Blog – Occidentalist

A Spring Backpack Into Hells Canyon

Post author:Occidental
Post published:2026-04-04
Post category:2026 Idaho
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Now that spring has sprung, we have our eye out for any weather windows to get out on the trails with a backpack (or hook the boat up and go fishing, or …well you get the idea). One such window opened at the end of March and we jumped right on it and packed for a couple nights in Hells Canyon. Besides being the deepest gorge in North America it is also intolerably hot in the summer, so it made for a good first overnight hike of 2026 before things get too hot there. We headed to Pittsburg Landing and headed up the Snake River from there.

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April!

Post author:Occidental
Post published:2026-04-01
Post category:2026
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It's been a while since winter rolled into the rear view mirror, (a month if are a meteorologist, or almost two weeks if you are an astrologer) so there's a bit of catching up to do around here. It seemed like February was more spring like than March here in North Central Idaho. Here we are at April 1st and we have a winter weather warning that extends into the next couple days. Go figure.…

Going North from the Southwest

Post author:Occidental
Post published:2026-01-25
Post category:2026 Arizona
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After wrapping up the El Camino del Diablo in Yuma, we had pretty much finished our westward trip across southern Arizona, so there was just one direction for us to go, North. It was nearing the new year and it was time to head in the direction of home. We reached Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in time to take in one more spectacular Arizona sunset.

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