Sawtooth Range (ID) Condition mid May?

[tvashtarkatena]

Locals: Will there be any access issues into the range still? Looking to get into the Finger of Fate, Warbonnet, and Elephants Perch areas for some of that alpine rock n roll.

[John Frieh]

Road might not be melted out by then. Call the Elephant's Perch in Ketchum for conditions

[tvashtarkatena]

Stanley Ranger Station had good info. One useful bit: The Redfish Lake boat shuttle (to the Elephant's Perch) doesn't run until Mem Day.

[sdizzle25]

http://www.sawtoothcamera.com/dailyslideshow3.html

If anything ends up working out please do share, really curious about what some of those hills are like this time o year. So many mountains so little time....

[wayne]

Pat, there is a high-water log crossing up stream from the regular one. It has a tether rope too.

[powderhound]

Going to have some snow for sure. No bugs would be a plus.

[tvashtarkatena]

Thanks all,

 

I've been in the range a few times in summer. It's a trout infested pink granite paradise. Not sure if we're going there yet - it's one idea out of a few, but if so - you know I'll blab on about it in the usual fashion.

 

We might wind up on the Big Island throwing propane canisters into hot lava instead. Still discussing.

[ryanb]

A bit north of there but the bitterroots are still in prime skiing condition with something like a 150% snow depth though the low crags and boulders are starting to melt out. The northern rockies got a lot of snow this year.

[splattski]

There's still lots of snow in the range. Normal. The Sawtooths saying goes, "You can't go high til the 4th of July" (applies to hikers, mostly, but you get the idea- Warbonnet would be an ordeal).

 

Here's a look across Redfish Lake, pointing toward the Perch:

http://new.discoversawtooth.org/webcam

 

Here's a bunch of Sawtooth trip reports, with dates. This year isn't unusual, although there is a lot more snow than last year:

http://www.splattski.com/overview/idaho_ranges.html#sawtooths

 

Note that there are some fun couloir climbs that should be in great shape about now.