An outing with Huckleberry Hound

<p>Julie Painter gets purple stained fingers picking huckleberries on Saturday in the hills north of Kelly Canyon. (Jerry Painter photo) </p>

My dog Sunny generally wants to do whatever I’m doing — or at least hang around and supervise.

Family, friends and fun at the festival

<p>Nhung Lhung, of Melbourne, Austrailia, right, poses for a photo with famous rock climber Alex Honnold at the International Climbers Festival in Lander, Wyo., on Saturday. Honnold recently made headlines by free soloing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California. (Photo courtesy of Nhung Lhung) </p>

I love it when a plan comes together.

Still dealing with snow up high

<p>Death Canyon Shelf, part of the Teton Crest Trail in Grand Teton National Park, was still covered with a great deal of snow on Saturday. Several parts of the trail were under snow. (National Park photo) </p>

While the snow is disappearing fast in the high country, the National Park Service reports that the highest trails, such as the Teton Crest Trail, and passes such as Paint Brush Divide, are still mostly snow covered.

Pompey’s Pillar impressive stop for Corps of Discovery

<p>Pompey’s Pillar, originally named Pompy’s Tower, impressed William Clark on his journey to explore the Yellowstone River. By Terry Thomas / news@postregister.com </p>

JULY 3, 1806, TRAVELER’S REST, PRESENT-DAY LOLO, MONTANA. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark wished each other well as the Corps of Discovery split into two parties at Traveler’s Rest, a camp that they had used on their journey west the previous year.

Finding limestone rock one state over

<p>Tanner Pursley of Almo, climbs a tricky, polished rock face Saturday in Logan Canyon, Utah. (Taylor Carpenter photo) </p>

One of the coolest things about living in the land of the free and the home of the brave is that crossing state lines is barely an afterthought.

A classic trail on the west side of the Tetons

<p>From the book "Eastern Idaho Sweet Spots" by Jerry Painter and Matt TeNgaio, courtesy of Trail Guide Books </p>

Last week I wrote about a classic hike to Marion Lake on the east side of the Tetons. This week, I thought I should promote a classic hike on the west side of the range.

A Teton alpine lake that won’t disappoint

<p>Marion Lake sits high in the Tetons along the Teton Crest Trail and is a favorite destination for many hikers. (Jerry Painter photo) </p>

I once hiked with a woman who hit the trails into her eighties, nearly up to the year she died.

Rock climbing reaches biblical heights

<p>Megan Dempsey, left climber in black pants, and Cozeth Sykes, right climber, start up different routes on the Zen Garden Wall in Maple Canyon, Utah on Friday. The group drove down from Idaho Falls to enjoy some of the hundreds of rock climbing routes in the canyon. (Photo by Jerry Painter) </p>

The rock climbing route was called the Thessalonian Buttress. I’m assuming it was named after the epistle the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. While not necessarily a journey of spiritual discovery, this 300-foot-tall, three-pitch vertical climb in Maple Canyon, Utah, was an eye-opener.

Getting to know a few of Pocatello’s critters

<p>Two cyclists ride south of Inkom on Saturday during the Tour of Marsh Creek Valley century ride. More than 100 people participating the annual event. (Photo courtesy of Steve Sullivan) </p>

The animals were acting a little wonky Saturday.

Listening for rattlers at a new climbing area

<p>Taylor Carpenter of Idaho Falls climbs a basalt rock wall at a new climbing area called Teddy Bear Cove not far from the Massacre Rocks climbing area west of American Falls. This new area boasts easier access, than the Massacre Rocks area and is mostly on state land. (Jerry Painter photo) </p>

He was about 30 feet up a vertical rock wall Saturday when rock climbing friend Tanner Pursley suddenly yelped and said, “TAKE!” It was unexpected because he was climbing a relatively easy route.

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