Beginning in the 1890s, adventurous souls-- homesteaders, prospectors, speculators, and loggers dazzled by its natural resources--tried their best to tame Idaho's Priest Lake. Yet grand turn-of-the-century Western expansion bypassed the area, sparing its idyllic beauty. In 1897 President Cleveland expanded federal influence over the region and introduced an enduring tension between public and private lands. Still, industrial and recreational use increased. Timber and summer cottages were in high demand. Devastating wildfires also initiated profound change. Population growth accelerated after World War II, and electricity became commonplace. In 1947 a local newspaper crowed, "Priest Lake has become a cult with many vacationists." Today, every privately-owned acre and lot represents past optimism, opportunity, hard work, greed, or politics. "Wild Place" traces those remnants--focusing on stories of the colorful characters who navigated Priest Lake's demanding challenges.

A complete guide to Idaho’s best sites for collecting rocks, minerals, gems, crystals, fossils, and gold.

The diverse hikes in this collection are all within a three-hour driving radius of Spokane, Washington, including trails in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and British Columbia.* Ninety-three detailed hiking maps* Trail elevation profiles* Includes information for anglors, scramblers, and those looking for the solitude of an old-growth forestThe Inland Northwest is bordered on the west by the Okanogan and Columbia Rivers and on the east by the rugged Montana Rockies. The imaginary boundary slips south slightly into Oregon and north into the glaciered mountains of Canada. You'll get directions to the area's best trails with this guidebookThe area covers 16 million acres of national forests, two million acres of national parks and recreation areas, and portions of more than six million acres of officially designated or proposed wilderness areas. From sagebrush country to alpine meadows, this trails guide book is designed to introduce hikers to some of the best routesin these wild areas.