My Journey

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

tikirob.....I sent you a PM a few minutes ago with her Facebook information.....have fun looking at Golden Retrievers.....



We continued north and east passing through Idaho looking for improved weather. Daily clouds, intermittent snow and rain was becoming the norm and we were beginning to tire of it.....



We came upon more hot springs that flowed into the ditch along the highway and then drained into the Salmon River.....these hot springs were known as the Sunbeam Hot Springs.....



Of course we made a stop but oddly enough there were no soaking pools. And I say oddly enough because this was once, years ago, a commercial hot springs. There's the remains of an old bathhouse right along the highway.....



I touched the water here and damn near burned my skin.....the rising steam, the flowers, the mountains and the river made for quite a sight.....





Our stop was fairly brief unfortunately (since we couldn't get into a pool) so we continued along the highway.....





The drive continued to be magnificent.....huge rock outcroppings, multiple colors of scree along the sloping mountains, rapids and small waterfalls.....we loved it.....





Good weather was not found here.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

The next stop of any real significance along the highway would be Challis, Idaho. Now Challis, Idaho is just one more American small town (approximate population of 1,100) that I'd never heard of previously, but I doubt I'll ever forget cause I liked this place quite a bit. We set up camp just south of town in the parking lot at Bison Jump.....it seems like nobody stops here.....



Across the highway was a fairly large cattle ranch.....the views here, on the valley floor, were to kill for.....



You know that phrase....."the mountains are calling" ? Well, that's what it was like here.....Blue Mountain (height unknown to me) was calling. The weather continued to suck, but then I'd see these breaks in the clouds and there would be Blue Mountain.....



Tanner and I went out for an early morning walk.....that began our bushwacking trek up that mountain. I think the picture here makes this look like a simple hike.....it wasn't. It was long, there were no trails to follow, and the last hour of the hike was steep and slick with the intermittent snow falling on the mountainsides scree slopes.....



Along the way we would find the remains of both elk and mule deer.....my guess (and only a guess) is that was the work of mountain lions. I even brought back an antler from this hike.....





I hike for three reasons.....I love the strenuous exercise, I love the freedom that I feel, and I love the views when I'm up high.....



I'm old school.....I wander without GPS. I usually do pretty good but thick clouds can change everything quickly.....it did here.....



I thought about turning back but I love a summit.....



The clouds began to roll in.....they were thick, almost like cotton balls floating towards us, and soon engulfed the mountain.....

 

[Foy]

We have friends, a couple in their late 60s, who are lifelong residents of Challis. Both are retired now and both are avid hot springers. If you hang around Challis for a while, PM me and I'll connect you with them.

But I wouldn't blame you if you went just a few more miles, up and over Lemhi Pass, to get back into Montana. You're SO CLOSE to my favorite part of Big Sky Country! Please keep up the good work!

Foy

 

[Ace Brown]

Leaving us hanging (in the clouds) again.


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[ITTOG]

Leaving us hanging (in the clouds) again.


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He likes cliff hangers. At least this one doesn't involve one of the dogs.

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[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Foy.....thanks but I'm long gone from Challis. That's a great little town and just to the north I liked Salmon, a bit larger than Challis, as well. And yep, I was headed to Montana when I left Challis.....

Ace / ITTOG.....I wasn't actually trying to not finish the story this time.....I just got distracted. Funny thing about XP.....it will only allow me to submit ten pictures per post. I've noticed other members post double that. Anyhow after I finish posting up once, I often move on to something else.....as I did this time. Funny thing is there really was no drama with this climb.....other than the dense clouds that blocked our route down from the summit and made route finding quite challenging.....





We crossed paths with a fairly large herd of mule deer (at least twelve for sure) as we approached the snow line. In the picture you can only see their white tail ends I do believe.....



As we neared the summit of this mountain the terrain became a field of steep, slick, loose rocks.....at times hands were required to proceed upwards.....



The summit was marked with a small stone cairn.....



Looking back, the clouds began to clear out after our summit and after we had descended maybe a thousand feet.....



This homeowner had great views.....



It's always good to get back down to warmer climes where the flowers grow.....





A short rest before we returned to the camper. As I recall we hiked about twelve miles that morning and I think three thousand plus feet from valley floor to summit.....



Idaho sure is beautiful.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

One morning I drove into downtown Challis for breakfast.....now if you ever make it to Challis you should stop at the Tea Cup Cafe & Bakery on Main Street. This place is massive and the food & service were excellent.....

And here's a brief peak of what a stroll down Main Street, Challis, Idaho looks like.....















A block off Main Street.....



Since we decided to stay for a few nights, once the climb was done, we moved the rig down the highway a bit and parked under some massive cliffs. This turned out to be a great spot.....

 

[Sticky9]

I think they limit your pictures because of the size. I assume you are adding them from your phone and sometimes they show up very large. It will usually give you an option when pasting pictures of how big you want the file size of the picture in the post. I know you're probably not worried enough to go on a google search, but just letting you know the probable reason behind the issue.

Thanks as always for your posts, and taking us along with you on your travels. I still need to get my pictures from my Peru trek up, but it's not very high on my list. Heading up Rainier at the end of the summer, and Whitney on Christmas. Starting to get excited about pushing myself for higher peaks, and more difficult summits.

 

[Grenadiers]

That town looks they converted an old west movie set into a town! Regarding the pics, both my computer and iPhone take a long time for the pics to show up. Happens for all pics not just Jerry’s.

 

[ITTOG]

That town looks they converted an old west movie set into a town! Regarding the pics, both my computer and iPhone take a long time for the pics to show up. Happens for all pics not just Jerry’s.

That is your hardware, or connections but less likely. It comes up very quickly for me on phone and computer.

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[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Sticky9.....thanks and yep you're right I don't care so much about the ten pictures limit. Make sure to let me (us) know when you post Peru pictures. Rainier is a great climb.....you're going to love it. Whitney is probably on my to do list. I'm not sure why I've never done that one.....

Grenadiers.....as I was walking down Main Street I glanced into the bar and I see this guy with a massive cowboy hat sitting at the bar with a cold beer.....I thought that's a real cowboy right there. In Bozeman, Montana I hear people say that if you wear a cowboy hat & boots that you're probably from New York City. Challis appears to be real deal (to me anyhow).....

ITTOG.....I downsize all my photos.....for whatever that's worth.....



Day 600.....

And finally my last post on Challis, Idaho.....









Camped under those huge rock cliffs brought me a real pleasant surprise.....those cliffs were nothing less than a bird sanctuary. I have no idea how many kinds of birds hung out there but it was pretty damn cool. And the biggest surprise were the geese.....they just loved hanging out on those cliffs.....









And finally we left.....we drove north.....we continued to follow the meanders of the Salmon River.....



The weather.....well, it really didn't get much better but it was ten degrees warmer here than Montana. We moved north very slowly now.....

 

[Foy]

Based on my own experience, Challis, Idaho is definitely the real deal in terms of individuals wearing hats and boots NOT being posers. You can find 'em on the Montana side of the Divide in Wisdom, Jackson, Wise River, and even in Dillon, too. Bozeman and Missoula, not so much.

Last time we drove our Superduty to MT, we stopped for coffee and baked goods at the "Wheat, Montana" mill/bakery/deli/coffeeshop at the junction of US-287 and I-90 near Three Forks, a little west of Bozeman. It was early on a Saturday morning and a young family parked their mud-covered Superduty beside ours. Out bounded 2 kids around 6 to 8 years of age, a boy and a girl, a Marlboro Man dad (only in his late 20s/early 30s) and his wife, who could have passed for a Paris runway model, only with no makeup and long,long blonde braids. All were lean, fit, and clad in Lee jeans, well-worn long-sleeved chambray shirts ,straw cowboy hats. and scuffed and muddy Western boots of the ranch worker variety. Dad's and Mom's had spurs. We figured they were headed to a local rodeo or maybe a 4-H gathering. Whatever their mission, they were the real deal, too.

Looking forward to seeing where you wander in Big Sky Country, Jerry.

Foy

 

[ITTOG]

Based on my own experience, Challis, Idaho is definitely the real deal in terms of individuals wearing hats and boots NOT being posers. You can find 'em on the Montana side of the Divide in Wisdom, Jackson, Wise River, and even in Dillon, too. Bozeman and Missoula, not so much.

Last time we drove our Superduty to MT, we stopped for coffee and baked goods at the "Wheat, Montana" mill/bakery/deli/coffeeshop at the junction of US-287 and I-90 near Three Forks, a little west of Bozeman. It was early on a Saturday morning and a young family parked their mud-covered Superduty beside ours. Out bounded 2 kids around 6 to 8 years of age, a boy and a girl, a Marlboro Man dad (only in his late 20s/early 30s) and his wife, who could have passed for a Paris runway model, only with no makeup and long,long blonde braids. All were lean, fit, and clad in Lee jeans, well-worn long-sleeved chambray shirts ,straw cowboy hats. and scuffed and muddy Western boots of the ranch worker variety. Dad's and Mom's had spurs. We figured they were headed to a local rodeo or maybe a 4-H gathering. Whatever their mission, they were the real deal, too.

Looking forward to seeing where you wander in Big Sky Country, Jerry.

Foy

Interesting, the description made it sound like they were trying so hard it could only be fake.

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[Foy]

What the obviously genuine young ranching family was doing was stopping by the coffee shop/bakery for an early breakfast while enroute to a work exercise or ranching/farming related exercise. Locals favor Lee jeans and loose-fitting chambray shirts for comfort while in the saddle (the Lees) and protection from the sun (the lightweight chambray shirts.

Foy

 

[Ace Brown]

Interesting, the description made it sound like they were trying so hard it could only be fake.

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Sounded good to me except wearing spurs while driving.


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