The Wood River Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society will offer a very special opportunity to explore alpine wildflowers atop Bald Mountain on Saturday, August 2. Participants should plan to leave Hailey’s Hop Porter Park at 8:30 AM and regroup at the base of River Run by the picnic table at 9:00 AM ready to get on gondola at 9:30 AM. Gondola tickets cost $20 per person. Please, no dogs.

Participants will ride the gondola and chair lift to the top as a loose group and then gather for the hike down the Bald Mountain trail. The hike will end at the Roundhouse connector no later than 3:00 pm. Participants can elect to share a meal at the Roundhouse restaurant if they choose and to ride the gondola down or use designated trails to hike to the bottom on their own.

The hike is deemed medium difficult to difficult because of the high elevation and downhill trails. Prepare for unexpected inclement weather by bringing a raincoat and warm sweater or jacket. Bring drinking water, a lunch, sun hat, and sunscreen; bring hiking poles, if you use them. A hand lens or magnifying glass can offer an up-close look at fascinating flower parts. Binoculars are a nice addition, too.

For more information, call 559-696-9953 or visit https://idahonativeplants.org/wood-river/.