFISH LAKE LODGE IN THE SPRING OF 2016 WAS PALPABL.

SOMETHING THAT SEEMED VIRTUALLY UNATTAINABLE EVEA YEAR EARLIER HAD FINALLY BN ACHIEVED.

AND PEOPLE WERE CELEBRATIN.

SIMPSON: IT'S NICE TO HAVET DONE.

YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY WOULD HAVE TOLD ME WHEN WE STARTD HAVE TOLD ME WHEN WE START5 YEARS, I WOULD HAVE THOUGH, NAH, YOU'RE CRAZY.

BECAUSE TO ME, WHEN I STARD IT WAS A CHALLENGE, AND THN IT BECAME A PASSION, AND IT SEEMED SO OBVIOUS OF SOMETG THAT NEEDED TO GET DONE.

REICHERT: E SLOW, CONVOLUTD HISTORY OF THE BOULDER WHIE CLOUDS SAGA IS, IN MANY RESPECTS, A MICROCOSM OF TE NATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLES.

AND WHEN VIEWED WITH THE LG LENS OF HISTORY, IT BECOMES EVEN MORE INSTRUCTIVE.

THIS VISION OF CASTLE PEAKN THE WHITE CLOUDS COULD TODY LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IN FACT, THE SMART MONEY WS ON AN OPEN-PIT MOLYBDENUM MINE, AT THE BASE OF CASTLE PEAK.

CECIL ANDRUS, FORMER FOUR M IDAHO VERNOR AND INTERIOR SECRETARY (D): IN 1970 THE ISSUE OF CASTLE PEAK AND TE MOLYBDENUM MINE, ASARCO'S LEGITIMATE MINING CLAIM IN AT AREA, WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PUBLIC SAW A LONG PERIOD OF TIME OF DEBATE, D THAT THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS SOMETHING TT THEY GOT A TASTE OF.

IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE WE COULD EXPLAIN THE DESTRUCTN FOR JUST SIMPLE ECONOMIC GAINS.

IT WAS A MINERAL THAT WAS LOW-PRICED AND, AT THAT TI, IT WASN'T NEEDED.

SO THAT ELECTION TOOK PLAC.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED IN 1970, A DEMOCRATIC LUMBERJK FROM NORTH IDAHO STUMBLED O THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

TWO YEARS LATER, SENATOR CHURCH, MYSELF, AND OTHERS WORKED TO CREATE SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

REICHERT: THAT SNRA DESIGNATION COULD NOT REVOE ASARCO'S VALID MING CLAIMS, BUT IT DID SET SERIOUS LIMS ON WHAT THE MINING GIANT CD DO.

WHEN HIKERS AND CLIMBERS TO THE AREA HAD COMPLAINED, IN THE LATE 1960'S, ABOUT ASARCO'S IMPACT, THE FAMOUS RETORT WAS "DON'T WORRY, WN WE'RE DONE, THERE WON'T BEA LAKE.

HELL, THERE WOT EVEN BE A MOUNTAIN."

WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THAT DIDNT HAPPEN.

TODAY, CLIMBING THAT MOUNTN IS A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR M. IT'S A BATTLE AGAINST SCREE AND HUGE BOULDERS.

BUT WHEN YOU FINALLY REACHE TOP, YOU KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING PRETTY SPECIAL.

CASTLE PEAK IS THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WHITE CLOUS AND THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN IN THE STATE NOT VISIBLE FROMA HIGHWAY.

ED CANNADY HAS SPENT MOST F HIS ADULT LIFE IN THE SHADW OF THESE MOUNTAINS AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN MOST, E HAS COME TO APPRECIATE WHAT THIS LANDSCAPE CAN MEAN TOA PERSON.

ED CANNADY, PHOTOGRAPHER, CKCOUNTRY MANAGER, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: I TRAVEL BY MYSELF A LOT, EASILY 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME.

AND I KNOW BY GOING BY MYSF I'M TAKING ADDITIONAL RISKO I TAKE ADDITIONAL PRECAUTI.

I REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THS I'M GOING TO TRY ARE NOT GG TO WORK.

AND I'M NOT AT ALL AFRD OR TOO PROUD TO TURN AROUND AD COME BACK AND TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

I LIKE TO LOOK FOR METAPHOS IN NATURE.

AND I'VE LEARNED THROUGH DG THAT, WHAT OFTEN SEEMS LIKA HUGE OBSTACLE IN YOUR LIFE HUGE OBSTACLE IN YOUR LIFET THERS ALMOST ALWAYS A WAY THROUGH.

THERE'S ALMOST ALWAYS A WAO GET OVER THAT OBSTACLE.

IT HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY N I'D HAD CANCER.

WHEN I DEALT WITH MY CANCEI VIEWED THAT AS ANOTHER OBSTACLE; I WAS GOING TO FD A WAY THROUGH.

I SUFFER WELL.

AND THAT'S A PREREQUISITE R DOING A LOT OF THE TRIPS TT I DO.

I'M WILLING TO CARRY A HEAY PACK.

I'M FORTUNATE IN THAT THE Y ADDICTION I'VE EVER STRUGGD WITH IS CARRYING A HEAVY PK IN STEEP COUNTRY.

IT IS AN AMAZING PLACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND IT'S NOT TT WELL KNOWN.

I LIKEO GET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAN YOU SEE M SAWTOOTH PHOTOGRAPHS.

SO I'M WILLING TO BURN THE CALORIES TO GET THAT DIFFET VIEWPOINT, TO CLIMB THE RIS AND THINK ABOUT WHERE THE SUN'S GOING TO COME UP, WHE IT'S GOING TO SET.

I GOT DRIVEN OFF A RIDGE BA STORM LAST FALL, WHERE I HD TO HIKE OUT IN THE DARK BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I WS GOING TO MAKE IT IF I DIDN.

SO I'M WILLING TO TAKE THOE CHANCES TO GET THE UNIQUE SHOTS OF BOTH THE BOULDERSD THE WHITE CLOUDS.

AS FAR AS PEOPLE SEEING THT PHOTOGRAPH AND SAYING, "OH, YES, I'VE SEEN THAT," THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN NEARLY AS OFTEN.

BUT AS FAR AS PEOPLE SEEING THE PHOTOGRAPH AND SAYING, "WOW, THAT'S AN AMAZING PLACE," THAT HAPPENS A LOT MORE OFTEN.

BRUCE REICHERT: WITH NEARLY 117 THOUSAND ACRES, THE JIM MCCLURE-JERRY PEAK WILDERNS IS THE LARGEST OF THE THREE NEW WILDERNESS AREAS.

IT'S A UNIQUE COMBINATION F FOREST SERVICE AND BUREAU F LAND MANAGEMENT ACREAGE.

AS EARLY AS THE 1980'S THEM BEGAN LOOKING AT THE JERRY PEAK AREA AS POSSIBLE WILDERNESS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THE FOREST SERVICE WAS CONSIDEG WILDERNESS PROTECTION FOR E WHITE CLOUDS AND BEYOND.

WHAT CONGRESSMAN SIMPSON'S BILL DID WAS LINK THE TWO.

CRAIG GEHRKE, STATE DIRECT, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: THE COUNTRY IN BETWEEN, NOBODY LOOKED AT THAT.

THE AGENCIES CERTAINLY DIDT CONSIDER A LANDSCAPE LOOK T THIS.

SO HE THOUGHT, YEAH, THIS S SOMETHING WE COULD DO THAT MAKES SOME SENSE, TO HAVE E DIVERSITY OF LAND TYPES, AD CONNECT THESE TWO.

THE JERRY PEAK COUNTRY IS T A PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO THE WHITE CLOUDS, AND IT IS A Y ENDEARING PLACE,NOTHER LITTLE HIDDEN PART OF THE STATE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T AE OF.

IT'S COMFORTING TO KNOW THT THAT'S GOING TO STAY THAT Y NOW.

REICHERT: MATT LEIDECKER IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PRISTINE NATURE OF THE JERRY PEAK WILDERNESS, HE'S TRAVELLED THROUGH MUCH OF THE AREA TO RESEARCH HIS NEW GUIDEBOOKN THE BOULDER-WHITE CLOUDS.

MATT LEIDECKER, AUTHOR/PUBLISHER, "EXPLORIG THE BOULDER-WHITE CLOUDS":E VIEW AS YOU'RE WALKING UP BURNT CREEK IS INCREDIBLE.

YOU'RE SORT OF LOOKING AT E NORTHERN AND THE EASTE SLOPES OF THE PIONEERS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE FOOTLLS OF THE BIG LOST VALLEY AS IT ROLLS UP INTO THE HIGH DRAMATIC PEAKS OF THE PIONEERS.

I LOVE GETTING TO KNOW THE LANDSCAPE.

YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN HOE FOR 35 YEARS, AND EVERY TII GO OUT I LEARN SOMETHING N, SEEING DIFFERENT MOUNTAIN RANGES, UNDERSTANDING HOW E DRAINAGES LINK UP AND HOW E LANDSCAPE TIES TOGETHER.

IT'S REALLY GREAT WILDLIFE LANDSCAPE, WHICH I THINK IN IMPORTANT PIECE TO PROTECT OVER THE LONG-TERM, FROM TE STANDPOINT OF AN INTACT ECOSYSTEM.

REICHERT: JERRY PEAK ITSELS NOT LIKE THE CLASSIC PEAKSU FIND IN OTHER WILDERNESS AREAS.

IT'S MORE OF A LONG ROLLING PLATEAU THAT TOPS OUT AT JT OVER TEN THOUSAND FEET.

LEIDECKER: THE THING THAT I LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THIS PLATEAU IS THE UNIQUENESS F IT.

IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

YOU CAN WALK FOR MILES ACRS THIS ROLLING, FLAT, GRASSY LANDSCAPE.

IT'S JUST AN ANOMALY OF BEG AT 10,000 FEET AND HAVING S EXPANSIVE PLATEAU UP HERE.

THE JERRY PEAK WILDERNESS S PROBABLY THE TRUEST WILDERS FEEL.

THERE'S NO TRAIL UP HERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALONE, T IT'S JUST THIS BIG, BROAD, SWEEPING PERSPECTIVE THAT PROVIDES A REALLY INTERESTG SENSE OF WHERE YOU ARE IN E LANDSCAPE.

REICHERT: THE MCCLURE-JERRY PEAK WILDERNESS IS PROOF TT WE HUMANS HAVE LEARNED THE VALUE OF PROTECTING WATERSS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT.

THE HEMINGWAY-BOULDERS WILDERNESS.

WELL, THAT SHOWS THE VALUEF A GOOD PR CAMPAIGN.

RICKOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, IDAHO CONSERVATIN LEAGUE: IN THE EARLIER HISY IT WAS ALWAYS "THE WHITE CLOUDS," AND WE ATTACHED "BOULDER" BECAUSE MORE PEOE KNEW WHERE THE BOULDER MOUNTAINS WERE.

FRANKLY, IT WAS A MARKETING THING, BOULDER, HYPHEN, WHE CLOUDS.

WE WANTED THE IDENTITY TO E FOR THOSE TWO MOUNTAIN RANS AND FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAD THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF T ECOSYSTEM.

REICHERT: WE FINALLY VISITD THIS WILD CHILD OF THE NEW WILDERNESS TRILOGY WITH OUTFITTER MIKE SCOTT.

HE'S BEEN WORKING IN THE NEARBY WHITE CLOUD MOUNTAIS FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.

HE'LL DO A DROP CAMP FOR U, TAKING OUR SUPPLIES IN ABOT SIX MILES.

AND THEN WE'RE ON OUR OWN R FOUR DAYS AS WE EVENTUALLY HIKE OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

SCOTT HAS ALREADY WARNED US THATHERE ARE VERY FEW TRAIS THROUGH THE BOULDERS, ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR BASE CAMP.

MIKE SCOTT, CO-OWNER, WHITE CLOUD OUTFITTERS: WE'RE GOG TO BE GOING UP WEST PASS TOWARDS THE NORTH FORK OF E BIG WOOD, THAT BIG WATERSH.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF REMOTE COUNTRY THAT'S NOT VISITED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE, THERE'S NO HIGH MOUNTAIN LS IN HERE, WHICH HAS A TENDEY TO MAKE FOR LESS TRAVEL ONE TRAILS.

WE COULD SEE SOME WILDLIFE, BUT THE TIME OF DAY WE'RE MOVING MOST OF THE ANIMALS WILL BE LYING DOWN, BUWE COULD SEE MOUNTAIN GOATS ON THE HIGH PEAKS.

BUT PROBABLY WHAT MAKES THS COUNTRY UNIQUE IS JUST THE WILDNESS OF IT AND OBVIOUSY THAT WAS RECOGNIZED BY CONGRESS PUTTING INTO WILDERNESS.

REICHERT: WE'RE HIKING NORH TO SOUTH, ON THE ONE TRAIL THAT BISECTS THIS WILDERNE.

AND WE SOON ENCOUNTER AN OBSTACLE.

IN MANY WAYS OUTFITTERS ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN T COMES TO CLEARING TRAILS.

MOST HIKERS CAN SIMPLY WALK AROUND A FALLEN TREE.

IT NOT SO EASY WITH A PACK STRING.

MIKE SCOTT: TAKE YOUR TIME THROUGH THERE.

REICHERT: ABOUT TWO MILES O THE WILDERNESS WE SEE EVIDE OF MINING ACTIVITY.

THE FALLING STAR MINE YIELD SOME SILVER BUT WAS NEVER CONSIDERED A MAJOR ORE PRODUCER.

TODAY, OUR INTEREST IS IN E FLOOR OF SOLID ICE, GOING K AT LEA 50 FEET INTO THE MOUNTAIN.

IT'S LIKELY DUE TO AIRFLOW INTRODUCED FROM FISSURES AD FRACTURES THAT ALLOW FOR COLDER AIR TO SETTLE AT THE FLOOR.

MINERS WERE THE FIRST TO ME THEIR PRESENCE FELT IN THE BOULDERS.

TODAY THEIR TRAILS AND DILAPIDATED WOODEN STRUCTUS ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT OF A BYGONE ERA.

CHADD CRIPE, REPORTER, THE IDAHO STATESMAN: THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN A WILDNESS AREA, SO I'M DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF YOU GUYS IN THAT RESPECT.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE BEING HERE AND SEEING ALL THIS AND GOING OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE.

REICHERT: CHADD CRIPE IS A REPORTER FOR THE IDAHO STATESMAN NEWSPAPER.

HE USED TO BE THE SPORTS WRITER.

NOW HE'S IN CHARGE OF A SECTION CALLED 'PLAYING OUTDOORS,' IN WHICH HE RECOUNTS NEW OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES.

CHADD CRIPE: REPORTER, IDAO STATESMAN: YOU KNOW, I'M A TRAIL GUY.

I LIKE TO KNOW WHERE I AM D WHERE I'M GOING.

AND THIS WAS A LOT OF NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE WE WE GOING AND NOT KNOWING EXACY WHAT WE WERE GOING TO ND.

IT WAS REALLY COOL.

IT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING R ME.

IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE.

THERE ARE TRAILS, BUT THEY DISAPPEAR; THEY COME AND G. AND SO IF YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO GET THROUGH A WILDERNESS AREA OR HAVE SOMEBODY WITH YOU WHO CAN, THIS ISN'T A PLACE YOU COUD GO.

REICHERT: IT'S TRUE, THEREE PLACES WHERE THE TRAIL MORR LESS DISAPPEARS.

AND HIKERS RELY UPON OCCASIONAL ROCK CAIRNS FOR GUIDANCE.

PETER MORRILL, HIKER: IT'S VERY HIGH ELEVATION, IT'S VE, VERY RUGGED, AND I THIK E RUGGEDNESS IS A GOOD EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS AREA ONLY HAS ONE MAJOR TR.

WE PROBABLY HAD A HALF DOZN GPS UNITS; WE HAD ALL THE MAJOR HIKE BOOKS ON THIS A, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE IN PLACES WE REALLY DID NOT HAVE A GOOD SENSE S TO WHERE WE WERE AND WHEREE NEEDED TO GO.

REICHERT: WEST PASS IS A LITTLE OVER 10,000 FEET.

ANYONE WHO HIKES THROUGH TE BOULDERS WILDERNESS HAS TO EVENTUALLY REACH THIS ELEVATION.

AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET E THE WAY WE DID; THEY ARRIVT THIS PASS FROM THE KETCHUMN VALLEY SIDE.

BUT YOU BETTER BE IN SHAPEF YOU GO THAT WAY.

THE GUIDE BOOKS CALL IT STP AND UNRELENTING.

YOU CLIMB ALMOST 3,000 FEEN THE LAST THREE MILES.

WE DID NOTICE ONE THING ABT THIS WILDERNESS.

IT TENDS TO MAKE A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER OUT OF YOU.

AFTER ALL, ONCE YOU'RE UP T 10,000 FEET, WHY NOT CLIMBO THE TOP OF NEARBY RYAN PEA, THE TOP OF NEARBY RYAN PEAE BOULDERS?

IT'S ONLY ANOTHER 1700 FEE.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRO?

CHADD CRIPE, REPORTER, THE IDAHO STATESMAN: THE FIRST THIRD OF IT WAS JUST FINE.

IT WAS STEEP, BUT IT WASN'A BIG DEAL.

AND THEN THERE WAS A MOUNTN GOAT.

SO BY THE TIME I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE MOUNTAIN GO, EVERYBODY ELSE HAD STARTED HIKING, SO I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THE ACTUAL PRESCRIBED ROUTE WAS.

AT ONE POINT SOMEBODY YELLD DOWN TO ME, "JUST FOLLOW TE LUPINE."

THAT'S THE ADVICE I HAVE IS FOLLOW THE LUPINE.

AND I HAD NEVER REALLY GIVN MUCH THOUGHT TO THE LUPINE BEFORE THAT, B THERE WERE THESE PURPLE FLOWERS MOST F THE WAY UP THE HILL.

AND FROM THERE IT GOT REALY LOOSE ROCK AND REALLY KINDF SPOOKY.

REICHERT: THE BOULDERS ARE VOLCANIC AND SEDIMENTARY R, WITH SOME GRANITE.

IT'S LOOSE AND FRACTURED, T CLIMBING BOOKS REFER TO AS 'ROTTEN.'

EVEN WHAT APPEARS TO BE SOD ROCK CAN CRUMBLE IN YOUR HANDS.

CHADD CRIPE: THAT WAS PROBY THE SCARIEST PART, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU START KICKING ROCKS DOWN THE HILL, ANDOU START THINKING, ROCK SLIDE, AND AM I GOING TO BE A ROCK SLIDE GOING DOWN THE HILL,D THERE WAS NOTHING TO STOP .

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I'D E SOMEBODY PEEKING OVER THE L AT ME, SO I KNEW THERE WERE PEOPLE UP THERE SOMEWHERE T HAD SURVIVED IT.

FOR A LONG TIME I WAS AFRAD OF HEIGHTS, AND I WAS REALY BADLY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS ASA KID.

AND I'VE MOSTLY OVERCOME T, BUT IT STILL GETS ME IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

AND BEING ON THAT RIDGE, AL OF IDAHO IS AROUND YOU.

AND YOU GET THAT VERTIGO FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF, HY COW, IT'S A BIG, HUGE, 3,000-FOOT DROP OVER HERE D OVER THERE.

EVEN THE LAST 100 FEET OR O THERE'S THREE LITTLE KNOBSU HAVE TO GO OVER, AND I WAST REAL SURE ABOUT THAT.

FORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE GS KI OF TALKED ME THROUGH, HEY, GO THIS WAY, GO THAT , AND KNOWING THAT THERE WAS SOMEWHAT OF A TRAIL THERE T THAT POINT HELPED.

GOT TO THE END, AND A BIG HIGH-FIVE.

AND WE HAD LUNCH, AND SAT THERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HA.

IT WAS GRE.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO SIT TE AND BE ABLE TO SEE THAT MUH OF THE STATE AND THAT MANYF THE MOUNTAIN RANGES.

THE SCENERY WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

WE HAPPENED TO PICK THE BET DAY WE COULD HAVE DONE TO O IT, I MEAN, PERFECT BLUE SS AND SEE ALL THAT.

THAT'S ALMOST ALL OF IDAHOU CAN SEE.

IT WAS JUST A HUGE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, TO BE ABLEO HIKE AT THAT ELEVATION AND FEEL PRETTY GOOD DOING IT D TO GO THROUGH SOME SCARY MOMENTS AND CHALLENGE MYSEF TO KEEP FIGHTING THROUGH I, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'TIKE THE SITUATION I WAS IN A COUPLF TIMES.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU NEEO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU CAN'T MAKE MISTAKES IN THIS PLACE.

IT'S UNFORGIVING.

PETER MORRILL, HIKER: IF YU WANT TO PERIENCE THIS, IT'S A BIG COMMITMENT IN TERMS F PHYSICAL EFFORT AND DETERMINATION AND PREPARAT, I THINK, TO REALLY GET A FL FOR WHAT THIS LAND IS ALL ABOUT.

AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE THIS HEMINGWAY-BOULDER EXPERIEN.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK GETTINGN HERE, BUT I THINK THE REWAS ARE AMAZING.

REICHERT: AFTER THE NEW WILDERNESS BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, AFTER THE CONGRATULAONS AND THE APPLAUSE FADED AWAY, THAT'S WHEN KATY NELSON'S WORK STARTED IN EARNEST.

KATY NELSON, WILDERNESS RANGER, SAWTOOTH NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, U.S. FOREST SERVICE: THE WORK IS NOT SIMPLY DONE ONCE THE BL IS SIGNED, AND I THINK THAT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO GET TO THAT STEP BUT IT'S T THE END.

AND THE REALITY IS, WE ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED OUR WILDERNESS ACREAGE ON THE SNRA, BUT WE'RE DOING IT WH THE SAME AMOUNT OF STAFF, D OUR RESPONSIBILITY HAS INCREASED BECAUSE WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PROTECT IT TOA REALLYIGH STANDARD AND THAT SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE DO A LOT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, TALKING TO PEOPE AND MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO TAKE CARF THIS PLACE AND A LOT OF PEE DO AND SOME PEOPLE NEED TO LEARN.

WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK, WEE KIND OF A CLEANUP CREW.

REICHERT:   LUCKILY THERE'SA NEW PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO HELP OUT.

BETSY ANN MIZELL, WILDERNES STEWARD, IDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE: THE IDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND THE FOREST SERVICE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO THE WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

THE BOULDER WHITE CLOUDS WS DESIGNATED WILDERNESS.

AND WITH THAT DESIGNATION,L COULD'VE BEEN,IKE, WE'RE DONE, WE'VE GOT IT DESIGNA, WE'RE OUT.

BUT INSTEAD WE DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED AND WORK WITH THE FOREST SERVIE TO BUILD THIS PROGRAM OF VOLUNTEERS ON THE GROUND LOOKING AFTER THESE AREAS.

AND IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS TO SEEW MUCH PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS AREA.

KATY NELSON, WILDERNESS RANGER, SNRA: IT'S JUST BEA REALLY AWESOME PARTNERSHIP.

WORKING WITH BETSY HAS BEEN AMAZING AND IT WAS VERY TIMELY, IT CAME AT A TIME N WE DID NEED THAT EXT HELP AND I THINK IT'S BEEN REALY SUCCESSFUL AND I GENUINELY HOPE IT GROWS.

REICHERT: FOR A PERSON WHO SPENDS MOST OF HER TIME CLEANING UP AFTER MESSY HIKERS, IT'S KIND OF AMAZIG THAT NELSON IS STILL EXCITD ABOUT WILDERNESS, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SHE IS.

KATY NELSON, WILDERNESS RANGER, SNRA: ASIDE FROM AL OF ITS AMAZING ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS AND ECOLOGICAL BEAUTY, I THINK WILDERNESS REPRESENTS THE BEST IN HUMANITY.

I THINK IT REPRESENTS THE T THAT WE CAN DO.

REICHERT: WE AMERINS HAVE CERTAINLY COME TO VIEW WILDERNESS DIFFERENTLY OVER THE YEARS.

AT ONE TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, PEOPLE WERE SURROUNDED BY A SEA OF WILDERNESS.

AND IT WAS A PLACE TO FEAR, AND TO CULTIVATE AND CIVILE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NOW, IT SEEMS, WILDERNESS S SURROUNDED BY A SEA OF PEO.

IT'S NO LONGER A PLACE TO AVOID OR FEAR.

IN FACT, IT MAY ACTUALLY BA REMEDY FOR WHAT AILS US.

FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR IDAHO, "BEYOND THE WHITE CLOUDS,"S MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LAURA MOORE NNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATF IDAHO... BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUC TELEVISION... BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBC BROADCASTING... WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PRIDED BY THE BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE, INSPIRING AND EQUIPPING STUDENTS TO BE INNOVATIVE, PRINCIPLED AND EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERS... BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT, AND Y VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU!

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