BRUCE REICHERT, NARRATOR: POSITIONED BETWEEN GLAMOROUS SUN VALLEY AND DESOLATE CRATERS OF THE MOON, THE PIONEER MOUNTAINS ARE, FOR MANY OF US, STILL JUST A BLANK SPOT ON THE MAP.

TO GEOLOGISTS, HOWEVER, THESE MOUNTAINS REPRESENT SOMETHING MUCH MORE.

PAUL LINK, PROFESSOR OF GEO-SCIENCES, IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY: IT'S THE HEART OF IDAHO TO ME.

IT'S THE MOST GEOLOGICALLY COMPLICATED PART OF IDAHO.

REICHERT: THIS IS IDAHO'S SECOND HIGHEST MOUNTAIN RANGE.

BRYANT DUNN, SUN VALLEY OUTFITTERS: THE PIONEER MOUNTAINS REALLY HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY WORLD.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE I WOULD RATHER CALL HOME.

REICHERT: IT'S ALSO HOME TO A CREATURE EARLY EXPLORERS CALLED SPEED GOATS.

PRONGHORN ARE NORTH AMERICA'S FASTEST MAMMAL, AND ONE OF THEIR LONGEST MIGRATIONS OCCURS HERE IN THE PIONEERS.

TODD STEFANIC, BIOLOGIST, CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT & PRESERVE: THIS IS WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS PRONGHORN PASS.

I KNOW BETWEEN WHICH SAGEBRUSH AND WHICH ROCK THEY'RE GOING TO COME EVERY SPRING AND EVERY FALL.

REICHERT: IT'S NOT OFFICIAL WILDERNESS, BUT THIS IS AS RUGGED AS ANY WILDERNESS IN THE NATION, ESPECIALLY AT PLACES LIKE GOAT LAKE, IDAHO'S HIGHEST NAMED LAKE.

LISA CALLEN, JEROME RESIDENT: THIS PLACE FEEDS YOUR SOUL.

WHEN YOU SEE THESE PEAKS, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE COMPLETELY IN GOD'S COUNTRY.

MY SOUL IS HAPPY HERE.

JOE ST. ONGE, OUTFITTER, SUN VALLEY TREKKING: THIS PLACE IS ALIVE, AND THIS PLACE IS MAGICAL.

AND THIS PLACE IS DEADLY.

BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

REICHERT: AND IT'S WHY WE FIND OURSELVES DRAWN, INTO THE PIONEERS.

ANNOUNCER: PRESENTATION OF OUTDOOR IDAHO IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE AND BETTIS FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO; BY THE JAMES AND BARBARA CIMINO FOUNDATION, DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PROJECTS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PRESERVE THE SPIRIT OF IDAHO; BY THE FRIENDS OF IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION; BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING; AND BY THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT.

BRUCE REICHERT: To geologists it may be the most complicated, interesting mountain range in the entire state of Idaho; most of us probably couldn't find it on a map.

Hi, I'm Bruce Reichert, and welcome to Outdoor Idaho.

The Pioneers, they're not as famous as the nearby Sawtooths or the White Clouds or the Boulders.

Still, this mountain range has many surprises.

THIS VIEW HAS INTRIGUED DOWNHILL SKIERS FOR DECADES.

THE PEAKS OF THE PIONEER MOUNTAINS FROM ATOP MT BALDY.

AND IT CERTAINLY IMPRESSED THE EUROPEANS BROUGHT HERE BY THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD IN THE 1930S TO HELP JUMPSTART THE DREAM OF AN IDAHO SKI RESORT IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY.

BUT THEY COULD NEVER QUITE SHAKE THAT VIEW OF THE PIONEERS AND THOSE IMPRESSIVE PEAKS: HYNDMAN, DEVILS BEDSTEAD, OLD HYNDMAN, COBB, MANY OF THEM A THOUSAND FEET HIGHER THAN THE NEARBY SAWTOOTHS.

AND SO THEY BUILT SEVERAL SKI HUTS, TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR TYPE OF SKIING.

NO CHAIR LIFTS, JUST THE MOUNTAINS AND A WARMING HUT.

AND MUCH LATER, A MOTTO: THE HIGHER YOU GET, THE HIGHER YOU GET.

EVENTUALLY, BALDY WITH ITS CHAIR LIFTS AND GROOMED RUNS WON OVER MOST FOLKS, BUT THIS CABIN IS STILL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE FOUR MILE HIKE UP IS STILL, FOR MANY, A PERFECT ENTRE INTO THE PIONEERS.

FOR GEOLOGIST PAUL LINK, THE ATTRACTION OF THE PIONEERS LIES IN ITS COMPLEXITY.

PAUL LINK, PROFESSOR OF GEO-SCIENCES, IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY: I KNOW THIS COUNTRY PRETTY WELL.

I'VE BEEN POKING AROUND HERE FOR 30 YEARS.

IT'S THE HEART OF IDAHO TO ME.

IT'S THE MOST GEOLOGICALLY COMPLICATED PART OF IDAHO.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF ROCKS.

THERE'S CRYSTALLINE ROCKS, INTRUSIVE ROCKS.

THERE'S METAMORPHOSED SEDIMENTARY ROCKS.

THERE'S FOLDED SEDIMENTARY ROCKS.

THERE'S VOLCANIC ROCKS.

SO IT REALLY IS A GEOLOGIST'S PARADISE HERE IN THE PIONEERS.

REICHERT: TO THIS GEOLOGIST, THE PIONEERS STRETCH FROM THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN ON THE SOUTH TO SUMMIT CREEK ON THE NORTH TO THE BIG WOOD RIVER ON THE WEST AND THE BIG LOST ON THE EAST.

PAUL LINK: I ENJOY THAT IT'S SO COMPLICATED, GEOLOGICALLY.

I ENJOY THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO SCRATCH YOUR HEAD OVER, SOMETHING TO PUZZLE OVER WHEN MAKING A GEOLOGIC MAP.

THE FLOWERS ARE ALWAYS WONDERFUL.

IT'S STEEP, AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE MOOD TO CLIMB 3,000 FEET EVERY DAY, THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO WORK.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, IT'S SO CLOSE TO KETCHUM.

SO IT'S REALLY A PRETTY SPECIAL PLACE.

A MOST INTERESTING PART OF IDAHO.

REICHERT: BOB JONAS AND SARAH MICHAEL ARE ON THE LAST LEG OF A REMARKABLE JOURNEY, ONE THAT HAS TAKEN THEM ACROSS HALF A DOZEN CENTRAL IDAHO MOUNTAIN RANGES.

THEY'RE MEETING OUTFITTER AND LLAMA BREEDER BEAU BATY HERE AT TRAIL CREEK SUMMIT, OUTSIDE OF KETCHUM/SUN VALLEY.

HE'S BROUGHT THEM A FRESH CONTINGENT OF LLAMAS TO GET THEM ACROSS THAT LAST LEG.

THE PIONEER MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE 10 RE-SUPPLY POINTS ALONG THEIR 2 ½ MONTH TREK.

THEY'VE LOGGED NEARLY 500 MILES, ALL IN ONE HOT SUMMER.

BOB JONAS, SUN VALLEY NATIVE, EXPLORER: IT'S AN EVEN DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR WHAT I CALL HOME COUNTRY.

THESE MORE OR LESS CONTIGUOUS RANGES I OVER THE YEARS HAVE EXPLORED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT JUST TO LINK THEM TOGETHER IN A GRAND JOURNEY AND ENJOY IT FOR ITS SPLENDOR AND ITS VIBES AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF THIS WALKABOUT.

REICHERT: GROWING UP IN KETCHUM, THE PIONEERS WERE THE FIRST MOUNTAIN RANGE TO REALLY GRAB JONAS.

SO IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT HE'S ENDING HIS WALKABOUT IN THE PIONEERS.

BOB JONAS: THEY'RE HIGH, COMPARED TO THE SMOKEY, THE SAWTOOTH, THE MIDDLE FORK COUNTRY, THE CRAGS, THEY'RE A THOUSAND FEET HIGHER; THE MAIN CRUST IS 11,000 FEET.

IT'S BIG HIGH COUNTRY; IT ENCLOSES SPECIAL PLACES; AND REALLY BIG CIRQUES HERE.

REICHERT: LUCKILY, BOB'S PARTNER, SARAH MICHAEL, WAS UP FOR HIS LATEST CHALLENGE.

SARAH MICHAEL: THE PEAKS JUST JUT OUT AT YOU ONCE YOU GET INTO THE HEART OF THEM.

AND WITHOUT A LOT OF TREES AND WITH THESE BIG CIRQUES, IT REALLY REMINDS ME OF THE HIMALAYAS AND IT'S PRETTY UNTRAVELED.

REICHERT: THE PIONEERS ARE NOT WILDERNESS, IN PART ONE SUSPECTS, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO GOOD AT NEGOTIATING CONFLICTS OVER TOUGH ISSUES, LIKE SKIERS VERSUS SNOWMOBILERS, WOLF REINTRODUCTION, AND EVEN LAND USE.

SARAH MICHAEL: THE PIONEERS EPITOMIZE THE LANDSCAPE OF COLLABORATION.

HERE'S A LANDSCAPE BECAUSE IT IS SO SPECIAL, IT'S ISOLATED, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT, WELL, LET'S COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

HOW SPECIAL IS THAT?

WHEN YOU'RE AT HOME, DOING CHORES OR GOING TO WORK, THE WEEKS AND THE MONTHS GO BY.

NOW WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WILD, YOU REMEMBER EVERY DAY.

LIFE STANDS STILL WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WILD AND YOU'RE CAMPING AND BEING IN WILD NATURE.

SO I'LL HAVE A LOT OF GREAT MEMORIES.

REICHERT: IN THE PIONEERS THE MEMORIES DON'T STOP WHEN THE SNOW FLIES.

BUT THEY CAN CERTAINLY GET MORE INTENSE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU TRAVEL WITH SUN VALLEY TREKKING.

FRANCIE ST ONGE, CO-OWNER, SUN VALLEY TREKKING: I THINK THEY ARE THE GREAT UNSUNG RANGE OF IDAHO.

EVERYTHING IN THE PIONEERS IS JUST SORT OF RAMPED UP ONE MORE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL AND MAGICAL PLACES I KNOW.

REICHERT: FRANCIE AND JOE ST. ONGE ARE CARRYING ON A TRADITION ONCE FOSTERED BY BOB JONAS.

IN FACT, THEY BOUGHT SUN VALLEY TREKKING FROM JONAS.

JOE ST. ONGE, CO-OWNER, SUN VALLEY TREKKING: THE MOUNTAINS, THEY'RE MOODY BEASTS, AND BEING ABLE TO ROLL WITH THE WEATHER AND BE ABLE TO PICK THE RIGHT SLOPES AND OBJECTIVES THAT FIT THE WEATHER IS THE ART OF THE DANCE WITH THE MOUNTAINS.

AND ONE THAT'S ALWAYS DEVELOPING AND ALWAYS CHANGING, AND NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME IN THAT REGARD.

REICHERT: THE NEXT MORNING DAWNS BRIGHT AND CLEAR.

CLASSIC LATE SPRING SKIING.

JOE ST. ONGE: IT JUST TAKES LOOKING AT THESE MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS A PARADISE, A SKIER'S PARADISE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S FEW PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA, CERTAINLY IN THE LOWER 48, WHERE THERE'S BETTER TERRAIN FOR BACKCOUNTRY SKIING.

JULIA BOWMAN, BACK COUNTRY SKIER: COURTNEY AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER OUR WHOLE LIVES.

SO WE'VE BEEN DOING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER JUST ABOUT AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ALIVE.

COURTNEY HAMILTON, BACK COUNTRY SKIER: WE BOTH HAVE BEEN AROUND THESE MOUNTAINS FOR A LONG TIME.

I FIRST SUMMITED HYNDMAN WHEN I WAS 14, WITH MY DAD.

AND SO GETTING TO BE IN THEM IN THE WINTER IN A SPORT THAT WE'RE BOTH KIND OF GROWING INTO AND GETTING MORE USED TO IS REALLY COOL.

REICHERT: TODAY THE TWO WOMEN WILL TEST THEMSELVES ON A COULOIR, A STEEP NARROW GULLY THAT WILL TAKE THEM OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE AND REQUIRE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT.

JOE ST. ONGE: THE IDEA WITH SHORT ROPING IS, WE'RE MOVING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

YOU'VE GOT ME AS THE GUIDE IN FRONT, ABLE TO CATCH A SLIP, BUT NOT NECESSARILY A FALL.

I CAN JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE TUG LIKE THAT AND KEEP YOU ON YOUR FEET.

JULIA BOWMAN: I WAS PRETTY NERVOUS AND SO I WAS SORT OF PSYCHING MYSELF UP FOR IT.

AND JUST KEPT REMINDING MYSELF THAT I WAS WITH PROFESSIONALS AND THAT I WAS GOING TO BE FINE.

JOE ST. ONGE: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

JULIE BOWMAN: I FEEL SAFE.

JOE ST. ONGE: AWESOME.

COOL.

ALL RIGHT, SHOULD WE CLIMB?

THAT'S REALLY THE VALUE IN HAVING A GUIDE, IS BEING ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULDN'T DO ON YOUR OWN, NECESSARILY.

AND TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NEW TO THEM, AS FAR AS THE TECHNIQUES AND THE TOOLS THAT WE WERE USING TO GET UP THERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, EXCITING, RIGHT, AND CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF BUTTERFLIES, BUT FELT SAFE.

AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB AS A GUIDE, IN MY MIND.

LET THEM DO WHAT THEY DO WELL, AND RIP IT UP AND HAVE FUN.

IT'S ABOUT TYPE 1 FUN, BACKCOUNTRY SKIING.

IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT, WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

REICHERT: SO HOW WOULD JOE ST. ONGE DESCRIBE THE SPIRIT OF THE PIONEERS.

THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE THAT HE'S DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO?

JOE ST. ONGE: IT LIES IN THE WOLVERINE'S HEART.

THOSE TRACKS WE SAW TODAY, RIGHT?

FRESH JUST FROM THIS MORNING, WORKING ITS WAY DOWN THE SLOPE WITH A SWING STEP THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE TRACKS.

IT'S WILDNESS.

YOU KNOW, THIS PLACE IS ALIVE, AND THIS PLACE IS MAGICAL.

AND THIS PLACE IS DEADLY, BUT IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND IT'S FRIENDLY.

YOU KNOW, IT CAPTURES IT ALL.

I MEAN, THIS PLACE IS A WORK OF ART.

AND TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN IT AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT BRINGS RESPECT, PUT A SMILE AND JOY, TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE IT IN COMFORT WITH YOUR FRIENDS IS JUST, IT'S AMAZING.

THIS PLACE IS PARADISE.

REICHERT: AFTER THE SNOW MELTS AND THE SKIERS PUT UP THEIR POLES FOR THE SEASON, MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS PULL OUT THEIR HIKING BOOTS AND TOPO MAPS.

MOST OF THE PEAKS IN THE PIONEERS ARE 10 OR 11 THOUSAND FEET, BUT THE TALLEST AND MOST POPULAR SUMMIT, HYNDMAN, CLOCKS IN AT 12,008 FEET -- THE ONLY 12 THOUSAND FOOT PEAK IN THE PIONEERS.

WHILE MOUNTAINEERS DISAGREE ON WHETHER TO PRONOUNCE IT "HINDMAN" OR "HINDMAN," IT'S WIDELY CONSIDERED THE EASIEST OF THE 12S TO CONQUER.

HYNDMAN IS A FAVORITE FOR SEASONED CLIMBER BILL MANNY OF BOISE.

BILL MANNY, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: ALL RIGHT, SADDLE UP.

HIT THE ROAD!

REICHERT: TODAY HE'S JOINED BY HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER, HELEN.

BILL HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TREKKING WITH HIS DAUGHTERS.

WHILE HYNDMAN IS THE MOST WELL-KNOWN, HER SHORTER BROTHER TO THE SOUTH, OLD HYNDMAN, SERVES UP A CHALLENGE FOR MORE EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS.

THE PEAK LOOKS INTIMIDATING FROM MOST ANGLES, BUT ITS HIDDEN SOUTH SLOPE IS LESS GNARLED.

WITH THAT IN MIND, BILL AND HELEN DECIDED TO TACKLE OLD HYNDMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE NEXT MORNING, THE TWO ARE JOINED BY MAT ERPELDING, AN EXPERIENCED TREKKER BUT A PIONEERS NEWBIE.

MAT ERPELDING, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: I DON'T COME INTO THE PIONEERS VERY OFTEN.

NOT FOR LACK OF WANTING TO, BUT FOR LACK OF TIME.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO IN IDAHO.

THE PIONEERS HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST A COUPLE TIMES.

SO THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND CHECK OUT A PRETTY AMAZING MOUNTAIN.

REICHERT: THE GROUP LEAVES CAMP AT SUNRISE, CROSSING A STREAM AND STARTING UP THE FIRST OF MANY UNSTABLE BOULDER FIELDS.

AFTER NEARLY AN HOUR OF CLIMBING OVER MORE LOOSE ROCKS, THEY ARRIVE AT A GEOLOGICAL FEATURE CALLED THE BLACK DIKE -- A VERTICAL LAYER OF IGNEOUS ROCK THAT CUTS THROUGH THE CLIFFS NEAR THE TOP OF OLD HYNDMAN.

THE DIKE PROVIDES A LADDER-LIKE PATH NEARLY THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE SUMMIT.

BILL MANNY: I'M GOING UP THE BLACK DIKE.

LIKE A LADDER.

REICHERT: WITH LOOSE, CRUMBLING ROCK, IT'S NOT FOR THE INEXPERIENCED, OR THE FAINT OF HEART.

BILL MANNY: SEE, JUST LIKE A LADDER.

WITH A LOT OF LOOSE ROCK ON IT.

REICHERT: WITH THE HARDEST PART BEHIND THEM, THEY REACH THE SUMMIT SHORTLY AFTER.

BILL MANNY: OK YE OF LITTLE FAITH.

BILL MANNY: WE ARE ON THE TOP OF OLD HYNDMAN.

GIVE ME FIVE.

AWESOME.

WELL DONE.

MAT ERPELDING: NICE JOB.

BILL MANNY: WELL DONE MAT.

MAT ERPELDING: STEEP ON THIS SIDE, HUH?

BILL MANNY: QUICKER DOWN.

REICHERT: THE WIDE OPEN LANDSCAPE OF THE PIONEERS IS READY MADE FOR WHAT EARLY EXPLORERS CALLED "SPEED GOATS."

PRONGHORN ARE THE FASTEST LAND MAMMAL IN NORTH AMERICA, WITH AN AVERAGE RUNNING SPEED OF 45 MILES PER HOUR AND BURSTS UP TO 60.

THEIR EYESIGHT IS PHENOMENAL, THEY'RE ABLE TO DETECT MOVEMENT UP TO FOUR MILES AWAY.

AND IT TURNS OUT THEIR MIGRATION PATTERNS ARE ALSO IMPRESSIVE.

IN RECENT YEARS RESEARCHERS AND BIOLOGISTS HAVE USED GPS TRACKING AND OTHER METHODS TO MAP ONE OF THIS ANIMAL'S LONGEST MIGRATION ROUTES IN THE WEST.

EVERY SPRING AS MANY AS 600 PRONGHORN TRAVEL MORE THAN 80 MILES, FROM THEIR WINTER RANGE NEAR ARCO, TRAVELING ALONG THE NORTHERN EDGE OF CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT, TO THEIR SUMMER RANGE IN THE PIONEERS.

AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS BIOLOGIST TODD STEFANIC HAS BEEN DOCUMENTING THIS MIGRATION, USING MOTION ACTIVATED CAMERAS.

TODD STEFANIC, BIOLOGIST, CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT & PRESERVE: THIS IS WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS PRONGHORN PASS.

IT'S THE NARROWEST CONSTRICTION POINT FOR PRONGHORN MIGRATING FROM THEIR WINTER RANGE ON THE INL, OVER IN THE BIG DESERT, OVER TO THEIR SUMMER RANGE, NORTH OF CAREY.

I KNOW BETWEEN WHICH SAGEBRUSH AND WHICH ROCK THEY'RE GOING TO COME EVERY SPRING AND EVERY FALL.

IT'S A PRETTY BEATEN DOWN TRAIL AND THEY COME THROUGH HERE SINGLE FILE.

THEY GET A LEADER AND THEY GET BEHIND HIM AND THEY'LL DO THIS IN A DAY, FROM ONE END OF CRATERS TO THE OTHER.

THEY WANT TO GET BACK TO THE FLAT PLAINS, WHERE THEY CAN SEE A LONG WAYS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE NOT ANTELOPE.

ANTELOPE LIVE IN AFRICA.

THIS THING'S CLOSEST RELATIVE IS ACTUALLY A GIRAFFE.

ANOTHER THING PRONGHORN DON'T LIKE TO JUMP FENCES.

THEY NEVER EVOLVED OUT ON THE PLAINS HAVING TO JUMP ANYTHING, SO THEY WANT TO GO UNDER A FENCE.

SO NOW WHEN WE BUILD A FENCE OUT HERE, THE BOTTOM WIRE IS 18 INCHES OFF THE GROUND, AND IT'S SMOOTH WIRE, NO BARBS.

REICHERT: TESS OSULLIVAN HAS BEEN STUDYING PRONGHORNS FOR YEARS AND IS WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO MAKE THIS AREA MORE WILDLIFE FRIENDLY.

SHE'S WORKED WITH THE PEAVEY FAMILY TO PUT TOGETHER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE FLAT TOP RANCH, THE LARGEST BLOCK OF PRIVATE LAND IN THE COUNTY.

TESS O'SULLIVAN, PROTECTION SPECIALIST, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: WE ARE HERE IN WHAT I WOULD CALL PRONGHORN HEAVEN RIGHT HERE IN ONE OF THESE GORGEOUS MEADOWS ON THE FLAT TOP RANCH AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THE PRONGHORN COME HOME AND BEGIN THEIR SUMMER..

THEY HAVE FOUND THIS REALLY NURTURING VEGETATION, AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PRONGHORN BECAUSE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THE MOTHERS ARE NURSING.

SO WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER AND WITH OUR PARTNERS WE'VE PROTECTED OVER 75 THOUSAND ACRES WITHIN THIS LARGER PIONEERS, CRATERS LANDSCAPE WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS REICHERT: RANCHER JOHN PEAVEY FIGURES THE EASEMENTS ARE GOOD FOR BOTH THE RANCHING INDUSTRY AND THE PRONGHORN.

JOHN PEAVEY, RANCHER, FLAT TOP RANCH: THEY'RE A WONDERFUL ANIMAL; YOU SEE A LOT OF THEM, BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT IN THE OPEN.

THEY WANT TO BE IN WIDE OPEN REAL ESTATE, NOT HIDDEN IN A BUNCH OF WILLOWS.

THEY APPRECIATE THE OPEN SPACE AND THE WILDNESS, THE WILD ANIMALS AND THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND SEEING HOW THEY ALL PROSPER: ANTELOPE, ELK, DEER AND SHEEP AND CATTLE.

THEY ALL COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER.

REICHERT: AND NOW THESE SHEEP HAVE THEIR OWN FESTIVAL.

EACH AUTUMN THEY GET TOP BILLING IN AN EVENT WHERE THE CULMINATION OF THE WEEK'S ACTIVITIES IS THE RUNNING OF A BAND OF SHEEP RIGHT THROUGH DOWNTOWN KETCHUM.

JOHN PEAVEY: IN CAREY PEOPLE WERE LAUGHING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE KIDDING ME, ANYBODY COME OUT AND WANT TO WATCH A BAND OF SHEEP GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.

IT'S ONE OF THE CHARMING THINGS ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL IS WE'RE COMING THROUGH TOWN REGARDLESS; I MEAN, IT'S NOT MAKE BELIEVE; THIS IS A REAL THING.

DIANE PEAVEY: THE ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT THE CITY HAS ALLOWED US TO COME DOWN MAIN STREET; NORMALLY WE'D BE LURKING AROUND ON BACK ROADS TRYING TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC.

AND THIS IS ITS 21ST YEAR.

MSN TRAVEL NAMED IT TOP 10 IN THE WORLD FALL FESTIVALS, RIGHT UP THERE WITH OCTOBERFEST IN MUNICH.

I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY HEADY COMPANY TO KEEP.

REICHERT: OUTFITTER BRYANT DUNN AND GUIDE KYLE KIMBALL HAVE ARRIVED AT BROAD CANYON CAMPGROUND IN COPPER BASIN.

THEY'LL BE SETTING UP A DROP CAMP FOR A GROUP OF US HOPING TO SPEND A FEW DAYS AT SOME OF IDAHO'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN LAKES.

FOR BRYANT DUNN, IT'S A CHANCE TO RECONNECT WITH AN AREA THAT HOLDS A LOT OF MEANING FOR HIM.

BRYANT DUNN, SUN VALLEY OUTFITTERS: THE PIONEER MOUNTAINS REALLY HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY WORLD.

IN FACT THESE MOUNTAINS WERE WHERE I WENT ON MY FIRST BACKPACKING TRIPS WITH MY DAD AND BROTHER AT A YOUNG AGE.

THIS AREA'S UNIQUE; I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN IT.

IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

THE TRAILS WE'LL BE COVERING ON HORSES AND ON FOOT TODAY ARE VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PIONEER MOUNTAIN CHAIN, VERY ROUGH, VERY ROCKY, RUGGEDLY BEAUTIFUL.

I THINK THAT IT'S AMAZING WHAT CHANGE YOU WILL SEE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF DISTANCE.

REICHERT: THE TRIP STARTS OUT IN A LANDSCAPE DOMINATED BY SAGEBRUSH AND WILLOWS.

SOON WE'RE HIKING THROUGH ALPINE MEADOWS LUSH WITH WILDFLOWERS.

AND SURROUNDED BY SHEER GRANITE WALLS.

BRYANT DUNN: I'M FORTUNATE TO GUIDE THROUGH THE HIMALAYAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA TO THE CARIBBEAN AND ALL AROUND THE GLOBE AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE I WOULD RATHER CALL HOME.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE PIOS IT'S JUST ONE MORE DEGREE OF WILDNESS AND UNSPOILED MAJESTY.

BRYANT DUNN: WE'LL TAKE IT SLOW, WE'LL TAKE IT EASY AND WE'LL GET THERE EVENTUALLY AND WHEN WE DO WE'LL BE OVER 10,000 FEET AND THE VIEWS WILL BE PRICELESS.

REICHERT: ANYONE WHO HAS TRAVELED IN THE PIONEERS KNOWS THAT RAIN AND HAIL STORMS ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE, EVEN IN LATE JULY.

BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP THIS GROUP FROM ENJOYING THE SURROUNDINGS.

BRYANT DUNN: SET IT, SET IT, YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

GOOD JOB.

OK, GOOD.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FISH.

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

REICHERT: IN THIS RAREFIED ATMOSPHERE, IT'S EASY FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

EMILY BRUNEEL, HIKER: I LOVE GOING ON TRIPS WITH MY MOM.

WE BOTH REALLY LOVE BEING OUT IN NATURE.

WE'RE BOTH VERY CAPABLE OF DOING IT AND WE REALLY BOTH ENJOY DOING IT, SO IT'S GREAT FOR US TO BE TOGETHER.

AND I LOVE HANGING OUT WITH MY MOM AND SHE'S REALLY FUN, SO WE DO A LOT OF TRIPS TOGETHER.

CHERYL BRUNEEL, HIKER MOM: EMILY, SHE'S GREAT.

WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER.

IT'S JUST FUN.

IT'S SUCH A NICE EXPERIENCE TO HAVE WITH YOUR CHILD, TO BE OUT IN THIS AMAZING COUNTRY AND BOTH ENJOY IT AND JUST HAVE FUN.

THIS IS FANTASTIC; THIS IS PROBABLY MY NEW FAVORITE AREA.

REICHERT: THIS FATHER AND SON ARE TRAINING FOR THE STANDHOPE ULTRA CHALLENGE, A 30 AND 60 K RACE RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF THE PIONEERS.

JOE MITCHELL, LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, DAD: IT'S ALL RUN ON TRAILS; IT'S BEAUTIFUL FROM START TO FINISH.

THE PEOPLE THAT WE RAN WITH LAST YEAR WERE FUN QUIRKY OUTDOORSMEN AND WE ENJOYED IT ENOUGH THAT WE WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN.

NIELS MITCHELL, LONG DISTANCE RUNNER: DAD AND I HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED SPORTS TOGETHER AND RUN TOGETHER EVER SINCE I WAS LITTLE, AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE ABLE TO STILL GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING ATHLETIC WITH MY DAD.

JOE MITCHELL: A BIG REASON FOR ME DOING THE RACE IS TO SPEND THE TIME TRAINING WITH NIELS AND THEN ALSO TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH HIM.

NIELS MITCHELL: ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS ABOUT THIS RACE IS JUST THE SHEER ELEVATION OF IT.

YOU'RE CROSSING OVER THE HIGHEST PASS IN IDAHO WITH A MAINTAINED TRAIL, SO YOU'RE GETTING REALLY UP THERE.

I THINK THE PIONEERS MAYBE ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THE CRAGGY BEAUTY OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THE BIG FISH IN THE LAKES AND THE WILDFLOWERS THROUGH THE MEADOWS ARE JUST SPECTACULAR.

JOE MITCHELL: BEING OUTDOORS IS GOOD FOR YOUR BODY AND YOUR SOUL AND WE TRY TO DO IT AS A FAMILY AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

REICHERT: THE PIONEERS.

PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT AS GLAMOROUS AS THE NEARBY SAWTOOTHS, EVEN THOUGH THEY SOAR A THOUSAND FEET HIGHER.

NO, THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE REVEALS ITSELF MORE SLOWLY, BUT THE SUBTLETIES ARE SIGNIFICANT.

IMPRESSIVE COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE PRESERVED THESE OPEN RANGES.

A DRAMATIC SWEEP OF LANDSCAPE, FROM CRATERS OF THE MOON TO 12,000 FOOT HYNDMAN PEAK, MAKING IT ONE OF THE GREAT UNDISTURBED ECOLOGICAL GRADIENTS REMAINING ON THE CONTINENT.

NONE OF IT IS DESIGNATED WILDERNESS, BUT THERE'S A FEELING THAT THINGS CAN BE DIFFERENT HERE, THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING AND WORKING TOGETHER, TO HELP SUSTAIN THIS EXTRAORDINARY PART OF THE STATE, ONE OF THE JEWELS OF AMERICA'S NATURAL HERITAGE.

{MUSIC] Announcer: Presentation of Outdoor Idaho is made possible through the generous support of the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, committed to fulling the Moore and Bettis family legacy of building the great state of Idaho.

By the James and Barbara Cimino Foundation, dedicated to supporting projects and organizations that preserve the spirit of Idaho.

By the Friends of Idaho Public Television, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by the Idaho Public Television Endownment.

To find more information about these shows visit us at idahoptv.org