The Sierra Club, et al, are seeking a “re-listing” as it were of grizzly bears (which were taken off the endangered species list May 1, 2007.) They think that grizzlies aren’t protected enough and that only they can save them.
The things I find interesting about this situation include the fact that none of those groups seem to live where grizzlies do. They sit back in Washington, file their spurious lawsuits and try to intimidate lawmakers into doing something that has no need of doing.
Another thing I find interesting is that they somehow have the misguided idea that bears (or whatever other endangered group) is more important than the people. I find that remarkably similar to the misguided idea some people have that the “right” to medical treatment of an illegal alien is somehow more important than the “right” of one who is legal (and has paid into the system for years.)
With a host of other things about this that range from reasonable to absurd, I’m going to stop. The courts will decide how this should go — not the people who are elected, who live and work here, who have some important input — the courts. Those people who know the least about this whole thing will decide how it should be for everyone. You gotta give one thing to liberals: they know how to work the system.
Being on vacation is great with one exception: trying to find an internet connection to stay in contact. If you’ve been out of touch for awhile and need to get current, consider the library. 
A citizens group in Montana is seeking support from Island Park residents on pressuring legislators to curb (or drastically reduce) the number of long-haul trucks that come through Island Park and then on through the Madison River Valley to Ennis.
Well, the fishing has been great and the fishing has been poor, depending on where you were fishing. Box Canyon is still hot, with the water levels low, it’s better to wade than float, but the fishing is very good there.
I was taking a therapeutic float down the river the other day when I came upon a fisherman. In the time it took to float by, we had a conversation that set me to thinking.
I drove past the ranger station there at Pond’s Lodge yesterday and noticed the fire danger sign listed the fire danger as extreme. I don’t know whether someone changed the sign as a prank, or whether it’s really extreme, but we should all be cautious.
The debate over cabin rentals continues to rage. The meeting that was scheduled for July was Moved to the third week in August due to a clerical error in the posting of the meeting. Proponents of the ordinance have named it the “party house” ordinance contend that the rental properties are being used for purposes other than recreation and are driving down property values in the area where they exist.
As the mosquito season draws to a close, and the snow has largely gone from the highlands, the hiking season is fully upon us. There are beautiful vistas to be seen, wildlife to enjoy, geological formations to marvel at and plenty of clean air to breathe.
I never knew it was possible to have too much water for fishing. After all, fish live in water. What’s the problem? It seems that the real problem is when water rushes down the river like it did down the South Fork of the Snake River from Palisades to Idaho Falls, it can change the underwater topography forever.
Now before you say, “Yeah, that’s just a room full of pine cone spitters,” you need to realize that this meeting affects all of us. If your cabin isn’t where you’re connected to the Island Park sewer system, they’re going to talk about when you’re going to have to be and how much it will cost. If you are connected now, you need to be there to find out how much more you’re going to have to pay to help connect everyone else.
This is the flower season here in Island Park. We lost many of the Sego Lillies in the rains of June, but many of the wildflowers are literally carpeting the ground. An ever-changing landscape of blue, purple, yellow, white, and red flowers, all combine to bring beauty and variety to landscape here.
There’s a reason Idaho is called the “Gem State.” A large portion of the semi-precious gemstones (meaning colored stones, not diamonds, which are precious stones) come from the this area of the rocky mountains. Idaho has long been known for its jasper, agate, quartz and of course the garnets, which are the best in the world. But did you know that it’s also known for its opals, which are also world renowned?
If you’ve been to Big Springs to feed the fish, you have seen the cute little cabin that sits on the east side of the spring. It was built by John Sack around the turn of the last century and is almost one of the icons of Island Park. 
If you come to Island Park for the first time and you act as your own fishing guide, that’s who you are and what you’re doing — the blind leading the blind. There is spectacular fishing to be had in Island Park. Some of the best blue ribbon trout waters in the country flow right through the middle of Island Park. But that doesn’t mean every stretch is blue ribbon — or even that every stretch that is normally good is good this week.
One of the most enjoyable ways to see Island Park is via a scenic float trip on the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River. Macks Inn offers turn-key trips, where they will take you up by Big Springs and drop you off in one of their many flat-bottomed john boats, canoes or even rubber rafts. The trip includes everything you might need from paddles and oars to life jackets. All you to need to provide is your fishing rod and camera.
