After the Gravelly Range and Twin Bridges I was heading home. On the way home I had two nights reserved at the Horse Prairie Cabin.
Horse Prairie and Home
06 Saturday Jul 2019
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Gravelly Range
04 Thursday Jul 2019
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I had been wanting to go to the Gravelly Range for a few years. I was in the area last year but skipped it due to wild fires on the north end. This trip I would make it; however, not as planned. And the wildflowers… would my gamble on the dates picked to see the wildflowers pay off? I drove up the Warm Springs Road.
Driving up the Gravelly Range.
Hells Canyon
02 Tuesday Jul 2019
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With my new Inreach device – I had freedom. I could now break my rule of only driving on an unused road as far as I could walk out. I headed to some old mining ruins south of the old city of Rochester.
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Vipond Park
01 Monday Jul 2019
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I won the gamble on selected the days to see Vipond Park wildflowers.
Gambling
29 Saturday Jun 2019
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Last fall when I stopped into the Wise River Ranger Station to ask about road conditions, the ranger started the answer to my question by indicating it was too bad that I wasn’t there earlier to see the wildflowers at Vipond Park. Her statement perked my interested, making me want to come back. This is the trip going back to see the wildflowers at Vipond Park and adding the Gravelly Range to the trip. The plans were hatched in fall. It would be a quick trip; renting forest service cabins seemed to fit the plan for a quick get away instead of taking my trailer. But I needed to rent the cabins when they came available – six months before the arrival date. In December I gambled when I picked the rental days, hoping the days would match the wildflower bloom.
Last week the weather forecast included a day with 3-5 inches of snow on the Gravelly Range. Hum. I am off – wildflowers or not.
On Paved Roads Again
05 Wednesday Jun 2019
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After a month at the City of Rocks and Castle Rocks, Idaho, it was time to hit the pavement and get home to Seattle.
Birds of Prey
I’ve never had a bad night camping in the many years I’ve been camping. The odds caught up with me; with my stay on the Snake River near the Swan Fall hydro power plant. It was a Sunday night; it should be a quite night – correct? I was tired of driving. I-84 throught Idaho was busy, boring, and hot; so I simply picked a camp site that look adaquate. I settled for camp site #1, which was very close to #2, #3, and #4 and a vaulted toilet. Not a good site, but it being Sunday night, I was sure it would be quiet.
Overlook view. My camp site was towards the top of the photo at the bend in the road.
My Time, Where the Pavement Ends
30 Thursday May 2019
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I came to the City of Rocks and Castle Rocks for the month of May to volunteer with little understanding about what I would do except give tours of some sort. I had driven through the area about ten years ago and liked it. After a quick phone call and a check of my references, I was hired for the volunteer gig. I was sure all would turn out and it would be a happy month. How could it not be happy? I was going to where rocks are 2.5 billion years old.
The 2.5 billion years old rock.
Visiting City of Rocks, Castle Rocks Tips
29 Wednesday May 2019
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This post is not an attempt to entertain. Sorry. It is simply facts that may help you enjoy your visit that I have observed while staying for a month being a volunteer. I hope it helps. Random photos are included.
Chicken Head creature. The locals take it for granite.
The City
22 Wednesday May 2019
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Cold, rainy, and snowy; that was yesterday morning. At the top of the City (Emery Pass) I heard there was 4 inches of new snow in the morning. In the afternoon, the dogs and I got itchy feet and headed up into the City. Up I drove and found it snowing. I had a hat and my hood on my head trying to keep out the bitter cold wind. And then… I was rewarded for my effort to see the City; the sun started shining, the air was clear, the wind died, and few people were in the City. I felt like I had the entire City to myself; to slowly explore the nooks and crannies. It was special. Here are some photos from yesterday.
Treasure Rock
Yost
19 Sunday May 2019
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The quiet Yost Cemetery sign beckoned to me to turn in and visit. Perhaps I would hear old stories whispering in the wind. I did not anticipate the real stories I would soon hear.
