Horseback trip into the Selway-BitterRoot

Idaho's Hidden Lake

Idaho's Hidden Lake

Two or three times a year I take a  horseback trip back into the Selway-BitterRoot Wilderness near my home in Kooskia Idaho.  I usually con one of my horse owning friends into taking me along or sometimes  I lay out a little green, and hire one of our local Outfitters.  About an hours drive will get us to a trailhead along the Lochsa or Selway Rivers.  Another hour or so, after unloading the stock and getting them all cargoed up, we’re on the trail, heading for a high mountain Idaho Lake.  Some times we will camp at one particular lake (like Hidden Lake) and others, we will move to another lake each day.  We fish, swim, eat too much, and lay around camp and swap lies.  There is no better way to spend an afternoon and evening than to be way back in the Selway Bitter-Root Wilderness, watching the sun slide down over the ridge and then the moon climbing up into a star-studded sky.  “Boy’s throw another log on the fire and top off my glass of forty rod, I feel another story coming on….”  Sound good to you! Check us out at www.myidahocountry.com

BEN

RM

Idaho Steelhead season still open.

3-12-09-cp-fishing-1   A surefire cure for cabin fever, steelhead season is still open on the mainstem and South Fork of the Clearwater River.

     The spring harvest season opened Jan. 1, and it continues until April 30 on both the upper Clearwater to Clear Creek and the South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red Rivers. The North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam is also open until April 30.

     The statewide steelhead limit is three per day, nine in possession and 20 for the spring season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch-and-release. Anglers must have a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit.

     Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed immediately.   If you’d like to fish in Idaho everyday, move there! Check us out at www.myidahocountry.com

Courtesy: Clearwater Progress

RM

Clearwater Valley 6th Grade Girls Win Tournament!

 

On Valentine’s day 2009 the Clearwater Valley 6th grade girls Basketball team from Kooskia Idaho traveled to Cottonwood Idaho

Clearwater Valley 6th Grade Team

Clearwater Valley 6th Grade Team

 and won the Praire invitational Basketball Tournament.  It was a exciting time for the girls which included a showdown with the Grangeville Bulldogs for the Championship.  It was a great time, if you’d like to move to North Central Idaho with your Basketball Star check us out @ www.myidahocountry.com

 

RM

Coolwater Lookout Road near Kooskia Idaho

Several times a year, during summer and fall, I load up  my ATV and ride up the Coolwater Lookout Road near Kooskia, Idaho.  It’s about a 12 mile ride and begins near the confluence of  Idaho’s Lochsa and Selway Rivers.  The vegetation changes from heavy fir and cedar forest to open sub-alpine with a change of elevation of over 5000 feet.  In July and early August the Ridge will be covered with multi-colored wildflowers.  It’s also a great place to pick Idaho’s wild Huckleberries…mmm Huckleberry pie!  The Selway Crags rear up to the East, with the Bitter Root Mountains way off in the distance at the Montana/Idaho State line.  To the West is Grangeville, Idaho and the Camas Praire with the Blue’s forming a backdrop over Washington and Oregon.  I like to pull up a rock and sit for hours drinking it all in.  How about you?  Check us out @ www.myidahocountry.com 

BEN

Kooskia Idaho Real Estate

The little town of Kooskia, Idaho – population 600+ – sits at the confluence of the Middle fork and South fork of the Clearwater River. Beautiful and pristine, the Clearwater River is designated as one of Americas “Wild and Scenic Rivers”. The area was originally settled by trappers and gold miners, later on by loggers, ranchers and farmers. It is now a headquarters for steelhead and salmon fishing, big game hunting, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling and ATVing.

Kooskia is the last town on the Lewis & Clark Highway when entering the vast primitive lands of the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area. In 1806 Lewis & Clark traveled through Kooskia on their memorable journey of exploration and stayed here and in the nearby Kamiah Valley with the Nez Perce Indians for several weeks.

Being centrally located, Kooskia is just a short drive to Grangeville, the county seat, with a hospital, golf course and movie theater. On past Grangeville are the Snake and Salmon Rivers with great fishing and boating. Another short drive will take you to Dworshak Reservoir near Orofino with its 53-mile-long reservoir for a myriad of lake activities. A little over an hour gets you to Lewiston – a small city with an airport and all major retailers.

Although 400 miles inland, Kooskia is only a little over 1200 feet in elevation and with an average of 25” of rainfall makes for great gardening weather.

Come visit and experience the thrill of landing a 20 pound Steelhead or Salmon, drive to one of the nearby forestry lookouts and view the Selway Craigs and Bitterroot mountains, go up the Selway River and see Selway Falls or take a jaunt up the Lochsa River in the fall when the Tamarack trees turn to gold against the green of the firs. It will take your breath away and perhaps you might consider relocating to our little corner of the world. If so, Rob McHone and his staff at Idaho Country Properties are here to assist you in finding your dream property.  Call us at 208-926-0075   or email Broker/Owner Rob McHone at  icp@QroIdaho.net

We’ve also opened a new office in Kamiah, Idaho at 603 3rd Street.  Call us in Kamiah at 208-935-7659