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For Zak Page, the best traditions aren’t complicated—they’re the ones that bring you back to the same place, year after year, with the same sense of excitement and peace.

Each fall, Zak and his friends pack their gear and head out on a familiar journey to the Upper Palisades near Swan Valley, Idaho. About three hours from home, the trip has become a go-to weekend getaway—simple, reliable, and always worth it. What started as just another backpacking trip has turned into a tradition that marks the changing of seasons.

They typically go in early October, when the air is crisp and the crowds have thinned. It’s a quick overnight trip, leaving Saturday and heading back Sunday, but the short timeline never takes away from the experience. If anything, it makes every moment feel a little more meaningful.

There’s comfort in the familiarity of the trail. It’s a place Zak has visited more times than he can count, where every turn feels known, yet still just as beautiful as the first time. The hike itself is approachable, making it easy to focus less on the challenge and more on the experience.

Some of his favorite moments are the simplest ones—skipping rocks across the glassy lake or waking up early to catch the sunrise stretching over the water. In those quiet morning hours, before the day fully begins, everything slows down. The stillness, the reflection on the lake, and the sound of nothing but nature create a sense of calm that’s hard to find anywhere else.

But the tradition doesn’t end on the trail.

On the way home, there’s one final stop that’s just as important as the hike itself—a local ice cream shop. After a weekend in the mountains, nothing beats grabbing a cone with friends, laughing about the trip, and already talking about the next one.

It’s those small, consistent moments that keep them coming back. The ease of the trip, the familiarity of the trail, and the traditions along the way have made the Upper Palisades more than just a destination—it’s a place tied to memories, friendship, and the kind of peace you can only find outdoors.

Because sometimes, the best adventures aren’t about going somewhere new—they’re about returning to the places that feel like home.

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