Castle Peak, Idaho, rises sharply above the surrounding wilderness, its granite slopes a testament to the power of time and tectonics. As one of the highest points in the White Cloud Mountains, it stands as a symbol of endurance in an increasingly fragile world.
But even here, climate change is leaving its mark. Warmer temperatures are shrinking snowpacks that feed rivers below, altering ecosystems and threatening water supplies across the region. The loss of snowpack also fuels the risk of forest fires, like the one that ravaged these slopes in September 2024, leaving scars on the landscape and a stark reminder of what’s at stake.
Over 80 Wild Gift community members have trekked over the White Cloud Mountain range since 2004.
