Take a moment and consider the last time you spent time in nature. Was your interaction face-to-face, or did you spend much of your time peering through a screen? Neither is right or wrong: while some outdoor recreationists may scorn technology on backcountry adventures, others find joy in capturing experiences via camera or smartphone. When […]
The Bear Necessities
The Bear Necessities Brown, cinnamon, blonde, or even black, the American black bear, or the Ursus americanus, is very common in the Sawtooth Mountains. Black bears can be seen throughout the summer scavenging for food and looking for tasty treats. However, in the winter, black bears are not seen as often. They will go into […]
Interview with an Archaeologist
Interview with an Archaeologist Hi! I’m Aspen Arnold, the 2021 Historic Specialist at the Stanley Museum. Recently I had the opportunity to interview the Forest Archaeologist for the Sawtooth National Forest, Doug Baughman. As a student of anthropology, I was excited to hear what someone in his position does day to day on such a […]
Fireweeds Journey: Story of a Fireweed through a Burned Area
Fireweeds Journey: Story of a Fireweed through a Burned Area Recent fires from a lightning strike had spread through the area. Now, fire-darkened tree skeletons reach leafless arms to the sky. Wind creaks through the spindly branches leaving an eerie feeling in the forest. Dark and dreary, the barren landscape appears lonely and sad, but […]
We all have to go, so let’s make sure we go the right way
We all have to go, so let’s make sure we go the right way I certainly poop. I’m willing to bet that you poop, too. We all poop because pooping is just a natural part of being a human. When we recreate in natural areas like the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, it means that there […]
Current Salmon Trends: Salmon’s Continued Struggle to Escape Extinction
Current Salmon Trends: Salmon’s Continued Struggle to Escape Extinction The number of salmon that return to the Sawtooth Valley today are far lower than their historic numbers. There are many contributing factors to their struggle, beginning in the 1800s with overfishing, and then with logging and ranching that further degraded their habitat. Later into the […]
Con Artists in the American West
Stories of the American West are extremely romantic. They tell of pioneers on the Oregon Trail, mountain men, and horse-riding cowboys. It all adds to our society’s picturesque imaginings of the “Old West.” One thing to remember about the West is that it represented boundless opportunities for those hoping to improve their lot in life. […]
How to be Friends with Bears: Advice from Bear Specialist Lara Antonello
How to be Friends with Bears: Advice from Bear Specialist Lara Antonello Finding balance between allowing animals space to roam and inhabit their territory while also allowing safe recreation by humans poses a difficult task. It can be more difficult with some animals, like bears, because they can be dangerous if not properly managed. This […]
It’s Getting Hot in Here: A look at the impact that climate change has on alpine flowers and pollinators
It’s Getting Hot in Here: A look at the impact that climate change has on alpine flowers and pollinators Idaho as a whole, and more specifically the Sawtooth region, has been experiencing an uncharacteristically warm summer. In Stanley, June saw temperatures in the mid to high 80’s when the average high is usually in the […]
Below the Blaze: How Wildfires Affect Soil
Below the Blaze: How Wildfires Affect Soil Soil is the most basic building block of any ecosystem. Healthy, nutrient-rich soil provides the basis for plant life, which in turn supports wildlife. However, it is not often we stop to consider soil, especially when distracted by smoke overhead and fires along the ridgeline. To understand post-fire […]