Our Journey Living in Nature – Part Fifteen

This part will include Apgar Campground, Van Wych State Park, and Sawtooth Lodge.

June 5, 2018 – Tuesday – Apgar Campground

We got up at 7:00 am. It was a nice morning to move. I will miss this place. It was a nice campground to camp at, especially with few campers here. I am not sure we will be back here again though?

We went for our morning walk, then I decided to make some coffee while I take down and pack up the camp. I also got the boys fed.

The packing went smoothly, and quickly, and I don’t think I forgot anything? I got the truck and trailer hitched up the night before, and that saved some time. We left the camp at 10:30 am. I was not in too much of a hurry getting to our new campground. I wanted to camp near Kamiah, but where?

We went to Kamiah first to visit Jeff, and see our possible winter camp. Jeff showed me where I could put our tent. We talked for a bit and then thanked him for letting us stay here for the winter. It was really kind of him for doing this. And I had no other options at this point. I told him I will call him after our last backcountry trip is done with. He mentioned to me that I could stay at his property until I left for the Sawtooth Lodge, I thanked him, but declined. I still wanted the solitude with the boys in nature, although I didn’t tell him that.

After leaving Jeff’s place, we headed to the USFS Ranger Station in Kamiah to get some information on nearby campgrounds. The gal at the Ranger Station told me there were some USFS campground on Hwy 12 about 45 minutes south of us.

We found the campground she suggested to us, but there was no way to get my truck and trailer down to the campground, so we moved further down Hwy 12 a few more miles, and we got to Apgar campground. The road down to the campground was accessible with my truck and trailer, so we checked it out. It was a small campground next to the river.

The only campers there were four tents on one site used by the Conservation Corp, that were doing work on the campgrounds. I continued on the short campground loop, slowly scanning for an appropriate campsite that would work for us and things weren’t looking too good for a site that could accommodate our needs. Then turning the bend, I saw campsite #5 that looked like a really nice site. I was able to get my truck and trailer in with no problem. The tent pad was questionable, as far as getting our tent to fit. But I thought I could squeeze it in. The rest of the site was pretty good size with a comfortable layout. I liked it! And of course the boys like it. We got the usual metal fire ring, and a larger than usual picnic table which was nice. From camp we were close to the river with a bit of a view, and had a tranquil setting of being in the forest. We had pretty good privacy, and good shade, with some sunlight in the afternoon.

The campground came with a large bear proof trash container, two vault toilets, and two water spigots.

Apgar is a small campground with only 7 campsites in the loop that is set between U.S. Highway12 and the beautiful Lochsa River. The campground has a nice and quiet forestry feel to it with it’s wooded area of Giant Western Red Cedar and Fir trees, with lush plant life throughout the campground. The price is right for camping at $14.00 per night and $7.00 per night for those caring a Senior Pass, which I did.

The first thing was to get the tent set up. It was a tight squeeze but I got it in. After the tent was up, we ran to the store in Kamiah, an hour away, for some food. Got back to camp at 6:30 pm, fed the boys and me, then I finished setting the camp up.

After getting everything done in camp I relaxed with the boys next to a nice campfire. Before bed, we went for a walk around the short loop of the campground. It was very quiet and peaceful here with very little traffic noise at night. We could hear the soothing sound of the river in the background.

June 6, 2018 – Wednesday

We slept well on our first night at the new camp. We took a short morning walk around camp, and I noticed a lot of plants that were familiar to me. There was Miner’s lettuce, Plantain, Wild strawberry, Fern, Thimbleberry, Goosefoot, and surprisingly quite a bit of Wild ginger. I thought I was in the vegetable produce section in nature. I am sure there may have been more I did not see. Because we were in a campground I would not use any of these plants to eat, due to possible pollutants, But it was still a nice treat to see all these plants in one small area. I could only imagine what I might find in the backcountry.

There is a lot of bird activity both in the morning and at night with their songs to enjoy.

After finishing our walk, I fed the boys, and made some coffee for me. It was a beautiful morning waking to a beautiful natural landscape. If this was away from the road a couple of miles, it would be perfect.

We will be going into town today to pick up some groceries, to check the town of Kamiah out, make some calls, and to pick up some firewood. I will also fill up the gas tank of the truck.

So far the bugs are not bad at our camp.

Last night two guys on touring bicycles came in to camp for the night. Highway 12 is a popular scenic route both for automobiles, and bicycles, that takes the travelers all the way into Montana. It was a common travel route for the Nez Perce in the day.

The lush forest in this area provides us with fresh woodland smells. It is nice breathing in this fresh air.

Afternoon Entry

We got everything done that we wanted to. We also got a good load of firewood to bring back to camp.

June 7, 2018 – Thursday

We got up at 8:30 am, took a short walk around the campground. The

Conservation Corp group had left, and some people from Denmark were leaving, that came in yesterday. Last night on our evening walk, we past the camp of the Danes, and they wanted to meet the boys. One of the guys asked if they could have some steak, and Nanook instantly perked right up. He knew this meant food for them. When the one guy brought over a big chunk of steak, Nanook was thinking, “Hell Yeh, we will eat that!” The guy brought more chunks of meat, and of course Nanook assumed it was for them. I told the guy to wrap them up and I will give it to the boys later.

When we passed their camp this morning, Nanook stopped in hopes of getting more steak. He watched the guys getting packed up, hoping they would see him. I had to pull Nanook away with all my strength. He would have waited for them to give the boys maybe some more of the tasty steak. Nanook never forgets a hand that feeds them.

When we got up this morning, we had blue skies, but at 10:00 am it was overcast at least over our area. With most of the sky hidden in trees, it is hard to see what is coming and going as far as the weather goes.

This morning I found a mint plant, and I wanted to check to see if the Wild ginger has flowered. I saw two flowers of the Wild ginger, one on each plant. They are usually hidden, and just by touching the plant or disturbing it, it releases a lovely fragrance into the air. One knows then, it is a Wild ginger. I also recognized a flower of the Bunch berry plant.

Last night I had thoughts of letting the boys off leash when we are in the backcountry. We will have to see how they behave. There are a lot of considerations to think about with that.

There is one butterfly that has been fluttering around our camp, and the last camp. I have not been able to identify it. What is important for me on this journey, is not knowing every critter and plant I see by name, but simply observing it deeply. I don’t want to get caught up in labeling things, unless I think it is useful in my writing.

Evening Entry

I noticed the river was beginning to recede today.

A few campers came into the campground today. Some stayed, and some left, like a revolving door.

While fixing dinner this evening, we did get a light rain. After dinner we sat under the canopy that I put up today. I enjoyed the scenery of the rain coming down on and through the trees around us, and the sounds of rain hitting the trees and ground. The air felt heavy with humid, and the skies light with its many facets of colors reflecting off the plants and trees, and the light piercing through the trees. It was one of those magical moments in nature.

Before it got dark, the boys and I took a walk and dropped by one of the camps we dropped by early and chatted with the husband and wife for some time. Nanook was hoping they may have some treats or leftovers for them. They were telling me about the Great Fire of 1908 that lasted only three days, and devastated forest lands in Northern Idaho, Washington, and Montana. They also told me there is a one hour time change from Northern Idaho to Southern Idaho. It was interesting talking with this couple from Boise. They also talked about the balance of ecosystems the wolves brought back to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, since they were protected. Many still think the wolf should be eliminated completely in those states.

While putting thing away before going to bed, I saw a mouse scampering by me.

June 8, 2018 – Friday

I slept well. I awoke to a sunny morning. I have been waking up around 4:45 am to 5:00 am most mornings lately.

On our morning walk I noticed more flowers blooming. A tiny violet flower appeared all of a sudden throughout the campground. There is a pretty yellow flower also blooming, as with some thistle plants popping up. I have seen flower buds ready to flower from another plant. Very soon this area will be covered in colors. It is unfortunate I can’t see the full circle of the plants growth during the seasons. To experience when the flowers begin to bud and blossom, to when they begin to bear fruit, and ripen. What birds and insects are attracted to certain plants for food and nectar that the plants provide to them, in this dual role of the process of pollination, in this wonderful, and beautiful circle of life that we are all a part of, whether we recognize it or not.

I found an orange flower on a thimbleberry bush. The flower looked like a honeysuckle flower, but with no taste of sweetness to it. I then saw more of these flowers on the thimbleberry leaves. They must have blown in from another area, or plants nearby. It is the little things that brings wonder to life in nature.

I have seen a robin on occasion, and hearing bird songs in the morning, noon, and night. Maybe it is the robin? A hummingbird came to visit us. He or she would hover very close to me, then fly off. Sometimes it would dive into the fire pit for some reason, maybe for the ash?

Sometimes while writing in my journal, a critter, or birds, or the hummingbird would show itself to me. Maybe saying, “Greetings.”

There is something about Idaho that shows it’s wild and free spirit. One, is the many rivers that runs free throughout Idaho. Idaho is popular with rafting. I have done rafting on a small scale, but having no desire to experience it as a thrill ride. And I am getting to old for such things, as with limits I have with the boys. It is all about our journey, the boys and me together. I wouldn’t mind meandering along a slow moving river to enjoy the scenery though.

I find our campsite to be very relaxing to be in – very peaceful. If it was full of campers, it would very well be different. We were lucky we didn’t have that.

We found a small, almost obscure trail across the highway that we explored a short distance. It ran along Lolo creek. It is very overgrown, and I did not want to venture on it to far. The only bad thing about our campground was limited places to take walks.

Evening Entry

It was a beautiful day today. We picked up some block ice for our cooler, I bought a small book on the Clearwater region, and got about a third of the trailer organized. Whatever that means? I still have to go through everything for our backcountry trip, which means pretty much emptying the trailer, and going through everything I want to bring with us. Then putting the rest of the stuff back into the trailer. Imagine dealing with a trailer brimmed with stuff, not knowing what is what and having to go through everything. I did label the containers, but I still had to go through all of them. I would go through things I forgot I even had brought with us. I had a lot of stuff just for living, and for going into the backcountry.

Walking the boys to the river this afternoon, we were standing on a rocky area, with the rocks embedded in the ground , and some vegetation scattered around. It was like a cobblestone path. We stood for a second in one spot and looked down, and my shoes, and pant legs to my knees were covered with big black ants. I was being attacked. I quickly left the scene, and brushed off all the ants. I must have disturbed their nest. I made sure I brushed any off the boys as well. Then we left the area. Lucky we didn’t have our tent over an ant’s nest.

June 9, 2018 – Saturday

Slept well. Overcast morning. I had a quick cup of coffee or two before we leave for town.

Fed the boys, Takota ate, Nanook didn’t.

Evening Entry

We got an oil change for the truck. Met with Dick Anderson, the Outfitter that will take us into the Clearwater National Forest for our last trip into the backcountry in September. We dropped off a deposit for him at his home. Dick lives in Kamiah. Dick told me that is when the weather begins to change to rain and possible snow. That did not seem to bother me. I thought I would be ready for it. Little did I know how rugged the trails are getting up and down, especially in bad weather. I guess there is no Indian Summer in Idaho? Dick was also going to talk with some people he knows about me doing some caretaking in Elk City for the winter.

I decided not to get firewood today. I just picked up some food at the market. We can get firewood on Monday.

After getting back to camp it began raining pretty hard and steady for about an hour. I put the food away once we got into camp, then huddled into the tent with the boys for a rain nap.

When we got up, it was nice out, but still overcast.

At 6:00 pm, we just finished having dinner, and there was still a chance of rain. We may get rain on Sunday and Monday. Then nice weather. I did close up the tent this morning before we left for town. Good thing I did! The tent stayed dry which was a good thing. But my chair was soaking wet.

I got a good campfire going putting wet aspen logs on the fire and it was burning well. I love that wood. It burns well and smells good.

I asked Dick, the Outfitter what woods are up where we will be, and he said mostly Hemlock.

I also found a poisonous mushroom in camp, that was exciting. When learning about wild edible plants, we must also learn about the poisonous, and the non-edible as well.

Most of the people here have left. One camper has remained. I will extend my camping stay here for a couple more days.

June 10, 2018 – Sunday

I am not sure when I woke up. All I know was, it was still raining. It rained all night long and started shortly after going to bed. We finally got up at 8:45 am and the rain had finally stopped, and has not started again. Is it finally over with? I saw a little blue sky coming through the clouds. The gloomy wet weather can wear on one’s psyche at times. It can effect one’s mood, and attitude. And it was getting to me a bit. But it is all about how we think about it. How we let our thoughts play out in our minds in determining how we feel.

I began looking at what I was grateful for? And the answers began flowing to me. I am immensely grateful in sharing this experience in nature with Takota and Nanook. They give me so much unconditional love, and their mere presences gives me comfort and purpose.

I am grateful for having this time in nature to experience a deeper meaning with all life’s creations. That we are all connected with the web of life, and not separate from. And the endless beauty nature gives to us, and teaches us.

I am grateful at my age, I can still do this. To have the health, and desire to do this. Although I do not always feel on purpose, it is what I feel and experience within that counts. In feeling the pure essence within the natural world. I find that just in sitting, and observing nature deeply in silence is enough. I don’t have to have the experiences or the need to do stuff. Just in the state of Being is enough, which is the true essence of who we truly are. Unfortunately most of us have not been taught this in our society. We have been taught in a greed driven capitalist society. And nature is here to take from, and not in giving back.

What I have left behind in the synthetic world is being replaced with the real reality of life itself. We have been taught in our civilized world, that nature can be a very dangerous, and harsh world, but more so can the civilized world, and even more so. We have lost the connection with nature and all that nature provides. We have lost the connection with a tight knit community that supports each other with a helping hand, and with love. We can learn from many of the traditional indigenous cultures around the world on community, and our relationship with nature.

We do have many benefits now in today’s world, but it has come with a high cost that only a few can afford, and is kept away from the many.

It has been overcast most of the morning. The sky is beginning to clear, allowing the warmth of the sun to shine through the trees.

I decided to build a fire on this wet day. I split some dry wood for kindling to get a the fire going, and building a good base, I then added wet birch logs to the fire that created a nice fire.

June 11, 2018 – Monday

Yesterday I was charging to much from my truck battery and it died on me. I found a camper at camp that had jumper cables and I thought we could take care of it the next day. He came by in the morning and we couldn’t get enough charge to get my battery going. We will have to wait for the Ranger to come by to call for service. No cell service here.

This morning we were getting an early rain. It wasn’t a heavy rain, but continuous. It ended up raining most of the day. And our tent is leaking a little bit.

Afternoon Entry

It was getting later and later with no sign of a Ranger. Then around 4:00 pm a silver pickup truck with no markings circled the campground then stopped at the camp where the guys was trying to help me in charging the truck. The guy in the silver truck was an Idaho Law Enforcement Officer, and he stopped by our camp and told me he could call it in to get a service call to come out, but it would not be until tomorrow. I told the officer that would be fine. I was thinking my truck might have to be towed into the auto repair shop tomorrow.

We had pretty much rain the whole day with light showers. At 5:00 pm, the skies were mostly clear.

Evening Entry

I heard our friend the hummingbird flying by. I looked up and he, or she was only a couple of feet away from me hovering, saying hello, and then landing on a small thin branch of a cedar tree. It was there for a few seconds, then flew off. I wonder if the hummingbird that came to visit us was just chance or intentionally? It is the same with the robin that briefly comes to our camp, then flies away.

The evening night was cool out.

Two young ladies, arrived at the campground and set up camp across from us. They were working for the State of Idaho, monitoring wildlife. They were very friendly and we talked for a bit. I asked them to drop by our camp to meet the boys if they would like. They came by and the boys began barking at them. They were not expecting the intruder to come in the dark and did not give them a warm welcoming. They quickly settled down when they realized the visitors were okay. I was sharing with them all the plants I had found in our little campground paradise. They asked me how I knew all this about the plants. I said by studying and being aware of my surroundings. Their focus was on wildlife and not plant life, so they only experienced a small part of nature. They basically set up cameras for the monitoring of the moment of the animals in the area. I told them it opened up more of an awareness to the natural world by being observant to all life forms. I also suggested starting journals on their experiences in nature and could help their careers in forestry.

June 12, 2018 – Tuesday

I woke up early this morning at 4:30 am. We got up at 7:00 am. It was overcast out with cool temps. I put on some coffee and waited for the tow truck. I have no idea when it will be coming. The hummingbird returned to visit the fire pit and not me. It kept on returning to the fire pit and it looked like it was interested in the ash. I had learned later that hummingbirds, especially females, get minerals from the ash that they need.

Late Morning Entry

The tow truck finally arrived at 9:15 am. He was getting ready to load up the truck onto the tow truck, when he said, “Lets try to charge the battery first. Lets give it some time to charge for a while and see what happens?” He hooked up the charging cables and we let it charge for about 45 minutes to an hour. In the mean time, the tow truck driver and I had a nice chat with each other. When he thought the time was right, he gave it a crank of the ignition, and started right up. He wanted to let it run for a bit. I was impressed with his thoroughness in this small service.

I thanked the tow truck driver for his help, and he left. Then the boys and I headed into town to have the battery and alternator checked by a auto service center. And everything checked out fine. We then stopped by the grocery store for some food, gas, and firewood.

It was a big relief that the truck was running fine with no money out of pocket.

While we were having the truck charged at camp, two young guys in their twenties drove through and stopped next to the river to check it out. When they were coming back from the river, they stopped to ask us if we needed help? This is something I am seeing more and more, in Idaho, people wanting to give a helping hand. Idaho is so sparse in many areas, it is nice to know there are people who will help perfect strangers in need. It is a good lesson for me in being more kind to others.

Afternoon Entry

We got back to camp at 3:00 pm. We are the only ones left at the campground. This campground has no frills like state parks do with the nice bathrooms, showers, cut lawns, and children’s playgrounds, it was pure nature, for us to experience in it’s pure simplicity. And it was much less expensive to stay in than state parks.

Tomorrow we will be moving on to Lake Cascade, that is at a higher elevation of 4,800 ft. And closer to getting into the backcountry. We will have about a four hour drive to Cascade.

Evening Entry

In my final thoughts, this was a nice campground with all our challenges with the truck, the weather, and the distance to town. We didn’t see many critter, but found many wild edible plants that were exciting.

June 13, 2018 – Wednesday – Van Wyck State Park, Cascade

It was a good moving day with beautiful weather and driving through beautiful country sides. We drove through the city of McCall which was very nice. A friend from California told me I would like it there. Heading further south we passed through Donnelly to a campground and found out it was all reservations only, and found out all the State Parks were reservations only, but one. And that was Van Wyck State Park in Cascade. So that is where we headed.

When we got to the campground it was right on the lake with a beautiful view, but as far as the campground itself it was terrible for a tents. The whole area sloped towards the lake, creating a sloping bed that is not very comfortable to sleep on. Nor did it have much shade or wind protection. But this is all we had, so I picked a site and setup our camp. The sites pretty much all looked the same. The campground was in town so resupplying was simple. We were also next to a golf course, so I got take out for some of our meals at their cafe there. The campground wasn’t busy, and the sites that will be taken are the ones on the water. I paid for five nights. This will get us through the weekend. The weekend will be busy for camping.

I like the surrounding mountain areas here so I called an Outfitter in the area to see if he could take us in the backcountry in this area? He said he could. Again, my imagination took me to beautiful areas in the backcountry without any knowledge of the area, and what I was in for.

I checked the weather forecast and rain starting on Saturday through all of next week. I was getting concerned about our Sawtooth Wlderness trip and the weather.

Our first night I kept sleeping off the bed, and got little sleep. I knew this will be ongoing for our stay here.

Because we are close to the lake, we should have good bird activity here.

Since I will not have cell service where we are going I am checking all my emergency communication devices here.

Not much to say for this campground, so we speed ahead to our departure to the Sawtooth Lodge.

I did send my sister a message of our itinerary for the backcountry in the Sawtooth.

June 18, 2018 – Monday – Sawtooth Lodge, Lowman, Idaho

Evening Entry

This morning I didn’t hear much rain, and there were patches of blue sky, as with formidable cloud formations all around us. The question will be, will it rain? I took the chance and began taking down camp while the boys watched. It only took one and a half hours to break camp. A record for me. At the very end of getting everything packed up, a few drops began falling. We left our camp at 10:00 am, stopped for gas and coffee, and headed south.

Our estimated time to get to Sawtooth Lodge was a little over two hours, It took us about three hours to get there. I wasn’t really in any hurry to get there. I just wanted to take our time. As always, we followed a river to get there which made it a beautiful drive. In one area we were going through a river canyon, and on the left side of the road all I could see is a wall of fir trees starting at the bottom of the roadway and reaching to the sky. It was a beautiful sight I have never seen before. I was thinking during the drive, Idaho country is always what I had imagined the high country would be like.

During the drive we got a little rain off and on. When we were getting close to our final destination, the skies were heavy with gray clouds, dropping down to the base of the mountains. I was thinking it will be nice having a one room cabin for our short stay here before we head into the wilderness area in the Sawtooth.

When we finally arrived at Sawtooth Lodge, it reminded me when Shiloh and I were at Kennedy Meadows in California. We always stayed one night in a cabin to prepare for our departure into the wilderness the next day.

Sawtooth Lodge was tucked in a valley with the South Fork of the Payette River running through it, and a glimpse of the majestic Sawtooth Mountains in the distant background.

On the right side of the Lodge is an area for RV’s to be stored and used during the stay of guests, and for owner/partners to stay while they work at the lodge. It was purchased not long ago by a small group of investors wanting to make this area as a world class resort destination. The previous owners did very little up keep to the place and they were ready to retire. The new owners of the lodge were working with the USFS on the plans for a major upgrade.

Next to the RV area there was a restroom, and then next to that was a nice open meadow that was between the river and the parking area for guests. The lodge was to the left of the guest parking area. It was a relatively small rustic log building consisting of the entrance and lobby area, then in the back portion was the check in desk / cashier, and small dining area serving breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

On the left of the main building there were four one room log cabins, and other larger cabins that were spread out on the property. The cabins were a 100 years old. Then the geothermal pool. With There a small structure next to the pool providing men’s and women’s restrooms, changing, and showers, that were very basic in decor. They also had two other restrooms on the grounds. There was an area close to the lodge for tent camping. In the back portion of the property was the horse stable.

There was also tent camping a mile away from the resort at the Grandjean Campground run by the USFS. This is where they have the trailhead access to the trails taking hikers and horseback riders into the Sawtooth Wilderness.

The whole area had a very rustic feel to it for sure. When we got our cabin for $80.00 per night, I thought it was a tad high considering what we got. The heating was a wood burning stove, or propane heater, a bed, a couple of chairs and a table. No plumbing or electricity outlets. If one needed electricity, they would provide you with an extension cord that was connected to the outside electrical box, and went through the window. We had holes in the ceiling, the walls, and floor. The cabin was indeed very rustic, as in near disrepair. But that was what they were selling, authentically rustic at a high price. It also included with it the soaking springs at the river, and the large geothermal pool. So I accepted paying for it. It was also in a beautiful and pristine area. So the oldness and the rustic charm fits the natural beauty of it’s surroundings, the outside.

The customer service was good and friendly as well, and I would find out that their meals they prepared for the guests were surprisingly good. I decided to do a take out dinner tonight and had their cheese burger that was very good. I enjoyed it while sitting on our front covered porch, with a couple of good beers. I got a cooked beef patty to put on the boys kibble that they enjoyed. My burger was $14.00 plus extras for the boys patty. It was like being on a vocation from camping, but never leaving the beauty of nature.

I am complaining about the high cost of the food and lodging, but the customer service and excellent food makes up for it.

With an Architectural background I have, I thought this place had great potential to be a great resort, but at the same time, keeping it simple and rustic in it’s charm and character. This is what makes Sawtooth Lodge what it is.

We would only stay here in the cabin initially for four days due to a wedding the lodge was having. All the cabins were reserved on the weekend. So we would set up camp next to the RV’s, in an open field, then return on Sunday to a cabin where I would start organizing our gear for our stay in the wilderness. We have until the end of the month before we leave for the backcountry, with a lot to do. It will be exciting and filled with uncertainty, going into an unknown land of the Sawtooth.

We will have to run down to Boise for a food run and any needed supplies we might need, before we leave for the backcountry. Any food perishables the lodge will hold in cold storage, as with keeping our meats frozen.

This will be the real thing. It is not just a camp out like we have been doing. We will be alone in the Idaho wilderness. I try to get everything organized and packed in panniers, hard plastic containers, and duffle bags to help make the Outfitter’s job easier. There is a lot of preparation in this, with a planned stay of about 14 days, or more.

We are at 5,000 ft. elevation at the Lodge.

I met with Daryl, the Outfitter, inside the dining area of the lodge. I introduced myself. I could tell he was an interesting old character. In the very beginning when we started talking about getting packed into the wilderness, He was straight to the point, with few words spoken, and he made it clear he did not like Californians, or wolves. I replied with, “I am from California.” And he knew I had two dogs that were part wolf. I was not sure if he didn’t like me and the boys, or he was like that with everyone? I wasn’t too sure if that would damage our relationship. Originally when we spoke he would keep asking me where we wanted to go? I told him what I was looking for, and told him to find us a place, since I had no idea where to go, and he did. The question was how long can we stay? He told me originally we could stay out in the wilderness as long as I wanted. Then he said, 16 days. I told him I would check with the forest service in Stanley. It wasn’t easy getting information out of him, which one would think he would be more helpful in. I wasn’t sure how this would turn out working with him in getting us out into the wilderness?

June 19, 2018 – Tuesday

We slept pretty well last night. The bed was very comfortable, and Nanook slept on the bed with me most of the night. Takota took a bit to get used to his new lodging as he always does, but finally settled in. He doesn’t seem to like changes in his sleeping arrangements much. He prefers sleeping in his tent.

We got up at 7:30 am, the sky was overcast, but no rain. We went for a nice morning walk up to the road that takes people up to the Grandjean Campground a mile away, and to the access trail to the pump house, and water falls higher up. We then headed back to our cabin for breakfast, and to begin organizing the gear. I did not want to do much until we relocate to another cabin next week.

On our walk I was a bit unsteady on the different surfaces we were walking on. Something I will have to get used to. I remember when Shiloh and I went into the backcountry, it took some time to get my walking legs used to the trails and bushwhacking in rough and uneven terrain. Getting old doesn’t help. I don’t have the balance I used to have.

I heard some commotion with some birds at the bath house, and thought it might be magpies, but discovered they were whisky jacks (Gray jays) that were causing the commotion.

Much of the area we are in is covered with the hardy sagebrush, that gives off the strong, yet pleasant scent of this plant in the air. It is mixed with the wild flowers that are coming into full bloom with the many colors it brings to the eye, and to the open meadows. And soon brings out the pollinators to spread their pollen to other flowers, and food for the insects, and hummingbirds, continuing this magical circle of life.

There are robins and Steller’s jays, whisky jacks, and crows. And the beautiful western tanager, and hummingbirds that always brings delight to all who experience them.

We are getting a bit of blue sky coming through the clouds. But mountain weather can be ever changing and unpredictable.

The boys and I had breakfast. I then unhitched the trailer to begin unloading stuff. At this point I was just going through some containers looking for things I would bring with us in the backcountry. It doesn’t make sense to organize everything when I will have to go through everything again, and to store into our next cabin.

We did check out the Grandjean campground, and found some nice sites. It was pretty much empty and would have been nice staying here with so few people here. But the cabin works better for us on what we want to do with my coordination and organizing getting into the backcountry.

We then took a drive into Stanley to stop by the Visitor Center in town to talk with someone who can give us the right information on how long we can stay in the Sawtooth Wilderness. The woman said, she thought it was 10 days. I told her that cannot be right. So we headed further south a couple of miles to the USFS office. On our drive to the USFS, we got to experience the spectacular view of the Sawtooth mountains from the highway. What a beautiful sight to see. We also saw a couple of deer off the road. Seeing a couple of deer off the road may not be a big deal to most, but for me, it heightens my awareness to my surroundings and to all life around us.

At the USFS office I asked the same question to four Rangers with the USFS. How long are we allowed to be in one spot in the Sawtooth? They all told me there was no limit. I said, “You are kidding me?” The Ranger I talked with the most was with Jennifer, who said she was interested in reading my writings on our experiences in nature when I mentioned it to her. She seemed to know the most about the rules. (In an after thought while writing this, maybe they were thinking, hikers that hike from one campsite to another and only camping for one or two nights at each site. That would make sense, but not staying in one site. Or they were confused and didn’t understand what my intentions were in staying in one spot during my whole durations there?) My assumptions were from our conversation, I could stay as long as I wanted in one spot, so I ran with that in my planning.

While talking with Jennifer at the USFS, she also told me I could only have a campfire in the wilderness area using an aluminum bowl, or some other protection from the heat of the fire and from the ground. She also suggested a fire blanket, which she had two of and showed them to me. It was a cloth material that was fire resistant. One of them looked pretty ragged and the other only had a few holes in it. She was kind enough to let me use the one that was in better shape. I told her I would return it when we got back. The fire resistant mat seemed as the best option. I actually had one in my trailer, but that was for my stove I will be using in my winter camp. With the mat, I could have at least a half decent size fire. I thought, “just more regulations we have to comply with.” The fire protection mat does make sense to help reduce the possibilities of forest fires started by reducing the possibilities of igniting the underground root systems that can linger for months, then in the right conditions light up into a forest fire. This is the first time I have heard of it, and why don’t they require it in all USFS areas where camping is allowed? I am surprised Daryl didn’t mention it to me?

It was nice talking with Jennifer. She told me a story when her husband, her, and her two large Labrador dogs went on a two or three day backpacking trip last April. The same trail we are planning on taking. They had to cross two relatively safe creek crossings with no problem, the Baron Creek, and the Goat Creek. When they were returning from there backpacking trip, these two small shallow creeks turned into torrents of raging waters. They were freaked out and their dogs were freaked out on how they were going to cross these creeks safely. The Baron Creek was far worse for crossing. They had to put their dogs in their backpacks and use a down log to hold onto for crossing. It was a terrifying experience for them and their dogs. This story was also a bit concerning for me, and we have to cross those same creeks, as with the South Fork of the Payette River. Most inexperienced backpackers, and even experienced backpackers forget that creeks and rivers can be safe to cross in one moment, and quickly change in the next moment, becoming dangerous to cross.

Going back to Stanley the weather was nice with off and on light rain.

Heading back to the Sawtooth Lodge from Stanley we saw two antelope running from a drop off of the roadside to the open grass lands. It was the first time I saw antelope in the wild, and to me, that was exciting. I thought we would experience more wildlife here in Idaho then we have. Maybe when we are in the backcountry it will be different, and we will experience much more?

Evening Entry

When we got back to the Lodge it was near 7:00 pm. Time to get some dinner. Daryl was having dinner in the lodge, and I told him what we found out at the USFS, He didn’t seem too interested in my news. I told him we should get together to look at a map of the areas to look at for us to go into the backcountry? I also mentioned what Jenifer told me about the creek crossings.

I mentioned what Jennifer told me to Daryl, and he said, the creeks could be a problem, and the Payette River shouldn’t be. He told me to keep an eye on the creeks. I am not sure how the boys will handle the water crossings? I made it a point that we check on the two creeks a few times. These conditions with creek and river crossings can be very dangerous, and people have died from drownings. There are proper ways to cross the creeks and rivers safely, and to avoid dangerous crossing. One never knows what the conditions will be, they can always change in Spring time conditions.

There are many backpackers and hikers going into the wilderness that are ill-equipped, or are not equipped to handle emergencies. They see their adventure as being fun and games. But each time we step into the wilderness, we must take it seriously, and always respect nature. Even experts get in trouble, and die in the backcountry.

I asked Hunter, one of the employees at the lodge, how much it will cost to set up camp for the weekend, and he said, $15.00 per night. I thought that was a tad high considering the only thing that came with the site was a fire ring, and nothing else. No picnic table, no trees, no easy water access. Just a space for a tent.

It was a beautiful evening with the sky being partly cloudy. It seems the mosquitoes are starting to come out to gather blood for it’s young. I think mosquitoes are the true vampires of the animal world, then vampire bats second.

We ordered dinner and ate it at the cabin, enjoying the nice evening.

I was thinking of our experiences so far, going through the majestic mountains and countrysides of Idaho, it reminds me of those places I would dream of being when I was young. Being in the wildness of nature.

I was surprised we have not seen as much wildlife as I had expected in Idaho. I thought the wildlife would be everywhere, similar to being in Yellowstone or in Alaska. Maybe we will see more in the backcountry and away from people.

It is now 9:30 pm. We are getting a small evening rain shower.

June 20, 2018 – Wednesday

I slept well. We got up at 8:00 am. In the cabin I don’t get the morning light coming into the cabin and I tend to sleep longer. We were greeted by the warmth of the sun and blue sky once we stepped outside. Some large billowy clouds moved across the sky and over the mountains – a beautiful sight to see.

The boys and I took our morning walk on the nature trail they have here. After we got back I fixed the boys breakfast and I fixed coffee for me. I will try to get some organizing done with the gear I want to take with us in the backcountry.

There is a small pine tree in front of our cabin. I saw a bird fly onto a tree branch, and thought it might be a Western Tanager. I grabbed my binoculars and it was indeed a male tanager. They are such incredible beauties of the bird world with their red heads, vibrant yellow bodies, and dark gray wings. I also spotted the female on the same tree as she flew away.

After my coffee, we checked the Baron Creek out and it was moving fast and high. Hopefully it starts going down real soon.

Evening Entry

It was a beautiful day with no rain.

I got a lot done today, in organizing the clothing I will be bringing, and the freeze dried food

I will be bringing along. I will bring extra food if I have to say longer than planned. I will do the same with the boys food. Just in case of an emergency situation. It is hard thinking of what I will take and not take. I have to think about how many pack horses it will take as well? Since I have taken two horse packing courses in the past, I have some idea how many pack animals we will need. The nice thing about being packed in by an Outfitter is that one can bring a lot of stuff, if one is willing to pay for extra pack animals. I also limit how far we go. If the Outfitter has to do an over nighter, then the costs is much more.

I took a much needed shower and I feel so much better.

Lying in bed, I was thinking about soon we will be in the wilderness for 16 days, and our last days at Sawtooth Lodge with all it’s comforts. Being uncertain with our hike in, and crossing the creeks and river to get to our camp, how will the boys behave off leash, and will we have a good camp? I know once we are there, the boys and I will settle in as we always do. We just have to be more aware of critters coming into our camp. Doing this alone, one has a different mind set, because there is no one else to rely on or help with the camp chores. I will always look at doing everything safely for me and the boys. And not to cause any injuries if possible.

When I did this with friends, I had much more confidence with having another person with me, but that can also cause a false sense of security as well. My focus doing it alone is safety, and well being for all three of us. I feel pretty good that we will be prepared for most situations we may undertake.

June 21, 2018 – Thursday

Last night after bedding down, we were getting a lot of thunder and lightning with some occasional rain showers. I slept pretty well once my mind quieted down. The boys slept well.

We got up at 7:30 am, and took a walk past the barn and stables, and onto a trail that would lead us eventually to the trail head and into the Sawtooth wilderness. It was a nice walk and better than walking on the road. We were always near the South Fork of the Payette River. It always gave me a sense of Being closer to nature.

Some of the trail was smooth, some rocky and uneven. Good practice once we are on the trail taking us into the wilderness. On our return to our cabin we saw a large deer, a doe that was in front of us. We stopped and just watched. We then proceeded forward slowly on the trail as not to spook the deer..

Once we got back to the cabin I fixed some coffee. Then the thunder, lightening, and some light rain began. I love being out in nature. While waiting for the coffee to finish perking, I wrote in the journal, while looking out from our cabin porch. There is some blue sky. The thunder and lightening is getting the boys attention, especially with Takota.

I think I may fix breakfast at the cabin, then proceed with organizing our gear. I was thinking about checking the creek after breakfast, but decided to do it on Friday. We will stay at the cabin most of the day. Plans always seem to change from day to day, and whatever the day brings to us. We will be moving to our tent site tomorrow. And we will check the creek then to see if it has lowered at all.

This morning I saw two robins chasing a Steller’s jay. Possibly chasing them away from their nest. Keith said, they kicked the little ones out of the nest already.

Evening Entry

I am not sure I got a lot done, but spent most of the day doing it. All the stuff I have can be a bit overwhelming at times.

I spent a little time with the Outfitter today going over our plans, and deciding on the spot for him to drop us off. Our drop off point will be just off a trail and about a half mile or so from the South Fork of the Payette River. Once we hit Mink Creek, our camp will be to our left, a short distance from the trail. We will be at about a 5,200 ft elev. The hike from the trail head to our new campsite is about 4 miles, plus a mile to the trail head from the lodge. Most of the trail is overall level with gentle rolling ups and downs. Once we cross the river we have a short medium accent of about a half mile to the campsite. I thought this will be easy for us. But I did not take into account the crossing of two creeks and a river, that I soon will take a lot of energy to cross. There is a flat tent pad at the site, and a fresh water source at Mink Creek, that runs next to our camp. I wanted to bring the vestibule, but decided not to because of weight.

I asked Daryl about critters I need to watch out for, as in bears, mountain lions, and wolves? He said I didn’t have to worry about bears or mountain lions, my dogs will keep them away, but wolves will attack and kill your dogs.

Today it rained some, and this evening it was pleasant and beautiful out. Mostly cloudy, but very nice.

This evening I was watching robins pulling big fat worms out from beneath the ground. While pulling the worms out, the robins take bite size pieces off the worm until there is no more worm left.

June 22, 2018 – Friday

It is a beautiful sun shining day with a bit on the cool side.

It took until 11:00 am to get everything out of the cabin and another half hour to put everything in the trailer, and truck. It then took a couple of minutes to get to our new camp. Once at the new camp, I got the boys tied up so they could do their sniffing, then I proceeded to get the tent up in a suitable spot next to the fire ring, and before there is a chance of any rain that may decide to fall.

It was a warm morning with an occasional nice breeze blowing, that is always welcoming. After getting the tent up, and bedding inside, I was feeling a little light headed, so we headed to the lodge to have lunch. One of their delicious burgers and some water hit the spot.

After lunch we headed back to camp, grabbed a day pack with a few bottles of water, a map, and of course my reading glasses to read the map. I did decide to take the truck to the trail head saving us a two mile hike round trip. On the way to Baron Creek to see if it was calming down, I almost twisted one of my ankles stepping on a rock sideways that I didn’t see. I have to be more careful of that? I can’t get injured before we even start our trip into the backcountry. The problem walking two big dogs on leash, they are always in front of me blocking my view of potential hazards on the path, like rocks. Our 1.5 mile hike to Baron Creek from the trail head went fast, overall the trail was easy. The boys pulled a little on their leashes, but not bad. That is until they reached Baron Creek. Once they saw the water they became wildly playful wanting to play in the water. The creek was still moving swift and high. I checked both directions to my left and right for any easier accesses across the creek, and there were none. The first part of the creek was pretty shallow, but on the other side, it was moving fast, and I could not determine the depth. The creek did seem to be dropping from the last time we were here, which is a good sign. By the time we leave next week it should be even lower. Since the boys were enjoying playing in the water I thought they would not have a problem crossing it. Wishful thinking.

I was also checking for any trail blockages on the trail that would prevent horses from getting through, for the Outfitter.

Driving down the road to our camp, I thought I saw a snake about three foot long lying in the middle of the road. It was a gopher snake. I didn’t want it to get hit, so found a stick and moved it to a safer place.

On our return to camp we were tired, the boys took a nap, and I wanted to, but I still had things to do in camp. I really didn’t want to cook dinner, but I got things ready, and set the stove up on the tail gate of the truck.

Our campsite was open with no shade, but did back up to a wooded area. I put up the canopy for some shade in the camp.

Evening Entry

We had a good day!

The mosquitoes are coming out, so it is time for bed.

June 23, 2018 – Saturday

Evening Entry

We got up at around 8:30 am, took the boys for a walk, then fed them. I went to the lodge for a cup of coffee, and Brad (one of the owners) gave me a cup of coffee on the house. We then headed on the long drive to Boise for some shopping.

Me and the boys adjusted easily to sleeping back in the tent. It was just like being back home. I had all the window flaps open, but then it began raining lightly during the night. I got up to close them, leaving a little crack for sunlight and ventilation. I awoke to a down pour in the early morning and very wet bedding. Luckily the wetness did not go through my sleeping bag, and luckily I decided to close most of the window flaps.

Our drive to Boise was long, but nice until we hit Boise. It is just another big city to me with a lot of people, traffic, noise, and no signs of nature. As they say, it was a concrete jungle.

We got our shopping done and beat it out of town.

I did check messages while we stopped at Idaho City, and the Outfitter for our second phase of our backcountry adventure said, we were only allowed 14 day in the backcountry. I also received a call from Jennifer, and she told me she made a mistake and it was only 16 days in the Sawtooth Wilderness. After that message, I was just shaking my head, thinking, “What is the point?” Why is it so difficult for the USFS to give us the correct information, and regulations on camping on public lands???? For some reason I wasn’t pissed off. I found myself at peace driving through this beautiful country, enjoying the scenery on our way back to camp at the Sawtooth Lodge. So far on our journey, I have alway enjoyed coming back home to our camp in nature.

On the way back to Sawtooth Lodge, we stopped at Lowman Lodge to see what they had as far as a snack that I could eat before we get back to Sawtooth Lodge. I saw Daryl’s truck parked there. He was sitting at the tiny dining area there having a meal. I briefly stopped to talk with him about the news I heard from the USFS about how long we can stay in the Sawtooth Wilderness. He didn’t seem to be surprised.

Before we stopped at Lowman, I saw a black critter that slid down a steep embankment onto the road, then ran off. It looked too small for a wolf, and I did not know they had Black fox here. I asked Daryl about it, and he just said, “I don’t know.” I thought it had to be a fox.

Back at our campsite we had clear skies, with a half moon appearing in the sky. There was a pleasant coolness in the air from a slight breeze blowing. It was a beautiful night out with few mosquitoes to bother us.

We break camp tomorrow to move back into a cabin, and finish organizing our gear for our stay in the backcountry.

June 24, 2018 – Sunday

We woke up to a beautiful day, and not a cloud in the sky. We got up at 8:45 am, took the boys for a walk, then went to the lodge for coffee and breakfast, and talked to Brad about our options. Brad will let me know when a cabin will be ready for us around 11:30 am. I put the boys in the wooded area near camp for shade and a grassy area to relax until our cabin is ready.

I was not planning on the expense I was putting out in staying here, but it is what it is. While thinking that, I noticed a single strand of a spiderweb floating from a small fir tree next to me, and being reflected in the morning sunlight. In that moment, all my troubling thoughts seemed to disappear.

We took a short walk along the road while waiting for a cabin and I stepped on the same ant nest Takota stepped on the other day, and I got bit on the leg by an ant. Their nests are made in a pile of pine needles. Since we have been in nature for some time now, I pay attention to the small thing that give me much more appreciation for the wonders in nature, where before I didn’t. I would just walk through nature mostly in a conscious state.

When we met with Brad about a cabin, and he gave us a cabin free for one night. And got us a cabin next to a small creek. The cabin has two twin beds, and he will have one removed to give us more room to put our gear. We also got to check-in early which was helpful. I appreciate the great service the lodge has given us.

While packing up our camp, I noticed a lot of beautiful violet butterfly’s flying just above the ground.

Today I met another one of the investors here. His name was Steve. A very nice guy and very easy going.

After we were all packed up and ready to move to our new cabin, we went to the lodge to see when the cabin would be ready. I had a beer while we waited on the front porch of the lodge for our cabin. Soon the cabin was ready and I drove the truck and trailer to our cabin, and began unloading and organizing. We got a lot done today, making it easier for the next couple of days.

With everyone leaving from the wedding crowd, the lodge was peaceful once again.

It will be nice sleeping in the cabin again, just with a little more comfort.

Evening Entry

The boys and I took our evening walk and we walked towards the barn and corral. I didn’t see any horses yet. Rounding the barn I did see one, and gave a kissing sound, and he came to visit us. Then the other horses followed from behind the barn. They did not seem to be bothered by the boys. Nanook even tried to give some of the horses kisses on their nose’s. They weren’t quite ready for that yet. The horses seemed very calm around the boys. We then went to the small creek to let the boys play in the water.

At 9:30 pm, it was getting pretty buggy with mosquitoes , so we went to bed in our little cabin.

Before that, we went for one last evening walk in the large meadow across from the lodge. Parts of the meadow was cut short for the wedding, But most of the meadow was left uncut and natural. It was full of grasses, scrubs, and wild flowers. The boys enjoyed playing in the high grasses. It was nice taking in the smells of the grasses, and wild flowers.

June 25, 2018 – Monday

We got up to a nice day. It is very quiet here, just the sounds of nature is stirring. We are the only ones at the lodge for now. The sounds of the small brook next to our cabin is very calming. Sitting on the front porch, I wonder what this place would be like in the winter?

Today will be spent organizing our gear. I went through almost every storage container making sure nothing was forgotten, I was still missing a small table, and the vestibule frame for my tent. I will look for them tomorrow. I also couldn’t find a couple of books I wanted to bring with me.

Evening Entry

It was a warm day today.

I am finding it very difficult to find things with this large trailer full of stuff. Basically I had to empty most of the trailer to find thing, and then put what I won’t be bringing back into the trailer. Then this process begins again on my return. This process will repeat itself every time we go out into the backcountry. I will be cutting back on some things, like books, the small table, and the tent vestibule. I am guessing we will need five pack animals for this trip.

Another nice evening falls upon us.

January 26, 2018 – Tuesday

Originally we were going to leave today, but I extended it two more days for departure to give me a couple of more days to get things ready. And a little more time for the creeks to recede a bit more. And of course, Daryl wasn’t happy with that.

I decided to test the new Coleman 3 burner propane stove that we will be bringing with us. I tested it this morning for my coffee. It seems to be a nice stove.

The Outfitter will have to get all the container, and panniers balanced on the pack animals, and I will try to get a balanced weight while packing them.

Lots of stuff to remember to bring.

I have no way of expecting where we are going and how our camp will be. I am always concerned with the safety of the boys, especially with Takota. He tends to be accident prone. And how will they do on the creek and river crossings? If I have any problem with the boys crossing, I will cross first, take my pack off, and then get them.

Evening Entry

This afternoon I picked up some block ice for me and for the lodge.

Daryl has a bear hunt scheduled for a young boy that Daryl and the Sawtooth Lodge donated their services to, so the boy can experience his first bear hunt. The boy is suffering from Lime Disease and the complications with this disease. The boy had a very bad reaction to the treatment the doctor’s were prescribing. In fact the doctor’s were treating something they did not know what they were actually treating until a Doctor from Nigeria said, his condition was from a bug bite. He then directed his parents to go with a natural medicine approach. Their son then began responding to this medicine, according to the Mother who was telling me this story.

A good heart by Daryl and the Sawtooth Lodge for this gift.

June 27, 2018 – Wednesday

The boy did not get a bear last night, so they will try tonight.

I still have to do a lot of packing, but getting close.

Our schedule for leaving will work around the boy’s hunting trip and whether he gets a bear.

Evening Entry

I dropped most of my gear to the Outfitter with the exception of the ice cooler and the perishable foods, and the boy’s beds.

Originally I told Daryl I will need five back animals, he only had four. This means he will have to get another pack horse, as with taking a second trip to get us the rest of our supplies and gear. This will cost me another $400. He asked me if I could stay two days longer, making it 18 days and not 16 days. I told him that was fine with me. I am sure the Outfitters are wondering why I need so much stuff on a camping trip? And it is probably an over kill on my part, but that is what I want. I just want to be prepared in my madness.

We are scheduled to leave tomorrow for the Sawtooth Wilderness.