Idaho Seven Devils mts, little known gem

Idaho Statesman reports on Idaho's hidden gem of the Seven Devils mountains.

Many people don't know this majestic mountain range is [just off the US-95 near Riggins], or don't take the trouble to find it because Seven Devils is farther off the beaten path than the Sawtooths.

But if you love Idaho's scenic backcountry, it's a place you should visit at least once. If you're the adventurous type, it's someplace you can explore for years and still find new surprises.

"This is an absolutely fascinating place," said fire lookout Michael Oliver, whose tower has some of the best views in Idaho.

Oliver gets visits from folks ranging from locals to European tourists, from hardcore hikers and horsepackers who delve deep into the backcountry to families taking a scenic drive.

Read the full story: Seven Devils: these rugged mountains area little slice of heaven

Photo from Idaho Statesman

Idaho water adventure company's success

Idaho Statesman reports on the success of the Idaho Canoe and Kayak Club's success.

Its outings have enticed up to 150 Treasure Valley boaters to Idaho waterways since the late 1980s. Floats from May to October typically draw from 40 to 70 boaters.

Stan Kolby and Jo Cassin, the co-owners of Idaho River Sports in Boise, have been an integral part of the club's success.

Although their shop was selling a lot of canoes, Kolby and Cassin found that buyers didn't know where to paddle - or who to paddle with.

"The club did exactly what we wanted it to do," said Kolby, which was to bring together boaters on Idaho's rivers and lakes.

"It totally exploded," Kolby said.

At first canoeists dominated the monthly floats. Then in the mid-1990s, more stable and comfortable recreational kayaks became popular choices.

Read the full story: Explore Idaho by canoe or kayak

Photo from Idaho Canoe and Kayak Club

Guns vs grizzly bears - new federal law allows guns in national parks

The AP via USA Today reports on a new federal law that allows people to carry guns into national parks.

The law was focused on Second Amendment rights to bear arms as opposed to warding off attacking grizzly bears.

Proponents claim that the guns will help protect them against the advent of a bear attack. Park service biologists claim that guns and grizzlies together equal dead grizzlies and that less deadly methods to ward of bears should be used. Other park service workers say that only time will tell about the consequences of the new law.

Grizzlies are the undisputed bosses of the backcountry in [Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks]. They've killed 10 people in Glacier and five in Yellowstone in the past century. Those parks average one grizzly attack with injuries a year. Grand Teton has had only a handful of attacks, and no deaths, but it's only had substantial numbers of grizzlies for the past decade or so.

Wyoming, Idaho and Montana are home to roughly 1,300 grizzlies. Their numbers have rebounded since the 1970s and, although grizzlies still are listed as a threatened species, it's no longer rare for one lolling roadside to jam up tourist traffic in Grand Teton, Yellowstone or Glacier.

Park rangers in [the three parks] are still telling visitors that a pressurized can of hot-pepper oil — bear spray — is their best defense.

Their reasoning? Studies show that in most cases, putting a cloud of bear spray in a grizzly's face works better than trying to stop a moving 400-pound animal with a perfectly placed bullet.

"You've got to be a really good shot with a gun," said Yellowstone bear biologist Kerry Gunther. "That's the beauty of bear spray. You don't really have to aim it. All you have to do is pull it and pull the trigger."

Read the full story: New law pits guns against grizzlies in national parks

Photo by David Grubbs / AP

Sled dog races in Idaho

The Idaho Statesman reports on a couple sled dog races in Central Idaho this month.

Fairfield is hosting the Soldier Mountain Quest on Friday and Saturday, and Stanley is home to the Dogtown Sled Dog Rendezvous on March 13.

Sled dogs, especially competition teams, are athletes. They prepare for competitions by pulling a sled and musher on multi-mile training sessions many days per week. In the summer, the dogs maintain their aerobic fitness and strength by pulling carts along roads. Canine athletes eat a high-octane diet consisting of protein and fat.

Typical breeds found in dog sledding events include Alaskan malamutes, Alaskan huskies and Siberian huskies. A breed developed in Idaho is the Targhee Hound, an Irish Setter and Staghound mix named after the Targhee Mountains

Read the full story: Sled dogs in action are quite a sight

Photo from Idaho Statesman

Idaho crosscountry ski spots

The Idaho Statesman reports on Nordic ski spots around the state.

Included are Bogus Basin (picture left) , Idaho City park n' ski, and Lake Cascade state park loop (description follows):

What: A 1.2-mile groomed trail.

Coolest things: The one-way loop trail with a variety of terrain is available for the first time this winter. It's a quick ski through the Van Wyck and Ridgeview recreation areas, which have sweeping views of West Mountain and Lake Cascade. Restrooms and trail maps are available at the trailhead.

Trail fee: Parking fee required - either the Idaho State Parks annual pass or the daily motorized vehicle entrance fee of $4 ($5 starting Jan. 1). No other trails fees required.

Distances are from Boise.

Read the full story: Nordic nirvana

Photo from Idaho Statesman

Idaho fall nature pics

The Idaho Statesman has a gorgeous photo gallery of flowers and animals (like this trout taken by Roger Phillips) abundant around this time of year.

Check out the gallery here: 2009 Natural Wonders

Idaho moose encounters

The Idaho Statesman's Pete Zimowsky shares his readers' moose sighting tales.

Kathy and Bob Durbin along with their dog Scruffy were kayaking around northern Idaho's Spirit Lake (pic right) when they came across this female moose who was quietly munching away on water plants.

Read the full story: Close encounters with moose

Melting snow reveals outdoor ID trails

The Idaho Statesman's Natalie Bartley reports on the rail trails to enjoy now that the snow is finally melting.

The recreational trails in Idaho - most of which are nonmotorized - have been built on or near old railroad mainlines and spurs that used to carry silver, copper, gold, timber, agricultural products and people throughout the state.

Read the full story: Take one of Idaho's many rail trails

Out of Idaho with outdoor blast

Idaho Statesman editor David Parker, who is moving away from Idaho, decided to spend his last days in the Gem State on an outdoor adventure that included hiking, biking and rafting in the Sawtooths easily reached from the town of Stanley.

The mountain bike portion of Parker's trip was the scenic 18-mile Fisher-Williams loop in the White Cloud Mountains that took him through "aspen trees and sagebrush, across creeks, up steep climbs and - of course - down some ripping singletrack." This bike trail is 14 miles south of Stanley.

Parker's overnight backpacking hiking trip took him to Sawtooth lake. He took the Iron Creek Trailhead which is just north of Stanley.

Rafting down the Salmon River is an experience that outdoors enthusiasts can't leave Idaho without doing and the last outdoor adventure that Parker did:

"A soak in the icy waters of the Salmon is a good way to cap off a weekend in the Sawtooths, whether you're floating the river or just hopping in."

Read the full story: How would you spend your last days in Idaho?

Idaho Statesman's Trail of the Week

A fun discovery is the Idaho Statesman's Trail of the Week section. Each week one of their outdoor reporters reviews a trail worth walking. This week Pete Zimowsky reviews the Kathryn Albertson Park where sighting birds is the best thing.

Keep up each week on their section: Trail of the Week

How to enjoy chilly fall kayaking

The Idaho Statesman's Outdoor section had a good article about how to enjoy outdoor sports such as kayaking in the colder months of autumn. Medical doctor Paul Collins gave sage advice about what sort of layers to wear and what sort of emergency equipment to bring.

Read the full story: Fall kayaking