Wind River Range calls to backcountry anglers

<p>Tanner Pursley, of Rigby, tries to interest a complacent school of trout in his lure near the outlet of Lonesome Lake high in the Wind River Range during a recent backpacking trip. Jerry Painter photo </p>

After reaching our climbing goal in the Wind River Range of Wyoming a few weeks ago, we got up the next morning and had one plan for the day: Catch some trout for lunch.

Pocatello man runs Idaho’s 12ers without transportation

When most of the big mountain objectives have been reached, adventurers get creative in their projects.

A heady game on Wolf’s Head peak

<p>Jerry Painter climbs along the Piton Pitch of Wolf's Head in the Cirque of the Towers in Wyoming's Wind River Range on Friday. Although the climbing was generally not difficult, the exposure to heights was off the charts. (Photo by Tanner Pursley) </p>

I was leading the third pitch on Friday of the famous Wolf’s Head peak found high in the Cirque of the Towers in Wyoming’s Wind River Range when I made a mistake.

Paradise found in the Sawtooth mountains

<p>From left, Curtis Hoffman and Levi Painter are high on the slopes of Alpine Peak above Sawtooth Lake in central Idaho on Aug. 12. The pair were climbing to the summit of the peak on a smoky morning. (Jerry Painter photo) </p>

A couple of weeks ago the Painters were holding a family reunion in the Stanley Basin area of central Idaho. Of course, hikes were involved.

A shorter approach to Cascade Canyon

<p>Julie Painter takes in the view of the stream flowing into the north end of Jenny Lake from String Lake in Grand Teton National Park on Saturday. (Jerry Painter photo) </p>

As a family, we decided to hike up Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton National Park on Saturday. Instead of taking the hugely popular trail around the south end of Jenny Lake, we hiked in from the north side.

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.

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