In the Washakie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest, a dead Engelmann spruce that bears the names of 19th‑century surveyors has become the focus of a spirited local debate. The tree, carved on Oct. 3, 1893 while mapping the original Yellowstone Forest Reserve, was slated for removal and display in the Wyoming State Museum. After receiving roughly 200 emails from concerned citizens and advocacy groups, Forest Supervisor Ken Coffin announced a pause on the project.
Public concerns drive the pause
Wilderness Watch, a Missoula‑based organization dedicated to protecting the National Wilderness Preservation System, led the opposition. Legislative director Katie Bilodeau urged the public to share their thoughts, emphasizing that the removal would require multiple helicopter landings and mechanical equipment in a designated wilderness area—activities normally prohibited.
“Wilderness is a place where nature should govern,” Bilodeau told WyoFile. “We shouldn’t be so eager to jump in with our tools, because we can radically alter things pretty quickly.”
Forest officials respond
Supervisor Coffin acknowledged the volume of feedback, saying, “I got probably somewhere around 200 emails from people from across the country who had legitimate concerns about the project because it’s in the wilderness.” He added that while he personally believes removal is appropriate, he respects the opposing viewpoint and has therefore halted the plan.
State Parks Director Dave Glenn also expressed support for a more measured approach. “We want to make sure everybody’s supportive,” he said, noting that a 3‑D scan of the tree could provide a replica for museum display while preserving the historic snag in its natural setting.
Historical significance
The spruce stands about 28 miles from the nearest trailhead in the southern Absaroka Mountains, at an elevation of roughly 9,100 feet. It was inscribed by a surveying party led by Phillip M. Gallaher, who sought shelter near the tree during a snowstorm. Historian Lawrence Todd, an emeritus professor at Colorado State University, explained that the carving was likely done “out of boredom, more than anything else.”
Its inscription came just 21 years after the creation of Yellowstone National Park and three years after Wyoming achieved statehood, marking an early American effort to set aside forest lands for preservation rather than exploitation.
Possible alternatives
With the removal on hold, the Forest Service is exploring alternatives. One option is to create a detailed 3‑D scan of the tree and produce a replica for exhibition at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne or the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. Glenn said the scans have already produced high‑quality results, and a holographic display is also under consideration.
Nevertheless, Glenn indicated a preference for eventual removal, stating, “From our perspective, we’d still like to get the tree (out of) there, just because it’s so historic. That history is going to go away. It’s going to fall down and be gone.”
Local precedent
Wyoming’s wilderness community has successfully influenced other projects in the past. In 2017, the Bridger‑Teton National Forest faced criticism over a helicopter‑installed bridge at Hawks Rest, and in 2016, plans to stock fishless Mystery Lake in the Teton Wilderness were abandoned after similar concerns.
As the dialogue continues, the Shoshone National Forest remains in talks with Wyoming State Parks about the best way to honor the tree’s legacy while respecting wilderness values. Whether a replica, a hologram, or eventual removal will be the final outcome, the pause demonstrates the power of local voices in shaping federal land‑management decisions.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
