Fault Lake Solo Backpacking | 12 Miles in Idaho's Selkirk Mountains

[@relaxingvideosnorthwest3646]

So beautiful landscape! Thank you for sharing.

[@DannyJSchaefer]

I can’t thank you enough for watching! Glad you enjoyed it 🌲

[@aliciacordova3088]

Thank you for sharing this trip! Love Lollie! 🐕🤗🏞️

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thank you so much for watching it! We had a blast on this one 🌲

[@MongoWongo777]

Ahhh, the Selkirks!!! We LOVE that area!!!! Hehehehehe… slippery when wet! 😊 Crossing those rocks with a full pack is definitely harder than it looks!!! You always make it look so easy! You had a drone shot, walk by shots, and a bite cam shot within the first 60 seconds!!! Wow, we were both pretty shocked to see all the smoke in the sky. We knew about all the fires, but we were surprised how hazy the sun looked, especially that time of the day. It looked more like dusk. Hopefully that all blows over and some of the rain associated with Hilary makes it in your neck of the woods!!! I like your load out. You always make good use of your shoulder straps. I like the chest rig. What goes in there? Is that a pow pow I see? 😊 Also, thanks for making the fanny pack cool again!!! Those are so useful!!! Quick question, could you smell the smoke and did you notice it when you were breathing? That water and rock oasis looked pretty nice! There is so much beauty up there!!! Lolly had some fun with the branch for sure. Fantastic walk-by shots!!! Love the huckleberry update!!! We LOVE them too!!! What a beautiful lake. So clear and love the shade of blue. Great campsite location!!! That mountain bass at the 756 mark was huge, it looked like it had two arms. 😊 Holy cow, you looked pretty far away. Great back drop. It was pretty rocky. It is amazing how those pines can grow in even the most inhospitable places. My Mom and I were like, I wonder why Lolly is not in the water, then sure enough she took the plunge! I bet that felt so good to cool off. Hehehe.. Lolly looked hungry. Total slobber city. 😊 Now that mac and cheese looks like it will stick to your ribs! Damn, that chocolate mudslide looks pretty tasty too! Hehehehehe, you are lucky she did not end up in your sleeping bag!!! Wow, your pillow looks like a beach ball. 😊 Was it comfortable? At the risk of sounding like a broken record, your drone work and music selection is second to none. Too bad there was smoke in the air, but that is all part of the experience. Nothing like blowing chunks first thing in the morning. It is a great way to start the day 😊. No worries, Lolly, it has happened to me, but for a much different reasons!!! 😊 Bro, she heard a Sasquatch!!! She scared him away! Pretty soon you will have your camper remodeled and you can look forward to a more peaceful night rest!!! Ahh, yes Hunt Lake. Great drone shot!!! Hehehehe, can’t forget the huckleberries!!! Nice score for sure!!! My mouth is watering!!! Leave it to Lolly to sit right in the middle of what you are trying to work on!!! Despite the restless night, Lolly seems so well behaved on the trail. All your hard work training her has definitely paid off!!! At first we thought you were kidding about the parking violation. We thought it was part of the video entertainment, but then we realized you were serious. 😊 That was pretty funny! Luckily it did not say, I was watching you while you slept!!! How is that for a creepy campfire story!!! Oh man, you ALWAYS make it worthwhile to stay until the very end. That drone shot of the ridge looked spectacular!!! It looked like a knife edge!!! What an awesome shot with the mountains in the background!! BTW: We wanted to check out your mac and cheese full video, but I did not see the link. Did I miss it? Be well and stay safe!!!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

The Selkirks are awesome!! They are so close, and I definitely need to hike in there more. Haha I know I almost ate it on the second clip of the whole video! I definitely have the most motivation for filming at the trailhead! The smoke was pretty wild that day. Thankfully it still allowed for some scenic views. I could smell it little bit while hiking, but I got pretty used to it pretty quickly. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing 😂 Yes! I'm definitely going for the "trail dad" look these days in these videos. Between my gear, Lolly's gear, and camera equipment I definitely need to store it anywhere that I can find space. That definitely is a pow pow in there. The mountain bass was huge!! They're kind of goofy looking creatures but rare as all get out. The scenery while swimming was beautiful. I think we swam a total of there times that afternoon and it was so refreshing. Nothing like a 1600 calories meal before bed.. that's more probably why I couldn't sleep. Both meals were so tasty. The pillow was pretty comfortable! It was a new little thing I was testing out by GooseFeetGear. It's kind of like a sleeping bag but the inflatable pillow slips into a slot and then the loft provides more comfort. It's not too bad! I love hearing that you enjoy the drone shots and the music! Sometimes it takes me an hour to find the right song so I reaaaaally appreciate it. I couldn't believe she ralphed right on camera. I couldn't not put it in the video. Oh my friend, the huckleberries were the best I'd picked all year. I didn't want to leave!! Lolly did really great on this trip, especially for her first backpacking trip! I'm hoping she'll become quite the trail dog! Thanks Mongo!! Haha the parking violation was pretty humorous. I was SO confused at first! It's hanging on the refrigerator currently lol Glad you enjoyed the very last shot!! Did you notice Chimney Rock in the background? It was very very faint in the smoke :) Ahh, I just uploaded the Mac N Cheese Video this morning!! Thanks so much for the continued support!! I hope you guys are doing amazing, and that you find a good place up here soon. Best, Danny.

[@elanastahl1929]

Looks like someone recognized your vehicle! Thanks for the video as always. It was line being there. Lolly is carrying her own weight like a champ

[@DannyJSchaefer]

They must have! Thanks for checking out the video and for the continued support - we appreciate it so much!

[@tangenttrails]

Excellent! Great looking trail. - Officer Naughty.😄

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Officer Naughty got me 😂

[@tangenttrails]

@@DannyJSchaefer 😄

[@Andrade_USA]

Nice one, Danny! That parking violation made me lol

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Haha I was so surprised at first, and confused! It was pretty awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@noahgondo6636]

nice man! I was gonna do scotchman peak this weekend but cancelled because of the smoke. i hope to make it to fault lake in the future.

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Yeah it's definitely that time of year. I'm hoping it'll clear up nicely soon, and maybe you'll get up to Scotchman! Thanks for watching the video!

[@shadow03sch]

I like Lolly’s backpack. 😅 Good job kid!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thanks Madre!

[@HikingwithGus]

That is the best Mac -n- Cheese I have ever had. I did a review on it as well, the only thing I did not like about it was the fact you had to cook it in the pot. Looks a bit smokey there! You are certainly welcome for that Mudslide. I just gave one to a PNT thru hike I met here in town. Got a text form him the other day and said he thinks it's the best dessert he's ever had. Great vid Danny, and yes I am down for a fall hike. I am now in a vacation black out until the 18th of Sept. But after that I am open. Oh and pretty sure that is a spoof ticket. :)

[@DannyJSchaefer]

So good right? I didn't realize you had your own video of it so I'll have to check it out! That mudslide was an awesome dessert, and I bet the thru-hiker really appreciated it as well. Hope you're doing well, Len!

[@bobclark7211]

Wow i just found your channel. It’s nice finding someone in our area. Thanks for showing me some nice places to go. Great video.

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Hey thanks Bob! I'm glad to have you along on the channel. I'm looking forward to getting back out there in a few months! Cheers.

[@ValkyrieHikes]

Despite having to cut the trip short, it looked like an amazing trip. The locations were beautiful, and how fortunate you guys were to see so much wildlife. Love your videos. I watched the Sawtooth videos multiple times. They’re definitely my favorites so far. I’m heading back to the Sawtooths this summer.

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Hey thank you so much for checking these videos out! We were definitely fortunate to get in some great trail miles last summer. Glad you enjoyed the Sawtooth series as well! If you can, I definitely recommend the White Clouds as well 🌲

[@ValkyrieHikes]

@@DannyJSchaefer Thank you. I watched your White Clouds videos, too. Some of the descents you guys did were insane. I’m working my way through your videos. Truly amazing trails. I will definitely start exploring the White Clouds, and some of the other beautiful areas here in Idaho you’ve featured. Loved the Sawtooth video you did with Tess, too. 👍🏼

[@DannyJSchaefer]

@ValkyrieHikes Yeah that White Cloud’s trip flipped a switch in me. All I want to do now is go off trail, climb peaks, and make descents like that. We’re definitely very lucky to live in the area that we do! Can’t thank you enough for the support and for watching the videos, even the oldies!

[@dirk4926]

Huckleberry juice and vodka makes a great cocktail.

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Should've made a drink right there on the hill! I most likely would've have stumbled off trail 😂

[@safromnc8616]

Great camping spot ! ? - Where is the best place logistically to access that part of Idaho ? Also, thanks for adding to my already excessive 'bucket list' !!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thanks my friend! This range is awesome and there are hikes that can essentially be accessed from the east and west sides of it. The majority of the hikes are accessed from the east side (north of Sandpoint, ID), and many of those are accessed off of Pack River Road. I hope that helps, and you're welcome! I'll send more paper 😊

[@charleynorton5116]

Another great one Danny!!!! The Mac-Cheese is on our list. So is one of your Mountain Bass😂

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Maybe a little mountain bass in the Mac n cheese and you'd be in for a well rounded meal! Aha thanks Charley!!

[@fotturer]

Awesome scenery, cute dog!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@doug7399]

I thought this video was great. Loved it. Nice job.

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thanks so much for watching it!

[@MrWilkerson2009]

Love your videos! Thanks for sharing your adventures. Gonna have to get up that way and explore. My sister’s main squeeze is a sales rep for Right On Trek. Still waiting for my free samples - haha. Keep the vids coming!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Oh no kidding?! Maybe he needs a nudge 😂 The three meals or so that I've tried so far have all rocked. Thanks for the continued support and for watching the videos!

[@NorwayHikesTrails]

A fantastic hike Danny in beautiful landscape. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thanks as always NHT!! Hope you're putting some miles (or KM's) in over your way!

[@darlagregg7321]

My first solo overnight was there at Fault Lake. Fish jumped all night, and grouse sounded like bigger animals from inside the tent😂 Excellent video!!! You rock!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Thanks Darla!! That was my first solo overnight as well so it's a good spot for it. Grouse and Goats.. Lolly was on one all night from them 😂. It was a peaceful spot, and I'd like to go back someday. I really appreciate the comment, the view, and the continued support!

[@Olympic_TryAthlete]

You had me thinking that North Idaho started doing the parking pass thing like in Western Washington. Always worried I’m going to get to a trailhead and realize the pass is in the other vehicle. Looks like you hit the sweet spot elevation wise for the huckleberries too. There were some really good ones on the Swamp Creek Trail once you got about 6-7 miles in. Need to head up to the Olympics in a week or so as they are usually a few weeks behind the Inland NW. BTW, did you see any other campsites up there?

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Hey there - sorry for taking a few days to get back to you! Yes, thankfully the violation was fake and really strange. It's one thing I like about hiking and backpacking in Idaho, you almost never need to worry about a parking permit ever. The huckleberries were some of the best I've had, and we definitely hit the sweet spot. The only other camp spot at Fault that I saw was above the campsite I took. It was up on the granite rock face where I ate my dessert in this video. It had a flat spot for a tent and a campfire pit and it would have provided amazing views of the lake. With it being on the rock though, setting up a tent might have been difficult and I'm not positive if one could get tent stakes in the ground at that spot. When you mentioned the Olympics, are you referencing that the hucks are a few weeks behind? If so I did not know that and that's an awesome tip! Thanks for watching!

[@the.kate.outdoors]

The mountain bass got me. 😂 My husband and I like to fish so I was intrigued then laughed pretty hard! Awesome trip!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

Aha thanks Kate! They're just elusive little buggers 😂 Hope you are well and are getting some trail miles in! Thanks for the support!

[@Sparkeee1978]

How is the drive to the trailhead for this spot in winter? Is this doable in winter? challenging, but doable? thank you for great content!

[@DannyJSchaefer]

The drive to the trailhead isn't too bad! I'm not positive about doing it in the winter, but it's funny you mention it because when I got back to my car after this hike had finished there was a road crew working on it. They completely tore up the road and started construction on it while I was at the lake. I believe they redid it completely and made it better. This would be a long hike in the winter, but if you know the risks and are prepared for winter conditions I think it would definitely be possible. Thanks for watching!

[@panatela001]

What dates were you out on this trip?