While we haven’t seen the bear activity this year we did last, there are still bears in the area and to be safe, you need to be wise about how you police your campsite or cabin. Any food — any food however small, distasteful, unappetizing, etc., — is a magnet for bears. They can smell food a mile away (literally) and will come to get it.
So if you’re in a cabin, please refrain from even the most basic sources of food, including dog food, cat food, or even bird feeders. If you’re RV camping, take your food inside at night. If you’re in a tent, tie your food in a tree high enough a bear can’t get to it. If you can jump as high as you can and touch it, a bear can too. Make sure it’s up there high enough to truly be safe. That includes food in coolers. Don’t think bears can’t smell food in a cooler, or that they can’t get in. They will smell it and they will destroy it to get what’s inside.
We want your independence day weekend in Island Park to be the highlight of your summer. A large part of that enjoyment comes from being bear aware and avoiding any potential problems. You don’t want to be out there in the middle of the night in your underwear with no shoes on running from an angry grizz just because you forgot to hang up your food. A few simple precautions will make this the best weekend of the year. See you soon!
I have been watching to see if the public campgrounds will be open in time for the Memorial Holiday Weekend. As of today, Riverside campground (south of Pinehaven) still has a drift 3 feet tall on the road going in and the gate is closed. Pond’s Lodge campground the same. They have a sign in the road (which has been plowed out, but still has considerable snow on the sides of the road and in the trees) which says road closed. Macks Inn public campground is likewise impassable.
So if you were thinking about coming and camping, you may have to try one of the RV parks (Henry’s Lake, Macks Inn, Valley View, etc.) because even with the heavy melting we’ve got going on right now, openings occur when they occur. It might be a good idea to call the Island Park ranger station before you come memorial day to see if they’ve got your favorite campsite open.
Tragedy was averted last night when two snowmobilers from New Hampshire walked out of the wilderness. The two, a father and son, were snowmobiling with four other friends on the Black Canyon Loop trail when one by one their sleds quit and they were left stranded. The father and son’s sleds went the farthest and from there they started walking.
Fortunately it only took them two or three hours to get to Macks Inn and call for help. When they returned, their friends were okay and what could have been a deadly situation was averted. It appears as though the group thought the trail was shorter than it was, and everyone ran out of gas. Temperatures have been warmer in Island Park of late, but even so, last night’s temps were in the teens. So it’s fortunate they made it out.
There was some question whether other snowmobilers had seen the pair walking and ignored them. I think this is extremely unlikely. If you’re riding and you see someone who is walking (especially someone waving their arms and shouting) you stop and see what’s going on. Since it was well past dark, the more likely scenario is that nobody saw them walking along in dark clothing in the dark.
At any rate, this once again underscores the need to be prepared, to be situationally aware, and to be cautious, especially when riding in unfamiliar territory. This is big country with large distances between civilization. Your dad always told you to to ride on the top half of the tank (any time we were going to dip into the bottom half, we took along extra gas.) Now you know why.
Have fun, but be cautious. Be prepared. Be situationally aware. The life you save may be your own (and that of your friends.)
A Minnesota man was killed in a tragic snowmobile vs. van accident earlier this week south of Pond’s lodge. According to witnesses, he failed to stop at the intersection where the trail he was riding crossed highway 20. The collision occurred when the driver of the van was unable to stop and the snowmobile was struck broadside, killing the driver of the snowmobile instantly.
While there are those who criticize the markings on the trails (particularly the placement of stop signs, etc.) the fact is that many people ride those trails like they have completely lost their minds. It’s not uncommon on any of the local trails to have riders on high-powered snowmobiles doing nearly 100 miles per hour blow past you like you are standing still.
Please understand I’m not suggesting that the man from Minnesota was speeding or making any other kind of judgment about him or his riding (only the investigating officer can make those determinations.)Â We feel nothing but a deep sadness over this accident and have no desire to judge the snowmobiler or anyone else.
It is fair to suggest, however, that if you want to remain safe while riding in Island Park (or anywhere for that matter) it might be prudent to slow down and drive defensively. That’s especially true in areas with which you are not familiar.
All of us here at islandpark.com extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the snowmobiler from Minnesota who so tragically lost his life in our back yard. We love it here, as this good man did, and we want everyone who comes here to recreate to be safe and have an enjoyable time. Hopefully this accident will be the impetus to creating a safer environment (through better signage, etc.) and will encourage everyone to recognize the inherent dangers in snowmobiling and take appropriate precautions when riding.
Mack’s Inn located in the heart of Island Park, is a vintage resort on the shores of the North Fork of the Snake River on US 20 mile marker 393. The resort dates back to the early nineteen hundreds. It is a favorite spot for many family outings and family reunions.
Mack’s Unn Resort
Lodging: RV Park/Campground, Hotels & Motels 65 Rooms $10 - $115
73 RV Hookup Sites $10 - $115
Pet Fee for Rooms, $5Phone: (208) 558-7272 Fax: (208) 558-9305
Web Site : http://www.macksinn.com/
Seasons: Fall, Summer
54 RV Hookup Sites $10 - $120
$120 Groups/weekend; $60 Groups/weekday
Location: Island Park , ID
Eastern Idaho, S. of Mack’s Inn
Directions: Hwy. 20, 3.5 mi. S. of Mack’s Inn, 2.2 mi. NW on Hwy. 030, 4 mi. SW on Forest Rd. 334
» Web Site
http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/caribou-targhee