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!"

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 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!"

Peakbagging The Edge Of The Danskin Mountains

A late November 2017 peakbagging hike where I collected three peaks and some great views of southern Idaho's desert mountains.

The three peaks I bagged on Nov. 22, 2017

The Story

This was a late season hike and the way Idaho's weather can close in on me, it was supposed to be just a quick scramble to the top of Peak 5378. But my trained meteorological eyes told me the weather was obviously going to cooperate for the entire day so I decided to add a few peaks to the hike.

Steepness

I believe officially the hike was in the Danskin Mountains but geographically and geologically the route seemed more like the Mount Bennett Hills instead. The trailhead is just a wide spot on a dirt road and heads pretty quickly up a rather steep grade. There are no trails up this lava rock escarpment. 

During the first hour of the hike up, there was a 500-foot section of 39% average slope and places that seemed more cliff-like than trail. I try not to look down and I do better when things get steep like that.

Peak 5285

Self-named Peak 5285 (Blue Dot) took this old codger less than an hour to plant my boots on it. The view over the Snake River Plains, Bennett Mountain and the snow-capped peaks of the Soldier and Trinity Mountains were all quite visible from the peak. The name "peak" is being generous as it wasn't readily apparent where the unofficial peak was even on a topo map. My 7.5-minute quad topo map does show a closed contour giving me the opportunity to call it a "peak."

Next ...

A one-half mile hike to the northwest put me on another self-named peak. Peak 5377 is a little more visually prominent than Peak 5285 providing different views. Being a little closer to the Long Tom Creek, that river valley stood out as did the Snake River Plains. From the peak, I could easily see a two-track dirt road leading to my final destination and that was a little unexpected.

Peak 5377

Peak 5378 was less than one-half mile away and I took advantage of that path. As peaks go, it certainly didn't stand out as much of a feature. It's also where the two-track deadends. Again, the views were spectacular. I could easily see out to the Soldier Mountains, the Trinity Mountains, The Owyhee Mountains and the Jarbidge Mountains in Nevada. There is also a place where Long Tom Reservoir is visible and the juxtaposition of the deep blue against the nearly solid tan landscape of this area was striking.

The view of Long Tom Reservoir from Peak 5378

There were two features I found during the hike that I couldn't explain. See the two photos below for a good visual. The bottom photo shows a metal post recently drilled into solid rock on Peak 5378. The other was a small fenced-in area near the trailhead. If you have an explanation, leave a comment or use my contact form.

A small fenced area but why so small an area?

A metal post drilled into solid rock and recently painted

The Hike Details

Date Of Hike: November 22, 2017
Name of Hike: Hike To Peak 5378
Link To Photographs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mtMRYiDtN9jCuCok2
Total HikeMileage: 3.2 mile out and back hike
Vertical Feet: +1,383 feet / -1,378 feet
Average Slope: +16.2% / -15.8%
Elevation Ranges: 4,503 feet / 5,379 feet
Total Time On Trail: 3 hours 20 minutes
Facilities At Trailhead: None
Gear Used: New Balance hiking boots, Outdoor Product hiking stick
Land Ownership: 100% BLM public lands
Road Mileage from Boise, Idaho to Trailhead: 56.5 miles
Online Map of This Adventure: It's available and should contact me or leave a comment stating your wishes.

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 November 24, 2017.

Thanks,





Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

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

Mountain Bike Ride to Fall Creek Resort in Idaho

This June 6, 2017, ride follows a relatively flat forest service road from a public boat ramp to a resort on Anderson Ranch Reservoir.

This is the Evans Creek Campground, a nice place to fish, swim or just wade in the water during a #MTB ride.

The Anderson Ranch Reservoir Mountain Bike Ride Story

During the summer of 2017, I rode the fire road from near Anderson Ranch Dam to the Fall Creek Resort area a number of times. It's a scenic ride with perks many other mountain bike rides cannot offer. But it certainly isn't technical or physically demanding unless you wish it to be.

It's a ride that allows you to turn around and head back at any point while still providing outstanding views. There is also a few different options to extend this ride by many miles. Plus, there are a number of places along the route that have access to swimming and fishing in the reservoir.

The fire road on the right side of the lake is visible. It's a long way down to the water.

The downside to riding this national forest service road is the traffic. During a weekday ride, you can expect to encounter between 5-10 vehicles on this out and back adventure. I don't recommend a weekend ride on this road due to the traffic. Throughout the ride, there many blind curves and considering much of the ride you'll be sharing the road with vehicles while perched on this narrow dirt road that hangs 25-150 feet above the lake, there is some danger of a bike-truck collision.

At the 8-9 miles point during the ride out, there is a rustic resort called the Fall Creek Resort and Marina (https://www.fallcreekresortandmarina.com/). Depending on the day, you could stop in and have a beer or even lunch.

A hazy morning but the views were great on Anderson Ranch Reservoir in Idaho

From the resort you have two options to extend this ride and both of them involve a climb into the mountains. I have ridden both fire roads and they are worth your time and energy. Again, traffic on these 1.5 lane dirt roads can be a problem, especially on weekends.

This June 6 ride was the first ride on my new Giant 2017 Talon 2 mountain bike and it was quite pleasant. The front shock and 27.5-inch tires certainly softened the day for me. Earlier in the year, I rode this route on a rigid Cannondale SM700 with no shocks or suspension. The difference was night and day.

If you are in the Boise, Idaho, USA area or even out at the Mountain Home Air Force Base and want to head out for a few hours, let me know and I'll work up an itinerary and some digital maps. "Knowing where to go is half the battle."

The MTB Details

Date Of Ride: June 6, 2017
Name of Ride: Elk Creek to Fall Creek and back Ride
Link To Photographs: https://goo.gl/photos/dd2ah6F5dZdUtNtk6
Total Biking Mileage: 16.6 miles - an out and back ride.
Vertical Feet: +1,635 feet / -1,636 feet
Average Slope: +2.8% / -2.7%
Elevation Ranges: 4,195 feet / 4,339 feet
Total Time on Trail: 2 hours 45 minutes
Facilities At Trailhead: A usually well-maintained pit toilet.
Gear Used: Gaint Talon 2 and Nalgene 3-liter hydration bladder
Land Ownership: Mostly a mixture of National Forest and Bureau of Reclamation lands. Best guess is this ride was completed on 99.8% public lands.
Road Mileage from Boise, Idaho to Trailhead: 71 miles
Online Map of This Biking Adventure: It's available. Contact me for more details.

Outdoor Concierge Services Available

An online map of this 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 November 19, 2017.

Thanks,





Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

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