BY KAREN BOSSICK

See what Idaho’s other-worldly landscape looks like when it’s covered with snow during a free guided snowshoe tour of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

The Wood River Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society is hosting its first field trip of 2025 on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Craters of the Moon. The field trip will be led by Ted Stout, retired chief of Interpretation and Education at the national monument.

He will discuss winter survival strategies for wildlife and plants at the Craters and point out the surprising diversity of flora and fauna that inhabits the lava landscape.

Tourgoers should meet to carpool at 9:30 a.m. at Hailey Park & ride on River Street or at 10:15 a.m. at the Picabo Store. Participants may also meet at the Craters’ Visitor Center parking lot at 11 a.m.

Participants should bring snowshoes, warm boots, layered winter clothes, an insulated pad for sitting during lunch, a sack lunch and water. Hiking poles are optional.

Snowshoes can be borrowed from the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association at the Visitor Center, as well.

It’s expected that the snowshoe trek will cover about two miles and last about two hours.

Stout served as a park ranger from 1988 to 2020 at seven different national parks. He spent the last 17 years of his career at Craters of the Moon. He is currently the secretary of the Idaho Native Plant Society-Wood River Chapter.