Idaho August 2010

[snowbear]

8-18.

We head off not knowing if we'd have to backtrack or get thru. The Magruder road is popular because it is the only road thru the Frank Church Wilderness Area. It draws lots of cross country motorcyclists and a few folks in cars and trucks. There is nothing in the way of services along the road. The FS web site says its 101 miles. We measured about 85 but we didn't count the blacktop.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/f...nal%20Forest%20-%20Magruder%20Road%20Corridor


We left the camp site and headed on down the road. After a while we got to "new" dirt road. It looked like it had been completely rebuilt. It was even compacted. We found the washouts, three of them, and they had been fixed. The area was a traverse following the contour of the mountainside. The washouts occured where the road cut back into the hillside and there was a creek coming down it. Kinda like the inside of a crevase. Unfortunately we forgot to take pictures so you just have to imagine. Standing at the point in the "V" looking up a steep narrow gash and looking down, the same thing only bigger. I told Pati, yeah we coulda crossed it...with three winches and a half-mile of cable!

This was one of those slow days. Our average speed was ~7mph. First stop Hells Half Acre.

The lookout station

Not sure what was so "hellish" about it. Look like all the other mountains, valleys and trees

(I have lots of those orange shirts, they were freebies from the scaffolding company

 

[snowbear]

8-18 Magruder Road

Just some scenery

One surprise, probably half the lands along the road had burned. Some according to the signs as much as 100 years ago. All the fires were caused by lightening. Seemed like it should be growing back faster but what do I know.

It was another hot day and a little dip in this creek to cool off.

More burns

I can't remember the name of this mountain. It is one of the tallest in the state

Student driver (had to hang on to her when the chipmunks crossed the road in front of us)

 

[snowbear]

8-18 Magruder Road

Going downhill again

Come on I want to chase chipmunks!

Checking the back trail

And uphill

 

[snowbear]

8-18

Saw a few of these critters along the way

Area info

Now we on to something interesting. Burnt Butte Lookout, 4WD recommended. Really nothing a stocker couldn't negotiate. But more interesting none the less. Just to make it more fun a storm was coming in, wind rain, thunder and lightening.

The destination

 

[snowbear]

8-18

This lookout station was open for business! And with the storm I wasn't really motivated to drive back down that trail. This building is literally balancing on the rock. The guywire goes all the way around and is anchored at all four corners. It also serves as the lightening rod! There are rocks stuffed up underneath to fill the gaps.

One of the lakes below

So I made the decision to stay in the "cabin". Pati was none to thrilled about it. The thing rocked in the wind. But I said it's better than pitching the tent! Hauling just the minimum gear from the truck to the cabin at 8400' elevation takes the wind right out of ya! We set up "camp"

and after proping up some shutters, watched the sun set.

The storm continued and rocked the cabin most of the night. The dog doesn't like to sleep on the bed but after a couple hours she crawled in right between us and stayed put all night.

 

[snowbear]

8-19 Burnt Butte to Orofino

Ah a blue sky morning!

Down the hill

Next stop Green Acre Lookout. This one is locked up tight

But I go as far as I can

Looking west

and south

 

[snowbear]

The hunter on the prowl

Well the outhouse is open

So we've run the Magruder. The trail/road was pretty much more of the same, mountains, trees, creeks, etc. We make our way toward Elk City and this catches our attention. Time for a detour.

We backtrack to a bridge crossing the creek. The sign says the trail is open two months a year. Thot that kinda odd. But we were between the dates so off we went. Poked around on the trail looking for a way to the mine. About the third try, on a trail that was all grown over we found it. And it had a gate so off on foot we go. It was about a mile around a ravine to the mine.

Of all the mines we explored this was the best. Most of the equipment was still there. It was like they just walked away from it.

 

[snowbear]

The ball mill

The tailings come out of the mill down the trough on the right

To these things with "catch" pockets and windows in the sides

then to these shaker tables

 

[snowbear]

The material could be routed to several other areas and processing equipment inside but the light didn't make for any decent pictures. Have to ask a miner friend about some of it. For instance some of the material from the mill could be send to what looked like a chimney made of steel. It had some kind of belt from the bottom to the top 30' above. At the bottom looked like an ash door like you find on the back of an old brick chimney.

The steam plant

The drum for the tram up the mountain

Then back on the road. There was another back road we were going to take on the other side of Elk City but were out of time.

From here to Vancouver it was blacktop and hot.

The folks that built the road must have been having fun the day they did this.

Crossed the Nez Perce Reservation, stopped at the museum and motored on to Orofino

 

[snowbear]

8-19 Orofino

Once again we went looking for a campground and showers for the night. We really try to avoid the motorhome parks but that was not to be this night. It was late and hot and we were tired so going 20 miles to the reservoir near town in hopes of finding a place with showers was out. So we looked around town. The first two places we went were depressing. It was like folks moved in with anything they could find that was livable. We ended up in a nice place, at least as far as motorhome parks go, right on the river. Showers were included in the price. They assigned us a tent spot, one of those little premade areas, and we had to go back for something larger. Told them the tent wouldn't fit. They looked at me like I was off. I had to explain that in Alaska we use big tents. So for 6$ we upgraded to a camper spot ))

So another day done.

 

[snowbear]

8-20 the last day

We really had till the 21st to get back but I told ya it was hot right? By noon when crossing into Washington it was well over 100 according to our little thermometer and we were cooked. The air conditioned hotel sounded just too inviting. So we put the hammer down and headed for "home". We decided to take SR14 along the river and thru the gorge. It was well worth the time. There is alot more to see on the north side of the river.

 

[snowbear]

8-20 the home stretch

SR 14 winds back & forth and up and down along the river. There are several small towns and we stopped at one for dinner. Kinda surfer joint. Food was good and the belly dancing was entertaining. By the time we left it was dark. We got back into Vancouver at about 10pm.

It was a great trip and I know I've missed some things in this report. Time and memory permitting I'll add them as they come up. In the mean time we're looking for ideas for the next trip.

Happy Trails

 

[shortbus4x4]

Nice pictures and write up.

 

[Rot Box]

:Wow1::wings: Amazing! You definitely captured the side of Idaho rarely seen by the majority. Looks like a lot of fun and thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[Saline]

Cool trip report!! Love that part of Idaho. We have rafted the Bruneau River a few times, man is it awesome down there.