The Sawtooth Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in central Idaho , United States , reaching a maximum elevation of 10,751 feet (3,277 m) at the summit of Thompson Peak . It encompasses an area of 678 square miles (1,756 km ) spanning parts of Custer , Boise , Blaine , and Elmore counties, and is bordered to the east by the Sawtooth Valley . Much of the mountain range is within the Sawtooth Wilderness , part of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area and Sawtooth National Forest .
27-698: The Grand Mogul , at 9,733 feet (2,967 m) above sea level is a peak in the Sawtooth Range of Idaho . The peak is located in the Sawtooth Wilderness of Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Custer County . The peak is located 0.95 mi (1.53 km) north-northwest of Little Decker, its line parent . The Grand Mogul is at the southwest end of Redfish Lake and 1.7 mi (2.7 km) southeast of Mount Heyburn . This Geographical stub article in Custer County , Idaho
54-411: A snow cave . It has thermal properties similar to an igloo and is effective both at providing protection from wind and low temperatures. A properly made snow cave can be 0 °C (32 °F) or warmer inside, even when outside temperatures are −40 °C (−40 °F). It is constructed by excavating snow so that its entrance tunnel is below the main space in order to retain warm air. Construction
81-429: A backpack, loads his knees with 1,400 pounds (640 kg) of stress per stride. The same person, carrying a 30-pound (14 kg) pack, loads his knees with 555 pounds (252 kg) of stress per step. Backpacking camps are usually more spartan than campsites where gear is transported by car or boat. In areas with heavy backpacker traffic, a hike-in campsite might have a fire ring (where permissible), an outhouse ,
108-568: A day walk), though backpackers make use of a variety of accommodation, in addition to camping. Backpackers use simple huts in South Africa. Trekking and bushwalking are other words used to describe such multi-day trips. Backpacking as a method of travel is a different activity, which mainly uses public transport during a journey that can last months. It is, however, similar to bikepacking , bicycle touring , canoe and kayak camping, and trail riding , with saddlebags . Backpacking
135-614: A wooden bulletin board with a map and information about the trail and area. Many hike-in camps are no more than level patches of ground free of underbrush. In remote wilderness areas hikers must choose their own site. Established camps are rare and the ethos is to " leave no trace " when gone. In some regions, varying forms of accommodation exist, from simple log lean-to's to staffed facilities offering escalating degrees of service. Beds, meals, and even drinks may be had at Alpine huts scattered among well-traveled European mountains. Backpackers there can walk from hut-to-hut without leaving
162-405: Is Ultra High Temperature (UHT) processed food, which has its moisture retained and merely needs heating with a special, water-activated chemical reaction . Specialized cookbooks are available on trailside food and the challenges inherent in making it. Some focus on planning meals and preparing ingredients for short trips; others on the challenges of organizing and preparing meals revolving around
189-530: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sawtooth Range (Idaho) The mountains were named for their jagged peaks. There are 57 peaks with an elevation over 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the Sawtooth Range, all falling between 10,000 to 10,751 feet (3,048 to 3,277 m) on Thompson Peak , the highest point in the range. Another 77 peaks fall between 9,000 and 10,000 feet (2,700 and 3,000 m). Climbs range in difficulty between
216-551: Is an outdoor recreation where gear is carried in a backpack . This can include food, water, bedding, shelter, clothing, stove, and cooking kit. Given that backpackers must carry their gear, the total weight of their bag and its contents is a primary concern of backpackers. Backpacking trips range from one night to weeks or months, sometimes aided by planned resupply points, drops, or caches. Carrying loads appears to have differentiated humans from other animals. A weighted carry from backpacking taxes muscles. A weighted load stresses
243-489: Is energy intensive. It is essential to bring enough food to maintain both energy and health. The weight of food is an important issue to consider. Consequently, items with high food energy , long shelf life , and low mass and volume deliver the most utility. Taste and satisfaction are issues that are of varying importance to individual hikers, as they consider whether it is worth the effort (and trade-off against other gear) to carry fresh, heavy, or luxury food items. The shorter
270-464: Is exceptionally heavy. It is impossible to carry more than a few days' supply. Therefore, hikers often drink natural water supplies, sometimes after filtering or purifying. Some hikers will treat water before drinking to protect against waterborne diseases carried by bacteria and protozoa . The chief treatment methods include: Water may be stored in bottles or collapsible plastic bladders. Hydration bladders are increasingly popular. Backpacking
297-545: Is home to hundreds of lakes created by vanished alpine glaciers, with nearly 400 lakes in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Five of the six largest lakes in the range are located outside the wilderness ( Redfish , Alturas , Pettit , Yellow Belly , and Stanley lakes), while Sawtooth Lake is within the wilderness. Most of the east side of the Sawtooth Range is drained by the main stem of the Salmon River and
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#1732772220209324-418: Is simplified by building on a steep slope and digging slightly upwards and horizontally into the snow. The roof is domed to prevent dripping on the occupants. Adequate snow depth, free of rocks and ice, is needed — generally 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) is sufficient. A quinzhee is similar, but constructed by tunneling into mounded snow rather than by digging into a natural snow formation. Fastpacking
351-556: Is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain huts , widely found in Europe, are rare. In New Zealand, hiking is called tramping , and tents are used alongside a nationwide network of huts. Hill walking is equivalent in Britain (but this can also refer to
378-464: Is widely available, but can be expensive. Materials can include carbon fiber, lightweight alloys, specialty plastics, and impregnated fabrics. Backpacking has been a historically white male-dominated outdoor recreational activity. With official backpacks for the sport being patented since 1878, it is indicative of the demographics that the first backpack designed for and marketed towards women wasn't invented until 1979, over 100 years later. Backpacking
405-748: The Appalachian Trail . Another example is the High Sierra Camps in the Yosemite National Park . Long-distance backpacking trails with huts also exist in South Africa, including the 100 km plus Amatola Trail , in the Eastern Cape Province. Backpacking is also popular in the Himalayas (often called trekking there), where porters and pack animals are often used. Backpacking gear depends on
432-501: The Sawtooth Fault near the base of the mountains, running for 40 mi (64 km), near Stanley and Redfish Lake . The Sawtooth Fault’s latest period of significant seismic activity occurred between roughly 4,000 and 7,000 years ago. Nevertheless, estimates predict that it could be capable of producing a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, felt as far away as Boise , a distance of some 132.7 miles (213.5 km). The Sawtooth Range
459-869: The 9,150-foot (2,790 m) Observation Peak, a Class 1 hike, and 8,980-foot (2,740 m) King Spire, a rock route rated Class 5.10 on the Yosemite Decimal System . The northern Sawtooth Range formed from the Eocene Sawtooth batholith , while south of Alturas Lake the mountains formed from the Cretaceous granodiorite of the Idaho Batholith . The Sawtooth Range has a history of alpine glaciation , but while no surface glaciers exist today, perennial snow fields and rock glaciers remain, usually on north or east facing slopes. There have been 202 perennial snow fields mapped in
486-522: The Sawtooth Range. The Sawtooth Range was last extensively glaciated in the Pleistocene , but glaciers probably existed during the Little Ice Age , which ended around 1850 AD. Evidence of past glaciation given remnants of the glaciers such as glacial lakes , moraines , horns , hanging valleys , cirques , and arêtes . In 2010, scientists from Idaho State University discovered
513-409: The body, both particularly dangerous in cold weather. Winter backpackers stick to wool or synthetic fabric like nylon or polypropylene, which hold less moisture and often have specialized wicking properties to dissipate sweat generated during aerobic activities. Layering is essential, as wet clothes quickly sap body heat and can lead to frostbite or hypothermia . A winter bivouac can also be made in
540-402: The bulk rationing prevalent in extended trail hikes, particularly those with pre-planned food drops. Some people seek out lighter equipment for long-distance hikes, as it is easier to carry, reduces physical strain, and allows for ease of long distance travel. Ultralight gear has become increasingly more commonly used in past years as it reduces the strain on the hiker. Specialist ultralight gear
567-453: The foothills of the mountains outside the designated wilderness. Camping is permitted anywhere in the wilderness. There are several developed campgrounds on the western side of range, outside the Sawtooth Wilderness, including at Redfish, Little Redfish , Alturas, Pettit, and Stanley lakes, as well as at Iron Creek. Restrictions on fires and animals apply in some areas. Download coordinates as: Backpacking (wilderness) Backpacking
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#1732772220209594-898: The mountains, while in places like the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales in England hill-walkers descend to stay in youth hostels , farmhouses or guest houses . Reservations can usually be made in advance and are recommended in the high season. In the more remote parts of Great Britain, especially Scotland, bothies exist to provide simple (free) accommodation for backpackers. On the French system of long distance trails , Grande Randonnées , backpackers can stay in gîtes d'étapes , which are simple hostels provided for walkers and cyclists. There are some simple shelters and occasional mountain hut also provided in North America, including on
621-448: The shoulders, delts, back, abs, obliques, hips, quads, hamstrings and the knees. Humans can carry weight under 50 pounds (23 kg) in a safe manner, and a weighted carry is as beneficial for the cardiovascular system as a light run, and for exercise, a weighted carry helps avoid injuries. A differential exists between a man running in comparison to a man walking while carrying a backpack. A 175-pound (79 kg) man running, without
648-416: The terrain and climate, and on a hiker's plans for shelter (refuges, huts, gites, camping, etc.). It may include: Proper hydration is critical to successful backpacking. Depending on conditions - which include weather, terrain, load, and the hiker's age and fitness - a backpacker may drink 2 to 8 litres (1/2 to 2 gallons), or more, per day. At 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) per 1 litre (1.1 US qt) water
675-871: The trip and easier the conditions the more feasible such treats become. In many cases, heat, fuel and utensils are used. Small liquid or gas-fueled campstoves and lightweight cooking pots are common. Campfires are sometimes prohibited. Some backpackers consume dried foods, including many common household foods such as cereal, oatmeal, powdered milk, cheese, crackers, sausage, salami, dried fruit, peanut butter, pasta and rice. Popular snacks include trail mix , easily prepared at home; nuts, energy bars , chocolate, and other energy-dense foods. Coffee, tea, and cocoa are common beverages. Package food in plastic bags while avoiding heavier jars and cans. Dehydrators are popular for drying fruit, jerky, and pre-cooked meals. Many hikers use freeze-dried precooked entrees for hot meals, quickly reconstituted by adding boiling water. An alternative
702-576: The west side by the South Fork Payette River . Small portions of the northern and southern ends of the range are in the watersheds of the Middle Fork Salmon River and Boise River , respectively. There are 40 trails totaling nearly 350 miles (560 km) in the Sawtooth Wilderness that can be used for day hiking , backpacking , and horseback riding and accessed from 23 trailheads. Additional trails traverse
729-710: Was popularized in the 1960's after the passing of The Wilderness Act . Since then, the majority of backpackers have been young, white, men. Studies surrounding the outdoor activity have reflected this. The effects on backpacking (hiking) on women wasn't studied until around 2004, and research is still lacking. Winter backpacking requires a higher level of skill and generally more specialized gear than in other seasons. Skis or snowshoes may be required to traverse deep snow, or crampons and an ice axe where needed. Winter sleeping bags and tents are essential, as are waterproof, water-repellent, and moisture dissipating materials. Cotton clothing retains moisture and chills
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