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ROAD BIKING
MOUNTAIN BIKE
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Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) July 25-30Assembly Point: Ketchum/Sun Valley (airline to Boise; Timberline van shuttle between Boise and Sun Valley prior to and following tour) Tour Cost: $1,395 (includes all lodging, all meals, raft trip, van shuttles between Boise and Sun Valley prior to and following tour, leaders, tour maps & narratives) Idaho, among the last of the "lower 48" to be settled and granted statehood, today remains one of the last true reminders of the pristine beauty of the West as it must have appeared to those earliest settlers. Vast regions of Idaho today remain wild, undeveloped and inaccessible, and the state ranks second only to Alaska in the amount of totally undeveloped land. Among the many magnificent mountain ranges that dominate Idaho's geography, perhaps none can match the rugged Sawtooths for sheer scenic splendor. Much of the range is embraced within the 2.1-million acre Sawtooth National Forest and its recreational importance is recognized and protected within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. The beautiful Sawtooths will be the focus of our Idaho Hike, which will assemble in the world-famous ski resort of Sun Valley. We'll spend our first and final nights in Sun Valley at the Tyrolean Lodge with ample opportunity to enjoy the excitement of the area as well as our lodge's inviting outdoor swimming pool. Early-morning of Day 1, we'll head north toward the "tooths" over Galena Summit and beyond the headwaters of the Salmon River. We're headed for Alturas Lake, second largest in the Sawtooths, and we'll hike above the lake along Cabin Creek to a series of high lakes from which the creek flows. Later that afternoon, we'll shuttle to the mountain village of Stanley on the banks of the Salmon, and we'll spend our next three nights at the Mountain Village Lodge. An early breakfast on Day 3 and we'll then board the shuttle boat at Redfish Lake for a quick trip across the lake to our next trailhead. We'll hike from the shoreline through Redfish Lake Creek Canyon to Alpine Lake. Beyond the lake, we'll cross a meadow riotous with wildflowers; another 720 feet of elevation and we're standing atop spectacular Baron Divide, near timberline at 9160'. The view from the divide is breathtaking with wild Baron Creek Canyon and Baron Lakes below and Big Baron Spire on the western horizon (13 miles). The town of Stanley and the wild Salmon River are the focus for some of the world's best whitewater adventure. And so, we'll give the weary legs a well-deserved rest on Day 4 as we "float" the Salmon in the context of a full-day whitewater journey. Our plan for Day 5 is an engagement with the most renowned of Idaho's backcountry lakes, incomparably beautiful Sawtooth Lake. We'll hike initially among the lodgepole pine along Iron Creek to Alpine Lake, which in reality is sub-alpine and largely surrounded by fir except for its magnificent view of massive Alpine Peak to the south. We'll switchback beyond Alpine Lake above the trees as we head for Sawtooth. Our first view of Sawtooth is one never to be forgotten as it mirrors the image of towering, snowcapped Mt. Regan hovering above (10 miles). We're headed back to Sun Valley for a final evening at the Tyrolean Lodge. One final climb the next morning to Pioneer Cabin for a commanding view of the Pioneer Mountains east of Sun Valley offers a dramatic conclusion to our adventure (7 miles).
Date: (6 days, 5 nights; Sun-Fri) July 25-30; Aug. 22-27 Assembly Point: Lake McDonald (airline, rail and bus service to Kalispell/West Glacier; Timberline van transfers to and from transportation terminals) Tour Cost: $1,395 (includes all lodging, all meals, transfers, leaders, trail maps and narratives) If we've learned anything in the course of our many years of cycling in Glacier, it's that the cyclist can experience only a hint of it's magnificence. Glacier's "frontcountry" that is accessible by road is spectacular, but pales in comparison with its vast backcountry. It's the hiker who will have the opportunity to capture the essence of the park. In the season ahead, we'll again collaborate with Glacier Wilderness Guides in the context of an extraordinary 6-day program that explores the alpine magic of Glacier's magnificent backcountry. We also believe that an important part of all of our national park experiences are the evenings that we spend in the historic national park lodges. We'll spend our overnights in the grand lodges of Glacier. The Glacier Park Hike assembles mid-afternoon at Lake McDonald Lodge, situated on the shores of Lake McDonald. Our orientation meeting and dinner is planned for the Lodge that evening and we'll shuttle to Logan Pass atop Going-to-the-Sun Road early the following morning. We'll hike the magnificent Highline Trail from Logan Pass along the Garden Wall and the West Face of the Continental Divide to the Granite Chalet in one of the most incredibly beautiful high-alpine settings to be found anywhere. Another .9-mile gentle climb and we're atop the Swiftcurrent Lookout, with a 360-degree panoramic view of the glacier-carved rockscape. We'll then descend below Swiftcurrent Pass into the Many Glacier drainage, passing a series of high-alpine lakes linked by magnificent waterfalls as we head to the Many Glacier Hotel (15 miles). We'll hike to Grinnell Glacier the following morning from the Swiftcurrent trailhead. We'll walk along Lake Josephine to Mt. Grinnell high above Grinnell Lake and Grinnell Falls, and ultimately to Upper Grinnell Lake and the Glacier itself. We'll return for a second night at the Many Glacier Hotel (Distance-8.5 miles). Our destination for Day 4 is stunning Iceberg Lake, a 9-mile hike through meadows ablaze with wildflowers beyond Ptarmigan Falls to the glacial cirque where we'll find the lake nestled in the shadow of Iceberg Peak. Floating on the lake's surface are the startling ice formations for which the lake is named. We're then headed for East Glacier following the hike and we'll spend our final two nights at the grand Glacier Park Lodge. Dawson Pass is our destination for Day 5. We'll catch an early morning boat across Two Medicine Lake and hike from the upper boat dock beyond Twin Falls to the windswept saddle of Dawson, with its magnificent views of the Lewis Range and the glacier-carved valley of Nyack Creek to the south. We'll be prepared to divide our group at this point; those intrigued by a longer loop will follow the Continental Divide on to Pitamakin Pass and return to Two Medicine (16 miles), while those who prefer a more relaxed itinerary will return to the upper boat dock directly from the Dawson summit (6.5 miles). Our adventure continues on our final day as we return to Two Medicine for a short, but interesting climb to Scenic Point for a final grand vista of the plains to the east (6 miles). We'll enjoy a final lunch at the historic Isaac Walton Inn in Essex as we return to Kalispell late afternoon.
7975 E. Harvard Suite #J Denver, Co. 80231 Telephone: (800)417-2453; or (303)759-3804 Fax: (303)368-1651 E-Mail: timber@boulder.earthnet.net
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