Sawtooths in July

On July 9th through 11th, Todd and I went up to the Sawtooth Mountains for a short backpacking trip.  We hiked from Grandjean into Trail Creek Lakes, a cluster of small alpine lakes in the northern tip of the wilderness.  The hike was about 4.3 miles with an elevation gain of 2906 ft.  A constant uphill with moderate slope dotted by occasional switchbacks.  Two sets of switchbacks stand out on the second half of the trip and the final push to the lakes is mostly straight up.  The trail gets lost in a wetland for about 100 ft.  There were 4 stream crossings which we did not need to take off boots for-although Todd did slip into a deep pool and got his feet very wet.  Amazing waterfalls and stream formations appeared the second half of the hike.

When we got to the lake, I was exhausted.  Our packs weighed 45 lbs and my body is very out of shape compared to the Forest Service Days.  Like most alpine lakes, the scenery unfolds after cresting the last edge near the outlet stream.  This was no exception.  We were greeted by a blue lake, tall jagged scree on the left, rolling granite on the right, and a waterfall directly across from where we stood.  A flat spot that has been heavily used for camping was quickly covered with our gear.  After all the hiking up, I was not to tired to throw a line in the lake. I used my fly pole and Todd used his spinner.  The smallest fly caught the biggest fish.  Todd had only one bite, I had multiple.  In the right spot, flyfishing rules. I caught three little fish, two cutthroat and one rainbow.  Todd caught one little fish, a cutthroat.  So we kept three and at them with dinner.  As Todd was gutting the largest one, he noticed the start of eggs forming.  We decided not to keep anymore large colorful fish so they can continue to reproduce.

The first night was a rough sleep.  Achy bodies, warm temperatures, animals outside the tent causing Henry to bark, ugh, so much for peace in the woods.  The ungulates we saw were elk and deer, up at the lakes! 
The next morning we hiked to the upper Trail Creek Lakes.  An easy scramble with light packs and fishing gear, we enjoyed our mosquito attack lunch.  We both went swimming and I tossed a line in.  The day was warm and it was mid-day.  The fish were huge but swam right past my lure.  I tried multiple sizes and placement, but the fish were not interested.  While I was chasing these fish, Todd and Henry were out exploring the surroundings.  They came upon a high alpine spring which Todd drank straight from. Soon after, we reunited for lunch and explored more on our way back to the lake.  We stood at the top of the waterfall, Henry got plenty of swimming fetch, and were amazed at the different colors of each lake.  As a sign of the day, Henry was pooped out, not even asking for a stick toss.

We moved camp to a more secluded place, away from the lake outlet, and not as dirty and used.  The dirty was mostly from campfire ashes scattered about.  It is illegal to have a campfire in the wilderness, you must have it in a fire pan or on a fire blanket.  After camping surrounded by old fire rings and ash, I agree- leave no trace!  It is also upsetting when live trees are hacked at and left to die. What primitive need gets fulfilled by violently harming nature!?  In these high alpine areas, few trees grow and the few that were there have been burned in a forest fire.  So we moved from a human destroyed camp so something less disturbed- I did not hike into wilderness to be surrounded by the ugly side of humanity.

Once again, as evening rolled about, I tossed the fishing line in the water.  The lake was warm enough to stand in near the shallow shores.  I was having little luck, a nibble but no bites.  I started to climb out of the steep banked lake and felt a tug on my fishing line- inadvertently, I caught the biggest fish in my short fishing time.   This was a beautiful cutthroat.  A bit slender, but most of the lake trout appeared so.

The next morning, we headed down the hill back to Boise and the heat.

Rafting in July

This has been another busy summer with little leisure time.  Back in July, two days before the Fourth, Todd and I met up with Leslie and rafted the Main Payette.  This, unfortunately, has been the only trip I have oared this summer.  It was a fantastic trip.  Flows were at a good level, hovering about 4100 c.f.s..  Leslie and I shared time at the oars and Todd kayaked.  Sunny fun day.

Henry is in the raft too.  He is crunched down in the back.  You can see a little bit of his back end in the lowest photo bottom left.


However, either on the Main Payette or the Boise River, I happened to get poison ivy on my feet.  The signs did not begin to show until Todd and I were up in the Sawtooth Mountains.  At first I thought I was experiencing itch from mosquito bites on my feet while trying to sleep in a warm tent.  It was not until we got home did I realize something else was at play.  My feet were stuck in hot sweaty boots for a few hours each day.  This pushed the poison ivy irritation inward and it went systemic, creeping up my legs and showing up from my toes to my hips.  Benedryl, hydrocortizone cream, and air were used in the week and a half long treatment.  If I was not at work, I wore skirts and no shoes.  Even after it went away, my feet were still torn up and scaly.  Ah, to live in this body.  

Tar Sands Timmy!

Looking through Mother Jones magazines web page, I can across this cartoon:

Tar Sands Timmy

  Tar Sands Timmy from MarkFiore on Vimeo.


you should give it a watch!

Brrrrrr.....

Last week, the temperatures in the Boise area and mountains was between 5 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit.  Rivers were iced over, ski slopes were tilted ice skating rinks.  A tongue would have frozen to a wooden fence, it was that cold.  Todd and I needed to get out of town and we desired a soak in a natural hot spring.  So we drove a few hours to Kirkham hot springs, along highway 21.  This is a road side (highway) natural spring with a great pool and other small pools nearby.  We arrived by noon on a Friday and no one was there.  The pool was all ours.  Henry was with us so you can only imagine the relaxation that occurred.

While sitting in the hot water, Todd brings us some tough talk I made over the New Years holiday....jump in the cold water for an hour and half massage and a bottle of gin....I love gin.  Hum, ah, there was frazzle ice flowing down the SF Payette River while we were in the warm water.  I had to think about it.  Here was the result of my thoughts......and the result of Todd's need for perfection.....



Mmmmm, New Amsterdam Gin is pretty tasty.  Still have yet to redeem the massage.
When I grab my head near the end of the video, imagine the worst ice cream headache you can and double that.  I think I had a moment of blackness when my head went under the water.  Todd, not to be out done, also dipped in the river, but after I foolishly did it first.  Ahh, to feel alive!

PS. please pardon the bad music on the video. I am new at making these Youtube creations and have limitations with my video editing program.....

Happy Holiday to me!

Mailing presents across the country can be expensive.  Choosing the correct gift for someone is also difficult with sizing, color choices, and personal preferences.  So, this year, my family provided me some money to purchase something nice for myself.  A $20 bill here and a $20 bill there added up and I was able to purchase a brand new sewing machine for the house!  It is a basic Singer Tradition 2277 model and was on sale.  First project is going to be hemming curtains for the bedrooms and office.

 

THANK YOU FAMILY!!!

Home Remodel update

Many of you may know that we have redone most of the exterior of the house (see posts from 2012).  Well it is winter and we are working hard on the interior.  We have repainted both bathrooms, two of three bedrooms and are working on the last bedroom.  Here are some pictures from the house:
Bedrooms are yellow with white or orange with white.  The orange room is used as an office, it is a bright color for sleeping.  The master bedroom is in progress and will be the same yellow and white as the second bedroom.  We are keeping the orb lights in the main bathroom, they look much better now that the bright red paint on the cabinet is gone.

Office before painting.

Office after painting-but before floors are redone.

Second bedroom after painting.

Main bedroom in progress.

And for fun, here is a picture of Henry and June Bug in the bathtub together.  That cat will follow Henry almost anywhere.  She did not stick around once the shower started.  Henry had to stay, what a good guy.

Assistant

June Bug was assisting Todd in installing cam lighting in the office.  That darn cat is very curious and adventurous.  She greatly enjoyed exploring the attic, smashing down installation, and monitoring the entrance to the attic.