The University of Idaho’s Outdoor Program and Rental Center are operating in full swing this summer offering the same trips and equipment to the public and University of Idaho students at a discounted rate.
The schedule of trips planned by the outdoor program this summer includes trips down the Snake and Salmon Rivers, sailing in Coeur d’Alene and kayaking in Spring Valley. Mountain Bike Mondays start again June 10 and continue into August.
UI Outdoor Program | Courtesy
Trevor Fulton, Outdoor Program Assistant Coordinator enjoyed a local single track during a Mountain Bike Monday event last summer. Mountain Bike Mondays start at 4 p.m. June 10.
Mountain Bike Monday originally started in April. But according to Outdoor Programs Coordinator Mike Beiser, the conditions were poor because of the late snow melt, but he is very hopeful for the new trips now that the conditions have improved on the mountain.
Mountain Bike Mondays are being led by outdoor program employee Trevor Fulton. He said this is a great way for new students or anybody who is not familiar with the area to get acquainted with the expanse of trails on Moscow Mountain. Fulton is trained in wilderness rescue and works closely with the Moscow Area Mountain Bike Association. Fulton said the innocuous-seeming Mountain can confuse and disorients riders.
The four open water trips being offered at the outdoor program are a way for beginners or anybody without their own means to get out on the water.
All of the water trips offered by the Outdoor Program come with all the equipment and experience that is needed for a safe day out. The trips range in price from $40 to kayak the Snake to $75 to take a day trip down the Salmon River in Riggins.
Steve Mims, the Rental Center coordinator, is in charge of supplying all of the equipment for the trips.
“We actually eat some of the cost in supplying the trips, we offer all of the equipment needed cheaper than just renting it,” Mims said. “We do this so that the participants can go out and do an activity that they normally may not have done.”
Mims said the Rental Center rents a lot of gear to private parties and even international clients regularly during the summer. He said this allows the center to offer the same high quality equipment to participants for cheaper than the listed price.
The benefits do not stop at discounted gear for students — according to Mims, the Outdoor Program always has a highly qualified leader for the trips who are familiar with the equipment, geographical area, risk management and first aid.
“Safety is a top priority for us and should be for anybody doing any activity in the wilderness,” Mims said.
The UI Outdoor Program has set a schedule for trips this summer and is now accepting participants to sign up. Beiser said they are always open to input from students and members of the community. He said that they receive emails all the time from people who want to take trips and if there is enough demand, the trip is put together.
For more information on the outdoor program and its summer trips or to sign up for a trip stop by the outdoor program located inside of the SRC.
Curtis Ginnetti can be reached at [email protected]
