We want to check out the climbing in Twin Falls before rushing off, so we spend a few days. Idaho feels like a different world from Nevada – there are rain clouds when we cross the border! We parallel Salmon creek north – a flow of water that would be a major river in New Mexico. An almost cold breeze blows off the basalt cliffs in Lud Drexler park, a small BLM campground on the Salmon reservoir.

Once in town we quickly zero in on the central coffee house called Java. Our climbing outings center around Dierkes Lake, a small reservoir nestled in the Snake river canyon next to Shoshone Falls, a giant 212-foot waterfall.

Shoshone Falls and Overlook

The lake provides swimming, cliff jumping, and climbing. The people we meet are ecstatic to see the sun, describing a long, cold, rainy spring that only seems to now be ending. Our small sampling of well-featured basalt cracks and blocky overhanging sport routes is intimidating but definitely fun.

Ann at Hidden Wall

Routes (best guess): Bizarro 5.10b, The Greenhorn 5.7, The Rookie 5.8, The Neophite 5.6, The First Timer 5.9-, Beavis 5.10d, Bert 5.8+, Ernie 5.10a, Dude 5.9-, Whipper 5.10b