Wilderness designation eyed for Scotchman Peaks

HERON, Mont. — In the often-divisive arena of wilderness policy, the Scotchman Peaks straddle many boundaries.

The scenic mountain range between the Clark Fork and Bull rivers has more geopolitical lines dotting its map than a United Nations seating chart. About 20,000 of Scotchman’s 88,000 roadless acres lie in the Panhandle National Forest on the Idaho side of the border. The Kootenai National Forest in Montana has the rest. Three counties in two states have jurisdiction of the area.