A Regular Tries the Bighorn Crags a New Way

Story and Photos by F.A. Loomis

Growing up in the Donnelly-McCall vicinity of Valley County, I was curious about the other side of the known universe, the eastern side of the wilderness area northwest of Challis. Sure, we had Big Creek, Monumental, the South and East Forks of the Salmon, Chamberlain Basin, Mackey Bar, and Flossie Lake. But what about that area fire fighters described as alpine heaven, that Middle Fork of the Salmon, which rafters had praised for the greatest day hiking they had ever done, and bighorn sheep enthusiasts had talked of as home to some of Idaho’s finest big-game prizes?