Boulder White Clouds Council -Outings & Events

Every summer Boulder-White Clouds Council hosts an outings program. All events are no-charge and led by volunteers. We do accept donations to help defray program costs. Trips go into the Boulders, White Clouds, Sawtooths, Smokeys, Pioneer and Salmon River Mountains. Please share a day with us afield, and then join our efforts to secure unprotected areas within the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Join us in 2009 for a day a-field.
E-mail us in April for the 2009 Summer Schedule.

Photos & Highlights from 2007:

>Copper Creek-Riverside Ridge
in the Salmon River Moutains on the Challis National Forest with leader Lynne Stone.

>Malm Gulch
on the Challis BLM District with botanist Michael Mancuso.

>Anderson Peak - Corral-Horse
trip to the Corral-Horse Basin Wilderness Study Area (WSA) in the White Clouds with David Rosenkrance, Challis BLM Field Office Manager.

>Strawberry Basin Ridge
scenic traverse of Blackman Peak with leader Lynne Stone.

PRE-SIGN UP IS REQUESTED. Send e-mail to: bwcc@wildwhiteclouds.org to sign up for a trip! Or write:
Boulder-White Clouds Council
Box 6313 Ketchum ID 83340

SUNDAY MAY 11 - BIRDS OF THE SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS & SALMON RIVER with local birding guru Louise Stands. We’ll see eagles, osprey and sandhill cranes plus many other feathered species. This Mother’s Day outing starts at 10 a.m. near Stanley, rain or shine. We’ll look for wildflowers and wildlife, too. Bring binoculars! And remember your camera for spectacular Spring scenery photos! We’ll also catch up on the latest BWCC work from over the winter. Easy walking, short distances.

SATURDAY MAY 31 - MEET THE NEIGHBORS - PHANTOM HILL WOLVES. Starts at 6 a.m., north of Ketchum. Families welcome. Learn about the black Phantom wolves. This dawn outing will be repeated on other dates by demand. We’ll do some short, moderate hiking depending on where there is the best chance to see the wolves (at a distance). Our utmost concern is to not put the wolves at risk from those who would harm them.
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SATURDAY JUNE 21 - SUMMER SOLSTICE AT BEAR VALLEY & BLUE BUNCH MOUNTAIN. Bear Valley Creek is more like a river and flows through the southwest portion of the 2.3 million acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, 30 miles NW of Stanley. A trek up Blue Bunch Mountain offers splendid views of Bear Valley, miles of meadows and the Middle Fork Salmon River canyon. We’ll look for bears, elk and the Bear Valley wolf pack. Depending on our stops to view wildflowers, wildlife and the extraordinary Bear Valley scenery, we may reach (or not) the broad summit at over 8700 feet high. One day, we hope that Blue Bunch Mountain will be protected as part of the Frank Church-RNR Wilderness. Up to 7-8 miles round trip, 2400 foot gain to the top. Moderate to strenuous. (You can go partway and have a great hike).
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WEDNESDAY JULY 23 - BASIN BUTTE LOOKOUT & LITTLE BASIN CREEK MEADOW are landmarks north of Stanley . This region of forest and meadows is an important corridor for wildlife between the Salmon River Mountains and the northern Sawtooth Range. After enjoying a 360’ panorama at the Lookout and searching for critters, we’ll drive back down to the Little Basin Creek trailhead and walk into two beautiful meadows. 3-4 miles round trip, easy to moderate. The Lookout road requires high clearance in a few sections. We’ll start the day with an early breakfast in Stanley.
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SATURDAY AUGUST 2 - BULL TROUT LAKE AREA WILDFLOWER WALK with Michael Mancuso - Located on the Boise Forest 30 minutes from Stanley, there are several lakes in this area. Our heavy winter snows should bring forth wildflowers aplenty, Bring wading shoes if you want a close-up look at some bog plants. We’ll meet in Stanley for breakfast, and then carpool to the Bull Trout Lake area and meet folks coming from Boise. Easy walking and optional bog mucking.
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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13 - THUNDER & LIGHTNING LAKES in the White Clouds are off the beaten path. We know the secret passage. On the way to the Fourth of July trailhead and beyond, we’ll drive through areas burned by the 2005 Valley Road Fire -- an interesting and impressive landscape. While walking on primitive trail to the lakes, we’ll search for mountain goats on the crags. Over lunch, we’ll discuss how things are progressing for a White Cloud Wilderness bill. 3 miles, 600’ gain, moderate. Note: 4WD/high clearance vehicle needed for the 1.7 mile mining road from Fourth of July trailhead to Phyllis Lake trailhead and start of hike.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR A GREAT DAY AFIELD - Come prepared for any type of weather. Ridgetop climate can be mighty cold even in summer. Bring lunch, plenty of water, insect repellent and sunscreen. Wear sturdy footwear. If you have to return early, please drive your own vehicle. Please share fuel expense with people who drive. Carpooling efforts will be made from Ketchum, Stanley and Challis. Please, no dogs, although we have made exceptions.

A WORD ON TIRES – We encourage you to equip your vehicle with tires designed for rough, backcountry roads and this will help you to avoid flats. New SUV’s often do not come with tires capable of handling our washboard or rock-strewn roads. Please seek advice from a tire dealer on whether your tires are truly backcountry tough. We have three outings in summer 2008 that are accessed via moderately rough roads: Basin Butte Lookout, Bear Valley and Thunder & Lightning Lakes.