Sawtooth Scamper Backpack, Idaho

The Trip

Known as “the crown jewel of the Gem State,” Idaho’s Sawtooth Range should be on every backpacker’s bucket list.

Sawtooth is a deserving moniker, as glaciers carved the highly fractured pink granite into strikingly sawtooth-like sharp ridges, pinnacles, and towers, separated by narrow, pine-forested valleys. Frothy cataracts tumble from the more than 300 lakes the glaciers left behind, forming the headwaters of some of Idaho’s major rivers such as the Salmon and Payette.

The Sawtooths are a compact range, measuring about 32 miles long by about 20 miles wide, including the crest and several impressive subranges. Despite their glaciated granitic character, the Sawtooths don’t have quite the elevation and extreme relief characteristic of, say, the Sierra Nevada, which makes for ideal backpacking.

No grizzlies are known to inhabit the Sawtooths, but a wide range of wildlife does, from pikas and marmots to moose, mountain goats, black bears, and even a few grey wolves. Seeing a megafauna would be a rare treat, but there will be a veritable cornucopia of wildflowers to admire and grace our photos.

Our point-to-point, semi-loop route into the heart of the Sawtooths starts by travelling up tumbling streams and across high ridges via well-maintained (and traveled) trails. We will camp alongside a subalpine lake every night and enjoy some layover time. Camp activities can include fishing for cutthroat, rainbow, and brook trout; exploring the surrounding area; or just enjoying a nice swim and laying out on a warm rock.

We will invoke the old Sierra Club axiom of traveling “high and light” by scrutinizing the group equipment and simplifying the menu. We will also travel “high and light” by learning and practicing Leave No Trace principles in all of our operations.

We will hike and camp on the ancestral lands of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, ceded under duress in the Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868. This treaty created the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, upon which many descendants now live.

Pre-Trip: We will meet Sunday afternoon at a front-country campground or a vacation rental (to be determined) at or close to Hailey, Idaho for introductions, safety talk, gear check and commissary distribution.  Dinner at a nearby restaurant may be an option.

Day 1: We will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Tin Cup Trailhead near Pettit Lake. We will then need to shuttle a few vehicles over to our exit trailhead at Redfish Lake, which will take about an hour. Then we will lift our packs and hike over a ridge to near Yellow Belly Lake, turn upstream, pass some cascades, and reach our first night’s camp near Farley Lake.

Distance: 5.1 miles.  Elevation gain: 1,300 feet.  Elevation loss: 400 feet.

Day 2: Our climb will continue upstream, eventually surmounting Sand Mountain Pass.  We will then descend into the charming Tenlake Basin, making camp at a picturesque spot near Edna Lake.

Distance: 6.4 miles.  Elevation gain: 1,600 feet.  Elevation loss: 1,000 feet.

Day 3: On this layover day, one may choose to say in camp or perhaps get in a swim.  Alternatively, one or more day-hikes will be proposed to explore nearby lakes or ridges, the latter offering even more tremendous views.

Day 4: Today we will enjoy a fairly leisurely walk.  After a short up and down we will ford the South Fork Payette River and proceed up-river to our lovely camp astride scenic Hidden Lake, backdropped by the soaring heights of Mt. Cramer (10,716 feet) and Payette Creek (10,211 feet).

Distance: 4.9 miles.  Elevation gain: 500 feet.  Elevation loss: 300 feet.

Day 5: Our steady ascent will take us up to the summit of the Cramer Divide (9,480 feet), the high point of our route.  We will then quickly descend switchbacks into the basin below and make camp at Middle Cramer Lake with views of the inlet waterfall.

Distance: 4.3 miles.  Elevation gain: 900 feet.  Elevation loss: 1,100 feet.

Day 6: It’s all downhill (well, mostly) from here as we descend the Cramer Creek valley, ford Redfish Lake Creek, and reach the Redfish Inlet Transfer Camp accessing the -- you guessed it -- Redfish Lake. Once across, we can grab a quick refreshment from the lodge store as we reunite with our vehicles and head for home.

Distance: 6.9 miles.  Elevation gain: 0 feet.  Elevation loss: 1,800 feet.

This itinerary should be viewed as a plan, not a promise. Weather, trail conditions, progress of the group, campsite availability, and a number of other factors may require the leaders to change the plan. There are several opportunities to cut the route shorter should the need arise.

Getting There

Hailey, Idaho is located about 20 minutes south of Ketchum and the world-famous resort of Sun Valley. It is home of Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), which provides service to Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Denver. The Boise Airport is about 140 miles from Hailey and provides more flight options, including Southwest Airlines. The Tin Cup Trailhead is located on Pettit Lake and is about an hour and 15 minutes from Hailey via State Route 75 over Galena Summit. 

Accommodations can be found in Hailey, Ketchum/Sun Valley as well as Stanley, which is north of -- and closer to -- our trailheads.

While the USFS maintains quite a complex of campgrounds in the Sawtooth Valley, campsites are extremely popular and reservations for the reservable campsites are difficult to secure. First-come, first-served campsites may be available. Dispersed camping is permitted in the Sawtooth Valley. Consult the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for regulations.

The leader will provide a trip roster with contact information to facilitate ride-sharing and other logistical details in advance of the trip. Due to the uncertainties inherent in a trip of this magnitude, return flight reservations must not be made any earlier than the day after the trip ends.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided and included in the trip price, beginning with lunch on day one on the trip to lunch on our last day, day six.

With the goal of storing all food in bear canisters, we will strive to reduce bulk, as well as weight, wherever possible. Therefore, the backcountry menu will consist of low-bulk, non-refrigerated, lightweight foods that have a high calorie-to-bulk ratio.

The menu can accommodate vegetarians, but accommodating more restricted diets can be difficult. If you have a food allergy or other critical food restriction, please contact the leader prior to sign-up to determine if we can accommodate your specific needs without adversely impacting the group. 

Generally, we’ll have hot cereal for breakfast and dinners will consist of a soup, a one-pot entrée and a small dessert.  Plenty of hot water will be provided for drinks and clean-up at breakfast and dinner.  A Gravity water filter may be available in camp, as will some kind of water treatment for use on-trail, however participants can bring their own water treatment methods, whether chemical, filer or UV-based.  Participants will assist in meal preparation, including fetching water and pot-washing.

Trip Difficulty

This trip difficulty is rated 3 per the Sierra Club Outings system of rating trips on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult.  Elevations on this trip will range from just over 6,600 feet to a high of almost 9.,500 feet, with all camps between 7,600 feet and 8,400 feet.

We plan to carry almost 30 miles over seven days. Some stream crossings will be rock hops requiring balance and coordination, especially wearing a pack. Some will have log bridges while a few will require a full wade across a strong flow. 

Participants must be in good physical condition to qualify for this trip. You should follow a regular, well-rounded fitness program that includes cardio and strength training. We have found that backpacking stresses your body in some very unique ways, like lengthening your foot from the extra weight. Therefore, we highly recommend supplementing your workouts by wearing your footwear and carrying your loaded pack on hikes up and down hills (or staircases) for a couple of hours several days a week for at least a month prior to the trip. Changes in conditions and events may require rerouting, so a flexible attitude is a must.

This is a group trip whose success relies upon the cheerful, active contribution of all participants. As stated before, this trip will emphasize a Leave No Trace ethic in all of its operations. For example, we will “be considerate of other visitors” and “respect wildlife” by setting up tents in close proximity to each other while exceeding the minimum separation regulations from water and trails.

Equipment and Clothing

“Light is right!” Pre-trip communication will include a recommended equipment list and provide much more detailed elaboration on the range of equipment choices available, as there really is no one correct answer for a particular need. While not an “ultralight” trip per se, many of the concepts of ultralight backpacking are useful. Some clothing fundamentals include good quality raingear, dressing in layers, and avoiding duplication. We highly recommend trekking poles to contend with rough terrain, descents, and stream crossings carrying a loaded pack.

The Sierra Club provides group equipment such as cooking pots and utensils, stoves, fuel, hand-wash station, commissary tarp, and bear canisters. Each trip participant will bring his/her own eating utensils and carry one loaded bear canister, along with a share of the other group items, bringing each participant's total share of the commissary to about 10-12 pounds at the start of the trip. 

The total weight of your personal gear, including pack, should not exceed 20 pounds, and in no circumstances exceed 25 pounds. Many participants have been successful in reducing their “base load” to well below 20 pounds! This is important not just to increase your stamina and comfort, but also for safety. Generally speaking, packs should have a capacity of at least 65 liters, but with scrupulous attention to weight reduction, some participants have been able to use slightly smaller packs. A small pack will not relieve you of carrying a bear canister! 

Backpacking footwear has seen quite a revolution of late, with many people choosing to use low-top hiking shoes or trail runners. The most important thing is that footwear should be well broken in and field-tested under expected loads and terrain well before the trip.

The weather can be quite pleasant in the Sawtooths in late August, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s, but be prepared for extremes. Extended rain or even snow can occur at any time of year. Overnight lows can occasionally dip below freezing. Thunderstorms -- with sudden cloudbursts of wind, rain, and hail -- are common, and can be followed by a spectacular sunset. High-quality raingear and insulation layers are a must! On the other hand, temperatures can also soar into the high 80s and low 90s if a heat wave moves in. So some light layers are also warranted.

References

Maps:

• "Sawtooth Wilderness Hiking Map and Guide,” Earthwalk Press
• “Sawtooth National Recreation Area,” National Geographic/Trails Illustrated
• CalTopo Map of the route: https://caltopo.com/m/NHNEU

Books:

• Fuller, Margaret, Trails of the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains. Trail Guide Books.
• Lorain, Douglas, Backpacking Idaho: From Alpine Peaks to Desert Canyons. Wilderness Press.
• Marchant, Scott, The Hiker’s Guide Idaho’s Sawtooth Country. Hiking Idaho.

Conservation

The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Our motto is “Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.” We are concerned about conservation and the sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

The two issues we plan to discuss in detail are the restoration of salmon in the Salmon River system by removing four dams on the lower Snake River in Washington and the campaign to relist the gray wolf on the Endangered Species list to stop their unchecked slaughter in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and employer and operates under permit from the USDA Forest Service, Sawtooth National Forest.