Broad Canyon, Baptie Lake, Goat Lake, Pioneer Mountains, Idaho

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Backpacking trip at the beginning of September in the Pioneer Mountains of Idaho. Located on the eastern side of the mountain range deep within Salmon-Challis National Forest, this hike is very remote and is nearly a 2-hr drive on unpaved roads from Sun Valley. The drive is spectacular by itself as it travels the border between the Pioneers and Boulder Mountains then cuts through deep valleys on its way to Copper Basin, a high altitude valley at nearly 7,500 ft between the Pioneers and White Knob Mountains. We took the Broad Canyon Trail up the gentle U-shaped canyon to Baptie Lake at just above 9,800 ft. This small, beautiful lake sits in a bowl with 4 alpine lakes surrounded by a wall of 11,800+ ft peaks, including the second and third tallest peaks in the Pioneers. We camped there two nights. For the 2nd day we hiked up to Goat Lake, supposedly the highest named lake in Idaho at 10,438 ft. My friends caught some fish and later we hiked over a saddle to Betty Lake where they caught more fish. I explored the pass below Altair Peak then went to meet them where I spotted a grouse that my buddy eventually shot. The next day we hiked out, forgoing our original plan of taking the harder Jarvis Trail out towards Clear Lake because we had to get back for his wedding festivities. It was an amazing place.