Did the USFS Burn Cabins in Idaho Wilderness?

I have always wondered how thousands of people who once lived and worked in the Frank Church Wilderness left with little to no trace. In this episode I explore deeper into what happened and unravel a story of mining structures being burnt down by the Forest Service, leaving the local Salmon River country residents upset.

Intermingled with the drama, my Frank Church winter ski traverse continues. I return to Thomas Creek with my family and travel on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River until I land at Cache Creek. From there I head up to Sleeping Deer Mountain.

The opinions on this series are the opinions of the people interviewed and not the opinion of the U.S.F.S. or Dan Noakes.

This series has followed the guidelines of the Forest Service for filming in the Wilderness. These videos are not for commercial use for any product or service.

Ghosts of the Frank is a 5 episode docuseries created by Dan Noakes which highlights Noakes' solo winter traverse across the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho while also exploring the drama of the people who once lived, worked, and died there.

Ghosts of the Frank takes viewers on an emotional experience as Dan Noakes goes beyond skiing by examining the controversy of the Forest Service’s efforts of burning down cabins as it acquired private land in the name of preservation. It leaves the audience to answer for themselves if the mainstream Wilderness narrative has silenced the whisperings of the ghosts that still roam in the Frank Church today.

Photo Credit:

[mikejohnson]

I don't think most people realize how dangerous the backcountry is. I was a Rescue Specialist for 12 years with a back country Search and Rescue team here in Idaho. Most everyone we were able to find and bring out safely, said "I never thought that..." or "I never realized..." in reference to just how fragile we are compared to mother nature, or how close to the edge we are with death when out there. There's always that crossover point between surviving and not, that those who've crossed it don't realize it until after they have. By then it's often too late without intervention. This is why I love Idaho. It's still wild, not artificial and I think back to our ancestors who lived this every day. Much respect to them!!

[hobguy]

At 5:31 there was a sign from 1902 advertising steaks. A porterhouse was listed for $1.25, i thought that was a really great deal. But then an inflation calculator told me that was $40.13 in todays money.

[skippylippy]

This is a wonderful series Dan. Thank you!
I've been section hiking the ICT for several years and I too feel the wildness of this place.
It gets in your bones. It changed me.

[gabebrandt]

Dan,

This is fantastic stuff. I am looking to do a similar trip into the frank in the next few years and your video has given me tons of motivation!
I especially love the history you bring into these videos. Definitely worth the watch.

[dylandavis]

You did a great job capturing some of the history of the Frank and bringing it to light!

[brianfairweather]

I saw the first 3 episodes you did on this as you released back several months ago. But I hadn't checked your channel in a while. Glad to see a few more episodes on this. This is so fascinating!! Seriously, you did such a great job on this! It should be on the History Channel or a Netflix special. The filming, the interviews, all the historical research that went into this and how you incorporated pieces of your life into this! TOP NOTCH, Dan! Looking forward in seeing the 5th.

[beauzero]

Seriously awesome. My mom was carrying me (pregnant) on horseback when my dad was finishing up his Master's in wildlife biology (counting mountain lion scat) there. Never been back. Thanks for the look.

[davew]

Interesting subject matter. Liking the series.

[dougrowe]

Awesome vid
Would love to go on a Backcountry hike with you sometime

[dominicgawel]

What's up Dan! This series is epic and just discovered the channel while researching the Lost River Range. Would love to explore the Frank. I just moved to the Wood River Valley a couple weeks ago and have similar outdoor interests - ski mountaineering, park skiing, Alaska wilderness guide, peakbagger. Looking for backcountry partners and would love to link up for a mission!

[jmantmull]

True, and now it's up for debate how much of that federal land will be sold to private investors.

[HuangXingQing]

I first heard of the Frank in 2001 from a resident of Lewiston. Since then I've always wanted to float it or hike it. This is the first I've learned of the crimes of our government. I would normally support the actions taken but not when they were illegal. Reminds me of when the u.S.F.S., tired of dealing with the problems at Bagby hot springs back in 2008 and just destroyed the historical, log bathtubs like a teen would do if not parented well. Sad. Just recalled, the Feds did the same thing in Appalachia and it's earliest Euro inhabitants.

[bruceb]

The USFS burned cabins down in Southeast Alaska on the Tongass NF in the late 90's. I know, because I was a Forestry Technician tasked with doing it for $10 per hr.
I regret being apart of it, i was naive.

[janeth]

Yes, the USFS absolutely burned wilderness cabins. My father worked for USFS and expressed his absolute disgust of the destruction of wilderness ranches and warming cabins.

[dereknorsworthy]

I'm so thankful to have this wilderness now.

[jerryogstad]

I know they did a lot of that. Iam 82 and use to fly all over the back country . I rember a couple of places . they need to be held up for it.

[toddwood]

I know this is a can of worms, but why did some ranches get grandfathered? Was it just miners that were victims of eminent domain?

[tbenedict]

100% yes salmon-Challis they've done it for years! Daryl slavin cabin on what locals called blue creek good example late 90s early 2000s, they burned a bunch around u.p lake little later countless cabins down river where they blocked the road to all travel during a fire with road blocks and guards.

[kentravis]

It's not just the USFS that burns cabins, I watched BLM burn a cabin on Owyhee Reservoir.

[IdahoSewing]

I've met at least one man who helped burn down some splendid buildings in what is now the Seven Devils Wilderness. He was my great-grandfather's hunting buddy.
I've also met Walt, the pilot.
The big lie is, that the country was too inhospitable to live in. The truth is that it is illegal to live in these mountains. They are just as hospitable as many other well-populated areas, and this area is probably the most hospitable set of wildernesses in the lower 48 states. Well watered, generally below 6, 000 feet, timbered, and tillable. Locked up for its inventoried minerals and other natural resources.
If civilization goes splat, it will still be there.