Where roads will never reach : wilderness and its visionaries in the Northern Rockies

The Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana are home to some of the most important remaining American wilderness areas, preserved because of citizens who stood against massive development schemes that would have diminished important wildlife habitat and the abiding sense of remoteness found in such places. Where Roads Will Never Reach tells the stories of hunters, anglers, outfitters, scientists, and other concerned citizens who devoted themselves to protecting remnant wild lands and ecosystems in the Northern Rockies. Environmental historian Frederick Swanson argues that their heartfelt, dedicated work helped boost the American wilderness movement to its current prominence. Based on newly available archival sources and interviews with many of the participants, this groundbreaking study explores for the first time the grassroots campaigns that yielded some of the largest designated wilderness areas in America. "Areas of the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana are some of the most important remaining examples of American wilderness. These areas have been preserved because of citizens who stood against private and government plans to build roads and dams for timber and hydropower projects and to diminish wildlife habitat. Where Roads Will Never Reach tells the stories of hunters, anglers, outfitters, scientists, and other concerned citizens who devoted themselves to protecting remnant wild lands and ecosystems in the northern Rockies. Beginning in the 1940's and 1950's, as encroaching roads, dams, and clearcuts degraded habitat for native trout, salmon, grizzly bears, and other mammals large and small, these alarmed men and women took action. Environmental historian Frederick Swanson argues that their heartfelt, eloquent message on behalf of wild creatures and the places they live helped boost the American wilderness movement to its current prominence"-- Provided by publisher Introduction Prologue The blueprint for our folly Selway Wilderness The "Bob" besieged The battle of Bunker Creek Idaho's lifeblood Partitioning Eden A book and its cover Wild river Full use and development The storekeeper and the Kleinschmidt hoss Rumblings along the Magruder Road The green of our forests The hush of the land One powerful senator Wilderness made rational The organization of spirited people Lee Metcalf and the politics of preservation Timber and the mountain fortress Rare redone Negotiating a wilderness Mountains and rivers without end Watershed moments The last wilderness Deadlock Visions of the wild Rockies Afterword.