The Salmon River Mountains and the Frank Church Wilderness is Idaho's most remote, largest and most precipitous.  With elevations ranging from 1,400 feet to nearly 10,500 feet, portions of the range can be hike nearly year round.  5,000 foot elevation changes are common within 2 million acres of officially designated wilderness; the largest in the lower 48 states.   With such a remote and inaccessible physique, timber, mining and motorized special interest had little to want of these mountains and they remained as they have, virtually untouched and unspoiled.  Thousands of mountain lakes and ponds harbor both alpine and sub-alpine basins that feed thousands of pristine rivers and streams.  Trails are abundant, however the vast majority of the region requires the expertise of a good map reader to negotiate the extensive trail-less expanses of seemingly never-ending mountains.  Wildlife is abundant and include, bears, some grizzly bear, deer, wolverines, wolves, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lion, elk and moose.  Fishing is always excellent.  Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting, kayaking, climbing and even ski-mountaineering opportunities are unmatched.