Friday marked my last day (for awhile) of traveling the state to visit with new and old friends and colleagues. I am delighted to report that I love this new job and the people I serve at the Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts (ICOLT). Oh yeah, and I love the places we work. I’m so grateful on this last day of October that I don’t even mind the not-inconsiderable windshield time spent getting around Idaho.
Land trust folks are extremely dedicated and hardworking. Hospitable too. They are big-hearted, fun people. They do really important work. For different reasons (among them a love for agriculture, open space, wildlife, community, youth, and more), they work hard to help interested landowners exercise their private property rights to conserve iconic places.
Over the course of three weeks I met with folks at the local and regional (and beyond) land trusts of the Treasure Valley, Teton, Sagebrush Steppe, Lemhi, Wood River, The Nature Conservancy, Idaho Lands and Parks, Payette, Inland Northwest Land Conservancy, Kaniksu, and Palouse. (I’m looking forward to visiting more ICOLT members when time and weather permit.)
Each organization is different, as are their priorities and resources, but one common thread unites them: they care about the land, natural resources, wildlife, and people. Like me.
Enough with the words, except to say thanks, to both old and new friends. The fall colors were epic and your work and hospitality, equally so. Thanks for all you do. Even more, thanks for who you are.
Eric Grace, Land Trust of the Treasure Valley 
Snow in Pocatello 
Snow along I-84 
Fall along the Salmon River 
Nikos and Val Brackett Monoyios, Eagle Valley Ranch 
Nikos Monoyios and Jen Smith talk river restoration 
Eagle Valley Ranch in the Lemhi Valley 
Moose on Silver Creek Preserve 
A full moon over Stalker Creek 
Out my window, Stalker Creek 
Erika Phillips, Cindy Lunte, Lou Lunte 
A working landscape, Pioneer Mountains in the back 
Another view out my window, Sandpoint 
Pine Creek Woods, Sandpoint 
Katie Egland Cox, Kaniksu ED, models sunglasses made by students 
Dave Kretzschmar, outdoor educator extraordinaire, Kaniksu, and another pair
Dispatches from Out West 