Events

Idaho living legend Joe Leonard will give a presentation about his pioneering outdoor exploits starting way back in the 1960s, the era of three-pin bindings, leather knickers, gaiters and wool socks. He will address what the wilderness and all that Idaho skiing, kayaking and climbing has meant to him, including the spiritual benefits of a life spent in the wilderness and beyond. A gifted write, Joe’s memoir, “The Son of the Madam of Mustang Ranch,” won a Best of 2016 recognition from the National Outdoor Book Awards.

You can learn more about Joe at these websites:

IMR members Judi Steciak and Carl Hamke spent 12 days on these glacier-fed rivers, rowing past brown bears, seals hunting Copper River salmon, and calving glaciers. While technically not difficult with just one Class 3 rapid in 157 miles, the cold water, fast current, high flow, boils, ice bergs, and braided channels presented serious hazards, not to mention the logistical challenges of a fly-in launch and take-out. The vast beauty of the environs and comradery in the group made the trip memorable.

Join members of the 705 Backcountry Ski Patrol for an overview of avalanche risk assessment skills. Folks with prior training will appreciate the review. Skiers and snowshoers new to winter backcountry exploration will get a glimpse of the essentials and learn about local classes.

Time and location: 7 pm at the Trophy Room at the Idaho Fish and Game Headquarters, 600 South Walnut, Boise, Idaho. Park behind the building (on the east side).

Our November meeting will be the ever popular Picture Potpourri. Trip leaders and participants will showcase pictures from various trips that were done since last November. Come and see what you missed out on (or enjoyed!) and glean advice and ideas for future trips. Potpourri rules: priority is given to IMR trips, then private trips by IMR members if time allows. Bring your presentation on a Windows-compatible DVD, CD, or thumb drive, either just pictures or you can whip up a show-stopping PowerPoint presentation.

Excursions into the Boulder-White Cloud Mountains after Labor Day offer opportunities for solitude in a gorgeous landscape. Protection by Wilderness designation means changes from prior policies that affect hikers and backpackers. USFS personnel will discuss the Wilderness boundaries and how changes will impact your trip planning and backcountry camping practices. Get psyched for an insiders view and how you can minimize degradation of fragile alpine ecosystems.

Once again Boise resident Scott Marchant has outdone himself with a meticulously researched hiking guide for the greater Boise area. Some hikes are close to town, others require a one-to-two hour drive, and all have detailed directions. Each is rated: distance, cumulative elevation gain, difficulty, approximate hiking time, etc.. Scott also categorizes the top ten hikes for kids, views, wildflowers, aerobic effort, ... something for everyone! In his presentation, he will focus on his favorite destinations for late summer and fall.

IMR member Paul Dawson has a keen interest in outdoor adventures and photography. He will present his outstanding images from his latest hiking and photo expedition to red rock country in Utah, including Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Kodachrome State Park, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante Wilderness. Slot canyons, waterfalls, hoodoos... be inspired to plan your own trip into the desert.

Time and location: 7 pm at the Trophy Room, Idaho Fish and Game Headquarters, 600 South Walnut Street, Boise, Idaho. Park at rear of building.

Join a member of the 705 Backcountry Ski Patrol for an overview of avalanche risk assessment skills. Folks with prior trailing will appreciate the review. Skiers and snowshoers new to winter backcountry exploration will get a glimpse of the essentials and learn about local classes.

Time and location: 7 pm at the Trophy Room at the Idaho Fish and Game Headquarters, 600 South Walnut, Boise, Idaho, from 7-9 pm. Park behind the building (on the east side).

IMR member Earl Brace has hiked Death Valley every February for decades. Come hear his presentation on what keeps bringing him back each year to the lowest point in the continental USA: a land of extreme drought and heat with amazing contrasts created by vast drifts of wildflowers, hidden lush oases, and mining detritus left by early prospectors.

Time and location: 7 pm at the Trophy Room, Idaho Fish and Game Headquarters, 600 South Walnut Street, Boise, Idaho. Park at rear of building.

Travel the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland! Join IMR member Deb Rose as she presents her two-week self-guided backpacking experience on one of Switzerland's most famous hiking tours. The Walker's Haute Route covers 120+miles with 40,000' of ascent, 33,000' of descent, and passes as high as 9800'. It's a tough and spectacular walk through remote mountains and iconic Swiss villages. Deb will present the route and its scenery, tips on where to stay, and how to tailor the trip for different hiking abilities.