Doug Tims receives IOGA Lifetime Membership Award
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Doug Tims at Campbell's Ferry (Courtesy Steve Coyle photography)[/caption]
For decades, IOGA has been blessed to have Doug Tims as an active member and leader. He was elected to the IOGA board of directors soon after becoming a licensed outfitter on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in the late 1980s. He served as both board vice president and president of the IOGA.
Tims has a knack for telling colorful stories with his telltale Mississippi accent. "His oral and written communication skills are exemplary and have been constantly on display on behalf of the industry that is very diverse," noted Grant Simonds as he presented the award to his longtime friend and associate.
[caption id="attachment_240" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Here's Doug with IOGA board members (L to R) Jim Thrash, Gov. Cecil Andrus, Barb Opdahl, Harlan Opdahl, Steve Jones and Grant Simonds[/caption]
Tims’ involvement and leadership with both IOGA and America Outdoors Association enhanced the profile and standing of Idaho outfitters and guides, bringing their practices and standards into the national spotlight, Simonds said.
Although Tims' recently published book, “Merciless Eden,” written with his wife, Phyllis, is not really a book about outfitting per se, he makes many references to the outfitting industry, presenting both the joys and challenges inherent in the profession. The history and politics of outfitting is a passion. And now he gets to live at Campbell's Ferry, on the banks of the Salmon River.
"Doug has honored our industry with decades of passion and support for our profession. As one colleague recently remarked, “Doug put IOGA and outfitters ahead of his own agenda. His word is his bond.” Congratulations, Doug, on your outfitting career, one that is truly worthy of IOGA Honorary Lifetime membership," Simonds said to loud applause at the IOGA annual meeting.
[caption id="attachment_242" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Doug with Les Bechdel, middle, and Steve Zettel[/caption]
"I can't tell you how much this means to me," Tims said. "Forty years ago, I went on a trip in Hells Canyon with Curtis Chang (OARS), and then we did a Lower Salmon trip and a Middle Fork trip in 1980. By then, I was hooked, and I fell in love with Idaho."
Tims dropped his insurance business, bought an ownership interest in Maravia, a raft and inflatables manufacturing company, and bought a Middle Fork of the Salmon, and later a Selway River outfitting business. He was infatuated with rivers.
[caption id="attachment_243" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Doug believed in show-me trips on Idaho rivers to discuss recreation and management issues ... L-R, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco, Doug and Congressman George Miller of California.[/caption]
After meeting a few outfitters, Tims wanted to get involved with IOGA, he recalls. "This old Mississippi boy felt really lucky to be associated with this great group of people. I just love to hang out with you guys!" Tims says. "I wasn't born here, but I was smart enough to move up here to Idaho."
In his own outfitting business, Tims was committed to providing his clientele with the history, geography, flora and fauna, and culture of the surrounding lands, thereby exemplifying the value added and responsible, shared use themes of outfitting and guiding that he championed, Simonds said.
[caption id="attachment_244" align="alignleft" width="358"]
Doug and Phillis on the Selway River[/caption]
"Merciless Eden" is full of historical tales about Campbell's Ferry, Idaho's early mining history, Salmon River pioneers, wilderness, and much more. Living in a remote homestead in the middle of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness can be both "beautiful and brutal," Tims says.
"Sometimes I hear voices of those pioneers when I'm out working on building fence," he says, noting that he has much respect for the people who tried to eke out a living in such a remote and unforgiving area.
Tims also touches on the history of the Central Idaho Wilderness Act in the book, the law that created "the Frank," and he describes how former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus, who was then Secretary of Interior, convinced President Carter to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with longtime Idaho outfitter Norm Guth. But the day Carter was available to start the Middle Fork trip was one day off from Guth's assigned launch date. "Can you imagine having to change your launch date by one day today," he notes, to chuckles in the crowd. "You'd be dead in the water."
But through a series of well-placed phone calls, Forest Service officials made an exception for President Carter, and the rest, they say, is history. The late Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, led the efforts to create the River of No Return Wilderness, the largest forest wilderness in the lower 48.
[caption id="attachment_246" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Doug and Phyllis at Campbell's Ferry[/caption]
The next time you're on the Salmon River, go visit Tims at Campbell's Ferry. There's a convenient eddy next to the pack bridge leading to the old homestead. It's a beautiful place, and Doug and Phyllis can tell you all about it.
"Merciless Eden", which retails for $19.95, is available from Amazon.com and Cascade Outfitters. Doug also can be reached on his Facebook page.
Doug Tims at Campbell's Ferry (Courtesy Steve Coyle photography)[/caption]
For decades, IOGA has been blessed to have Doug Tims as an active member and leader. He was elected to the IOGA board of directors soon after becoming a licensed outfitter on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in the late 1980s. He served as both board vice president and president of the IOGA.
Tims has a knack for telling colorful stories with his telltale Mississippi accent. "His oral and written communication skills are exemplary and have been constantly on display on behalf of the industry that is very diverse," noted Grant Simonds as he presented the award to his longtime friend and associate.
[caption id="attachment_240" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Here's Doug with IOGA board members (L to R) Jim Thrash, Gov. Cecil Andrus, Barb Opdahl, Harlan Opdahl, Steve Jones and Grant Simonds[/caption]
Tims’ involvement and leadership with both IOGA and America Outdoors Association enhanced the profile and standing of Idaho outfitters and guides, bringing their practices and standards into the national spotlight, Simonds said.
Although Tims' recently published book, “Merciless Eden,” written with his wife, Phyllis, is not really a book about outfitting per se, he makes many references to the outfitting industry, presenting both the joys and challenges inherent in the profession. The history and politics of outfitting is a passion. And now he gets to live at Campbell's Ferry, on the banks of the Salmon River.
"Doug has honored our industry with decades of passion and support for our profession. As one colleague recently remarked, “Doug put IOGA and outfitters ahead of his own agenda. His word is his bond.” Congratulations, Doug, on your outfitting career, one that is truly worthy of IOGA Honorary Lifetime membership," Simonds said to loud applause at the IOGA annual meeting.
[caption id="attachment_242" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Doug with Les Bechdel, middle, and Steve Zettel[/caption]
"I can't tell you how much this means to me," Tims said. "Forty years ago, I went on a trip in Hells Canyon with Curtis Chang (OARS), and then we did a Lower Salmon trip and a Middle Fork trip in 1980. By then, I was hooked, and I fell in love with Idaho."
Tims dropped his insurance business, bought an ownership interest in Maravia, a raft and inflatables manufacturing company, and bought a Middle Fork of the Salmon, and later a Selway River outfitting business. He was infatuated with rivers.
[caption id="attachment_243" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Doug believed in show-me trips on Idaho rivers to discuss recreation and management issues ... L-R, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco, Doug and Congressman George Miller of California.[/caption]
After meeting a few outfitters, Tims wanted to get involved with IOGA, he recalls. "This old Mississippi boy felt really lucky to be associated with this great group of people. I just love to hang out with you guys!" Tims says. "I wasn't born here, but I was smart enough to move up here to Idaho."
In his own outfitting business, Tims was committed to providing his clientele with the history, geography, flora and fauna, and culture of the surrounding lands, thereby exemplifying the value added and responsible, shared use themes of outfitting and guiding that he championed, Simonds said.
[caption id="attachment_244" align="alignleft" width="358"] Doug and Phillis on the Selway River[/caption]
"Merciless Eden" is full of historical tales about Campbell's Ferry, Idaho's early mining history, Salmon River pioneers, wilderness, and much more. Living in a remote homestead in the middle of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness can be both "beautiful and brutal," Tims says.
"Sometimes I hear voices of those pioneers when I'm out working on building fence," he says, noting that he has much respect for the people who tried to eke out a living in such a remote and unforgiving area.
Tims also touches on the history of the Central Idaho Wilderness Act in the book, the law that created "the Frank," and he describes how former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus, who was then Secretary of Interior, convinced President Carter to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with longtime Idaho outfitter Norm Guth. But the day Carter was available to start the Middle Fork trip was one day off from Guth's assigned launch date. "Can you imagine having to change your launch date by one day today," he notes, to chuckles in the crowd. "You'd be dead in the water."
But through a series of well-placed phone calls, Forest Service officials made an exception for President Carter, and the rest, they say, is history. The late Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, led the efforts to create the River of No Return Wilderness, the largest forest wilderness in the lower 48.
[caption id="attachment_246" align="alignleft" width="584"]
Doug and Phyllis at Campbell's Ferry[/caption]
The next time you're on the Salmon River, go visit Tims at Campbell's Ferry. There's a convenient eddy next to the pack bridge leading to the old homestead. It's a beautiful place, and Doug and Phyllis can tell you all about it.
"Merciless Eden", which retails for $19.95, is available from Amazon.com and Cascade Outfitters. Doug also can be reached on his Facebook page.