“As we passed on, it seemed those scenes of visionary enchantment would never have an end.” -Meriwether Lewis Named for their easily recognizable jagged peaks and U-shaped valleys, the Sawtooth Mountains encompass 678 square miles across 4 counties. The “sawtooth” formation is due to the lifting and erosion of the Idaho Batholith. What is a Batholith? […]
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A walk with old friends
“A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled surfaces. We need wilderness whether or not we ever set foot in it. We need a refuge even though we may never need to set foot in it. We need the […]
How the Peaks Got Their Names
The name of the mountain range that runs through this region is fairly self-explanatory; the jagged peaks resemble the sharp, crooked teeth of a saw blade. The Sawtooth Mountains run 43 miles long and 25 miles wide, covering 678 square miles. Within this range, there are 57 peaks that are over 10,000 feet high, and […]
An Evening Excursion
These long days provide for longer adventures. After a day of work, there are still plenty of hours of daylight left. The Sawtooths offer endless peaks, valleys, lakes, and streams for exploring. As the snow slowly recedes with the warmer weather hikes to higher elevations are slowly opening up. I am eager and impatient to […]
Flying Balloons
It’s almost a right of passing, at least in my neighborhood growing up. You go to a restaurant with your family, the restaurant hands out balloons to any kids who ask for it. That kid gets the balloon and almost immediately after leaving the door the balloon magically slips out of their hand and floats […]
Early Summer Fun!
Summer is arriving in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area! Days are getting warmer and the lakes are beginning to look inviting for swimming. It’s easy to forget that snow can still be found at higher elevations, and that trails may not be clear for hiking. Adventure abounds regardless, and there are plenty of opportunities for early-season […]
Morning Run
I wake up at 6:45am not ready for my day to start. I snuggle further into my bed knowing it will just make getting up even harder. Finally, I throw back the sheets and crawl out of bed. I change and get my things ready to go. I wait for my running partner to finish […]
Are You Ready for the Wilderness?
As a Naturalist, I do multiple Leave No Trace (LNT) talks every week. We stand at trailheads and talk to people going out into the wilderness about the Sawtooth Wilderness regulations and how to best respect the wilderness. Having talked about LNT so often, I have come to have my own opinion on which could […]
From Redd to Shining Redd
I am born. An alevin in a cold rocky bed With a thousand of my siblings by my side I think I’ll hide in the rocks for a while I am hungry. As a fry my yoke has been used up And I must seek food for the first time I think I see […]
My Sleeping Bag
It’s cold up her in the mountains My sleeping bag is warm If I stay I can day dream Read and pretend I am far away But if I get out Oh the things I can do and see I can find a secrete waterfall Follow it to its source Wash my face in its […]