Lions Club member Jim Macpherson, Elko County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi and Annie Andreozzi stand in near former Warner Whipple Lodge that was burned in the Range 2 fire on Sept. 30, 2018. Plans call for the foundation to become a covered pavilion.
Elko Lions Club President Jim MacPherson, Elko Bighorns Unlimited President Todd Compston and Lions Club members Karl Young and Chuck Stout stand outside the Stockmen's Casino with a donated check facsimile.
ELKO – Since Camp Lamoille burned almost completely to the ground during the Range 2 Fire in Lamoille Canyon nearly two years ago, members of the Lions Club and other organizations and individuals have been raising funds to rebuild the much-loved group camping area.
The effort, along with the insurance claim, had raised about $420,000 until Wednesday when Elko Bighorns Unlimited donated an additional $15,000.
“The Elko Bighorns do a dinner and fundraiser and they usually designate a beneficiary for that,” said Elko Lions Club President Jim MacPherson. “Then they put together a calendar that has every month where someone can win a hunting gun. They go up for sale and part of the proceeds goes toward [Camp Lamoille].”
MacPherson said work is progressing on rebuilding the campground. The bathhouse should be complete by mid-July. Water mains and power will also be installed.
“With COVID-19 we are not going to get as much done as we planned this year,” MacPherson said.
A pavilion proposed for this summer has been postponed until next year. According to MacPherson, the company that makes the pavilions has been closed for some time during the pandemic.
MacPherson hopes people will be able to reserve the camp for the 2021 season.
“The community has been just amazing with respect to donating and their interest,” he said. “The path that goes up that canyon goes right through the camp. We will be up there working and they’re all excited about it.”
“We are an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Western Nevada,” said Lions Club member Chuck Stout. “[People] can donate to us at the foundation. That is tax deductible. It’s the Camp Lamoille Recovery Fund.”
Canyon Visitors
Now that the road is clear all the way to the end of the canyon road, many visitors take a drive to the top and hike or explore the views from the parking lot.
Road's End
The road that winds up Lamoille Canyon ends in a basin with peaks rising in the distance.
Weathered Stump
A weathered tree stump lies near a trail head at the top of the canyon.
Lamoille Creek
Lamoille Creek consists primarily of snow runoff from the Ruby Mountains.
Skunk Cabbage
This plant grows profusely in Nevada's mountainous areas
Spring Flowers
Flowers abound in the Ruby Mountains. Most alpine flowers bloom during the warmer months. July is usually a great time to hike up the Island Lake Trail to see beautiful wildflowers.
Nature Trail
The Nature Trail can be found about halfway up the canyon. It is a short hike through aspen trees that did not get burned in the 2018 fire.
Beaver Dam
There is a large beaver dam at the bottom of the Nature Trail. It is an incredible structure built by wildlife engineers.
