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.

2007 OUTINGS
Boulder-White Clouds Council
Box 6313 Ketchum ID 83340   www.wildwhiteclouds.org

PRE-SIGN UP IS REQUESTED. Send e-mail to: bwcc@wildwhiteclouds.org 
Meeting place and time will then be provided.

Let's Have Some Fun! Here are the trips:

SATURDAY APRIL 21 - COPPER CREEK - RIVERSIDE RIDGE in the Salmon River Mts on the Challis National Forest with leader Lynne Stone. Celebrate Earth Day weekend with a splendid hike above the Salmon River canyon. As we trek upward, Kodak moments abound as the Sawtooths come into view and the White Cloud’s rugged Casino Creek canyons stretch to the east. We’ll look for osprey and bald eagles soaring overhead. We’ll learn about the Challis Forest’s Travel Plan revision and why it’s so important for wildlife. 4 miles, 1000’ gain, strenuous. You can also go partway and still see great scenery! Join us for breakfast in Stanley that morning.

SATURDAY MAY 12 - MALM GULCH with botanist Michael Mancuso. Located on the Challis BLM District, Malm Gulch is known for geology, paleontology, and ecology. Here are multi-colored rock formations, petrified remnants of a giant sequoia forest and a surprisingly rich wildflower assortment on the sparse landscape. Floral diversity includes species typically seen farther south in the Great Basin and others occurring nowhere else except east-central Idaho. BLM is working to curb ATV use in this fragile area. Walking distance up to 2 miles round trip, easy, except for uphill jaunt to see the petrified stumps. Malm Gulch is located off Hwy 75 between the East Fork Salmon River and Challis.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON MAY 18 - WOLF OUTING with Idaho wolf managers. There’s a new pack around called Basin Butte and we’ll try to view them or at least their paw prints in the hills near Stanley. We’ll discuss non-lethal methods of deterring wolves from livestock and also volunteer opportunities with agencies to help wolves (such as putting up fladry near livestock pastures). For this wolfdom trek we’ll join BWCC and ICL staff and board just prior to the annual Wild Idaho! conference at Redfish Lake. Hiking distance up to 3 miles, easy. Space is limited. Outing will be repeated later in the summer - put your name in now.

THURSDAY JUNE 21 - SUMMER SOLSTICE HIKE TO ANDERSON PEAK, 9339’ with David Rosenkrance, Challis BLM Field Office Manager. This trip to the Corral-Horse Basin Wilderness Study Area (WSA) in the White Clouds offers up panoramic views, alpine flowers and a chance to see wild horses. BLM is revising its travel plan and addressing off-road vehicle use that damages wildlife habitat, spreads invasive weeds and causes conflict with non-motorized users. Access from Ketchum is over Trail Creek road (Good tires a must). Hike is 5-6 miles round trip, 1024’ elevation gain, high point 9339’, moderate. We had to cancel last year’s outing to this arid region because of heavy rain!

THURSDAY JULY 19 - PASS CREEK RIDGE & FIRE ECOLOGY with Stanley Ranger Joe Harper. White Cloud lands are healing from the 2005 Valley Road Fire and it’s fascinating to walk through the burn. We’ll see vigorous aspen regeneration and wildflowers that are flourishing since the fire. Pass Creek is a pass between Fisher and Fourth of July Creeks with striking views of the Sawtooths, Pass Creek bluffs and fire-burned terrain. 3 miles round trip, 400’ elevation gain. First half-mile is up a steep slope, then the hike is mostly easy though off-trail. We hosted a similar hike last year and have had many requests for a repeat so here ‘tis.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1 - STRAWBERRY BASIN RIDGE led by Lynne Stone. We never tire of taking this scenic traverse of Blackman Peak to reach views of Strawberry Basin and Ants Basin. We’ll glass for mountain goats and look in awe at “Alabaster Peak” (officially David O. Lee Peak) -- towering over Warm Springs canyon. One day, Wilderness designation will finally protect this wildlife rich area. 8 miles round trip, 1100’ elevation gain, moderate. If weather permits and the group is willing we can descend 600’ into Strawberry Basin and explore.

COME PREPARED! Wear sturdy footwear (expect wet feet in early season & bring extra shoes for trip home), bring lunch, plenty of water (or water filter), storm gear, insect repellent and sunscreen. Hikes take all day unless otherwise indicated- if you have to return early, please drive your own vehicle. Sorry, no dogs. All events are free and led by volunteers. We do accept donations to help cover the program’s cost. Please share fuel expense with people who drive. We will carpool from Ketchum or Stanley.

A WORD ABOUT TIRES – Some of our outings venture over Trail Creek road out of Sun Valley, or Fourth of July road in the Sawtooth Valley. These roads can become rough with a washboard surface at times. Be certain you are driving on at least 4 ply tires, or better yet for larger vehicles, 6 ply tires. FACTORY tires, which come on your SUV, usually are NOT suited for our backcountry roads. Also, please have a FULL SIZE spare and know how to change it! Rough, rocky or washboard surfaces require GENUINE back road tires to avoid getting flats.

For more information, email us.