Exploring Nature by Sheila Newenham
A short hike to a mountain lake? Count me in! When I talked with people in town, everyone recommended the Boulder Lake trail. “It can get kinda busy on the weekends, but it should be good on a Wednesday. With that, I set out to … Continue readingBoulder Lake Trail in McCall
Question what you think you know. Grebes I thought, “I don’t need binoculars to identify that bird.” Nobody’s got a bill like that but a Northern Shoveler. The drab, dull brown feathers mean she must be a female, and she’s kinda far away for a … Continue readingBirds! Birds! Birds! at Fernan Lake
There might be moose. North Idaho News posted these photos and cautioned hikers and climbers to be wary. “How is this not an invitation?” I thought. To me, it falls under the “don’t publicize wildlife sightings so as not to draw a crowd.” However, Q’emiln … Continue readingQ’emiln Park
Plunging into a cavernous ravine from atop the Columbia plateau, Palouse Falls descends 200 feet into the Palouse River in southeastern Washington. The canyon scoured by this water is almost 400 feet deep and has sheer basalt walls. Like most geology in the inland northwest, … Continue readingPalouse Falls
Day Two “Delusional in the Woods” Swan River, Montana First Location Since we got through so many questions yesterday, we started at 9 am today. Piling into the SUVs again, we drove to the nearby Swan River. River habitats attract so much life. Water is … Continue readingTrack and Sign Certification (day two)
“This intensive, highly educational process is globally recognized as an unparalleled tool for learning about local wildlife and landscapes while preserving and advancing tracking skill.” Mountain Lion Track – North Idaho Seeing through new eyes Every time I go out into nature, I see something … Continue readingTrack and Sign Certification (day one)
There’s always something to marvel at when you venture outdoors. Antelope Island State Park, just outside Salt Lake City, has a reputation as a wildlife hotspot— bison, pronghorn, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, badgers, bobcats, and birds. The best time to find wildlife is in … Continue readingFielding-Garr Ranch on Antelope Island
It’s early November. The first snow fell in the mountains around Salt Lake City this week. With the shorter days (sunset at 5:30-6 pm), I only have one opportunity to go to the Tooele Valley to look for the wild horses on this trip. The … Continue readingRevisiting the Onaqui Herd
“Sheep go where men don’t go. Goats go where sheep don’t go.” – Joe Rahn (Montana Wildlife, Fish and Parks) The Goats Word is that there are mountain goats at Bernard Peak on Lake Pend Oreille. Validating the rumor, Farragut State Park across the … Continue readingMountain Goats at Bernard Peak
I’m on a local four-mile round-trip trail in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. The elevation gain is about 1500 feet, making it a fairly steep trail for this former flatlander. The route is mainly switchbacked with one last long steady climb. Necessary stops to eat … Continue readingChilco Mountain Hike