WONALANCET OUT DOOR CLUB

Newsletter May, 2002

Caring for the Sandwich Range since 1892

Hiking Through TimeWODC 1901 Guidebook to be Reprinted

What do you love most about Wonalancet? Would you have loved it asmuch one hundred and one years ago? Now you can step into the past and findout, by reading the historic Guide to Wonalancet and the Sandwich Range of NewHampshire in its new reprint edition.

Originally published by WODC in 1901 to lure mountain climbers andtourist-refugees from the city to Wonalancet guest cottages, this little book ispacked with descriptions of a landscape surprisingly different from the one we seetoday.

Hiking through its pages we find the McCrillis Path, then called theWhiteface Intervale Path, beginning “in an open pasture,” passing severalclearings where we are used to forest today, reaching “an outlook off toWinnepesaukee,” and then descending “through a sap orchard to the McCrillisFarm” – all swept away by the marching decades.

In 1901 a drive meant a trip in a horse and wagon. A path was what wewould today call a trail – and vice versa. Wonalancet Out-Door Club had ahyphen in its belly button. Everyone knew the difference between a stage and acarriage, and the Half-Way House on Chocorua was not at all what a halfwayhouse is today.

Gone are the trains from Boston to West Ossipee, the Whitefaceschoolhouse, and the toll collector on the Liberty Trail. Long gone as well isChocorua Peak House, pictured on page 46 sitting uneasily on the granite ledges.In spite of its precarious appearance, the text assures us it is “made fast againstthe wind by strong cables.” In September 1915, the Peak House blew down in astorm.

Yes, much is gone forever from the Sandwich Range, but one thing has notchanged. Wonalancet remains “one of the best centres for mountain climbing inNew Hampshire.”

Until now it’s been nearly impossible to get a decent copy of the 1901Guide. The reprint edition to be released this summer by Bondcliff Books ofLittleton will retain all of the original text, the index, the advertisements, almosttwo dozen illustrations, and two maps – the earliest WODC maps known. TheBondcliff reprint will have its own introduction and a page on“WODC Today”with information on membership and WODC.ORG. Our Club Store expects tooffer the book. Keep an eye on www.wodc.org for an announcement.

Doug McVicar

Mount Wonalancet by PaskellAn illustration from the 1901 edition ofWODC’s Guide to Wonalancet and theSandwich Range of New Hampshire.

Inside...WODC and modern environmentalism,page 4.

The Pennacooks: mountain names in theSandwich Range, page 6

The Sandwich Range panorama shown below is adapted froma photograph by Andy Thompson; Wonalancet resident,WODC trail volunteer and professional photographer.

The Newsletter is published semiannually by theWonalancet Out Door Club. Submissions forinclusion in future issues should be sent to:

WODC Newsletter EditorHCR 64, Box 248Wonalancet, NH 03897 Or,Articles@wodc.org

WODC was established in 1892 for maintainingtrails, promoting conservation, and social recreation.

WODC web site: www.wodc.org

Printed on 100% post-consumer, processed chlorine free, non-de-inked, recycled paper.

On rare occasions our contributors practice a brevitythat takes us by surprise. No problem. This gives usa chance to recognize the many people who makeWODC a dynamic and effective trail maintenanceand conservation advocacy group.

Executive CommitteeJohn Boettiger, PresidentDoug McVicar, Vice-PresidentJudy Reardon, Vice-President and ActivitiesSharon Nothnagle, SecretaryDick Daniels, TreasurerMartha ChandlerChris Conrod, Newsletter EditorPaul KingJohn MersfelderChele MillerHoward NordeenBarbara SidleyTed SidleyPeter Smart, Trails ChairShannon Spencer, MembershipAnn RogersTom Rogers

Trails CommitteePeter Smart, ChairChris ConrodLarry LabrieFred LavigneEvelyn MacKinnonJudy ReardonCC WhiteDavid White

NewsletterChris Conrod, EditorJohn Boettiger, ProofreaderNancy Boettiger, Lead ProofreaderJohn Chandler, Distribution AssistantMartha Chandler, Circulation ManagerDoug McVicar, Staff Writer

WODC StoreNancy Boettiger, Order TakerMartha Chandler, T-shirt ShipperChris Conrod, Sign ShipperSharon Nothnagle, Map Shipper

CartographyMike Bromberg, Cartographer Who needs a chainsaw?

Dave and CC (the shy onebehind the tree) tackle amodest-sized blowdown.

Photo by P. Smart

2

TRAILS REPORTby Peter Smart

Trails Committee Chair

This summer begins a new chapter inWODC trail maintenance. With theprolonged restoration of Walden Trailbehind us, our summer trail crew willbroaden its efforts to undertake the fullspectrum of trail maintenance projects.This will range from basic but critical taskssuch as cleaning our 600+ water bars torebuilding rotted water bars and helpingadopters overwhelmed with hobble bush.

The summer crew will consist of fourvolunteers recruited through the ResourceAssistant (RA) program of the StudentConservation Association. The crew leaderwill be a more experienced ConservationAssociate (CA), also recruited through theSCA. For complete details on the crewpositions see the Jobs page atwww.wodc.org

The crew members will arrive on May30 for the 11 week season. The crew leaderwill arrive on May 16 in order toparticipate in early trail days and develop aworking relationship with members ofWODC. The leader will also conduct acomplete trail inventory, allowing him orher to become familiar with the trails andhelp identify projects for later in the season.

When the full crew arrives they’ll startwith a range of basic maintenance (such aswater bar clearing and major brushingprojects), and gradually progress to moreambitious erosion control tasks, such asrock steps and water bars. Other projectswill be scheduled based on suggestionsfrom WODC trail adopters and fromthe crew itself. The full crew willdepart on August 15th, with theleader staying on until October3 to assist with other projects.

Mead Base will again be the home ofour summer crew but changes are afoot. Incontrast to the ad-hoc operation of MeadBase in previous years, the Squam LakesAssociation is in the process of obtainingfrom the Forest Service a Special UsePermit for use of the facility. This permitwill be based on a detailed operating planthat provides for the proper maintenance ofthe facility, as well as various upgrades thatwill improve the quality and comfort of ourcrew accommodations.

Attention Trail Adopters:The summer crew is here to

complement your efforts. Please send yourwork requests or suggestions totrails@wodc.org. We invite you to spend anafternoon, a day or a week with the crew, orjust point them to your trail while you relaxin your bug-free yard! The crew is here toassist, not replace, our long tradition ofadopter stewardship.

Other ActivitiesIn addition to the crew's activities, we'll

have the traditional summer trail eventsincluding a Spring Trail Clearing Day, NewHampshire Trails Day, and the ever popularSleeper Trail Weekend. We hope you'll joinus, at least for the delicious potluck supperthat accompanies most events. For completedetails please see the trails calendarelsewhere in this newsletter.

3

ACTIVITIES REPORTby Judith Reardon

Activities Coordinator

On January 26, a Winter Potluck dinnerwas held at the Benz Center. It was well-attended as always, and more marveloushistorical reminiscences about WODC andits notable members were exchanged in thediscussion after dinner. George and SallyZink brought some great photographs andinformation.

On February 9, Rick Van de Poll led aprogram on animal tracking, co-sponsoredby WODC and the Society for the Protectionof New Hampshire Forests. It began at theBenz Center, with a thorough audio-visualpresentation on how to identify animaltracks, and then the participants took asnowshoe walk to identify animal tracks onPeter Pohl's land in North Sandwich.Although the weather was challenging,attendance was good and the participantsenjoyed the program enormously.

Coming Events

This summer at least two events willcelebrate our historic trails. On Saturday,July 13, Fred Lavigne will lead a history,flora and fauna hike on Sandwich NotchRoad, co-sponsored with the SandwichHistorical Society. The hike will leave at9:30 a.m. from the Mead Base ConservationCenter on Sandwich Notch Road and followparts of the Old North Road to Wallace Hill.Bring a lunch and plenty of fluids to drink.For more information, call Fred at 284-6919.

On Saturday, August 3, at 7 pm at theWonalancet Chapel, there will be a paneldiscussion about WODC's historic trails,with some comparisons to other historictrail systems. For more information, callJudith Reardon at 323-7165.

This fall, on Sunday, September 22,Rick Van de Poll and Jean Hurley and theSandwich Mushroom Club will lead a wildmushroom walk, beginning at 1 pm at theBenz Center in Sandwich.

WODC 2002 SUMMER CALENDARTrail Work Events

Saturday, May 18: Spring Trails Day. Meet at Ferncroft at8:15 am to clear the trails before the holiday invasion.

Thursday, May 30: Trail Crew arrives.

Saturday, June 1: Trail Crew Orientation Hike. Meet atFerncroft at 8:15 am.

Saturday, July 20: New Hampshire Trails Day. Meet atFerncroft at 8:15 am for a variety of trail projects.

Thursday, August 15: Trail crew departs.

Friday-Sunday, September 27-29: Sleeper Trail weekend.Join us for a great weekend of general maintenance and evensome rock step construction on this wonderful, remote trail.Call 323-8827 for details.

Saturday, October 19: Final trail day of the year followedby pizza supper. Project to be determined. Meet at Ferncroftat 8:15 am.

Just for Fun

Saturday, May 18: Potluck supper at the Boettigers’ at5:30 pm. 323-8812

Friday, May 31: Welcome the trail crew with a potlucksupper at the Mersfelders' at 5:30 pm. 323-7793

Saturday, July 13: Fred Lavigne leads a history and naturehike through Sandwich Notch. Co-sponsored by SandwichHistorical Society. Meet at Mead Base, 9:30 am. Bring alunch. 284-6919

Saturday, July 20: New Hampshire Trails Day PotluckPicnic at Dick Daniel’s pond. 323-8078

Saturday, August 3: Panel discussion on WODC’s historictrails. 7:00 pm at the Chapel. 323-7165

Sunday, August 18: Potluck Supper in the Chapel Grove at5:30 pm. WODC Annual Meeting at 7:00 pm.

Sunday, September 22: Wild Mushroom Walk with RickVan de Poll and Jean Hurley. Co-sponsored by the SandwichMushroom Club. 1:00 pm at the Benz Center, CenterSandwich.

4

WODC in Context:The Challenges to Modern Environmentalism

As spring comes andanother hiking and trail workseason is about to begin, I’vefound myself reflecting onthe larger context of

environmental work of which WODC is as m a l l b u t s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t .

The centerpiece of the Club, since itsfounding in 1892, has been trailmaintenance and reconstruction. Locationsof trails have changed over the years, newtrails added and old ones closed, but the 50+miles of trail for which we bearresponsibility is about the same distance asit was a century ago. Use of those trails, ofcourse, has increased enormously andcontinues to do so, with its attendant addedburden of work. That use has alsohighlighted the need for more and betterinterpretive and educational activitydesigned to increase the value and lightenthe impact of hikers’ and campers’ time onthe trail.

In that context, WODC is working withthe Forest Service on a redesign of the kioskat the Ferncroft parking area. It won’t bemore obtrusive or significantly bigger, andit will continue to feature our map as itscenterpiece, but it will have additional,better organized and presented, material onleave-no-trace principles of hiking andcamping, as well as a panel of historicalinterpretation focusing on our old sheltersand the story of the trail system itself and itsorigins.

Although we may have a reasonableclaim to be the oldest local trailorganization in the country, volunteers likeours work throughout the land on similartasks. Federal and state managers of publiclands, as well as private landowners, dependheavily upon such volunteer labor and couldnot maintain the trails without it. Ourimmediate neighbors in trail work includethe Tamworth Outing Club, ChocoruaMountain Club (originally part of WODC),Squam Lakes Association, and theWaterville Valley Athletic andImprovement Association.

Elsewhere in the White Mountains

other organizations – all similarlydependent upon volunteer labor – pursuetrail work, education and advocacy, likeWODC. The Randolph Mountain Club, forexample, shepherds nearly 100 miles of trailin the Presidential Range, principally on thenorthern slopes of Mounts Madison, Adams,and Jefferson. And of course theAppalachian Mountain Club is active inNew Hampshire and well beyond.

Trailwrights is a non-profitorganization of volunteers active throughoutNew England, helping educate and trainmembers of local groups in the demandingcrafts with which we have become familiar:drainage and erosion control, brushing andclearing blowdowns, rock step and water barconstruction, bridge building, tool use andcare. The New England Trails Conferenceacts as a clearinghouse of information tolink similar local groups throughout theregion.

The Wider Environmental Communityand its Challenges

In its educational evenings, field tripsand workshops, as well as in its long historyof effective advocacy on behalf of forest andwilderness preservation and healthyecosystems, WODC is part of a wonderfullydiverse environmental movement that hasgrown with dramatic vitality in the pasthalf-century. During the last year and ahalf, as we have awakened to a new politicalclimate – one which, on the whole, has beenless than friendly to the cause of improvingthe health and sustainability of ourremaining public lands and their fragileecosystems – environmentalists aremobilizing to meet new (as well as old)challenges. It seems, then, a propitious timeto sketch briefly the wider organizationalcommunity of which WODC is a part.

For all the growth and impressiveaccomplishments of that movement, and theequally impressive development of scientificknowledge documenting the need and theconsequences of failure, the state of theworld in 2002 is demonstrably less healthy

than it was a half-century ago. The EarthPolicy Institute recently put the issue simplyand starkly: "Many battles have been won,but we are losing the war. The Earth'scapacity to support the economy continuesto deteriorate. The gap between what weneed to do to arrest the deterioration of theEarth and what we are doing continues towiden. Somehow we have to turn the tide."It’s important, then, to know who istackling that daunting and critical task, andhow.

It’s not uncommon to divide theenvironmental movement into two streams.First, there are the so-called "Big Greens,"those organizations with the largest budgetsand staffs, which have focused theirenergies primarily upon legal and politicalefforts and scientific research (litigation,lobbying, standards setting) to strengthenenvironmental laws, monitor federal andstate agencies responsible for theiradministration, as well as privatecorporations, in the interests of assuringcompliance, exposing and punishing non-compliance. Among this group, the mostprominent are Environmental Defense, theNatural Resources Defense Council, theNational Wildlife Federation, WorldWildlife Fund, National Audubon Society,the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society.In organizational terms, these groups arepredominantly top-down, based (or with astrong presence) in Washington, DC, withmembership constituencies who aredepended upon primarily for financialcontributions and advocacy withcongressional representatives.

Second, there is a host of smallerorganizations of varying scope, most inlocal communities, more often than notstaffed by volunteers, distinctly bottom-upin their organizing, gathered typicallyaround particular issues of concern: theprotection of specified lands or species,threats or documented harm done to humanand other life by manufacture and use oftoxic chemicals or disposition of wasteproducts. These groups have employed local

Wonalancet River in Early SpringPhoto by John Boettiger

5organizing and publicity, research and itsdissemination, as well as lawsuits, tomobilize citizens and draw illegal ordestructive corporate or government activityand inactivity into the public limelight.

While that distinction has lost much ofits utility – some of the "Big Greens," forexample, like the Wilderness Society andthe Sierra Club, are actively engaged inlocal and regional organizing – it is stillhelpful in an effort to understand thecharacter and impact, as well as thechallenges facing, what has come in the last25 years or so to be called the"environmental justice" movement.

Environmental Justice

While there is an ongoing effort todevelop networks of "EJ" organizations tohelp them support one another – theSouthwest Network for Environmental andEconomic Justice, or SNEEJ, is the mostprominent example – these are primarilygroups with firm roots in localcommunities, often poor communities ofcolor, gathered most typically in oppositionto corporate activity that harms publichealth and the economic and social well-being of local people through thedegradation of their environment. Anexplicit subtext of the EJ movement is thefirmly documented existence of

environmental racism: the disproportionatelocation of toxic manufacturing and wastedisposal sites in poor working classcommunities of color. (For a nuanced studyof the origins and development of theenvironmental justice movement, see LukeW. Cole and Sheila R. Foster, From theGround Up: Environmental Racism and theRise of the Environmental JusticeMovement [2000])

Probably the single most importantaccomplishment of the environmentaljustice movement thus far has been to beginthe process of moving from a “prove harm”system of environmental regulation – inwhich harm must be proven to have alreadyoccurred before regulatory action can betaken – to adoption of a more precautionaryperspective in which the government andprivate corporations have an obligation “toprevent harm whenever there is credibleevidence that harm is occurring or is likelyto occur, even when the exact nature of theharm is not proven.” Under theprecautionary principle, manufacturers havea responsibility “to show that they are usingthe least harmful alternative to meet aspecific need,” and to study thoroughly “thepotential for harm before a new chemical ortechnology is used, instead of assuming it isharmless until proven otherwise.” (I drawhere upon an excellent recent analysis byPeter Montague, “Changing the Climate of

Opinion,” in Rachel’’s Environment andHealth News #746, March 14, 2002.)

Civic Environmentalism

A closely related (and equallypermeable) distinction is that between moretraditional environmentalists who focus theiractivity primarily upon the preservation ofpublic lands, biological species anddiversity, and those whose principal focus isdeterioration – and attendant public healthconsequences – of the quality of air, landand water, including the habitat of the fishand animals we consume and the crops thatbecome food. Environmental justiceadvocates are overwhelmingly in the lattercategory, working among the increasinglytoxic grassroots.

As they do so, they find that thestruggle for a healthier environment is alsoa struggle to plan and implement newapproaches to community development, tonourish the diverse ways people in a giventown, city or rural area rebuild, revitalize,and make more sustainable the character oftheir civic lives and surroundings: publictransportation, roads, schools, housingpolicy and zoning, waste disposal, waterresources, industrial, commercial andagricultural development.

A young MIT professor, WilliamShutkin, has coined a phrase for this moresystemic union of natural and humanprocesses: "civic environmentalism." It’s aconcept already with a working history, asShutkin documents in his fine book, TheLand That Could Be (2000). And it’s aconcept that joins – as they must be joined –two strands of thought, advocacy, history,conflict and accomplishment: the movementfor the preservation and reclamation of land,water, air and healthy, diverse ecosystems,on the one hand, and the equally energeticmovement for human rights, social andeconomic justice, on the other. (A richlycomplementary resource is the more recentbook of Robert Gottlieb, EnvironmentalismUnbound [2001].)

WODC, then, is a small, livelyheadwaters stream, flowing into one of themost important gatherings of human energythis earth has known. Every ounce of thatenergy will be necessary to turn the tide, andthe stakes couldn’t be higher.

John R. Boettiger

6

PassaconawayNew Hampshire’s mountains are rich in Native American appellations and the Sandwich

Range appears to have gotten its fair share. At least a dozen mountains bearing Indiannames can be identified in the southwest corner of the White Mountains.

Most hikers can’t help feeling an elemental curiosity when climbing peaks bearing suchexotic names as Nanamocomuck and Kancamagus. What are the origins of these names? Forwhom were these mountains dedicated? Here is an attempt to offer a brief biographicalsketch of Passaconaway, founder and first Sachem of the Pennacook confederacy. It is thefirst of what we hope will be a series of articles depicting the various people for whom ourmountains are named.

At the beginning of the 17th centurymuch of the Merrimac and Piscataquawatersheds was populated by natives subjectto the Massachusetts federation. Thisloosely organized alliance was governed byNanapashemet, a Sachem residing in whatis now Medford, Massachusetts. Thefederation, like many others formed in thisperiod, was likely used to keep peace amongneighboring tribes and served as a defensemechanism against attack from more distantgroups. During the later part ofNanapashemet’s reign, tribes under theMassachusetts umbrella were often harassedby the Micmacs, known to the English asthe Tarratines, who resided in easternMaine and New Brunswick.

Between 1614 and 1619, two incidentsoccurred that resulted in the demise of theMassachusetts federation. An epidemic ofplague proportions spread throughout thetribes of southeastern New England,especially those along the coast. Probablyintroduced by European traders, this diseasedecimated many coastal tribes and resultedin a 100% mortality rate in some villages.While the Massachusetts federation wasreeling from this disaster the Micmacslaunched an attack. Again, the coastal tribesbore the brunt. Nanapashemet was killed inthe assault, leaving an already crippledconfederacy leaderless.

Among the inland tribes linked toNanapashemet’s alliance were thePennacooks, whose villages occupied thebanks of the Merrimac River, scatteredmostly between the present-day cities ofConcord and Manchester, New Hampshire.Passaconaway, the tribal Sachem, hadalready made a name for himself within theregion. He was a man of large physicalstature and a gifted orator – two attributesthat must have strengthened his leadershiprole. But he was best known as a greatPowwah, or medicine man. It was said that

he could make ice appear in summer, turn adead, brown leaf green in winter andsummon lightning – “which doubtless wasdone by the agility of Satan his consort,”according to Thomas Morton, who reportedboth Indian and English witnesses to thesefeats in his book, New English Canaan”

Passaconaway managed to forge a newconfederacy from the savaged remnants ofthe Massachusetts federation. Hestrengthened his position by marrying hischildren to influential members of hissubject tribes, including one daughter to ason of Nanapashemet. Passaconaway’s riseto power must have been rapid, for by thetime the Pilgrims had settled at Plymouthand had a chance to inspect the territory tothe north, he was already well established asSachem of the Pennacook federation.

The immediate concern of this newconfederacy was how to deal with the influxof their uninvited guests, the Europeans.The evidence indicates a great deal ofambivalence on the part of Passaconaway. Itcan be reasoned that he recognized thethreat to the sovereignty of his people, butwas aware of the futility involved in tryingto drive the English out. Quite possibly thedeciding factor had to do with thePennacooks’ vulnerability to attack fromneighbors, particularly the Micmacs to thenorth and the Iroquois to the west. Analliance with the English might serve thePennacooks’ interest.

For whatever reasons, Passaconawaychose to accept the English in hisconfederacy’s territory and deal with themin a civil but reserved manner. He practicedthis policy throughout his reign despitenumerous transgressions on the part of theEnglish, and counseled his people tocontinue a peaceful association when hestepped down in the 166Os.

Chris Conrod

Passaconaway

Taken from Potter’s History ofManchester, this illustration showsPassaconaway in ceremonial dress. Hewas known to often wear bear skins,which signified the derivation of hisname – Papisse-conewa – roughlytranslated to child of the one who sleepsa lot. The gourd-shaped headdress wasreserved for the Sachem of theconfederacy, who ruled over theSagamores (lesser chiefs) of individualtribes.

7

WODC MAP: Gearing up for the next editionWODC has, at most, a two-year supply

of the second edition of our Trail Map andGuide to the Sandwich Range Wilderness.It’s time to start work on producing a thirdedition. Mike Bromberg has againgenerously offered to take on the task. Thethird edition will be similar in appearanceto Mike’s previous maps. Some colorchanges might be made and he is lookinginto the possibility of expanding the area ofcoverage to include all of Mount Chocorua.

The major change – and one that theExecutive Committee finds to be quiteexciting – is that the new edition will beentirely digitized and capable of beingstored in a computer. This will not only

allow future changes and corrections to bemade more easily but also gives the club theability to use the map as a planning tool.For instance, “layers” could be created thatwould show every waterbar, eroded sectionor non-conforming campsite on WODCtrails.

To facilitate digitizing all theinformation needed to create such a detailedmap, Mike will be using a GlobalPositioning System to locate precisely allWODC trails and maybe some of thesurrounding trails – a monumental task thatentails lugging a lot of equipment over 52miles of tough terrain. But the end resultwill be the most accurate trail map in the

White Mountains. So, when you’re hikingin the Sandwich Range this summer, if yousee a distracted hiker with an antennasticking out of his backpack muttering aboutcoordinates and satellite reception, that’sMike. Please take the time to thank him.

Meanwhile, you can help make thethird edition of the WODC Guide the bestone yet. If you know of any corrections thatneed to be made or if you have anysuggestions for improving the map andguide, let us know. Send your comments tomap@wodc.org or mail them to WODCMap, HCR 64 Box 248, Wonalancet, NH03897.

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Wonalancet Out Door Club – Merchandise & New Member Order FormPlease mail completed form and payment to:

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Wildfire in the Sandwich Range Wilderness

The following is a largely unaltered email message sent by ourTrails Chairman last summer. It addresses a controversialWilderness management policy – one which is likely to raise muchdebate in future revisions of the Sandwich Range WildernessManagement Plan.

Its just after midnight, and I've returned from a very interestinghike to the Mt Paugus fire with Terry Miller, the Saco DistrictRanger. I never thought I'd be standing in the middle of a wildfire at11PM, with a dozen small "camp fires" scattered over the 1 acreburn. Quite amazing - and beautiful. One particular tree seemed tohave been struck by lightning. The remains stood about 10 feet tall,and was glowing throughout. In my hurried after-dinner packing Idid include a camera and tripod. I hope the pictures come out.

There were no crews on the scene at the time, as the fire isexpected to "lay down" during the humid overnight. But even duringthe day, it isn't expected to spread far or fast. It is Terry's opinionthat this fire is NOT a significant hazard. The tough issue is one ofpublic perception. As we drove through Tamworth at 9PM, all thelights were on at the fire station.

Terry is trying to find the middle ground between a full scaleassault on the fire, and a more measured response consistent with theactual risks and the legitimate role of wildfire in Wilderness. Thiscan be hard to do when the nightly news shows footage of ragingwildfires in the west. Could this happen in our own SandwichRange?

For the record, the current Forest Plan calls for all wildfires to beextinguished, without regard to Wilderness designation. This is at

odds with the current national policy, which generally allowsWilderness wildfires to burn unless they threaten property orresources outside the Wilderness. The new Forest Plan is likely tobring the WMNF closer to the prevailing let-it-burn policy. Thisleaves Terry with the unenviable task of finding a middle ground.Fortunately, the low threat posed by this fire enhances the option fora "minimum tool" suppression effort that would be consistent withcurrent suppression policy, while mindful of the role of wildfire inWilderness. It appears that a basic containment effort, aided by sometype of water supply, would readily limit this fire until rains couldextinguish it completely.

Also consider that how the FS responds to a fire conveys asignificant message about its severity and risk. If we respond withhelicopters and power tools, it must have been serious, right? But ifthe same fire were extinguished with hand tools and hand-carriedwater, it doesn't seem nearly so alarming, and we are encouraged toreact proportionately to future events.

I hope you will lend Terry your support as he attempts to find ameasured and reasonable approach to this fire. (There are alsoseveral other fires on the WMNF right now.) I must applaud him foreven considering such a range of options in such a highly scrutinizedsituation. But regardless of the exact handling this fire, Wildfirepolicy is certain to receive renewed interest in the ongoing ForestPlan Revision.

I definitely recommend a visit to the site, which is just off theOld Paugus Trail, although I would stay well clear of the burn unlessescorted by an experienced guide. I know my visit has left me witha new respect and appreciation for wildfire.

Peter Smart; Wednesday, August 15, 2001, 1:04AM

The following morning, the fire was extinguished when the USFSdropped about 30 loads of water carried by helicopter from LakeChocorua. The 800 foot fire break, hand-dug around the one acreburn, awaits restoration by the Forest Service.