“Is it possible these mountains are more beautiful than the Sawtooths?” I wonder aloud. It feels like I’m speaking sacrilege, but the view from where I am standing put the debate in my head. Jagged peaks, wide open bowls, and steep couloirs spread out before me in a real-life panorama. Hyndman Peak, Old Hyndman, and…
Tag: Idaho
Backcountry Touring at Idaho’s Galena Pass
If you’ve already got a copy of Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: Utah, then you know that the Beehive State has plenty of amazing touring options. But sometimes, you just need a road trip. My wife, Jess, and I wanted to get out of town and sample some new zones, so we pointed the car…
Video: Mountain Biking Fisher Creek, Idaho
Fisher Creek, Idaho is one of the most classic mountain bike rides in the United States. Located in the White Cloud Mountains near Stanley, the Fisher Creek Loop is mostly known for a smooth, buff, dive-bomb-worthy descent on perfect single track. The trail takes mountain bikers through hugely scenic terrain, including long-abandoned log cabins, a…
Backcountry skiing at Idaho’s Coyote Yurt
Backcountry skiing from yurts is among my favorite things to do in the winter months. And my favorite place to go isn’t in Utah, but in Idaho at one of the Sun Valley Trekking yurts in the Sawtooth National Forest. This year, we booked the Coyote Yurt, known for its access to 2,000-foot descents through…
Hiking the Marshall Ridgeline near Idaho’s Redfish Lake
Aspen trees are ablaze with fall color. Below, a forested valley leads up to one of the most dramatic mountain views I’ve ever seen. My wife, Callista, and I hike atop Marshall Ridge in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest, and the ease-of-hike-to-payoff-in-scenery is unparalleled. The Sawtooth National Forest around Redfish Lake and the tiny burg of…
Mountain biking Idaho singletrack… with bears (video)
Fisher Creek. Of all the mountain bike trails in Idaho, this is at the top of my list. As I clip into my pedals and point my front tire down the buff singletrack that snakes through a burned-out forest, I’m all excitement, and have no inkling of what’s waiting for us below. Despite living in…
Kayaking the Black Canyon of the Bear River
It’s always a gamble when your first run of the season is a solid Class IV and V river, but there’s no better place to do it than the Black Canyon of the Bear River in Grace, Idaho. While the Wasatch were still getting hammered with snow, the floodgates to the Grace Dam opened up…
Hike to the Palisades Lakes in Idaho’s Snake River Range
Shhh… don’t say it out loud, but every now and then it’s nice to get out of Utah. The Snake River Mountain Range in southeastern Idaho is largely below 9,000′, so if the Uintas are still melting out and the desert is just too stinking hot, a road trip could be in order. Make the…
Backcountry skiing at the Bench Hut in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains
Despite the ridiculous outdoor adventure opportunities in Utah, it’s nice to get out and explore the mountains in neighboring states every now and then. The Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho is one such place, thanks to the dramatic Teton-esque rock spires that cap the peaks, creating a landscape to get lost in that the more rounded peaks in Utah fail to provide….
Relaxing in the mineral pools at Lava Hot Springs
Location: Lava Hot Springs, Idaho Activity: Soaking my aching muscles in mineral hot springs and doing nothing else. Every year I ask my husband what he wants for his birthday, but this year I decided to make the decision for him. I told him we were going to take an overnight trip to someplace we’d…