Access to Shepp Ranch, a Gospel Hump Wilderness Lodge, is provided by the ranch's jet boats. Guests drive the main Salmon River road from Riggins, Idaho to the road’s end at Vinegar Bar. Vehicles are left at the Vinegar Bar parking lot. A 30 minute jet boat trip takes visitors into the ranch. The dramatic scenery of the Salmon River Canyon and the likely chance of spotting wildlife, such as elk, deer and bighorn sheep, make the trip upriver a highlight. If time is critical, long-time Shepp Ranch managers, Mike and Lynn Demerse, will happily arrange a charter flight from Boise. Fees for the flight vary.
Accommodations are rustic but comfortable log cabins with private baths and wood-burning stoves or fireplaces.
The presentation, Ancient Chinese Healing Herbs of the Salmon River, will take place at the Polly Bemis homestead, a designated National Historic site. Polly Bemis was the Pacific Northwest's most famous Chinese American woman. After her parents sold her, she was smuggled into this country from China, purchased by a Chinese man, and brought to Warren, Idaho. Polly married Charlie Bemis in 1894 and they settled on the remote Salmon River. Charlie died in 1922 and Polly died in 1933. She was eighty years old.
For more history about Polly Bemis: Polly Bemis: A Chinese American Pioneer by Priscilla Wegars. Cambridge, ID: Backeddy Books, 2003; 24 pp., illustrations, biographical notes; cloth $21.00.
Mountain Man Medicine will take place at Buckskin Bill's homestead-turned-museum. Buckskin Bill, born Sylvan Hart, came to the Snake River during the depression and set about a life of self-sufficiency. He built his own house, raised his own food and made his own guns and tools.
The homestead is famous for the rock gun tower Buckskin Bill built when the Forest Service said he was squatting. The modern-day mountain man was prepared to defend his land. As it turned out neither Buckskin Bill nor the Forest Service owned the land ~ it was owned separately as part of a private mining claim. Known as "the last of the mountain men, " Buckskin Bill died in 1980.
For more information about Buckskin Bill: Last of the Mountain Men: The True Story of an Idaho Solitary (Paperback) by Sylvan Hart and Harold Peterson
Early Settlers' Medicinal Plant Gardens will be presented at Reho Wolfe's homestead. Reho Wolfe was a strong-willed woman who took her seven children (aged 5 to 14) out of school and moved them into the wilderness. The homestead she moved her family to was on an abandoned gold-mining claim in the isolated, rugged Salmon River Canyon, 80 miles from the nearest high school. Her husband, George Wolfe, a storekeeper for the Camas Prairie Railroad, continued his job traveling to the homestead on weekends and holidays.
Reho set a legal precedent in Idaho for home schooling. After moving her seven children from their home in Lewiston, Idaho to the remote Salmon river in the 1940's, a criminal charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and causing habitual truancy was filed against her. Idaho's attorney general later dismissed the case.
For more information about Reho Wolfe: Reho Wolfe, the End of a Salmon River Era. by John A. Wolf; Viola, Idaho: Rhett Creek Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0972113606.
Native American Spiritual & Healing Plants of Old Growth Forests: Saturday morning after breakfast we will take a ten minute boat ride to Indian Creek, then hike the trail to the Western Yew forest. Once there we will identify and learn about some of the Nez Perce spiritual and healing plants that grow there. During a pause for lunch amid the fragrant Western Yew, several Nez Perce "tellings" will be told.
Making Salves, Tinctures and Capsules for your First Aid Kit: During the evenings we will be turning plant material gathered during the day in to medicinal preparations for add to your person herbal first aid kit. A booklet of recipes will be provided with your kit.
Meals: Meals will be vegetarian, mainly made with organic ingredients. These expertly prepared and creatively presented meals will be followed by decadent deserts (for those of us who wish to indulge). Beer and wine is not provided, but you are welcomed to bring your favorites with you to enjoy during evening meals.
Consultations: If you have health issues or specific herbal questions, you are invited to schedule a private consultation with herbalist Darcy Williamson. Please arrange the meeting time before our arrival at Shepp Ranch via email (fromtheforest@hotmail.com) or phone (208-634-8701).
ITINERARY:
Thursday, May 12th.
11:00 A.M. Meet at Vinegar Creek for Jet Boat transport to Shepp Ranch. Room assignment and "settle in".
1:00 P.M. Lunch.
2:30 P.M. After lunch at the Ranch our group will be boated across the river to the Polly Bemis ranch. Following a tour of the site, Darcy Williamson will give a presentation: Ancient Chinese Healing Herbs of the Salmon River.
5:00 - 6:00 P.M. Private Consultation time with herbalist Darcy Williamson (pre-scheduled appointments).
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:00 - 8:30 Evening Activity in the Main Lodge "Making Salves, Tinctures and Capsules for your First Aid Kit".
FRIDAY, MAY 14TH.
8:00 A.M. Breakfast at Main Lodge
10:00 A.M. Jet boat ride to Buckskin Bill's Homestead. Tour of museum and homestead, followed by a presentation: Mountain Man Medicine.
12:30 P.M. Picnic lunch
1:00 P.M. Jet boat ride to Reho Wolff's homestead. Tour of homestead followed by presentation: Early Settlers' Medicinal Plant Gardens.
6:00 P.M. Dinner.
7:00 - 8:30 P.M. Evening Activity in the Main Lodge "Making Salves, Tinctures and Capsules for your First Aid Kit".
SATURDAY, MAY 14TH.
8:00 A.M. Breakfast at Main Lodge
10:00 A.M. Hike to Old Growth Western Yew forest. Exploration of the area and presentation: Native American Spiritual & Healing Plants of Old Growth Forests.
12:30 P.M. Picnic lunch
2:00 - 5:00 P.M. Private Consultation time with Darcy Williamson (pre-scheduled appointments).
6:00 P.M. Dinner
7:00 - 8:30 P.M. Evening Activity in the Main Lodge "Making Salves, Tinctures and Capsules for your First Aid Kit".
SUNDAY, MAY 15TH.
8:00 A.M. Breakfast at Main Lodge
10:30 A.M. Return to Vinegar Bar for departure.
This foray is presented by herbalist and author Darcy Williamson.
Location: Shepp Ranch, Idaho.
Maximum Number of Attendees: 10
Duration: 3 days.
Date: May 12th., 13th., 14th. and leaving the morning of the 15th., 2011.
INDIVIDUAL (Per Person) RATE
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