Brian Frankle hikes the ICT North to South

(All photos courtesy Brian Frankle, http://www.ula-equipment.com/)

Hi all,

I wanted to share Ron Whittaker's post from the Idaho Outdoors Yahoo Group regarding ULA owner Brian Frankle's successful journey on the ICT this summer, traveling north to south.

I must say, to watch Brian's slide show, is to experience a wonderful scenic sweep of Idaho, north to south, along the jagged backbone of our state, meandering from the British Columbia border to Fairfield, and then across the desert to finish. Awesome pics and congrats on an incredible journey, Brian.

Many thanks, Ron, for sharing the links from Brian's successful trip.

Here's Ron's post:

"First a little back-story: When Jerry Finnegan, Nick Abshire, and I were onthe ICT in northern Idaho in summer 2006, we met Chris Harrington, who finishedhis ICT hike that year. Chris was using a backpack made by ULA Equipment.

That's the tie-in to this story. The guy who runs ULA Equipment, BrianFrankle, this summer completed his thru hike of the Idaho Centennial Trail from north to south.

Here is the link to Brian's website: http://www.ula-equipment.com/idahocentennialtrail/index.htm

and his photo album, recognize any of these places??? http://picasaweb.google.com/briansbliss/IDAHOCENTENNIALTRAIL

Ron Whittaker (60% of ICT done)"

Trail Route

The Idaho Atlas and Gazetteer and the only guidebook on the trail, “Discover Idaho’s Centennial Trail,” are 5 to 10 years old and some trail sections have been moved.

Again, the ICT maps on the IDPR web site are the best and most up to date routes. Users tell us that the guidebook and the Idaho Benchmark Atlas provide valuable supplementary information.

On the ground, follow the ICT markers and USFS trail signs, where they exist. One recent user said it best, “Traveling the Idaho Centennial Trail is a challenging, discovery type of experience. I enjoyed that aspect of the trip.” It is incumbent on ICT backcountry travelers to research and plan their journey in great detail, and you’ll have a great time. The trail is not signed, marked or blazed in the same manner as the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail.

Go to The IDPR web site and read more about the ICT.

Leo Hennessy
Centennial Trail Coordinator

ICT web site

For those of you who are yearning to plan a trip on the Idaho Centennial Trail, or if you're just curious about what it is, check out the new web pages on the Idaho Centennial Trail on the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation web site.

The web site has a ton of information and photos about the Idaho Centennial Trail, how the trail was created, where it goes, what trail uses are allowed, how to find the best trail maps for the ICT, notes on resupply points, trail access issues and more. The web site also links to videos from a great program that Idaho Public Television did on the Idaho Centennial Trail.

Since the ICT was created in 1990, there haven't been very many people who have conquered the full length of the trail in one summer. Now there's no excuse ... we've provided the information you need, now you just have to plan a trip, get the time off reserved, and check out the trail.

Have fun!

Best, Steve

ICT Snow Conditions

I just returned from Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness and all of the high mountain passes are in the process of melting out. They are passable. The snow line on north slopes was 8600 feet as of 7/7/08.

Leo

Welcome to our new blog

Hi everyone,

This is Leo Hennessy, trail coordinator of the Idaho Centennial Trail, from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. I want to welcome you to this new blog on the Idaho Centennial Trail.

We hope this will be a useful tool for people and public agencies to find out the best information about the Idaho Centennial Trail.

Please feel free to post information, photos and video from your trips on the Idaho Centennial Trail.

We'd also like to use this blog as a forum between trail users, the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Parks and Recreation to discuss issues related to the Idaho Centennial Trail.

In my mind, the Idaho Centennial Trail is a relatively undiscovered jewel that runs through the best of Idaho's outdoor settings, from the colorful desert in the Owyhee Canyonlands to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, to the Stateline Trail, to the Cabinet and Selkirk mountains in the Idaho Panhandle.

I hope this blog inspires you to get out there and enjoy the trail.

Leo