8/1/17 Sometimes things don’t turn out so good….could be worse…most always. We had a nice morning, cold, and the mist on the Big Hole River as the sun rose. Sand Hill Cranes flying low. We thought we would explore more and it is true that, no matter where one goes, it is never as one expects. The road we chose into the the National lands was out of Jackson, Idaho. The Skinner Meadows Road. It took us up into the mountains where free range cattle roam. Hot and dusty at 7,500 feet. The sun seemed twice as intense. We wandered up and up stopping now and then to look around. A hostile environment that is beautiful too. We finally, driving 25 MPH max, got to the top in three hours at the Lemhi pass….very up there, the pass where Lewis and Clark came through the continental divide. Wikipedia it and learn about this stage road that went through this pass and down requiring the wagons to chain a long log to the back to drag, it is that steep and shear off the one lane ‘road’. We had hoped to maybe camp at the top at the Sacajawea peak memorial but there was a geological dig group there so we moved down to the valley and into Salmon, Idaho (across the continental divide leaving Montana). I had not done enough research on this leg as I had no idea I was needing to go to Boise for suspension work on the truck. So we went on down the Salmon River gorge. The temperature went from 83 to 99 in 10 miles. So we stopped and sit as I type this on a shelf off the road by the roaring Salmon River. The sun set an hour ago and it is still in the 90’s. 

So just gotta roll with it. One knows it is very hot when even a cold beer just isn’t what you want, just water. So we pant in hopes that the night air will sweep in and chill us down good. Tomorrow I want to head to a Ranger station and seek current advice on where to sit by a cool river and read for a couple days. 

We weak New Englanders melt at a certain temperature and 99 brought us both to near liquid. After the sun went down, thereafter the temps did too… and by 10 PM we could breathe… by 2 AM it was cool and by morning all was well. We slept to the sound of the Salmon River, out of North Fork, Idaho. Up and out. And, I do need to say after being in a small camper, in ‘dispersed’ camps or ‘boondocking’ there are things that are basic and essential. 

Water, clean to drink, (separate water for cleaning cookware too… stream okay… just not at stream-side). Then there is personal hygiene…. basic and all needed for human dignity. Gotta have a waste disposal set up (latrine) and bathing. We were torn between a marine system and a more basic compost style… I know….  who wants to talk this stuff but being one who loves where we want to go (and so do others) it is important to actually be involved with where this stuff goes responsibly… it is not someone else’s job. 

So we went with the system that separates the liquid from solid (enough! I can hear people say) It works well. Like taking an outside shower. Speaking of which we love our solar shower. A bag basically black on one side and clear plastic on the other with a strip thermometer inside. One fills the bags at stream/lakeside and lays it in a sunny spot. In a few hours ..voila… hot water. ….hang from a tree branch or camper side and one is showered and refreshed to human dignity again… it really is amazing how good it feels to be clean. And all with no energy added other than sun… and it is hot! (oatmeal soap body and hair). 

We carry 20 gallons of spring water at the start and after a few weeks that water is relegated to washing up water if not emptied by then… usually not. If so, we buy a 2 1/2 gal suitcase of water and supplement the regiment. It is nice to find how, when life is reduced to a space of 6 feet by 10 feet (includes the bed) one can work together to do all the routines of the day. We have learned so much on a two month trip that will make all trips henceforth so much more about the trip and less about the learning curve (Baja next?!) 

We left the boondocks site (hot) this AM and went to the ranger station back toward the village of North Fork… got there and was about to ask about a long dirt road over a pass (Frank Church wilderness) wild as our last drive and who should we meet but the guy we met at 7,500 feet at a small pond in the middle of nowhere the day before and 75 miles behind. He is a farrier and does all the horse shoeing for the forest rangers in the mountains, today was 75 horses waiting. He and I looked at each other and were glad to be reacquainted from the day before…. re-meeting someone who you know you won’t see again but like from the start. He was helpful again and we re-routed yet again to Panther Creek known for cougars…. goes up yet again and hot, hot, hot… I got an Idaho fishing license and off we went from North Fork (I know I thought about the ‘Rifleman’ too).

We went down the Salmon river valley to a place where the Panther Creek came in and then turned up ( photos for sure for this drive… crazy good) … a long climb to the Morgan Barr Summit. We only got a few miles up the spur when I was overcome with fish attack. It was 96 in the shade… but the water was cold… caught four nice trout either golden or rainbow or?… on we went thinking to make the summit but gave out real soon as we saw a great campsite on the creek in Western pine shade… not more than 90º. We set up and got the solar shower ready… the foldable hibachi grill… got our overheated selves into the stream and had a beer. Writing this now after the sun set, sitting in the Kermit chairs BBQ done…now by the stream … excuse me …creek. I will re-live this trip for a lifetime. 

Tomorrow we will hit the summit in a few hours and then a few hours down… maybe our last boonies camping for the trip… (pretty sure going east will not offer that)… on to Boise for a couple days then …. to the east we go.

Well this morning (Aug 1st) we drove 90 miles over thePanther creek to the top of the mountain ridge ... After catching 4 nice trout (released). I send this from side of the road in Challis Idaho.