It’s not yet time…
…for nice long hikes, that is. While the snow on the valley floor and on the smaller peaks has disappeared, full hiking season isn’t quite upon us. For the last two weekends I have attempted two long-distance hikes, only to be turned around by early afternoon thunderstorms. So I’m sharing just a few brief images from a failed hike up Bald Mountain today. No, not failed – I still got in about six miles. By adding another four I would have made the summit. Oh well. Soon, summer will be fully upon Sun Valley and I’ll be wishing for rain!
In other brief news, I am heading to New Hampshire in July to visit friends and family. If you are one or the other and would like to hang out while I’m there, email me! Also, keep your eyes peeled for a photo essay of the cowboy poet, Ernie Sites, coming soon to the blog.
Lemhi doesn't usually wear a leash, but the dropoff on this lookout was intense!
The Big Wood River snaking through Ketchum.
Idaho Homesteading
A few weeks ago I had the chance to travel to east Idaho with my employer, The Nature Conservancy. The trip was to give Legacy Club members the opportunity to experience strutting sage grouse up close on one of our preserves. As with many trips, I went expecting one kind of image, and come out with something very different.
Don’t get me wrong, sage grouse strutting for the ladies is nothing to shake your finger at. It was incredible. For a month or so each spring, male sage grouse “dance” to woo females. To see such a sight involves getting up WAY before the crack of dawn and sitting in very chilly bird blinds. The show starts before sunlight, and all around the blind is a very distinctive aqueous popping noise. Once the sun rises, and if the blind’s in the right spot, you will be surrounded by sage grouse males puffing up their white chest “ball sack” and letting the air go. If a lady wanders in they will puff themselves silly trying to catch her affections. When a lady is not around, they will fight and scuffle amongst themselves, while letting out intermittent pops to let everyone know where they are. Think singles bar – bird style. (To see this in action – go check out this video.)
What really caught my attention at this location, however, was a side-trip to an abandoned homestead on The Nature Conservancy’s property. This property was occupied until approximately the 50′s, then presumably the family moved onto another location, or another lifestyle. At this site was a large two-story house surrounded by old farm machinery, cars, and pens for livestock. The homestead was surrounded by rolling hills, a seasonal spring, and in the further distance, the mountains of Idaho and Wyoming. While it wasn’t hard to imagine living in such a picturesque place, it was hard to imagine living so remotely. With no electricity or plumbing, and a very long and bumpy access road to the location, the life must have been a hard one. Here are a few images of the location that caught my attention and held it tight.
For the Love of Place
I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m going to love summer here in the Wood River Valley.
Today was another beautiful one, with the temperatures reaching into the mid-80′s. A bit too hot, even, considering how very cold it was last week. I entered the house after work to three very eager creatures – two dogs, one human. We all needed to be outside as fast as possible.
Mike and I grabbed Franconia and headed to Sun Valley’s Proctor Mountain Loop. This hiking trail is just east of the town of Sun Valley, and a popular place to be on a nice day. It took us about two hours to complete the loop, which gains a fair amount of elevation. The wildflowers are starting to bloom up there! There were rumors of a moose in the low-lying brush at the base of the trail, but it had moved on by the time we arrived.
After coming home and devouring a delicious dinner, we hopped on our cruiser bikes and, with Lemhi flopping along obediently beside us, headed a half mile down the bike path to River Run. Once there, the already-kind-of-tired Lemhi played fetch with his new Chuck-It until he gave us a subtle hint he was done (this includes diving into the grass and rolling around like a banshee). We let him check out the immobile chairlift then take a few laps in the Big Wood River before we headed home the same way we had come. The night was beautiful, t-shirt weather with a killer luminescent sunset.
Did I mention that I love it here?
The town of Sun Valley with Baldy in the background.
Wildflowers on the Proctor Mountain Loop.
Loving Spring hiking.
True Idaho-style.
Kicking butt and taking names (AKA, my first mountain bike adventure)
As we zoomed side by side down the bike path Mike shouted instructions over the noise of our knobby tires. “If you need to stand up to climb,” he yelled, “keep your weight towards the back so you don’t spin out. When you’re on a switchback, ride the outer line and keep your pedals parallel to the ground. And whatever you do, don’t lean forward on the downhill!”
And thus began my first-ever mountain bike adventure. After picking up a sweet vintage Scott mountain bike at the Sturto’s bike swap in Hailey, I was chomping at the bit to see if I could hack it. Nevermind that the bike doesn’t quite fit right (yet). Or that there were bound to be quite a few bikers out on such a beautiful day – therefore making the possibility of public humiliation very real.
Heading east out of Ketchum towards Trail Creek, we jumped on Sun Valley’s Valley View Trail. The Valley View Trail is a 5 mile route that circles the new White Clouds Golf Course and climbs a modest 200+ feet in elevation. While gathering my wits about me at the trailhead, two kind gentleman lobbed encouraging remarks in my direction. Okay, I thought to myself, I can do this.
I learned a few lessons on the climb to the top of the rise: 1) You go much faster, and gain elevation quicker, on a bike versus hiking. Duh, you’re thinking. I know. But it was a revelation. 2) Sun Valley’s sun is hotter than sun other places. I don’t know how, but it’s true. 3) Mike was right, if you don’t keep your weight over your seat you’ll spin out … and it’s not a fun experience. I showed off a little grit in my teeth with a big smile at the top.
After the first big rise, the trail volleys up and down as it traverses the backside of the hill, boasting a sweeping view of the valley. It then descends to the front side, eventually dropping back onto the bike path. This is Mike’s favorite part – the fast descent – so I encouraged him to zoom away as my cautious self slowly crept down after him. It was at this point that I saw two familiar faces – the gentleman with encouraging words at the start. They were riding UP from the other side. I asked if they were doing circuits, and they smiled and nodded, bantering more friendly words of support at me.
Well, I’m not at the stage of riding circuits for the sheer fun of it, but I call my first mountain bike ride a glowing success. I stayed on my bike, didn’t grumble, rode a beautiful trail and interacted with supportive people.
So my only question now is – where to go next?
(You can also see this post on the Sun Valley Plum TV Blog)
That's me, powering up the backside!
The view northwest from a lookout at the top.
Sun in Sun Valley
Very finally, we had a weekend of sun in Ketchum. It even felt a bit like spring (shh, don’t tell anyone – don’t want to jinx it). To celebrate such an overdue event of weather, Mike and I spent most of our days out and about.
Saturday began with a bit of griping about the extreme disorder of my apartment. But what kind of fun is that for a Saturday? I quickly abandoned this insignificant fact and headed north to the access to Boulder Basin. North of Ketchum, headed towards Galena Lodge, is still pretty snow covered. I hypothesized (and was correct) that the lower lying areas would be free of snow and a good place to stretch some legs – human and dog alike. In the summer you can hike right up into the Basin, which is a mix of alpine lakes and an abandoned mining town. Boulder Basin is one of those places that I want to love – but the access to it is so painful that it negates the beauty that lives there. Boulder Basin is a playground for ATV’s, dirt bikes, and Jeepers in the summer. Ever hiked for hours on end on a Jeep trail? Yeah, you get the feeling.
Today was a late start, because last night Mike and I ran into some friends and went on a little bender. However, after a delicious breakfast at Papa Hemi’s Hideaway this morning, we headed to Parker Gulch – an old mining area off of Elkhorn (Silver Queen mines). It felt awesome to be hiking on a real trail – not a road – and we were able to get into some elevation before large snowfields thwarted our plans of the summit. Oh well. I’ll make the summit another day. The ground squirrels are just appearing (and are quite fat from a winter underground), and Lemhi thoroughly enjoyed chasing them non-stop all day long. He’s now looking a bit sleepy himself.
Finally, I’m starting a new photography/design project. Sneak preview is in one of these pictures, can you guess which?
P/S – Apartment did get cleaned…it’s more of a Sunday night activity. It’s spotless. Happy Mother’s Day!
Boulder Basin Panorama from access road
Trees in this Valley grow on north-facing slopes. Sagebrush grows on south-facing slopes. In the background is Baldy, the Baldy Bowls, and Seattle Ridge.
We are embarrassingly wearing matching hats. You can vomit in your mouth a little bit. I would.
Life is a little dry...
Two Humans and Sixteen Furry Legs
This weekend Mike and I watched our friend Jenna’s two dogs at her house in Hailey. We couldn’t neglect ours, of course, so we became a family of six – with the dogs outnumbering the humans two to one. What an adventure! Jenna has two Portuguese Water Dogs, Tasman and Millie. They are full of energy, always ready for a walk, and love to be close to humans. Really close.
I’m starting to understand why no one talks about spring in the Wood River Valley. That’s because it stinks. The weather is wild and unpredictable. This entire weekend it poured consistently, prompting flash flood warnings and really glum humans (and dogs). All six of us scooted out quickly when the rain took a brief break, and headed to the National Forest access off Lake Creek. Walking with four dogs, even four well behaved dogs, is quite the sight to see. You mostly just let them do their thing – until they start rolling in dead animals, or wandering halfway up the mountainside. Mike and I were loaded down with cubes of cheese, and that always helps keep pups close.
So here I am, watching the torrential downpour outside the living room window, with Lemhi on his bed, Tasman cuddling with a pillow, Millie on my feet, and Nia looking out the glass door. Ah, the dog life.
Mike with one, two, three, four.
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