I first learned of Mick and Nick Pleass several years ago while on a hike with my Cedar Post kids. They had come to the house for a staff party, so part of the plan was to climb part way up Greenhorn Mountain. We started our hike and were making plenty of noise along the way. Suddenly, seemingly from out of nowhere walked a tall thin man with a beard.

A real live forest gnome, I thought immediately as I figured out why one of my students had stopped dead in his tracks just ahead of me. The man continued to walk toward us, not saying a word. We stood frozen like statues staring back. Finally, he asked us what we were doing, so I introduced myself as the lady from down at the red barn on Great Northern Road. I told him these were my students and that we were just out for a hike.

"Enjoy yourselves," he said. That's when we learned that his house was just down over the hillside. He had moved there not long before with his wife. That was my introduction to Mick 'n Nick. He was Mick; his wife was Nick. I think I probably met her later. Both had British accents and fascinating stories to tell of how they arrived in Sandpoint.

Both were interested in keeping their sanctuary on the mountain serene and unspoiled. They'd had some troubles with teens and parties earlier but figured out right away that our gathering would do nothing more than scare the birds and squirrels as we frolicked through the woods, throwing a snowball or two and talking up a storm.

Since that time, Mick has died but Nick(y) continues to live on the mountain. They have given a sizeable portion of land to some governmental entities to ensure recreational use and that no "developing" can be done on their part of Greenhorn Mountain, which serves as an integral part of the series of mountains like Schweitzer and Baldy that surround Sandpoint on the west.

Our family always considered Greenhorn Mountain our mountain because we hiked up there numerous times when nobody even knew its name and no such trail known as Mickinnick had ever been conceived. We hiked the mountain the old fashioned way and had the scratches and bruises to prove it.

Over the decades, that mountain has also stood watch over our activities on the family farms near its base. Until recently, Greenhorn stood unspoiled by development. It does now have a few scars in one section to make way for impressive homes with breath-taking views of Lake Pend Oreille.

But, St. Nick(y) has made every effort to save as much of the mountain as possible from any further development. She sent me the following press release yesterday:


On December 13, 2006, Nicky Pleass donated a conservation easement to Inland Northwest Land Trust. The easement protects 188 acres of the mountainous backdrop to Sandpoint that you see as you drive north on the Long Bridge.

The conservation easement ensures the entire property will remain intact and unspoiled by development, mining, unsightly road construction or excessive logging. It also preserves important wildlife habitat on the property and buffers the neighboring National Forest land on the flanks of Greenhorn Mountain.

Mick and Nicky Pleass had no intention of retiring when they visited Sandpoint in 1988. But, says Nicky, “The people were special. There was a certain vibrancy.” And then they fell in love with a beautiful spot on Greenhorn Mountain. By 1990, Mick and Nicky had retired and moved into their new home just outside of Sandpoint.

In 1997, Mick and Nicky Pleass donated the northern 160 acres of their land to the U.S. Forest Service in order to connect two isolated portions of the Kaniksu Forest. Nicky was then instrumental in the creation of the Mickinnick Trail, which starts at the valley floor, crosses the donated land, and climbs 2150’ feet to a rock outcropping with stunning 180-degree views. A loop trail extension is in the works.

After her husband’s death, Nicky became concerned about the future of the remaining land after she was gone. She feared that her heirs would be forced to subdivide or sell the land in order to pay the estate taxes.

About three years ago, Nicky attended a public meeting sponsored by the University of Idaho that introduced the idea of conservation easements. Nicky thought that an easement might be the answer she was looking for. “Mick thought of the donation to the Forest Service,” Nicky said. “The conservation easement was my idea.”

The terms of the conservation easement allow one additional home site on the 188 acres. But because Nicky gave away most of the development rights, the resale value of the land has been reduced. “Now my daughter (Ann Mitchell) has the choice whether to live on the land,” Nicky said. “She won’t be forced to sell it to pay the inheritance taxes.”

The land protected by the conservation easement is not open to the public; however, the public benefits from this easement because it protects the outstanding scenic views from the Sandpoint area. Protecting the forest also protects the Lake Pend Oreille watershed and ecosystem.

When asked why they chose to work with Inland Northwest Land Trust, Nicky’s son-in-law Bill Mitchell said, “It’s about trust. Chris (DeForest) and Roger (McRoberts) were very reassuring. They made it easy.”

Nicky hikes 3 to 4 miles on her land every morning. “It’s my time,” said Nicky. “I just listen to the forest.” And she knows the forest will be there for future generations to enjoy.


What good news this is in the midst of watching so much of our outdoor treasures succumb to the blemishes of human invasion! I believe Mother Nature would definitely dub Nicky Pleass as a genuine environmental saint in our midst. Thank you, Nicky. And thanks to that forest gnome who met us so many years ago, appearing much like a symbolic protector of our mountain.