Stouts Mountain
- Mike Morelli
- May 13
- 2 min read
Date: May 13, 2026
Location: Big Hole Mountains, Idaho, USA
Team: Solo
Field Notes: A great, straightforward route takes the snaking southeast ridge of Stouts Mountain on the west side of No Cut Timber Canyon. Look for a 4wd track that heads up to power lines. Walk up this track for a few minutes and take the track that heads northwest where there is an obvious gap in the fence.
It was midweek and with a slow day of work, I wanted to find a quick option to gain some vertical and stand atop a summit.
I don't know much of the Big Hole Mountains, other than I stare at them every day from my house in Driggs. My buddy Charlie has told me of some fun ski descents from Stouts, and I figured the obvious ridge lines that lead up to the summit from the road would have a trail.
I parked at No Cut Timber Canyon off the side of the road and took the power line road up along a fence. There was an obvious gap here and to no surprise, an obvious trail leading up the ridge.
Should I have taken bear spray? I don't know. Besides the blowing wind, it was quiet, and I wondered what my odds were of encountering a bear. Over the last two weeks, two people have died from Grizzly Bear attacks in northern Wyoming and Montana. I'm not sure if that increases or decreases my odds.
I continued up and the wind was howling. The higher I went though, the quieter the wind became.
The route provided good travel and I rambled up the ridge, finally getting a view of the final climb up to the summit. This section was steep and I wondered what it would be like covered in snow.
The summit views surprised me. There were unique views of the Big Holes, Snake River Range, and the Caribou Range across the valley. Lots to explore by foot and by ski.
Happy days...
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