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I won the gamble on selecting good days to see the wildflowers at Vipond Park.
Continue readingVipond Park
01 Monday Jul 2019
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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.
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.
Strevell Airway Arrow
16 Thursday May 2019
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Airway arrows are an obscure part of American aviation history. When I found that I would be joining the team at the City of Rocks I started looking around for interesting things to do in the area. I found that the Strevell Airway Arrow was nearby. For an explanation of airway arrows this web site has a pretty good description.
This arrow is located about 300 feet east of the intersection of old Highway 81 and the Strevell Road.
The arrow
All is Good
14 Tuesday May 2019
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Here are some random pictures from around the City of Rocks and Castle Rocks area.
2.5 billion years ago we could not breath the atmosphere; it was toxic to humans. Life was bacteria.
I’m touching rock that is 2.5 billion years old.
Retired
11 Saturday May 2019
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I choose to come to the City of Rocks as a transition into retirement. After 40 years of working an established job with deadlines, meetings, massive amount of emails, and my life ruled by my Outlook calendar, my friend Jan strongly recommended that I don’t start my retirement at home. Start with some structure she recommended. Leave. So I started looking for a trip to take and opportunities to volunteer. The results of my search; is coming to the City of Rocks. I give geology tours and hang around Register Rock telling stories about the California Trail for those that stop by. Plus I walk trails in uniform answering questions. A perfect transition to retirement.
I use to work in a high rise climate controlled building. My new offices are different.
My new home office in my camping trailer on a small folding table
searching for the middle of nowhere 