Fremont County: A Treasure in East Idaho

Locals and tourists alike take part in many recreational activities in Island Park and Ashton every year. Whether it be floating the river or hiking or snowmachining in the winter most don't pause a moment to be grateful for the hours of work and people who put their time and effort into keeping our area a beautiful place to enjoy the outdoors. 

Tamra Cikaitoga, director of the Parks and Recreation Department for Fremont County, is proud to work where she does. 

"Fremont County is all about recreation and welcoming those that have come to the area to enjoy the scenic beauty and natural resources," Cikaitoga said. 

Cikaitoga loves meeting all the people who come in for information. 

"There are some very nice people who simply want to be outside, catch a fish or golf in a friendly atmosphere," Cikaitoga said. "We have many individuals who return to Fremont County wanting their grandchildren, or even great grandchildren to enjoy the same areas they have enjoyed over the years."

Some of places the department takes care of include 10 fishing access sites on the lower Snake River, Frome Park Campground at Henrys Lake and over 500 miles of snowmobile trails. 

"Some 25 percent of all over-snow vehicles registered in Idaho are designated for Fremont County," Cikaitoga said. "Now that is something to brag about!"

Terry Martindale, the snowmobile trail and fishing access coordinator, keeps himself busy all summer and winter. He and his employees spend summers taking care of the fishing accesses and boat docks, mowing lawns, picking up garbage and many other duties. In winter it takes 7 to 8 men to keep the hundreds of miles of snowmachine trails groomed.

Though it is a lot of hard work Martindale loves his job.

"I like the outdoors," Martindale said. "I enjoy the mountains and the woods and I enjoy snowmachining and fishing and hunting."

One hard thing about working for parks and recreation can be the anger of locals over incoming visitors. 

"My job would be much easier if everyone would be more willing to share, " Cikaitoga said. "We have room. We have access. We just need to be willing to share."

Despite many locals sometimes complaining over the number of tourists visiting, the beauty and outdoors they treasure brings in money and gives jobs to many locals. 

"Be it the rental of an inner tube or destination snowmobiling, recreation adds a great deal to the Idaho economy," Cikaitoga said. "Many businesses have been built and grow as recreation opportunities have been improved and added."

Though summertime can sometimes seem overcrowded, the winter snowmobiling industry is just as important and a popular destination for snowmobilers all over the world.

"Snowmobiling is a 30 million dollar industry in Fremont County and as such it accounts for keeping many of the Island Park businesses viable during the winter season," Bob Stantus, chairman for the Fremont County Snowmobile Advisory Committee, said.

Stantus and others who work on the committee volunteer their time to the county to help out.

"We all serve to give back to the activity we enjoy," Stantus said. 

When COVID hit two years ago many businesses around the world died or struggled but not the outdoor industry. Instead, many people took to the outdoors for something to do and to escape their homes they'd been trapped in for so long. People also were able to work remotely and working in the beautiful outdoors of East Idaho provided a much more relaxing and beautiful workspace than an office building. 

"The pandemic brought out a surge in outdoor activity," Stantus said. "Folks could get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors without overly exposing themselves to the virus."

Though most go into this line of work because of a love of the outdoors, there is always some politics and paperwork and red tape that go into it as well. These are the things Cikaitoga and Martindale don't look forward to.

"And people that drive their cars on the groomed trails...they bug me!" Cikaitoga added.

Martindale talked about the interesting things he and the other workers often see while grooming trails, especially at nighttime. It's not uncommon for a moose on the trail to get angry and turn and start biting or pawing at the blade. Martindale simply stops and waits for the moose to move on before he continues his work.

Cikaitoga expressed her gratefulness to the Fremont County Snowmobile and Golf Advisory Committees and all the other volunteers and workers who help keep recreation in the county inviting for so many. 

"Fremont county has some amazing volunteers who spend countless hours helping to make the trails safer or the golf course more challenging," Cikaitoga said. "I am very appreciative of the individuals who are willing to roll up their sleeves and take occassional 'heat' to make things work."