A Taste of Spring Time In Idaho With a Side of Powder Skiing

Snow is still falling in the mountains in March, which we need to help our snow-pack in the Salmon River basin. Snow accumulation on Lost Trail pass last week were over 12 inches. Which I must say made for some great March powder skiing!

Photo: Matt Westfall

Down deep in the river canyons there are different stories being told. There is spring green up starting to happen. Which means wildlife cover the river corridor feeding on the sprouting grasses. Guide Shane Moser and a couple friends were getting river fever and decided to put on a Main Salmon trip last week. The report was steelhead are biting and the river canyon was full of wildlife. Elk numbers were estimated to be over the 1,000 count, 60 or more Bighorn Sheep (including many rams), a couple hundred deer also added to the big game count, a group of otters were spotted, and large numbers of bald eagles also add to the list. With fishing being the main focus of their trip, fourteen steelhead were landed on the 6-day trip. Also over the 6 day trip the boys just had one snow day and one day of rain, which isn’t bad for Idaho river tripping in early March.

Photo: Shane Moser

Photo: Shane Moser

Photo: Shane Moser

With April just around the corner, I am getting all the river gear ready for the water. We will be heading to the Idaho desert before long to get some of that great Idaho spring whitewater. Check back for more pictures and reports from the desert over the next month or so.

Photo: Shane Moser

Hope you are having a fantastic day!

Seth Tonsmeire