![Welcome the heart of the Sawtooth](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DSC018641.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Welcome the heart of the Sawtooth
We have just returned back to the village after a few days exploring deep into the Sawtooth. When local skier/mountaineer (Chris) invited an old childhood friend (Matt) out from New York City to Idaho for a backcountry ski trip, Matt pictured fields of mellow powder and easy hikes. The journey Matt embarked on was something a bit different. Good thing Matt had years of experience in the inner city punk scene…
![Beach break at Redfish Lake on the way to Bench Hut](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1471.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Beach break at Redfish Lake on the way to Bench Hut
![Approaching the Bench Hut](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1482.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Approaching the Bench Hut
![Arriving at the Bench Hut](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1483.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Arriving at the Bench Hut
![Early starts mean beautiful sunrises](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1485.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Early starts mean beautiful sunrises
![approaching the land of the Grendel](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1494.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
approaching the land of the Grendel
![Climbing above the 5th Bench Lake](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1496.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Climbing above the 5th Bench Lake
![atop the 1st pass of the day (a couple more to go!)](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1498.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
atop the 1st pass of the day (a couple more to go!)
![beneath the west summit of Heyburn](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1503.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
beneath the west summit of Heyburn
![The first descent of the day into the Monolith Basin](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1510.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
The first descent of the day into the Monolith Basin
![ripping turns down into the Monolith Basin](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1544.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
ripping turns down into the Monolith Basin
![welcome to the deep Sawtooth](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1579.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
welcome to the deep Sawtooth
![Joe, happy to be back](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DSC018694.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Joe, happy to be back
![climbing](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1582.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
climbing
![gap tooth grin](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1586.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
gap toothed buddy
![granite backdrop](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1592.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
granite backdrop
![the sneak onto Braxon Peak](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1593.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
the sneak onto Braxon Peak
![now where are we going?](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1601.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
now where are we going?
![Chris, at home in the mountains](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1603.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Chris, at home in the mountains
![There is a lot of trust here...](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1609.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
There is a lot of trust here…
![rappel into the Bird Cage](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1613.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
rappel into the Bird Cage
![Just a couple more steps and then skis on...](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DSC018932.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Just a couple more steps and then skis on…
![and now we are skiers](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1615.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
and now we are skiers
![and now the skiing](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DSC019022.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
and now the skiing
![Upper Bowl#2](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1620.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Upper Bowl#2
![The upper bowl of the Bird Cage](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1626.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
The upper bowl of the Bird Cage
![Stoked to be off a rope and on skis!](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1663.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Stoked to be off a rope and on skis!
![Chris ripping the Bird Cage](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1668.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Chris ripping the Bird Cage
![the lower bowl of the Bird Cage](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1697.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
the lower bowl of the Bird Cage
![Matt ripping under the Monolith](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1709.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Matt ripping under the Monolith
![Niels dropping](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1738.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Niels dropping
![Chris keeping strong form](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1741.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Chris keeping strong form
![Matt, skiing out under the Monolith after a descent of the Bird Cage](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1743.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Matt, skiing out under the Monolith after a descent of the Bird Cage
![the final traverse back toward home](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1744.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
the final traverse back toward home
![after 10 hours on the go](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1747.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
after 10 hours on the go
![Chris in space](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1753.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Chris in space
![beauty](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1755.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
beauty
![Stretching the legs as the clouds break](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1756.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Stretching the legs as the clouds break
![Enjoying a sunny beer with a view of our ski tour from Stanley](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1760.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Enjoying a sunny beer with a view of our ski tour from Stanley
![The mighty Sawtooth rising above the clouds](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/IMG_1764.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The mighty Sawtooth rising above the clouds
These photos are incredible. Thanks for sharing! I would love to do something like this. I can’t imagine how awesome it would be to actually be there and ski down those mountains!