Kay's Photo Journal - July 2016
7/31/2016 Painted Rock, MT - I was confused and disapointed, in AZ, there is called the Painted Rock Park that have many petroglyphs on the rocks, I thought I can see the petroglyphs or/and pictographs, I was wrong, only rock color is different that’s it.
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7/30/16 Challis, ID - The Challis Bridge was major bridge to cross the Salmon River one time, currently that bridge was gone and replaced by modern bridge. Challis Hot Springs is nice place to soak and relax, however I have been there, so that I skipped at this time.
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7/29/16 Forest Fires, ID - No hike for me for while because wherever I go there is affected the smoke from the forest fires. I have escaped from the Sawtooth Wildness Area and Salmon-Challis National Forest, now I am headding north to escape continue.
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7/29/16 Borah Peak Earthquake, ID - It was happened on 10/28/1983, 7.3 magnitude of earthquake occured at this point, 26 miles long and 7 miles deep. Mt Borah’s, highest mountain in Idaho, ridge rose 6 inches, valley dropped 7.5 inches, and Lost River range rose 1ft.
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7/29/16 Wildhorse, ID (1.6 miles to waterfall) - This area is belong to the Challis National Forest, I decided to hike up to the beautiful waterfall. Some mountains are very nice view around here and popular place for camping and backpacking.
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7/29/16 Mackay Reservoir, ID - It is nice to see the large lake by the road side. There is no trees around the reservoir but gorgeous Lost River Mountain Range at east side of the road, where highway #93 runs between mountain range and reservoir.
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7/28/2016 Pass Creek, Mackay, ID - It is amaizing rock formation both side of the creek, the two miles road segment go through the creek, just like driving at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, also a creek runs by the road.
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7/28/16 Big Springs Pictographs, Darlington, ID (2.7 miles) - I have parked below the uphill, but can drive up little more. All pictographs are red color painting and spread out to four panels. There is springs and waterfalls, but creek doesn’t last longer, maybe less than 100ft and disappeared.
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7/27/2016 Natural Arch, Arco, ID (2 miles) - This natural arch from town of Arco not from town of Moore because bad road. Follow the signs and at the end of road, there is sign of trail to hike up steep slope, there are many stairs, after that go through the loose rocks slope. The size of arch is large in size.
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7/27/16 Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, ID - Sculpture Spur by John Grade that made for the National Park Service Centennial Celebration, visitors can go inside to enjoy the sculpture.
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7/26/16 Stanley Museum, ID - It was an old ranger station convert into the museum. They have a nice video to explain around Santley, one thing got my attention that they were againsted to become the National Park around the town, instead of they accepted the National Recreational Area status to keep hunting and fishing alive.
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7/25/16 Yellow Belly Lake, Sawtooth Wildness, ID ( 7.3 miles inc McDonald Lake) - I have started from the Tincup Horce TH and loop it with clockwise. It is a large lake but not easy to take photos because over grown trees and large size bushes at the edge of lake, and there is no beach. It is beautiful lake.
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7/25/16 McDonald Lake, Sawtooth Wildness, ID - It is smaller size lake surronded by marsh grass and lodgepole pine trees. I was missed to finding this lake for while because there are many dead down trees on the trail, sooner trail end at the creek, after that found the lake using the GPS.
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7/23/16 Imogene Lake, Sawtooth Wildness, ID (18.6 miles inc Hell Roaring Lake) - Passed couple no name lakes after the Hell Roaring Lake, the trail was constantly uphill, where I have started the Lower Hell Roaring TH. It is beautiful lake and not many visitors because of the long distance.
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7/23/16 Hell Roaring Lake, Sawtooth Wildness, ID - Back of the lake there are many mountains and some of have a specific name such as the Finger of Fate, The Arrowhead and more. The Finger of Fate is 800ft granite solid rock. The lake water is deep green and popular destination for backpacking.
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7/21/16 Jimmy Smith Lake, ID (1 mile) - Idaho has so many beautiful lakes, this is one of the exceptional lake, no visitors because no place to fishing, weeds and bushes are over growing the edge of lake, and no water activities takes place beause 1/2 mile of hike up the hill to get here.
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7/21/16 Valley Hot Springs, ID (4 miles) - This place is not on the map, only known by locals. Locals told me but they forgot to tell me there are three gates exist, they said park outside the gate, I parked outside the 1st gate, but their means 3rd gate. If park 3rd gate, less than 1/4 mile to get here. It is near the East Fork Guard Station.
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7/20/2016 Walker Lake, White Clouds Wilderness, ID (14.2 miles inc Island Lake) - This is a popular lake, there were tent city near the lake by the large group and almost full at TH parking. A ranger told me there are few beautiful lakes above the Walker Lake that I didn’t know that required over night stay...oh well that next time.
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7/20/2016 Island Lake, White Clouds Wilderness, ID - It is beautiful and quiet lake, I didn’t see anyone there. This place is not far from the Walker Lake, so that stop by to see it.
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7/19/16 Custer City, ID - It is a ghost town, National Forest Service maintain to preserve this town with some volunteers. $8.5M worth of gold produced from the mine. At that time about 15% was Chinese, they can not participate to the mine but cooking, laundry, procuded vegetables and meat.
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7/19/16 Bonanza City, ID - Yankee Fork Gold Dredge that seems to like a building but moving machine, dig, crash, wash and separate rocks to obtain the gold. Only the Dredge on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River that survived from this town.
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7/19/16 Sunbeam Hot Springs, ID - This place is the highway #75 roadside hot springs, which has a long history like since 1700s. Hot water is very hot that mix with cold Salmon River water to make just right to soak.
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7/17/16 Baron Lake, Sawtooth National Forest, ID (18 miles include all 5 lakes) - It was long hike but covered total 5 lakes, Upper Baron Lake, Alpine Lake and 2 no name lakes beside the Baron Lake. Lake view with gorgeous mountains background was impressed, but no flat or sand beach to enjoy the lake.
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7/17/16 Upper Baron Lake, Sqwtooth National Forest, ID - This is located upper side of the Baron Lake, from the ridge view, both lakes are side by side. From Baron Divide, this lake was closest lake to see it. Beautiful mountains background but no sand beach to relax. However lake color is turquoise and cobalt blue, amazing color.
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7/17/16 Alpine Lake, Sawtooth National Forest, ID - The lake shore is very nice place to camp or picnic and many people enjoy there. Beautiful lake with nice mountains background. This is 12 miles round trip hike up from the TH and nice destination for many backpackers.
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7/17/16 Redfish Lake, ID (Shuttle Boat 3.5 miles one way) - This lake is the largest lake in Sowtooth National Forest. Many people enjoy on the grass, sand beach or lake shore in front of the Lodge. Many different kind music bands are scheduled for the entire summer to perform. I rode a shuttle boat to get to the TH, which located other end of the lake.
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7/16/2016 Stanley Art and Craft Fair, ID - Very nice quality of art and craft fair, many vendors and visitors are from outside of Stanley to enjoy this weekend. I have a chance to taste the Doutch Oven food at this time, it was good.
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7/14/16 Bench Lakes, Sawtooth National Forest, ID (9.3 miles) - The lakes are beautiful and peaceful. The Redfish Lake is visible at time to time from the trail but trees block the view. There are total five lakes and trail gets to the first two lakes. I tried 4th lake but slope gets steeper and rock/boulder field appeared that the time I turned back.
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7/13/16 Goat Lake, Sawtooth National Forest, ID (8.2 miles) - The lake view was absolutely gorgeous, emerald green lake water color and reflection of partially snow mountains. However last 1/2 mile of trail was nasty, first half was steep and lose rocks, and last half was boulder hopping but worth it to get there to see the gorgeous lake view.
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7/12/16 Marshall Lake, Sawtooth National Forest, ID (10.2 miles) - It is surrounding many trees and mountains. The color of lake water is dark green, it is reflection of trees or something I don’t know. It is beautiful lake with spectacular mountains background. This place is unpopular place, I saw only one person.
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7/9/2016 Sawtooth Lake, ID (10 miles) - Alpine Lake and Sawtooth Mountain range are incredible view from the Sawtooth Lake trail that the reason it is very popular trail, parking lot was overflow. When get there first lake was sort of smaller than I thought and actual large lake was above it, but both lakes are beautiful.
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7/7/16 Search and Rescue, Stanley Lake, ID - Happy ending that the search and rescue team found a missing 5 years old boy alive from atop of the mountain just before the dark. Unbelievable thing was boy hiked up the steep mountain alone without water and food. My first participate to join the SR team within 40-50 people.
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7/7/2016 Lady Face Falls, ID - This place is located on the way to the Bridalveil Falls. A small cairn indicates to turn, there is no sign, steep drop-off cliff to get to the base of the creek to close up look of the waterfalls. It is narrow creek and agressive waterfalls, but beautiful.
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7/7/16 Bridalveil Falls, ID (9.2 miles include Lady Face Falls) - Trail is well maintained most of, cross the Stanley Lake Creek twice, one is walk on the large log, one is bear feet to cross in cold water. Impossible to see whole view of the falls, I have hiked up to the upper portion to see better view, trail was steep.
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7/6/16 Center of Population of State of Idaho, ID - It is located overlook area of the Sawtooth Mountain Range, the view of the Sawtooth Mountain Range from here is incredible, still a lot of snow on the top of the mountains. Temperature was 37 °F at 8:30am.
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7/5/2016 Bull Trout Lake, ID - I was not far from the lake, so that stop by to enjoy the lake. It is very green mountains/hills surronding the lake and quiet lake, it is nice place to relax that sure.
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7/5/16 Kirkham Ridge Trail, ID (5.2 miles) - Warm Springs Creek was beside of the first half of the trail, after through lodgepole pine forest, bald mountains appeared by fores fire many years ago. Overall the view was not so impressed even can’t see the sawtooth mountain range from this side.
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7/5/16 Grandjean Hot Springs (wild), ID - The sign said Sacajawea Hot Springs but people called the Grandjean Hot Springs. It is river hot springs and below the 50ft of the road. Mainly very hot water coming and not much just right pools, we have to adjust ourselves to make comfortable. The Lodge pool is pumping up hot springs water from the river.
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7/4/16 Bonneville Hot Springs (wild), ID - Hot Springs is located 1/4 miles northwest from the campground. There are many pools but most hot springs water is too hot to soak in. There is a hot springs hut that has bathtub in it and soak in with just right temperature hot springs water.
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7/4/2016 Warm Springs Trail, ID (5 miles) - The trail is 14 miles long and runs from Bonneville to Bull Trout Lake, I have hiked from the Bonneville TH. The trail was getting narrower and vegetations are touching me that the point I returned.
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7/4/2016 Kirkham Hot Springs (Wild), ID - It is located west end of the campground. There are several pools in the campground area and by the South Fork Payette River, which is more rough to get there. It was crowd because July 4th weekend.
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7/3/2016 Haven Hot Springs, Lowman, ID - 85,000 gal of hot springs swimming pool. It’s not too hot and cool enough to swim and soak in the pool. It is located in the mountain community and $8/person for admission. Currently the resort is for sale.
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7/3/16 Idaho City, ID - It was largest city in northwestern of US one time. The gold rush started in CA but more gold was produced in Idaho City area that someone told me. They kept old gold rush era buildings, and it is nice place to walking around.
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7/2/2016 Farmer’s Market, Boise, ID - It is open weekends by the State Capitol and three blocks long. I was there early, but people are getting more and more soon almost packed, a good news is meter parking is free of charge in weekends.
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7/2/2016 Idaho State Capitol, Boise, ID - Idaho state is #43 became state of US in year of 1890. The state capitol was built 1905 spent 15 years, with all white with gray lines marble, beautiful in and out.
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7/1/2016 Jump Creek Falls, ID (0.6 mile) - TH to falls are very close and falls are very tall and beautiful. Water is very cold but children were playing in the water pond just below the falls. This area from distance is incredible canyon view.
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