Volunteers needed for ITA Trail Scouting Program
The first season of our Trail Scouting Program is underway! One of our volunteers scouted about 30 miles of the Middle Fork Trail from the Boundary Creek Boat Launch down to the Pistol Creek Airstrip already, but with the snow melting out in the high country, there are more opportunities to scout trails in the higher elevations. There are approximately 370 miles of trails in the southwest corner of ... Read More
Dutch Oven Cooking Tips for Beginners
Submitted by ITA volunteer cook, Hugh Cooke. What is a Camp Dutch Oven? Kitchen dutch oven has rounded dome lid to capture liquids and flat bottom to rest on range. Camping coals will not stay on this lid with ease. Camp Dutch Oven has three legs to hold pot above a bed of heat/charcoals and a flat lid with a rim to hold charcoals on top. Dutch Oven are ... Read More
Cheese, Green Chile & Chicken Enchilada Dutch Oven recipe
Great for camping out or at home, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser! Submitted by ITA volunteer cook, Hugh Cooke. Check out our Dutch Oven Cooking Tips for Beginners if you are new to Dutch oven cooking. Cheese, Green Chile & Chicken Enchilada Dutch Oven recipe 12” Dutch oven (serves 8+ guests) Ingredients: 1 pound shredded roasted chicken, spice with cumin 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 cup ... Read More
Do You Have a Lemonade Mindset?
By Melanie Vining, ITA Executive Director My summer recently took a hard right turn. On Wednesday, May 15th, I had a calendar full of ITA trips, hiking trips, trail runs, and outside projects at my house. On Thursday, May 16th, I was lying prone on a stretcher, bound for Boise on Life Flight with a broken pelvis after a fluky horse wreck just a quarter mile from my house ... Read More
Trail Spotlight: Little City of Rocks Loop
Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current conditions and keep yourself safe if you choose to hike this trail. Physical guidebooks and maps are always good to ... Read More
Eating on the Trail
Alexis Bennett is an Idaho native who enjoys big hikes and trails with her son and dog. Her street credit includes 20 years of running and weight training experience, including as a collegiate track athlete, finishing the Boise Trail Challenge on foot in 2023, and holding the women’s single-day Boise Grand Slam record. Eating on the Trail Who doesn’t love a tasty treat on the trail? I know I ... Read More
Trail Spotlight: Evans Landing
Our Trail Spotlight highlights day trips to multi-day hikes across Idaho. Trail conditions can change quickly- swollen rivers can become impassable, windstorms can knock trees down across trails, and snow can come earlier than expected. Please take these recommendations as a jumping off place and do additional research to understand current conditions and keep yourself safe if you choose to hike this trail. Physical guidebooks and maps are always good to ... Read More
Volunteer Spotlight: Brad Smith
Brad helped to start ITA back in 2009 and recently volunteered many hours to create ITA's new Frank Church-River of No Return Trail Map! He is heading up a new ITA volunteer opportunity of gathering GPS data in the south half of the Frank to produce a second map later this year. Thank you, Brad, for all you do for Idaho's trails! Tell us a little about yourself. Twenty-five ... Read More
Join us on an Idaho Centennial Trail project!
We are excited to be hosting many projects on the thousand-mile Idaho Centennial Trail this summer! The ICT is Idaho's only thru-hike that spans from Canada all the way to Nevada. We have many opportunities for volunteers to visit and work on the ICT this year. If you find an opportunity that is already full, sign up for the waitlist to be notified if a spot opens up. North ... Read More
Finding My Path: A Reflection on ITA’s Special Programs
By Melanie Vining I remember my friend Tobey calling me in the spring seven years ago, asking if she could stay at our house in Council on her way to a trail project. Of course I said yes- she was one of my oldest friends, and distance and busy lives made it hard to stay in touch. She showed up on a Saturday evening with a bottle of wine, ... Read More