Stanley, Idaho • September 18

Wilderness Campsite

Stanley is a small town 60 miles north of Ketchum in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Galena Summit sits between these towns. The weather was warm and dry on Saturday, so we piled the boys into the back of the car and set off to see some of the sights this area has to offer. The foliage is beginning to change into its autumn brilliance and patches of red and more often golden yellow are popping out among the acres and acres of conifers.

View from Dining Room, Redfish Lake Lodge

We stopped at the SNRA headquarters where we picked up a few maps and had a conversation with the local forest ranger about camping. There were many warning signs and posters at the headquarters pertaining to the wildlife in the area. Black Bears seem to be the most dangerous nuisance. We left and scoped the wilderness campsites and made notes of those we would like to try next year.  We visited Stanley, population 300, which took all of 10 minutes. The day flew by as we loaded our digital cameras with dozens of shots of the mountains.

By dinner time, we were on our way back. We decided to visit Redfish Lake, a resort and camping area a few miles south of Stanley. The resort lodge was a perfect place for dinner. Local ruby red trout was the special of the evening.

By sunset, we were traveling over Galena Summit, and on our way back to our little place in Ketchum.

Shadows on the Sawtooth Mountain Range at Sunset

Going over Galena Summit

Ticking Off The Restaurant Bucket List

The Perpetual Diner

We never leave Ketchum without a visit to The Kneadery, our favorite breakfast establishment. We went there last Thursday. The dining room is rustic and filled with interesting artifacts.  The service is always excellent. Of course, the breakfast menu is the best! You can get almost any type breakfast you want, healthy, or not. We always opt for the "or not" because pancakes and waffles at the Kneadery are fabulous--The Kneadery advertises that it uses all fresh and local ingredients. The special of the day was oatmeal pancakes topped with sliced strawberries and (optional) whipped cream, along with hot maple syrup. That sounded perfect! Optional whipped cream? Are you kidding? The only question was whether to have it on the side or on top. That didn't matter to me, and when my breakfast arrived, I had a mountain of homemade cream. Needless to say, I didn't need lunch. And oh, on the way out the door, you are encouraged to grab a homemade cookie or brownie for the road from under the cake cover on the perpetual diner's table!

Homecoming in Hailey

Big Belly Deli

Yesterday, after two days of reading, shopping, and just hanging out, we decided to go biking. It was a bright, yet cool day with temperatures in the low 70's. At first I regretted wearing short sleeves. We were riding south and there was a pretty brisk wind in our faces. It took 15 or 20 minutes to forget about being chilly. We wanted to get to the end of the trail. We found the termination at the southern end of Bellevue, a small town a couple of miles south of Hailey. Our plan was to have a sandwich at the Big Belly Deli in Hailey, so we turned around and headed north 5 miles, arriving in Hailey 20 minutes later. As we aproached Main Street, we noticed a flat bed truck filled with kids who had an assortment of band instruments, heading north on Main Street. It was pretty obvious they were having a great time!

At the deli, we ordered our sandwiches and headed out to the patio in front, wanting to stay in the warm, sunny weather. As we were eating, the Hailey police arrived at the corner and blocked the side street with yellow tape. Both of us noticed that there were people lining up along Main Street. We heard someone mention parade and figured that it must be homecoming time in the local Wood River High school. We were right!

Freshman Royalty

Fifteen minutes later, we were treated to a delightful display of happy, enthusiastic high school students having great fun. Their floats were the usual high school fare--trucks and flatbeds decorated with green and white crepe paper and hand-painted signs saying "Go Wolverines! Beat the Senators!". What was so striking was the level of student participation. Float after float went by, all containing 10 to 30 students each. I lost count, but it seemed that all the clubs and organizations in the high school were represented. Their band must not be a marching band, because the members rode on the flatbed that we had observed earlier. As they went by, they played what sounded like local school songs. The chorus had a float, complete with keyboard and sound system, so while they went by, we heard selections from their repertoire. The football moms were represented and several of them went into the crowd handing out home-made oatmeal raisin cookies! Even the math club and the Volley Ball Team were represented. I lost count of the organizations that participated, but the parade went on for about one-half hour. It was amazing! So many young people were having fun, being supported by parents and merchants along Main Street who closed their doors to watch the local high school homecoming parade. Such a happy community! (More photos below.)

The "Marching" Band

Scenes from The Wood River High School Homecoming Parade • September 16, 2010

The Wood Valley High School Football Team

The Volley Ball Team

The Football Moms

Our Glorious Ride • September 12, 2010

The Wood River

The weather has moderated here. The cold snap seems to be over and the warm, glowing days of September are upon us. Yesterday could be described no other way than glorious. It was in the mid-30's when we awoke, and by 2:30, it was 84 outside the motor home!

In the early afternoon we decided to ride the bike trail south again. What a difference a week made. Last Sunday we bucked the wind going both ways and it was chilly until you started riding. Yesterday was very still and pleasantly warm. The ride to Hailey was really fast because the elevation decreases 600 feet, which oddly enough makes a difference, even over nine miles. We sailed down to the south end of Hailey. After going nine miles, we contemplated going farther,  just to see where the trail ends. We decided against it, but noticed a 14 mile marker just after we turned around. We will explore the rest of the trail another day when we get an earlier start.

A Golf Course

Going south is nice. You pass several horse ranches, a golf course, and many large homes. The trail winds through the Wood River Valley, which is flanked by sandy, high desert foothills. It has a quiet beauty. The ride north is spectacular because you can see the higher foothills near Ketchum and the distant snow-capped Boulder Mountains. Remnants of hardy, colorful wildflowers are scattered along the side of the trail. Of course, you can always hear sounds of the Wood River and see an occasional fly-fisherman.

A Horse Ranch

Looking North

I noticed that everyone on the trail was smiling. The path was lightly traveled on the northern end near Ketchum. As we got closer to Hailey, there were many families riding together. A family of eight was strung out along the trail. Mom led the way with five kids of all ages in the middle, while dad and a 4- or 5-year-old on a tandem brought up the rear. We saw several parents towing their little ones in those cool trailers. At one point, Dick remarked about the amazing advances in bicycle technology since we started riding in the mid-seventies.

This trail is constructed over an old railroad route and is groomed in the winter for cross-country skiing, showshoeing, and walking.

It was a great ride. We have two weeks left to enjoy more.

Scenes from the Bike Trail • September 12, 2010

Looking North from the Bridge

Trail Bridge

Looking into the Wood River

The beginning of autumn color

Chocolate Gulch • September 11, 2010

The Boulder Mountains from the road

Since it was so chilly Friday night (37° in Hailey), my friend Chris and I waited until 9:15 to drive to the Chocolate Gulch trailhead, just north of Ketchum. (Once the sun rises, the temperature can rise more than 30° in a few hours.) On the way, we were treated to glimpses of the snow-covered Boulder Mountains.

Chris brought her two dogs, a German shorthair, and little white mixed-breed rescue that has bright blue eyes! The dogs are accustomed to hiking and probably know every trail within 50 miles of here. Most hikers have one or two dogs with them. The dogs always run loose. When they meet other dogs, there is the requisite momentary sniffing, and then they continue on with their owners. Chris's dogs took off the minute we started hiking. Occasionally you could see a flash of white and a darker shadow flying through the forest or underbrush. That was Belle (the shorthair) and Skye (the rescue). They checked back occasionally, but spent their time chasing creatures and exploring, and when all was said and done, probably put in three times the mileage than we did!

Bridge over the Wood River at the Trailhead

Through a break at the beginning of the ascent

The beginning of the trail follows the Wood River, winds rather steeply through a beautiful conifer forest and crests at the top of a ridge that looks north to the Boulder Mountains and east to the Pioneers. The view was spectacular yesterday due to the contrast of the distant snow and the bright blue sky. From the crest, it is all downhill through rocky out-crops and meadows, where you follow a stream that eventually feeds into the Wood River near the trailhead. The hike is a little more difficult than the Adams Gulch hike because of its early, steep ascent, although it seemed much shorter. We were on the trail close to two hours, but that included time for me to stop and take photos. It was so beautiful, I didn't want it to end. Before I leave this area, I'll take Baxter and do it again.

(See earlier post for more photos.)