Backpacking – Occidentalist

Summit, Rapid and Hard Creek Lakes

Post author:Occidental
Post published:2026-08-26
Post category:2026 Idaho
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In mid-July the heat came, and the air turned a smoky gray-brown, blotting out the blue sky. By mid-August it was hot and smoky so long I was starting to forget what a blue sky looked like. Then, finally, a short break in the weather came. The sky cleared and turned back to blue, and we got a short break from the relentless heat. It was time to pack the backpacks and get out on the trail. With loaded backpacks we headed south and hit the trail to Summit and Rapid Lakes.

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A Hike Up Kelly Creek

Post author:Occidental
Post published:2026-06-26
Post category:2026 Idaho
Post comments:1 Comment

A good portion of the last few months have been spent attempting to fill our freezer with fish, restocking the wood pile for winter, and getting the garden going. June has brought both snowstorms and 90 degree temps. After all that we headed up into the headwaters of the Clearwater for a few days of backpacking up Kelly Creek.

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Backpacking the Selway

Post author:Occidental
Post published:2026-04-26
Post category:2026 Idaho
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Spring is definitely springing in north central Idaho. Wildflowers are blooming and things are coming alive out in the woods. I’m thinking spring is the new summer when it comes to backpacking. No hundred degree days, no wildfire smoke, less crowds. Of course the high country is still under snow, so we kept it close to home for this one and headed to the Selway River for a low elevation spring backpack.

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