October 24, 2023, KAMIAH, Idaho:— In late September, the Valley Cats Snowmobile and ATV club removed the remaining parts of the Hamby Saddle Warming Hut, which had collapsed under a heavy snow load last year. This salvage and disassembly operation was part of an agreement that the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests entered into with their organization to replace the previous structure, which provided safety and comfort to winter recreators for 34 years. Club president Merle Barnett explained that, “We built this shelter in 1988 and ever since that time we’ve done maintenance and upkeep on an annual basis.”
Valley Cats Club members pose with the shelter during demolition
In Barnett’s opinion, the shelter is vital for safe and secure recreation “It’s 20 miles from Hamby to the nearest phone or help of any kind. In the third year I belonged to the club there were 5 people whose lives were saved by being able to get to warmth before someone could find them.” Barnett, who “has been a mountain kid ever since he was born” is one of the partners who contributes to the safety and enjoyment of his local forest: “I’m out on the forest summer and winter. In the summer we do a lot of work cleaning and maintain the trails. When we ride the trails we clear logs and keep the trails in good shape.”
Other local clubs like the Valley Cats help groom trails, maintain shelters like the Hamby Saddle Warming Hut, and provide maintenance that sustains visitor facilities throughout the 4 million acres of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. “Valley Cats Snowmobile and ATV Club is an essential partnership benefitting safe access to year round recreation for our local and visiting public,” said Moose Creek District Ranger Ron Tipton. Barnett is enthusiastic about the hut’s next iteration which he believes “will be a nice facility when we get it finished.” While it won’t be ready to warm visitors this winter, his “plan is to have the shelter up and operational by next fall.”