Stueby's Christmas recommendations - Outdoorsy gifts for him and her

Hi all, 

Christmas is just a week away! It's time for my annual Christmas gift ideas for the outdoorsy him and her.

This year's list includes recommendations for our friends at Idaho Mountain Touring, Boise REI, and McU Sports about the latest popular and trendy items.

Now, on to the gifts!

1. Covid-approved neck gator for skiing/riding at ski areas. There are quite a few styles and colors available. I have several in my quiver, and you should, too. Here are some face masks from Hoo-Rag ... you can buy 4 of them for $31.

See these mask options from IMT - Outdoor Research and Airband Masks with filters + for active users, cycling ,running etc. 

2. A warm, cozy Carhartt vest from D&B Supply, or a Patagonia down vest from Idaho Mountain Touring, Boise REI, Greenwoods Ski Haus or McU Sports.

3. Socks - Lots of color, designs and patterns, Smart Wool comfort made in the USA. Everyday Compression to support people standing on their feet, and it doesn't take 3 men and gorilla to put your socks on. 

4.  Lights for your campsite. REI recommends Revel Gear Trail Hound lights ($25) - it's a 30-foot string of colored LED lights that could provide a festive feel for your campsite.

5. Lights for your bike, your head or your body. The Bontrager Ion 200-1000 human light ($100) looks like it could light up the trails as if you're on a professional movie set.

6. Ski gloves - It's nice to have several pairs that work for various tasks such as driving, xc skiing or snowshoeing (thinner weight), and alpine skiing (warmer). I have a pair of the Hestra Heli-Insulated gloves pictured here ($155), and man are they nice! Always keep my hands warm! Mine are mittens with a trigger finger. For xc skiing and lightweight use, look in the work glove section of May Hardware in McCall or a local Maverick service station.

7. Snowshoes - It takes a lot of time and money to master the art of skiing or snowboarding, but just about anyone who can walk can strap on a pair of snowshoes and do great! It helps to bring a pair of ski poles for balance. There are many different brands available. Price range: $50-$150 for snowshoe-pole combo sets. You might be able to find a new or used pair at the Boise Outdoor Gear Exchange. Chris from IMT recommends these super-light TSL snowshoes with Boa closures. They're made out of carbon fiber. Prices range from $69 and up. Nice gift for a serious snow-shoer, but they also have kids models priced right at $39.95.

8. Winter hats - Can't go wrong in this department, but it's always nice to find a winter hat that has personality! Similar with gloves, it's nice to have different winter hats for situations when it's relatively warm or you're working up a sweat (thinner weight), and when you need a bomber warm hat that keeps you warm in single digits or sub-zero weather. Remember that wool ultimately rocks in the warmth department. Another helpful item is a facemask for the really cold days on the mountain. I also love the smart-looking ballcap-style hats they make for women.

9. Patagonia trucker hats - Chris at IMT: These are Red Hot!- every age loves them -- men, women and kids.

10. Headlamp - For outdoorsy folks, it's about as easy to lose a

headlamp as it is to lose a pair of socks. Especially if you're a family of outdoorsy folks ... everyone borrows your headlamp and it never comes back! You can snag a headlamp for $25-$50, and it has great value for your camping trips, night hiking, river trips, backpacking, even for use around the home! My favorite brands include Petzl and Black Diamond. Get a bright one and you'll appreciate it! My latest Black Diamond model runs on 4 AAA batteries and it's really nice and bright.

11. Dog accessories from Ruffwear. How about an insulated coat for your pup? $79.95. Those things are so danged cute!

12. Guidebooks! - Ha! Always a thoughtful item in the stocking or under the tree ... my guides are available of course, from Boise Trail Guide, Owyhee Canyonlands, Paddling the Payette, updated for SUPers, and Boise Road Cycling Guide, plus my biography on the great champion for birds of prey Morley Nelson, Cool North Wind, in memory of all of his achievements related to the creation of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Plus I recommend Matt Leidecker's guides for the Sawtooths, White Clouds and Middle Fork Salmon River.

13. Capilene tops, long underwear - For any outdoorsy person who's active, getting out and exercising several days a week, you can quickly run short of tops and bottoms after they get pitted out and pitched into the laundry. So it's nice to have a deep supply of different tops especially ... lightweight, midweight, expedition weight, etc. These items typically run $25-$75. REI and Patagonia make gear with lasting value. Take a look at smart wool, too. 

14. Buck knife or Swiss Army knife - These items also have a way of disappearing. But especially guys appreciate having a knife handy for all sorts of things. A single-blade Buck knife is really sleek and cool, and the multi-tasking Swiss Army knives are always a hit. Boise Army Navy has a great selection of knives.

15. Hydro Flask - Previously known as a water bottle, the hydro flasks available today can be used for drinking coffee on the go, taking a long a nice hot cup of tea or hot chocolate on an outdoor outing, or actually packing plain old water. Hydro Flask is a brand by itself, but there are many other brands that make quality stainless steel insulated cups and containers. Pricing is in the $10 to $25 range or more. 

16. River Gear - Pick up some accessories or a new SUP, hard-shell kayak, inflatable kayak, canoe or raft at Idaho River Sports, Cascade River Gear, AIRE in Meridian,  or Boise Army-Navy.

It's probably safe to say that we're all ready to bid 2020 goodbye because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So thankful to see vaccinations coming online for our health care workers and all of us who will need that ASAP. Gives me hope that things could return to "normal" sometime next year. It may be months before the vaccines are available to the average person. 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
- SS  

Steve talks about his weekly outdoor tip on 94.9 FM The River on Friday mornings with Ken and Deb at about 7:40 a.m. Please listen in!

Tamarack to host grand opening on Friday, big snow coming next week and more ...

Time to shred at Tamarack!

Hi all, 

For downhill skiers/riders who want plenty of elbow room, Tamarack Resort has always been a well-kept secret among those in the know. 

On a powder day, the freshies will get shredded in about 1.5-2 hours at Bogus Basin or Brundage Mountain. But at Tamarack, with fewer people on the slopes, you can find fresh turns all day long.

That's one of the key benefits of skiing/riding Tamarack Resort. In the 2020-21 ski season amid the covid-19 pandemic, the importance of feeling comfortable and having enough personal space is something that matters to skiers and riders. So that will be another plus this year at Tamarack, where you can find your own Private Idaho. 

Skiing pow at Tamarack with Lake Cascade and Long Valley below (Courtesy Tamarack Resort)

Tamarack is having a grand opening tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 11), opening its slopes and alpine village to the general public for the first time this ski season. The resort has been open to season pass holders and resort guests over the last few weekends. From this point forward, they'll be operating 7 days a week. 

Daily lift tickets, Boundless All-Season Passes, and Express Passes are all available online. Standard covid restrictions are in place. Bring your face-coverings to protect yourself and others from the virus.

The Tamarack and Summit express lifts will be running along with the Discovery beginner chair. (No Wildwood yet). You'll be able to ski top-to-bottom, all 2,800 vertical feet, on groomed slopes like Serenity, Showtime and Waltz. See the Tamarack snow report for a run down on the slopes open at this point.      

Speaking of snow, we're supposed to get hammered with lots of *pow* in the next 15 days leading right up to Christmas Day. My OpenSnow post this morning said we've got "Big pow coming with a roar." We need it! 

The Reserve Bar in the Village - it opens tomorrow (courtesy Tamarack Resort)

Scott Turlington, who last summer was named president of Tamarack Resort, said the resort has been working hard to get the new Village at Tamarack ready for the ski season. People who haven't visited for a while will be surprised to see fewer domes at the base area, and more services available on the ground floor of the Village. 

"Man, it's night and day to see the village now," Turlington says.  

Yes, the Village buildings that were wrapped in Tyvek for many years following the 2007 bankruptcy are seeing new life. It's so great to see Tamarack under new ownership revitalizing the resort, finishing unfinished business, and now they've got condominiums in the Village for sale.

"In many ways this will be a season unlike any other, and the Tamarack team is committed to ensuring our guests can safely experience the joy of winter recreation along with the delight in discovering a new favorite in The Village,” Turlington said. 

The Village at Tamarack has a whole new look! (courtesy Tamarack Resort)

On Friday, Tamarack is opening The Reserve upscale bar and restaurant. Other options for food and drink include an outdoor beer garden, Mountain Bites food truck, Clearwater Coffee and the Village Market, which has grab-and-go sandwiches and drinks. In general, skiers/riders should use their vehicle as the "day lodge" due to covid restrictions. 

Later in December, Tamarack will open the Rendezvous food court, where you can choose from four different food venues in one large space -- the Triple B Diner, Crusty's Pizza, Summit Bowls and El Pueblo Taqueria. Turlington says the Triple B will be the work-horse restaurant, similar to the Canoe Grill, but better. Many peeps in McCall love Crusty's, and I recommend it, too. Nice to have more food options! 

Unless you want a year-round pass, the Tamarack Express pass could save money on lift tickets, which cost $100 for adults this year. It comes pre-loaded with a single day ticket, and then skiers and riders can visit as many times as you like with a $15 discount/per visit. See more about lift tickets and passes online.

One unique offering is that Tamarack has special Pickup Boxes for getting your Express pass or other pass. You buy the pass online, scan the QR code at the Pickup Box, and then the box issues your pass on the spot. Then, you can head directly to the lift and start skiing.  

Heading up the Tamarack Express for another run with Jughandle Mountain in the background.

Some of you may recall that I worked in government affairs at Tamarack from 2002-2007. A big part of my job was mapping and exploring the backcountry for the guided snowcat skiing program, guided snowmobile tours and summer recreation activities. I used to call the areas to the north and south of Tamarack's ski area boundary as "my office." 

Another benefit of skiing at Tamarack are the out-of-bounds opportunities for skiers and riders just outside the ropes. Many people take a bunch of turns out of bounds and then vector back to the ski area to catch the lift. You also can pack skins and go for a tour over toward Wildwood Bowl or Lone Tree Mountain to find more Private Idaho. 

I've had some legendary powder days out there, and there's plenty more to come! 

To check on lodging options at Tamarack, go to: tamarackidaho.com/lodging-overview 

------------------------

A few other outdoor notes: 

Brundage Mountain is opening the Activity Barn, a super fun tubing hill near McCall on Friday. The Activity Barn is open Fridays from 2 to 6 pm, Saturdays from 10 am - 6 pm and Sundays from 10 am - 4 pm. During the winter holiday, hours expand considerably. The Activity Barn plans to be open every day from December 18 - January 3. More details and reservations are available at www.activitybarn.com.

I've been ripping groomers at Brundage for several weeks. Maybe you've seen my Facebook posts. The snow has been holding up amazingly well! Quinn and I skied there Tuesday for his 23rd birthday on a gorgeous sunny spring-like day. We had plenty of elbow room on the deck as we had a great lunch from Smoky's (big juicy burrito) and some beers while basking in the sun.  

Sun Valley has some great ski-and-stay deals prior to the Christmas holiday season and following the Christmas-New Years holiday. See the Sun Valley lodging deals page for more information. 

Idaho Park and Ski trails have not been groomed yet. Waiting for more snow. And that should be coming this week! 

Have a great week ... next week's blog will be on last-minute Christmas gift ideas for the outdoorsy him and her.
- SS

Tips to "know before you go" downhill skiing in Idaho

Steve is masked-up for the next run.

Hi all, 

If you've seen my social media posts in the last week or so, you know that I'm pretty stoked about the opportunity of getting out and playing in the snow! 

When Brundage Mountain, Sun Valley and Bogus Basin opened last week for downhill skiing, people were delighted to go lift-served skiing again after the season was abruptly brought to a halt last March because of the coronavirus pandemic. I personally wasn't ready to stop skiing! 

Last weekend, I skied Brundage three days in a row with my son, Quinn, and Wendy joined us on Sunday. Quinn and I snow-biked on Saturday and skied Brundage in the afternoon. The groomers were super fun, and because the hill was open to season pass holders only, it wasn't very crowded! That was a bonus!   

However, two of the people who pulled up in a vehicle beside us did not know that Brundage Mountain was open only two season pass holders last Friday. They had driven up from Eagle. Their kids had passes, but mom and dad expected to buy day tickets. Whoops!

Steve, Wendy and Quinn at Brundage on Sunday. 

 

 

The whole ski experience has changed a bit because of Covid-19 rules and guidelines. The biggest thing that skiers/riders need to remember is to check on the web sites of the ski areas they are visiting before they go. Check on covid protocols, check on ticket availability, and more.

"Know before you go," says Susan Saad, director of community and customer relations for Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area. 

"Don't just jump in the car and head up the mountain," she said. "Check our website, watch social media, call our office, and/or watch for emails for unexpected operational updates or changes due to COVID-19."

Some other reminders: 

• Masks are required when getting into the lift line at the bottom of the hill, and you need to mask up when you get off the lift at the top of the hill. Ski patrols or lifties will ensure you have a face-covering on before you get in line to get on the lift. No exceptions. 
• The neck-gator type face coverings work great for skiing. I have purchased several of them. One of them is wool for colder, windy days, and one is lighter-weight when it's warmer outside. When you approach the lift line, stop and pull up your mask, before you get in line.
  
• No indoor seating is provided at ski lodges. Bring your own food and drink, and think of your vehicle as the "ski lodge." 
• Brundage and Bogus are selling day tickets now. People are encouraged to buy them in advance online. There's a limit on how many day tickets will be sold/day. 
  
• Maybe pack a small BBQ in the back of your truck and pack your BBQ fixings in a cooler ... we'll probably see a lot of that this year. Don't forget the lawn chairs.
  
• Right now, it's early-season conditions. Watch out for hazards when you're skiing/riding. If you've got a new pair of skis or a snowboard, wait until there's more snow to deploy it.
  

All of the covid-related restrictions are designed to prevent the spread of the virus and allow us to keep skiing! Let's hope we can ski all winter-long! 

Where's the snow? Winter started off with a bang in early November, and now we're in a lull, with a high pressure system parked over the Northern Rockies. The high pressure ridge is currently blocking storms from moving into Idaho, and instead, they're diverted to the north or south. It appears we'll be in a holding pattern with dry, cold and clear weather until late next week. See my latest post on Opensnow.com. Enjoy the sunshine. 

No grooming yet on the Idaho City Park n Ski Trails. Grooming is supposed to start next week for the Park n Ski Trails. There's still good snowshoeing to be had on the trails and backcountry skiers have been climbing to make their own turns at Mores Creek Summit, east of Idaho City. Watch for updates here on Facebook.

All of the Park n Ski yurts are booked solid for the season, according to Idaho Parks and Recreation. So if you were thinking making a reservation for one of those yurts, don't bother! 

I'll write about some of the other yurt/hut systems you could visit this winter in a forthcoming column. 

Have fun and be safe out there!
- SS

Avoid the Foothills! Eight alternative bike rides in the greater Boise area

Did a Greenbelt ride out to Lucky Peak today. Mostly nice afternoon till the squall came!

Hi all,  

Temperatures have been rising into the mid-40s this week, and often barely freezing at night, and so we're seeing a lot of damage being done to muddy trails in the Boise foothills. 

Trust me, if the temperatures are above freezing, you are going to be damaging foothills trails no matter whether you're hiking, running or biking. Please think about alternatives for your outdoor outings!

One of the best alternatives is to jump on your road bike or mountain bike and do a scenic ride on the Greenbelt Loop, or knock out a road-biking loop. In my outdoor tip this week, I'm recommending eight alternative destinations for biking. 

Before you go, be sure to dress warmly for your hike, run or ride. Dress in layers. Wear a light shell for a jacket for wind protection. I've been wearing a head band this week on my road rides to keep my ears warm, and a light pair of gloves to keep my hands warm.  

On a ride from Municipal Park to Lucky Peak today, I had an awesome tail-wind out to the dam, riding in sunshine the whole way, and then I had a vicious head-wind going back, especially in the canyon by Diversion Dam. A fresh squall started to rain and hail, and I thought, that's life in the mountains! It's November 19th! But I was glad to have my rain/wind shell on to keep me dry inside.

Just to refresh your memory, here are eight Greenbelt and road rides close to home in the Boise area:

1. Municipal Park to Barber Park Loop - Rated easy. 10 miles. Ride time: 1 hour. Start from Municipal Park in east Boise, near Idaho Fish and Game headquarters on Walnut Street. Go east on the Greenbelt 4.2 miles. Turn right and take the path to Barber Park. Follow the paved path to the left of the park entrance and follow that through a number of neighborhoods for several miles. Ride on the detached pathway along ParkCenter Blvd., turn right on River Run Driver, follow the bike lane to the paved Greenbelt access and ride to Broadway bridge. Cross the river at Broadway, turn right, and return to Municipal Park.

Nice afternoon at Discovery Park at the foot of Lucky Peak

2. Municipal Park to Discovery Park (foot of Lucky Peak Dam) - Rated easy to moderate. 9 miles one-way, 18 miles round-trip. Ride time: 1 to 1.5 hours. Start from Municipal Park near Warm Springs and Walnut. Go east on the Greenbelt 9 miles to Discovery Park. It's slightly uphill - 140 feet of gain. But wind will be a much bigger factor on the ride. In the winter, you may ride into the teeth of an east wind on the way out, and zoom back with a tail-wind. In the summer, it's the reverse. Take a breather at the park; do some stretching, have a snack, drink some water, and ride back to Municipal Park.

3. Municipal Park to Hilltop Summit and back - Rated strenuous. 27 miles round-trip. Ride time: 2.5 hours at a recreation pace. Now is a good time to ride to Hilltop because the traffic isn't nearly as heavy as it is in the summer. Watch for mule deer and elk. Start from Municipal Park near Warm Springs and Walnut. Go east on the Greenbelt 9 miles to Discovery Park. Jump on Idaho Highway 21 and climb the grade to the top of Lucky Peak, and keep going to Hilltop Summit. It's an additional 4.5 miles from Discovery Park to Hilltop.

4. Boise Bench Airport Tour - Rated moderate. 21.2 miles. Ride time: 2 hours. This is a good tour of the upper Boise Bench. It can get really windy out on Gowen Road so be ready for that. Start at Municipal Park near Warm Springs and Walnut. Go east on the Greenbelt 6.7 miles and turn right on the Idaho 21 connector to Gowen Road. There is a good shoulder. At the junction, with Gowen Road at mile 10, go straight and beeline to Orchard. Enjoy the tour of the National Guard facilities and the Boise Airport. At mile 14.3, go right on Orchard. Go three miles and turn right on Kootenai, a leafy neighborhood on the bench. At mile 19, go straight on Protest, drop down the hill, follow Beacon over to Broadway. Turn left on Broadway, cross the river, and take the Greenbelt back to Municipal Park.

 

5. Spin it on Hill Road - Hill Road has a good shoulder, and you can ride as far as you want, going west. Once you get to old Horseshoe Bend Road, head over to Floating Feather Road or Beacon Light Road and continue riding west to Eagle Road, Idaho Highway 16 or Star for the hard-cores. It's 40 miles out and back to Star. Wind will be a factor.

 

Rural roads are a natural place to "social distance." This is Hubbard Lane.

6.  City to Farm - 25 miles. Rated moderate. 1.5 to 2 hours travel time. The great thing about riding in this area is that there is almost NO TRAFFIC. Start at Five Mile and Overland. Park in the shopping center parking lot. Take Five Mile south to Lake Hazel, turned right on Lake Hazel for one mile to Cloverdale, Cloverdale south to Hubbard, left on Hubbard to Ten Mile, and ride that beautiful open valley to South Cole. Then go south on Cole to Kuna-Mora, right on Kuna-Mora to Cloverdale, and retrace your tracks back to the start/finish. Caution: Kuna-Nora road is almost always very WINDY! 

7. Cartwright - Three Summits Loop - Climber's special. This loop is about 18 miles and takes about 1.5 hours at a recreational pace. It's also fondly called the "Dump Loop," because it goes by the Ada County landfill. It features several in-your-face steep climbs on Cartwright. You can ride it clockwise or counterclockwise. Start at Hill and Bogus Basin Road. Go west on Hill to Seaman's Gulch. Go right and climb Seaman's Gulch past the landfill over to Hidden Springs. Turn right on Dry Creek Road and enjoy a spin through that valley and then climb the first big hill on Cartwright to Pierce Park. Go left and climb the next hill (short but kind of steep), and then enjoy a really fast downhill past the Owyhee Motorcycle Park. Gear down for the last hill to the initial Cartwright summit, and zoom down past the LDS church to Bogus Basin Road, turn right to the start/finish.

 

8. Lake Lowell Loop - 26 miles. It's a pretty easy ride with no significant hills (380 feet of verticle climbing the whole ride), and you circumnavigate Lake Lowell and enjoy the bird life. Start and finish at the Lake Lowell Boat Ramp. See the Boise Road Cycling Guide for directions.

 

A quick word about the Boise Road Cycling Guide if you haven't seen it. It's a full color, two-sided foldout map with Olympian Kristin Armstrong on the cover. The map features more than 30 rides in the Boise Valley. It's waterproof and tear-proof. It costs $12.50, and it's available at Idaho Mountain Touring, Boise REI or stevestuebner.com. It's the only road biking map available for the Boise area.

 

FYI - The City of Eagle is looking for four people to serve at-large positions on a BLM Advisory Board. Follow this link for more information.  

- SS

Six destinations near Boise for a boot hike, xc ski, snowshoe in the snow!

Deer Point service road leading to the Boise Ridge Road (taken 11-11-20)

Hi all, 

In less than a week's time, we've had an amazing amount of snow piling up in the Idaho mountains! Wendy and I went for a boot hike on the Deer Point service road on Wednesday afternoon (11-11), and we were amazed to be walking through nearly a foot of snow as we neared the high saddle between Deer Point and the Boise Ridge. 

The Mores Creek snowtel site shows 12 inches of snow at Mores Creek Summit, and there's at least 3-6 inches around McCall and Stanley, depending on elevation. Snow is beginning to build in the mountains, and starting tonight, there's a huge base-making storm descending on Idaho that could dump another 1-2 feet of snow in the Boise Mountains, West Central Mountains and Central Mountains. Woo hoo! 

Read my latest post in OpenSnow.com that details the weekend storm. 

Our snow hike yesterday just felt really invigorating on a sunny but brisk afternoon. The temperatures were in the low 20s. No wind. The late-afternoon sun created a cobalt-clear postcard sky with heavily snow-flocked trees in the background. Just gorgeous! 

Wendy and I are from the Midwest originally, so we always are eager to get out and play in the snow after the first significant snow storm. The Deer Point road is one of the best places to go boot-hiking, snow-shoeing, or xc skiing to access the Boise Ridge and enjoy a backcountry experience just a few minutes away from Bogus Basin Mountain Resort. The parking area is near mile 13 on Bogus Basin Road. Good place for dogs, too.

My outdoor tip this week highlights five other destinations where you could take a walk in the snow in the greater Boise area.

1. Bogus Basin Nordic Highway and Mores Mountain - The front side of Bogus Basin ski area is off-limits to backcountry skiers/snowshoers (see message here). People are being directed to the Nordic Highway, which is perfect for xc skiing and snowshoeing. Drive to the Nordic lodge to begin your adventure. Backcountry skiers are being steered to Superior, Pine Creek and Mores Mountain. 

New trail leading from BB Road over to Sweet Connie/Stack Rock jct. About 3 miles one-way.

2. New trail to Sweet Connie/Stack Rock - Park at the pullout on Bogus Basin Road (near mile 10) and take the new trail going over to Sweet Connie and Freddy's Stack Rock Trail. Good place for an out-and-back boot hike. Snowshoes will be suitable after the snow gets deeper. Dogs are A-OK.

3. Mores Creek Summit - Take Idaho 21 to Idaho City and continue to Mores Creek Summit, trailhead for Pilot Peak and Sunset Mountain. This is a popular spot for snowmobile riders going up to Pilot Peak and backcountry skiers and snowshoers. Also a fun spot for kids to play in the snow in the parking lot. Both of the snow roads taking off from Mores Creek summit are steep and continuous, but definitely doable. 

4. Idaho City Park n Ski areas - Idaho Parks and Recreation officials said that grooming won't start until December 1st in the park n ski areas, but anyone could still break their own trail at any of the trailheads. After Friday's storm, the park n ski parking lots may not be plowed until Saturday ... you might call the ITD shop in Idaho City to check on status.

5.  McCall/Bear Basin - People are skiing on the McCall Golf Course, and it should be possible to xc ski or snowshoe at Bear Basin as the snow gets deeper after Friday's storm system passes through. If you were thinking about skinning up Brundage Mountain, Brundage officials have specific guidance on skinning hours at the resort (before 9 a.m. or after 4:30 p.m.). See details here.

Have fun!
- SS

Still have 1 week of nice weather ahead! Three Spring Hikes that are just as Fine in the Fall!

The initial climb into the canyon. Shoofly Quick Loop 

Station Creek 

Hi all, 

Boy, the afternoons are getting nicer every day, with temperatures nudging the high 60s to even low 70s in the heat of the day. That weather is supposed to hold through the middle of next week, so you might as well try to get out while you can! 

Speaking of weather, I'd like to share my first post of the season for OpenSnow.com. In the post, I talk about the La Nina forecast for this winter, which is great news for skiers and riders in Idaho. In La Nina years, Idaho's mountains average 100-110 percent of normal precipitation, so if that turns out to be true, that means we could have a ton of snow, which bodes well for powder hounds and a great river season in 2021. The long-term temperature outlook favors a cold winter in N. Idaho, and slightly warmer than normal temps in S. Idaho. See my post for the full details and graphics. 

And BTW, in case you haven't heard the radio ads, the BBSRA Ski Swap has been canceled. But McU Sports, Greenwoods Ski Haus, Idaho Mountain Touring and Play it Again Sports will be holding their own used/new ski and snowboard equipment sales in their retail stores, Nov. 6-8. Check with the retailers on the specifics, but in general, you'll be able to bring in used items to sell at the stores, and you'll be able to shop for used and new items, including ski/snowboard gear and clothing. 

Now, for the hikes ... These are some of my personal favorites ... I've written about them before, talked about them before on the radio, and they're in my guidebooks, Boise Trail Guide: 95 Hiking and Running Routes Close to Home, and Owyhee Canyonlands - An Outdoor Adventure Guide. 

Station Creek Trail 

1.  Station Creek Trail in Garden Valley - Arguably the nicest hike close to Boise in the Boise National Forest. See this post for details. 

Airplane ridge on the way to Mt. Cervidae

2. Mount Cervidae - one of the Boise Grand Slam Peaks that's really doable almost year-round. See this post for details. 

You'll go by an old cabin at the junction of the East Fork and West Fork of Shoofly Creek.

3. Shoofly Quick Loop - This is a cool adventure hike in the Owyhee Canyonlands. The trailhead isn't too far Grand View. You can check out the BLM Oolite Interpretive Area along the way. See this post for details. 

Interesting plateaus and canyons in that "Between the Creeks" area.  

Shoofly Quick Loop map 

Have fun and be safe out there! 
- SS 

Crisp fall weekend on tap - great time to hike in the Owyhee Canyonlands!

Have you climbed Three Fingers in the Owyhees? 

Hi all, 

Boy, it's getting downright nippy this weekend! Fall is definitely getting a grip on Idaho! I'm seeing a possibility of snow showers in McCall and Stanley on Saturday, and low temperatures in the single digits! Sounds like a great forecast for elk hunting in the mountains. 

But if you were interested in going out for a nice hike, I'd recommend heading for the Owyhee Canyonlands. I'm seeing high temperatures in the 50s for Homedale, which is just 30 minutes from Succor Creek State Park, and a high of 60 in Grand View, at the beginning of the Owyhee Backcountry Byway. 

Picking just a few of my favorite hikes from my Owyhee Canyonlands adventure guide, I'd recommend Browns Canyon near Oreana, visiting Succor Creek State Park, Climbing Three Fingers near Succor Creek, or visiting Leslie Gulch, one of the most scenic locations in the Owyhee Canyonlands tucked inside the Oregon border. 

Browns Canyon 

1. Brown's Canyon Overland Tour, Owyhee Front, near Oreana. Distance: 5.2 miles. Difficulty: Moderate. Travel time: 3+ hours. This is an interesting hike in the sagebrush and rocks of the Owyhee Front until you come across Brown's Canyon, a hidden jewel. In my Owyhee Canyonlands guidebook, I detail a hike inside the slot canyons of Brown's Canyon, and a hike that goes around the slot canyon (thereby avoiding cold, deep-water pools) but you can still see it from above.

How to get there: Take I-84 East to Simco Road. Turn south on the highway to Grand View. Turn right on Idaho 78 in Grandview and head for the tiny old town of Oreana. There's a sign on the highway for a left-hand turn into town near MP 43. Make a note of your odometer. Drive down the hill straight into town, go past the old church (2.25 miles from the highway) and go straight on the Oreana Loop Road until it takes a hard left. Make the corner and take an immediate right on Alder Creek Road. Follow the bumpy dirt road six miles to a signed right-hand turnoff for BLM Road 700. Proceed down the grade to an old corral at a two-way junction. Park. The hike starts here.

Drewby liked Browns Canyon 

The Hike: Go west on BLM Road 700 and climb a moderate grade over to a bluff that overlooks Browns Canyon. At mile 1.4, bear right on a two-track and drop down to the Browns Creek draw. This is a pretty area that's full of shrubs and aspens. The first slot canyon with blondish rock begins at mile 1.7. Cross over to the left side of the draw, as you go downstream, and walk overland through the blond rocks staying above the canyon. You'll break out into an open sage flat at mile 2.0. When the next slot canyon begins, climb up the slope to the left until you reach the top of the rim, and then hike along the rim as close as you feel comfortable to check out the slot canyon as you move along. In a half mile, the canyon breaks open by a draw, and you'll need to lose elevation. Hike into the bottom of the gully and climb back on top of the rim. There's a nice overlook when you reach the top again at mile 3. Continue on the left side of the canyon until you come to the dirt road crossing, and then turn right onto the dirt road at mile 3.6.  Follow the road to mile 4.0 at a two-way junction. Turn right again at a fence gate, and follow the two-track road (BLM Road #710)  back to the trailhead. Feel free to explore Antelope Springs along the way. It's another tight canyon.  

Wendy at Succor Creek 

2. Visit Succor Creek State Park - Succor Creek State Park lies in the bottom of an incised canyon, surrounded by cool rock features left over from rhyiolite and basalt lava flows that occurred many millions of years ago. There aren't many official trails in the area, but cross-country hiking is a great way to explore it. Kids will enjoy the caves, in particular, and playing around by the creek.

We started our outing with a casual walk along Succor Creek. We walked a half mile downstream before we got cliffed out and had to turn around. Near the pedestrian bridge that goes across the creek in the campground, there is a small slot canyon you can explore. There's also a jeep trail that climbs above the slot canyon and provides a nice view of the campground below. We could peer into the slot canyon and walk along the top of the rim as far as we wished. Up on top, you could climb much higher if you wanted to get a huge view of the Owyhee Mountains.

We saw at least 10 different caves that one could explore. A very large cave lies next to Succor Creek Road. It has a big dirt floor and there were some small animal bones and such that we found inside.

How to get there: Take I-84 to the last exit in Nampa. Take ID 55 west toward Marsing. Turn right on Chicken Dinner Road, then left on Homedale Road, and go to Homedale. Follow State Highway 19 west of Homedale, and then Highway 201 in Oregon, to a signed turnoff for Succor Creek State Park on the left. Follow the good dirt road to Succor Creek State Park, it's about 20-30 minutes to the park from the highway. 

Hike to Three Fingers 

The dirt road access for Three Fingers is a few miles south of Succor Creek State Park. A good all-wheel-drive vehicle with high clearance is recommended for this trip, but it's not that gnarly of a road (when it's dry). A Subaru Outback should be fine, too. Watch for a right-hand turn after climbing the grade south of Succor Creek State Park. Turn right on the primitive road, and continue 3.9 miles on the dirt road to "the trailhead" for Three Fingers, a high point in the road. You'll see a steep two-track headed to the west over a hill. There is a fiber optic cable post across the road at this spot. I parked my Ford F-250 in a pullout and hiked from there.

It's about 1.2 miles to the top of Three Fingers from the trailhead, or 2.4 miles total. Bring a lunch and some water to enjoy on the summit. You can't see Three Fingers from the trailhead, but you'll see it on the dirt road as you're approaching it. It's a basalt cap on top of a grassy knoll with three distinctive knobby fingers.

From the trailhead, we followed the two-track ruts to the top of the first ridge at .3 miles. From there, a grand view of the Owyhee Plateau opened up before our eyes. The two-track bends to the north toward Three Fingers. We cruised over there, and then followed footpaths toward a gap behind the rock between the first finger and the second finger. Sure enough, it was possible to scramble to the top from there. I had to lift my puppy over a few steep spots, but a dog should be fine on the hike.

Once on top, we could see for more than 50 miles in all directions. We discovered several unexpected pleasures on our trip. First, my friend Norm spied a gold eagle nest on the backside of Three Fingers. With the binoculars, he could see an eagle chick in the nest. There might have been more chicks in the nest, yet to hatch.

Bones for Huck to sniff 

The second thing was that someone has placed a silver canister at the summit of the first finger containing a number of notebooks inside. Several summit journals contain people's thoughts over the last 10 years. That's pretty cool. I made a few notes in one of the notebooks.

If you've got a copy handy, bring along Roadside Geology of Idaho by David Alt and Donald Hyndman in your day pack. It's a great reference for a hike in the Owyhees. It explains the rhyolite volcanic eruptions and the oozing basalt lava flows that shaped that countryside. It's pretty easy to imagine those events when you're sitting in a catbird seat on Three Fingers, enjoying a quiet moment surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Enjoy the Owyhees! 
- SS 

Take a "Leaf-Peeping" Fall Foliage vacation in New England

 

Fall colors are beginning to burst from the top of Mt. Kearsarge near New London, N.H. 

Kancamagus Highway, White Mountains, NH (courtesy New England Tourism)

Hi all,

I visited my son, Quinn, at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH, last weekend, and I was hoping that my trip would be well-timed to experience the fall colors building to a peak in New England. 

As things turned out, it was close to the peak! Midway upstate in New Hampshire, where we visited our cousins in Waterville Valley, the leaves were a bit past the peak in the White Mountains. In New London, a bit to the west and south, the colors were beginning to burst with color, but yet-to-peak fully. Still, I felt blessed to experience the grandeur of fall colors while climbing several mountains with Quinn. Always great fun to hang out with Quinn! I also got to see my sister, Sue, who is president of Colby-Sawyer, and take some pretty walks in New London, a charming little town.   

For this week's outdoor tip, I'd like to recommend some popular places to see and go as part of a New England fall folliage vacation. Tuck this idea away for post-Covid life, if that ever occurs! 

If you haven't heard, New England is considered a national tourist destination for fall colors. A unique mix of sugar maple trees, hickories, paper birches and tulip poplars create an amazing kaleidoscope of colors, including varying shades of red, yellow, orange and purple! 

And here's a new one for you ... people who travel to see fall folliage are known as a "Leaf-Peeper." The overall practice is known as "Leaf-Peeping." 

From Wikipedia: Leaf peeping is an informal term in the United States and Canada for the activity in which people travel to view and photograph the fall foliage in areas where leaves change colors in autumn,^[1] particularly in northern New England^[2][3] and the upper Midwest, as well as the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.^[4][5] An organized excursion for leaf peeping is known as a foliage tour or color tour.

Last Friday, Quinn and I climbed Mt. Kearsarge, kind of the local mountain for Colby-Sawyer students, staff and faculty. The college holds a Mountain Day event each fall, where everyone climbs to the top of Mt. Kearsarge (elev. 2,923 feet), and enjoys a picnic aftewards. This year it was an on-your-own version of Mountain Day, and that happened to coincide with my visit with Quinn. It's a steep trail with lots roots and rocks to climb over, but once on top of the granite slabs at the summit, it's a great 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside. 

On Saturday morning, we ventured to Waterville Valley to climb a mountain and visit my cousins who have a ski house in the 'hood. Quinn and I were going to hike a national forest trail to the top of two peaks, but as we neared the trailhead, we saw 200-300 cars parked on either side of the paved road. So we're like, no thanks! We decided to climb the Waterville ski area instead -- a 2,000-foot vertical climb over several miles, hiking up the grassy slopes next to thick and colorful trees.

From the summit of Waterville, it seemed the leaves were just a bit past the peak ... 

Top of Waterville Valley ski area. Nice day for a hike! 

I get a kick out of Quinn wearing his river hat on a hike. It was an uncommonly warm, fall day.  

They actually mow the ski slopes at Waterville presumably to enable them to open as early as possible with natural and man-made snow. But that made the hiking and footing quite nice.

Now, here are some other recommendations for fall foliage destinations/tours:

• Drive the Kancamagus Scenic Highway in the White Mountains. This route is considered to be one of the best scenic drives for fall foliage in New England. The route is 35 miles long. Find a cool B&B or AirBnb to stay in near the route! 
• Drive the Mountain Washington Auto Road to reach the highest summit in New England on Mount Washington (elev. 6,288 feet). It's also one of the coldest and windiest spots in the whole region, so plan for that! There are hiking trails nearby from the summt. 
• Take the cog railway to the top of Mountain Washington. The train climbs the mountain at a 25 percent grade in places. It takes an hour round-trip, according to the web site. 
• Here's a guide to 15 scenic drives for fall foliage in New England. 

Courtesy Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Hope that whets your appetite! If not, check out these photos! 

Courtesy Great Train Escapes

Courtesy Stellar Travel