The Alpine Examiner September 13, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area The Roads to the Sawtooths: The Age Of Automobiles Galena Summit Road Bridge Over Salmon River (Photo from ITD Public Archives) By the 1890s, the routes that would become Idaho State Highway 21 & […]
Naturalists
The Roads to the Sawtooths: Man Before Machine
The Alpine Examiner September 6, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area The Roads to the Sawtooths: Man Before Machine A carriage descending Galena Hill to Ketchum (Shaw Collection – Stanley Museum) People visit the Sawtooths for endless reasons. Maybe it’s a family tradition, the allure […]
Meet the Mustelids
The Alpine Examiner August 30th, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Meet the Mustelids The Sawtooths are full of specialists. Some animals are built for speed, others for strength, and some for life almost entirely out of sight. But few families show that diversity better […]
Out of the History Element: Learning Beyond One’s Discipline
The Alpine Examiner August 23, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Out of the History Element: Learning Beyond One’s Discipline Working two summers as a historic specialist in Stanley, you develop a lot of knowledge that is not necessarily historical. While I do get to […]
Wild Facts: Getting to Know Wolves
The Alpine Examiner August 16, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Wild Facts: Getting to Know Wolves What do you think of when you think of the moon at night? Some might say moths, and others might think of werewolves. If you guessed werewolves, you’re […]
Song of the Cicada
The Alpine Examiner August 9, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Song of the Cicada After two prior seasons here in the Sawtooths, I had a new and exciting experience this summer. On a hike to the Bench Lakes, I discovered a creature from my […]
Mountain Hospitality: A History of Guest Accommodations in the Sawtooths
The Alpine Examiner August 2, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Mountain Hospitality: A History of Guest Accommodations in the Sawtooths The Salmon River Hotel on the right (not described in article) constructed circa 1930. Photo Credit: Historic Buildings Collection, SIHA Archives The Sawtooth Valley […]
The Mythology behind Sawtooth Constellations
The Alpine Examiner July 26th, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area The Mythology behind Sawtooth Constellations Stargazing is an excellent year-round activity, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge of looking for constellations in the summer. It takes a lot of practice, and you have to be […]
Excavated by Ice
The Alpine Examiner July 19th, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area Excavated by Ice Did you know that ice can flow across land? When enough ice and snow accumulate in one area, it can begin to move under its own weight. At this point, it’s […]
The Ground Squirrel Forecast
The Alpine Examiner July 12th, 2026 Naturalist Blog Getting to the heart of what matters in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area The Ground Squirrel Forecast Within my first week of moving into the SIHA bunkhouse in Obsidian, I developed an odd fascination with Columbian ground squirrels. Every morning before heading to work, a crew member […]