Stanley - Day 8 - Long Hike

After arriving into Stanley yesterday afternoon, we investigate and decide between a local mountain bike trail (doesn't seem THAT great of a trail) and a local hike, we go the hike route. Should take us into the Sawtooth Range. Unlikely we will see anyone.

We're on the trail @ 8am, little fog and mist, but looks like it will burn off and be a nice day.


Had to do a couple of stream crossings, this was the biggest....Not to bad. If you like your socks soggy. Scott did, so he loved this.

Near noon, we do a little off trail scramble, up to a saddle @ about 7500 feet, and get a nice view of the surrounding valley. Off my left shoulder is Stanley.

The majestic look.

Stanley - Day 7 - More Random

Today we head to Stanley and just check some things out along the way. We find: A) the 45th Parallel

B) a bison jump (they didn't really "jump" more likely "fell.")

C) A place to have beer

D) More crazy hats

E) A nice view out our hotel back deck.

Salmon - Day 6 - Random Things

After yesterday's long day to get to and from Frank Church Wilderness(we got back to the hotel @ around 7pm, after leaving around 6am) we decided to do take some easy time today and just cruise around. First an effort to clean up.Then some time driving the local streets of Salmon, checking things out.

I don't think it's completely unusual to have pack llamas walking down the middle of the street in Salmon Idaho, especially since they actually live here. This is Coco, the other in the background is Pearl, they are pack llamas. Their Mom, Sheila was taking them on a downtown tour to drum up business for her coffee roasting. Somewhere in the backcountry about 15 miles from downtown Salmon.

I found some hats @ a pawn shop, but nothing really fit my giant head. Bummer.

Salmon - Day 5 - Big Horn Crags

So from my discussion with the local Ranger Station, it appears the Big Horn Crags area is a good spot to go. The road is open all the way up to the trail head, at about 8500 feet, and I guess just a few weeks ago, it was not. Scott and I get up pretty early to get there, which I estimate to be a 50 mile drive or about 3 hours. Here is Scott @ a new Big Horn Crag area map. Map and posts looked brand new. Got to be the nicest area map I've EVER seen.


After about 3+ hours of hiking, we come to the true "crags" area. The surrounding rock are a climbers DREAM. I scramble up on this huge rock formation, and have Scott snap a photo.Here we are, checking out the view.

We press on, hoping to get to a local lake, however decided it was better to stop shy since it appeared the lake was at least another mile away. We had some lunch next to a fast running, small stream, and headed back, 14 miles round trip by my estimation. As I remember, the parking lot was swarming with mosquitos. Ouch.

Salmon - Day 4 - Prepare for Frank Church Wilderness

So we get into town (after a visit of the local Forest Service Office to find maps and info on the area that I want to hike into) about mid-day.

This is a shot of downtown Salmon Idaho. Uh, I've been worse places.

We check into the hotel and as we pull around the back of the building, I see Scott LEAP out of the truck.

• Me: What the hell are you doing?
• Scott: Dude, look what I found. Isn't she sweeeeet?
• Me: Uh, sure dude, really sweet, now what you gonna do?
• Scott: Well, I was thinking we could invite her along.
• Me: Hmm...I know this is Idaho, but I'm not so sure. Invite? You have plans?
• Scott: Well, I am kinda horny....
• Me: Huh? How can that be? You humped the pillow all night, last night. You should be fine.
• Scott: Well, truth is, Sue and I get busy 5-6 sometimes 8 times a day.
• Me: Jesus...Not bad old man.
• Scott: Anyway, I was thinking she would fill in, in a pinch.
• Me: Well, she's OK, and I understand the situation, but since you DID pull her out of the trash, she does stink, probably not much different than some chicks we dated in high school. I think you should pass, let her find her own love.
• Scott: Yea, I guess you're right. Maybe not such a good idea?
• Me: No, probably not.
• Scott: Thanks man. What would I do without friends like you?
• Me thinking: Hmmm....Try to hump the stuffing out of a manequin made out of pantyhose found in a dumpster behind a renamed Super 8 Motel in Salmon Idaho?

Salmon - Day 4 - Where the hell are we?

A map will only get you so far. A GPS will help you identify where you are. A map and a GPS, well hell, you should be totally golden. It took some effort, and on an occasion we did get turned around, but for the most part we were able to stay true to our navigation goals, oh except that time we took the wrong road, and the time we got off trail, and the time we took the wrong trail, and the time we couldn't find the right road, and....where are we?

Fortunately I'm in the parking lot of the ranger station here, so our chances of getting lost are about say 50-50.

Salmon - Day 4 - What's next?

So the next morning we exit the best western (it was right in downtown Sun Valley, EXCELLENT location) and head north to Salmon. Here we are just north of Galena summit. As we travel on, we get to a spot called Sunbeam Dam. We pull over and discover it's the remains of a dam that was built in the 1900's.
It looks like a pretty easy scramble down, so I hope the fence and head on down. Scott quickly realized that clearly I did not fall in the river and drown, or somehow a several ton concrete structure that's been sitting in a river for over 100 years didn't crumble under my weight, it was safe to go do.

So he scrambles down too!

View from the upriver side of the dam. We could walk all they way out to the edge! Awesome.

Sun Valley - Day 3 - Mountain Bike Ride

So today we're gonna try a mountain bike ride. Gonna get going pretty early and see if we can get a good long ride in. Scott doesn't ride much and his bike is pretty much neon yellow old skool, but we'll see how both fair. Hopefully we're smart enough to have learned our lesson from two days prior.

We spend about 4+ hour riding a giant loop, climbing up to about 9200 feet. The trail was nice, with some rocks on the way up, but not too bad. Mosquitos were horrific, so we didn't stop for long. Overall a nice ride and I totally forgot the camera.

Later, back @ the hotel, here is Scott waiting for the power to suddenly shut down in the hotel (unlikely) so he can use the headlamp that I loaned him. After knowing this guy for almost 30 years. he is still a screwball.

Speaking of screwball, Scott taught me all sorts of new screwball "Idaho" sayings.

• Let's flip a bitch. This means we need to make a u-turn.
• Oh man, I have to take an epic growler. This means I need use the restroom and do a #2. Epic may either refer to size or immediacy.
• Let's tennis shoe over there. This means we will walk to that location.
• Oh, that's a shit-ton. This means there is quite a bit of whatever we're talking about.
• Let's kick this pig. This means we will leave. I quizzed Scott quite a bit about the use of this saying, since I don't think he really has any animosity towards pigs, or anything belonging to the swine family. He didn't, it was just one of those Idaho things. I used this saying with some reserve and hesitation.
• I haven't seen that since the war of Chateau Brion. I, frankly wasn't clear on useage for this little slogan. Scott used it when something was quite rare (like while "watching" TV he left it on a channel for longer than 15 seconds) or something quite common (for example, his daily epic growler) so, I was pretty much confused. As a result, I chose not to repeat it for fear I would use it incorrectly, and clearly label myself to the locals as an "outsider" to my Idaho brethren.

As I recall, later that night we hit the local watering hole, Sawtooth Club or Sawtooth Grill or whatever, the fucking joint was right across the street....Anyhow....I introduced Scott to my favorite Tequila, Patrone, so we sat there, watching all the Friday night activities of the 20 somethings while we drank beer and expensive tequila. Thankfully, we were epic growler free and able to tennis shoe back to the hotel without mishap.

Sun Valley - Day 2 - Regroup

So after yesterday's complete disaster, we decide to use the same map and go for a local hike walk. Nothing too hard core, just go out for a couple of hours and stretch the legs. Here we are before the hike. Looks like a pretty popular spot. There are 3-4 cars already in the parking lot. Ah hell, lets go anyway, I mean what do we expect to see. We can still see downtown Sun Valley for Christ's sake. So we continue up the path, and head up the valley following a tiny little stream. I look up to our left, on the hill and see a blond fuzzy thing.

• Me: "Scott, what is that?"
• He looks and shouts, "Dude that is a f*cking bear!"
• Me: "It is not a bear, it's blond and too small."
• Scott: "I think it's a bear."
• Me: "Its not a dog, but maybe a sheep. Wrong color for a bear."
• Scott: "I still think it's a bear."
• Me: "Nah, why would a bear be HERE?"

This disagreement continues as we slowly walk up the ravine, watching this medium sized fuzzy creature along the hill side.

After about 4-5 minutes it becomes pretty clear. Not a dog, not a sheep. Uh, nothing runs like that, except a bear. RUN FOR YOUR LIVES.....It's a bear cub, blonde from the summer sun. Holy Christ, can you believe it? He's (I am using "he" but clearly I did not get close enough to see or fondle check his bear business.) young and kinda small, but clearly a bear. Knowing the mother could be close, we keep our eyes WIDE OPEN, and walk up the hill along the stream watching. At one time the bear gets up on his hind feet. I regret to say I missed the shot, with the camera and a gun (I'm kidding). Anyhow, the bear doesn't smell us for some reason and continues to move down the hill on a vector (Ooooo a technical term!) where he might intersect our path.

This was the best shot I got of him. Clearly I need to improve my photographic skills. As he comes across the trail, about 40 feet in front of us, he gets a sniff, and decides to run across our path and into the trees, up the hill on the right. Over the next 2 hours, we see at least 15 people on the trail. None saw the bear, except us. I don't remember what we did the rest of the day, but seeing the bear cub was pretty much the highlight.

Sun Valley - Day 1 - What were we thinking?

So we find a local store in downtown Sun Valley, that has a nice waterproof map of the Mountain Bike Trails in the area. Cool. That is so rare. So we drive to a local trail head to check it out and make sure we can acutally FIND the place. We do. Cool That is so rare. As we're sitting there, I'm DYING to ride. I suggest to Scott that we just go for a quick little 1 hour ride. It's 3pm in the afternoon, 95 degrees outside....No biggie....huh? Here we are in the heat of the day....You can guess what happens next....We come back about 45 minutes later. Tooo damned hot. We blast back to the Hotel looking for AC and a beer.

Sun Valley

So we get to Sun Valley just a couple hours later, and decide it's too late in the day to really do anything, so we check into the Best Western and cruise around town checking stuff out. For both of us it's been quite a while since we've been to Sun Valley. It's frankly been SO long for me, I don't remember that much at all.

Boise - Mi Casa es tu Casa

So it's been 8+ years since Scott and I have seen each other. It was really cool to have the time to get to see him again. Scott is not only one of my best friends, but I've known Scott since I was about 14. Holy shit. That is like 28 years. Scott and Susan were super accomodating, and even their dog North was a really good host. Our plan was to depart the next morning for our "week in the woods." Anyway, here we are in Scott's driveway ready to depart. Oh, yea, gotta get to REI first!

Hells Canyon - Next Morning

So I get up pretty early (5:30) and just hang out listening to everything (or nothing depending upon your perspective). I was slightly grimy, so I had a washcloth bath, ate some breakfast, and decided to take a leisurely morning, taking photos, and make my way on to Boise.
On my way from Hells Canyon, I found this spot in the road. It was a nice morning, so I figured I would stop and wait. I waited, and waited and waited. I never saw one. Oh well, time to head on to Boise. I hope its not hot there.

Hells Canyon - Backcountry Bacon

Since I don't have a fridge, I am little limited for food storage. I'd eaten all my pork chops from the night before, so I had to go with what the little merc store had in Imnaha. It wasn't much to be really honest. They DID have 1/2 lb of bacon, so I bought that and a little Dr. Pepper (that I eventually never drank) I will say two things. One, bacon on an open flame makes for some exciting and high-flame shooting grilling. Two, these pieces of bacon with some Tilamook cheddar cheese on a plain bagel were pretty damned good. Especially nice without those pesky little mosquitos.

Hells Canyon - New camp spot

So I head south on the 39, take a right on some road (as I recall I was looking for a specific for road that I never ended up finding. Anyway, I drove to the top of this rough, rutted road looking for a nice spot to spend the night. Oooo...I find a place in the trees. Nice. Get out of the truck, and BAM!

They swarm me like crazy. Oh hell, I just drove all this way and I'm now in hell? However I won't give up. It's getting late in the afternoon (5pm-ish) and I need to find a spot....I dash back into the truck and head more towards an open area @ the top of the hill.

Ahh...top of the hill, little breeze so no mosquitos. Yes...I am saved. Time for some dinner!!

Hells Canyon - Headed South Again!

So I get back on a paved road and start heading south through Hells Canyon. I don't really have a plan of where I'm going or which campground I'll stay, but so far, I've been pretty lucky.

Hells Canyon - Time to find a new spot

So after a 4 hour ride, some lunch, a dip in the stream to clean up, I decide it's time to move to a new area. I like this camp spot, just fine, but there is SOO much of this park to see. Here is my spot. Can you believe I'm gonna leave this? Neither can I. The tall soft weeds were pushed down before I put my tent there. Since I've seen tons of deer, I figured it was a good spot for me too.

Hells Canyon - Time for a Ride

So the next morning, I get up kinda early, and head out for a ride. The plan is to follow this dirt road road for a while and then get on what is called cow creek trail (#1699). According to a chick @ the local sporting goods store in Joesph OR, its a nice ride.

This is early in the ride, I've just crossed over this bridge at icicle stream. With the amount of rain, it was more "river" than stream.

This is my "check out the double track, dude!" shot. The "road" was kinda rough, but certainly ridable for full suspension. Not sure I would want a hard tail on this. Later, it turns to single track, but becomes a little rougher.

After a couple more miles on a gradual uphill, I get to an intersection where I can continue on towards the Snake River (12 miles) or poach (poach as in bikes not allowed therefore I should not ride it) a hike/horse only trail for 5 miles. It's getting hot so I decide time to swing around. I stop @ a spot where folks on horse have set up a camp, right next to Cow Creek.

Only had the legs to set up this shot once. However, it turned out to be one of my favorite photos of this entire trip.

Hells Canyon - A nice camping spot

So I have a nice map of entire Hells Canyon area (it's huge) and find myself a really nice little camp spot about 20+ miles deep into the park, right next to a little stream/river. I have my Olympian propane grill and a tent, my mountain bike. Just missing my dog, and my wife (in that order, yes) and I would be totally set. Oh, I gues my climbing gear, my climbing partner Brian, Fabien and Michelle would be fun. Oh and....hell. SO I scrambled up a little hill and took this photo of the valley where I camped. The double track road below is what I drove in on. While I was here, for 2+ days, I saw only one truck pulling a horse trailer on a road above me. Never saw another soul.

Further South to Hells Canyon

So on my way to Hells Canyon, I drive through the little town of Joseph OR. This isn't much of a town, but has tried to do a little with some tourist appeal (hell, every town is trying to get some of those camera toting, RV pulling tourist dollars) so I figure since I read that Chief Joseph was buried here, I would check it out. So this is the sign to an area that is probably 2000 square feet at best. In the middle is a monument for Chief Joseph. The explaination on the burial states that Chief Joseph was only buried here recently and was ORIGINALLY buried new Wallona OR. I was so disappointed, I could only take a picture of the sign. Oh and as the sign clearly indicates, there is no lake or river access here...

So I've wanted to come out to Hells Canyon, for quite a while. Overall I think this is a really cool place and if you want to get into some back country, away from people (via horse, mountain bike or hike) this is a great place to go. Car camping (4x4), in my opinion is fantastic here. What do I like about it best? There are few people.I've just crossed over into the boundary of Hells Canyon National Recreation area, just outside Imnaha OR. Fortunately this area got an extra ordinary amount of rain in the late spring/early summer so it was pretty lush and green. As I recall it was about 75 degress and wonderful every single day. Fantastic.

The BEST sign ever

The 4H kids in Anatone WA, have a sense of humor. I saw this just south of Lewiston, and had to turn around and take a photo. Classic.

South to Lewiston

I've been this way before, but figured I would drive it again. Here is me outside Lewiston on a hill that was carved out of the hillside for old wagons and early cars capable of about 30 miles an hour.

Yes, those ARE Oakley sunglasses. Yes they ARE cool.

GMa and Kenneth

So before they head home, a snap a photo of GMa and Kenneth. GMa is a 3x cancer survivor, clearly an inspiriation to those who know her. She has a good sense of humor and makes me laugh. I wish she and Kenneth lived closer so I could see them more often. Kenneth looks like a grump in this photo. Funny, he has got to be one of the nicest, sweetest men I've ever known.

Two Girls, one Cat

So a nice time hanging out with family before I headed on to Boise.

This is the nieces in a early B-day party, with the cat, Stan. He looks cute, but don't be fooled, he's pure hell in a young, small, furry cat body.

Another Road Trip

Ok, I have family coming to town. Time to go for a visit, then head off for some back country, wilderness living. I promised my friend Scott I would come for a visit, so I am.

• Seattle to
• Spokane to
• Hells Canyon to
• Boise to
• Sun Valley to
• Salmon to
• Stanley to
• Boise to
• Spokane to
• Seattle

A total of about 1700 miles driving, 3 weeks from home. Hmmm...