Sun Valley’s first snowstorm of the winter season brought 17 inches to the top of Baldy over the weekend.

The snow fell over a 24-hour period and another one to three inches is expected through noon Monday.

Sun Valley Resort expects to open the ski season Thanksgiving Day, however, this date could be pushed up should early snowstorms continue, a resort spokesman said Monday.

The campgrounds on the shores of Stanley Lake are some of the most popular campgrounds in the Stanley area. Just try to get a camping spot in the height of the summer.

SAGEHEN RESERVOIR
The water level in Sagehen Reservoir is pretty low and makes bank fishing pretty difficult. It sounds like too much of a bother to try to fish the reservoir unless you want to trudge through the mud. It's probably difficult to get a big boat into the reservoir, too.
We were also told that someone stapled paper over the prices for camping at Sagehen Reservoir on the campground sign. Does that mean no fees are being charged up there anymore? Yup. We called the Emmett Ranger District and there are no fees up there because of the end of the season.

BOISE RIVER

If you want to apply for a permit to float wild sections of the Selway, Snake River in Hells Canyon, Middle Fork of the Salmon or Main Salmon during the summer control seasons, you’ll need to apply online this year.

The Four Rivers Lottery system is going paperless. You can enter applications from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31 at www.recreation.gov.

Hunters took seven wolves last week, nearly doubling the total take. Actually, the legal take did double since one wolf previously shot was killed illegally. It will be interesting to see what happens after October 1 when the rest of the state opens for wolf hunting.

It's a safe bet most wolves are going to get killed when deer and elk rifle hunters hit the woods, which is already happening in the Middle Fork Zone because much of it is a backcountry zone and rifle hunters are out there now.

I love looking around for gear items for Idaho Outdoors. There's a never-ending supply of all kinds of stuff.

You wonder who will buy some of the stuff. That's what I thought when I came across Corde-Lite rope that glows in the dark. Huh?

It's 7 mm in diameter and 21 feet long and costs $14.90. I saw it at REI. It has a twist of blue coloring in it.

I often write about standing in a cold river casting for hours for steelhead and having a chill sink into my bones, so it felt down-right weird on Saturday to be standing in a cool river and sweating.

It's low, but you can still get a canoe down the Boise River.

We did a float from Barber Park downstream Sunday and it took a little more maneuvering over the diversions, but it was OK.

The flow was dropped last Thursday from 640 cfs to 580 cfs. The normal summer flow is around 1,000 cfs. The river is becoming more defined with riffles and small chutes.

It's going to be in the 90s today. It's difficult to think about duck or upland-bird hunting unless you hunt in the morning and are home by noon.

Anyway, it's hard to believe hunting season is getting into full swing. The Idaho youth waterfowl hunt is Sept. 26 and 27. The youth waterfowl hunt is open to youths 15 and younger.

The Treasure Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever is offering a free youth shotgun training session Sept. 26 at Black Dog Clays, 7680 Vallejo Road, in Boise.

What an excellent idea to get youths into hunting the right way and with the right training. The session is for 10- to 15-year-olds, but parents or legal guardians need to attend.