You could get a friction bar end shifter for the left to handle the triple. That's a bit of a drag as you need to buy a complete set but bar end shifters cost less than brifters. You might be able to find one used if you ask around and save some money. Friction option works really well for the front 3 chainrings. Nashbar is blowing out 10 speed bar end shifters for less than $50,
Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 10-Speed Bar End Shifters. Heck you could just run 10 speed and call it a day if you want. Those brifters are worth some money; you could sell them. Or go with a bar end on the left and a brifter on the right.
Also you're not stuck with shimano's 30 tooth inner. The road triple is 130/74 bcd, I believe, which in theory would let you drop as low as 24 on the inside. You might be able to set this up with a 24 tooth inner if your front derailleur can handle it; a 26 tooth inner should work.
A 26 running on a 32 in the rear will help get you up those fine mountains in northern Idaho. That has to be some of the finest bike riding I have seen anywhere.