Maps - Southeastern Idaho Mountain Ranges Maps

Originally posted on January 3, 2019

Writing about outdoor adventures in Idaho necessarily means knowing what roads and trails you are on and especially what mountain ranges you are roaming. The boundaries of mountain ranges in this part of the country are, in most cases, ill-defined and left up to the interpretation of the writer/outdoorsman.

That ill-defined fuzzy interpretation isn't good enough for this writer of outdoor blog posts. I intend to make my very own mountain range maps but until then, I will rely on the few "ranges" maps available on the internet.

Southeast Idaho Mountain Ranges 

923 px by 632 px

Reference: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hdVVpSivTbRfH9H37



Last updated on January 3, 2019

Thanks,

~ signed ~


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist
.
I am a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!" 

Ride From Reservoir And Up Lester Creek

Originally Posted: June 8, 2018

This June 7, 2018, southwestern Idaho, USA, mountain bike ride started at the Evans Creek Campground and I turned around just short of my goal of the Lester Creek Road Summit. "Lester Creek Summit" is a name I appended to the location so locals and foreigners alike will not know where this place is located 💁

While not one of the most scenic rides I've completed, I did discover a new trail I can explore in the future and rode through a small portion lands of I'd never been before. And to me, #mtb, mountain biking is all about the scenery, exploring strange new lands and getting in shape. I stopped 7/10 of a mile (1,200 meters) from my goal because I was exhausted and starting to dehydrate. But 15 minutes of rest and water and I was good-to-go for the homeward leg ... which was mostly downhill 👍

FYI: This 22.2 mile (36 km) bike ride was done 100% on dirt roads or fire roads, depending on the vernacular you use.

Almost back to my truck but the water views stopped me. 

FSR 641 doesn't open until July 1, 2018

Decisions to make? I went left.

I rarely take off my helmet but the heat and exertion got to me at the turnaround point

This was my view from the turnaround point

The dirt road seems to go on and on and on!

Pre-ride shadow selfie 

Elmore County Outdoor Concierge Services

If you are looking for a place to ride, hike, rockhound or fish in southwestern Idaho, I will plan that trip for you.

Read more about this simple and easy service at https://timbondy.blogspot.com/p/elmore-county-outdoor-concierge-services.html

Last updated on June 8, 2018.

Thanks,

 ~ signed ~

Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"

Boise National Forest Peak 6355 - Failed Attempt

Originally Posted: June 4, 2018

A Little About A June 1, 2018, Hike In Southwestern Idaho, USA. 

I wanted to go for a mountain bike ride but the weather forecast was for gusty northwesterly winds and cool temperatures. That forecast led me to a hike that I will classify as a Favorite.

This 5.5-mile hike includes only 1.8 miles on an established trail. The rest of the hike is cross-country through a mixture of wide-open and/or bramble choked ridgeline. The bramble is just coming back after a 2013 wildfire that burned through the area.

As with most of my hikes in the past two years, the main draw is the scenic beauty and this adventure has an abundance of that. It's also close to home and if I wish, I can swim in the nearby lake or fish if the spirit moves me in those two directions.

There are two creek crossings on this hike.

View from the lower parts of the hike

Wildflowers were blooming mad.

Arrowroot Balsam

A lone "Indian Paintbrush?"

Unknown flower name 

Wildfire probably killed this tree.

That's a treetop that broke off ... a real deadfall

The scenery is why I hike

This was a strenuous day hike for me but there are many different options if you'd like to experience some adventure in southwestern Idaho.

Elmore County Outdoor Concierge Services

If you are looking for a place to ride, hike, rockhound or fish in southwestern Idaho, I will plan that trip for you. Read more about this simple and easy service at https://timbondy.blogspot.com/p/elmore-county-outdoor-concierge-services.html


Last updated on June 4, 2018.

Thanks,

~ signed ~


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"

Mountain Bike Up A Danskin Peak ... Again?

Originally Posted: May 30, 2018

This is my insight about a mountain biking trip up a local peak plus a few photographs.

This ride is located in the Danskin Mountains of southern Idaho. The rough and tumble dirt track is mainly county-owned and it tracks through some private property (legal to transit through), plus some State of Idaho and National Forest Service lands.

Depending on your physical fitness level, this non-technical ride could be rated strenuous or just a "good work-out" type of ride. The views are typical Danskin Mountain views until you hit the five-mile mark and then the horizon opens up for spectacular views. It's the views that make this #mtb ride worth the sweat and toil.

"For what it's worth, this was my second attempt to ride the peak and my second failed try." 

The Photographs

Walking is part of this ride 

Photography of some of the scenery. The Praire, Idaho flats

The road gets steep and rutted

A grand panoramic 

A high mountain lake? 

The road seems to go on forever

The Giant Talon 2 and the author

Cool rock

A perspective.

Elmore County Outdoor Concierge Services

If you are looking for a place to ride, hike, rockhound or fish in southwestern Idaho, I will plan that trip for you. Read more about this simple and easy service at https://timbondy.blogspot.com/p/elmore-county-outdoor-concierge-services.html

Last updated on May 31, 2018.

Thanks,

~ signed ~


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"

Scenes From Another Failed Attempt at Peak 5893 - Southern Idaho

Originally Posted: May 26, 2018

This is my brief insight and some photographs from a May 25, 2018 hike to a ridge above Anderson Ranch Reservoir in southern Idaho, USA. This was the 4th or 5th attempt trying to make it to Peak 5893 and I failed again.

The Insights

Type Hike: 95% cross-country on 100% public lands.

The Con: It was steep and I expected that, but it was a little too steep. The biggest problem with this route up the ridge and to the peak was the bramble/underbrush. The bramble is getting thick and will be near-impassable in a few mores years given a fire ran through the area in 2012 or 2013. The route down from the ridge was 'f-ing steep and dangerous in places.
The Pro: Scenic beauty, berry bushes that will be fruitful in June/July, solitude and the challenge.

Your Own Digital File Adventures: If you'd like to hike this southern Idaho route or are searching for an adventure, I will create a personalized plan for you. Click over to https://timbondy.blogspot.com/p/elmore-county-outdoor-concierge-services.html. The cost is only $35. 

The Scenery and Photography

The underbrush and bramble plus some dead fall to contend with.

Looking east down the lakefront

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Splash of color on a hillside under a cirrostratus cloud deck.

Stark, yet beautiful views like this are why I hike

Panoramic of the scenery

Wildflowers to enjoy on the homeward leg of this day hike

A fire burned through this area in 2012 or 2013. The bramble and underbrush is coming back strong 

Not really private property and the sign poster probably knows it. Annoying!

https://timbondy.blogspot.com/p/elmore-county-outdoor-concierge-services.html

Last updated on May 26, 2018.


Thanks,

~ signed ~

Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"
.

A Bike Ride Above Camas Prairie - Southern Idaho

Originally posted: May 23, 2018

On May 19, 2018, I took a ride on my "Giant©, Talon 2" mountain bike, #mtb, on a National Forest Service Road above Camas Prairie. Here are some photographs from that trip.

Overlooking Camas Prairie - Soldier Mtns in the distance

"Spike strips in use?" That's a first for me.

Just a nice gradual climb ... followed by more climbs

Almost back to the trailhead - That's Bennett Mountain

This non-technical ride is just filled with scenery in all directions. While it is a dirt road in ranching country, the traffic is very light ... somewhere on the order of one pickup truck per hour. Almost all property bordering this ride is private so stay on the public access road and don't trespass.

This ride could be as short as you like or be extended to a 25 mile out-and-back-ride depending on your physical fitness and time challenges for that particular day.

On this trip, I saw numerous pronghorns, cranes, ducks and a few deer, as well as thousands of ground squirrels and many serious raptor-type birds.

If you would like to attempt some customized adventures in the Elmore County area, I can create a trip for you. Through the end of May 2018, the price is just $25 for the digital maps and files. For more information, click over to https://timbondy.blogspot.com/p/elmore-county-outdoor-concierge-services.html 

Last updated on May 23, 2018.


Thanks,


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"
.

Hike Up Peak 5915 - Near Camas Prairie

This December 12, 2017, hike was mainly an outing to escape the gloomy clouds and cold air of the Treasure Valley Inversion. 

Peak 5915 on Dec. 12, 2017 - still snowless even as of Dec, 18, 2017

The Snake River Valley in the western half of southern Idaho had been sitting under a strong low-level cold air dome with strong inversion above that cold air for about one week as we approached mid-December. The result of this weather phenomenon is a cloudy, foggy and gloomy valley atmosphere, while the mountains were sitting in above freezing temperatures and bluebird days. It's times like these that valley residents head to the mountains to warm up and find some sunny skies. I did.

This wasn't a strenuous hike and wasn't in a location that is particularly scenic but a hiker's got to take what a hiker is given. And a snow-free, 45℉ bluebird mid-December day in the mountains of Idaho was handed to me. I just needed to find that peak and a few hours of free time. I did.

A little planning or a lot of planning can go into a hike like this December 12, 2017, outing. This one took more planning than most. Most of the planning involved evaluating the short and long term weather forecast and researching land ownership in a location that wouldn't be too high and snowbound or too low and cloud-bound. And like the story of the three bears, this one location was "just right."

This is an upper air sounding from the Boise NWS. It shows a vertical cross-section of the atmosphere from the surface to about 50,000 feet for the day of the hike.

Why Do I Tell You This? The Hard Sell Is Why

If you are looking to get away from the city or the air base and just don't know where to go, I can research a trip for you. That research cost about $30 and you'll get digital maps for your adventure. I wanted to point out the lengths I go to research a hiking or a biking adventure. I also do research for rockhounding, fishing and sightseeing trips in southern Idaho also. 

You'd get a high resolution/geo-tagged pdf with your adventure route annotated right on the topo map.

Let me take most of the guesswork out of your adventures in the wilds of southern Idaho. My motto is "know before you go" and my Outdoor Concierge Service will do just that. It will also save you time. Most people use the "just heading for the mountains for a hike" method. Most times you'll end up on private property or a route that ends up in a less than ideal spot. Let me be your concierge.

The Hike Details

Date Of Hike: December 12, 2017
Name of Hike: Bennett Hills - Hike - Peak 5915 just off Highway 20
Name of KML/KMZ File: 12Dec2017-Bennett Hills- Hike-Peak 5915-Camas Prairie.kmz
Link To Photographs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mcWKG1hibfSm4ytw1
Total Hike: 1.6 miles
Vertical Feet: +583 feet / -582 feet
Average Slope: +11.9% / -14.7%
Elevation Ranges: 5,416 feet / 5,915 feet (GPX file = max 5,896 feet)
Time On Trail: 1 hour 51 minutes
Facilities At Trailhead: None
Gear Used: New Balance hiking boots and Outdoor Product hiking pole
Land Ownership: 100% public Boise National Forest Service lands
Road Mileage from Boise, Idaho to Trailhead: 78 miles
Online Map of This Hiking / Biking / Adventure: It's available by contacting me, Tim Bondy through this website.

Outdoor Concierge Service

An online map of this hiking adventure is available by using the “Contact Me” form on this site or leaving me a comment on this story, stating your wishes.

If you would like more information about mountain biking, hiking, rockhounding, fishing or any type of adventures in the Bennett Hills (Danskin Mountains, along the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness or Bruneau Desert), I will be glad to discuss some outdoor options. Use the contact form on this site I'll get back to you.

In Decline Statement

If venturing to this area, please understand the local opinion is my hometown of Mountain Home, Idaho, is a city in decline. There are some businesses thriving, but not many. Your best options are to avoid the place completely and stock up on food, supplies, and gas elsewhere. #MountainHomeIdaho #CityInDecline

This story was originally published on December 19, 2017.

Thanks,





Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka, "enemy of the American People!"

Hike to Peak 5651 in the Owyhees above Perjue Canyon

This cross-country hike in the Owyhee Front south of Grand View, Idaho heads up a rather unique butte like area that I first climbed earlier this year. A different yet similar route up resulted in a completely different experience. Crazy cool views too.

From near Peak 5651 looking north towards the Snake River Plains

The Story

About 45 miles south of a small town just off Interstate 84 is a lonely rural road not many people travel. This road starts out paved but as it touches the Owyhee Front, it becomes a sometimes well-maintained gravel road that heads into a desolate part of southern Idaho. It is from this road that outdoor adventures can be found and I have ... quite often.

On November 26, 2017, I headed south out of Nowhere Town, Idaho, on a windy and variable cloudiness day. And it was warm with temperatures in the upper 50F. As I arrived at the trailhead, I realized the last human I saw was a rancher/farmer 20 minutes earlier going the opposite direction.

The sun highlights Peak 5651 

With my backpack strapped on, camera/GPS/digital map device calibrated and ready for a steep hike up towards a sheer rock wall only one mile to the east, I place one foot in front of the other and pushed off. I entered the Little Jacks Creek Wilderness just steps from my parking spot and didn't leave it for the next 3.5 hours.

The desolate beauty of this area obviously escapes most people who live in southern Idaho. Not many people come down to this easily accessible sagebrush steppe desert area other than hunters and OHR riders. While hiking trails in this part of the world are almost non-existent, the massive opportunity for cross-country hiking is undeniable.

Perjue Canyon is in the background.

During this hike, I decided to not hike up to Peak 5651. Instead, I wander down towards Perjue Canyon. That canyon was quite rugged looking as I sat on a rock outcropping eating lunch. The decision to forego the peak was because of some miserable decisions as I approach the cliffs below. That decision lead me up through a steep scree-like field except the scree was cantaloupe and way larger in size. In other words, leg or ankle breakers.

My truck and the BLM Poison Creek Picnic Site can be seen from this wilderness land

The hike back to my vehicle was uneventful as my decision making suddenly got better. There was one fenceline to deal with on the journey and I found what looked like a game trail for a long stretch of the return. Probably a game trail? I also walked among the cow patties for most of this hike. It's hard to understand how cattle could still be roaming the Peak 5651 area as it's all official wilderness lands. I have an inquiry in with the BLM on this issue.

The Hike Details

Date Of Hike: November 26, 2017, but also March 12, 2017
Name of Hike / Ride: Owyhee Front Peak 5651 and Perjue Canyon Hike
Name Of KML/KMZ: OWY - Peak 5651 and Perjue Canyon Hike - 26Nov2017
Link To Photographs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fovjI9qdBlzWfa362
Total Hike Mileage: 3.82 miles
Vertical Feet: +1,505 feet / -1,505 feet
Average Slope: +14.9% / -14.6%
Elevation Ranges: 4,439 feet / 5,489 feet
Hike Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Facilities At Trailhead: Pit toilet close-by and picnic tables
Gear Used: New Balance hiking  boots and Outdoor Product hiking pole
Land Ownership: 100% Wilderness
Road Mileage from Boise, Idaho to Trailhead: 76 miles
Online Map of This Hiking Adventure: It's available by contacting through this website.

Outdoor Concierge Service

An online map of this hiking/biking/fishing adventure is available by using the “Contact Me” form on this site or leaving me a comment on this story stating your wishes.

If you would like more information about mountain biking, hiking, rockhounding or any type of adventures in the (Danskin Mountains, along the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness or Bruneau Desert), I will be glad to discuss some outdoor options. Use the contact form on this site I'll get back to you.

In Decline Statement

If venturing to this area, please understand the local opinion is my hometown of Mountain Home, Idaho, is a city in decline. There are some businesses thriving, but not many. Your best options are to avoid the place completely and stock up on food, supplies, and gas elsewhere. #MountainHomeIdaho #CityInDecline

This story was originally published on December 3, 2017.

Thanks,





Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka, "enemy of the American People!"