2015 Road Trip: Part 28 (ID-OR)

Sawtooth Range
Day 42 cont.
5.25.15

With my hike up Borah completed so quickly, I had over half the day left that I hadn't expected, so westward it was.  I figured I could make it to Idaho City, ID, where a free campsite awaited.

What's cool about the towns out here, is the population is posted on a sign when you enter it.  I had seen some on the low end, even my Monroe standards where we have 800 or so people.  I saw a few in the 3 hundreds, then a 174, but NOTHING will beat Clayton, ID.  Population of seven.  I probably saw every single person in town while driving through.

Clayton, ID

I drove back through Challis again, since it was on the way, but then I continued along Rt. 75, which cuts through the wild expanse of the Sawtooth Mountains.  The mountains were beautiful and never-ending. Every bend in the road gave me a new view of some peaks that I hadn't seen before.

The thing about traveling through mountains is that you rarely ever go straight, so miles add up quickly.  However, I think I may have found some of the most fun roads in Idaho along this trip.  Rt. 75 and Rt. 21 have more curves per mile than you can imagine.  I considered counting them to have a number, but instead I'll give you a snapshot from google maps.  Look at the scale so you can see how dense this is with arm-work.

Fun?

After rising up to a mountain pass, then down again, several times, I began the final descent into the valley where Idaho City lies.  This part of the state is very much what I had envisioned Oregon looks like.  Lots of tall conifers lining the roadway, and finally some grass!

I made it into Idaho City, where only 458 people who call this place home.  Stopped at the local market for some odds and ends for the food coolers.  And since I can't keep frozen foods with me, an ice cream bar which was consumed before dinner for its own safety.

I went out to claim my campsite a few miles down a dirt road that was surprisingly well maintained.  Here is a shot of the camping area from the next morning.  (I manage to always forget to take these photos when I arrive.)

Camping on Bear Run Rd.

I set up camp, then headed back into town to try and write some more of these posts, since I had some extra time to kill.  Nothing like sitting outside the library on a holiday.  (They never shut off the wifi!)  Soon it began to rain, and I was less keen on driving back to cook dinner.  I was perfectly happy and dry inside the car.  The wait was worth it, because I was presented with the most magnificent rainbow I've ever seen.  I first realized the light was weird when I saw sun behind me and rain in front of me, then I put two and two together and looked for the rainbow.  I've never seen one so bright before.  It was also at 9:30 at night.  The sun is setting later and later, not to mention I was on the western side of the time zone as well, which pushes everything later.

Best rainbow of 2015

Idaho to Oregon
Day 43
5.26.15

I began my trip into the 20th state with more blue skies, which I hear is rare for this part of the country.  To be fair, my tent was soaked with dew, so that caused some difficulties.

Leaving the campsite on Bear Run Rd.

Route 21 continued to the Boise area, and followed the Boise River for awhile.

Boise River.

Feels good to at least drive through cities every once in awhile.  They also have stores which are good for buying things like food and gas, my two primary commodities on this trip, had you not noticed.

Super wheels on I-84!

The great state of Oregon begins here.  Crossing the Snake River brings me one step closer to the Pacific Ocean.  (I would have hoped for a better sign, or a pull-off of sorts.  Nope.)

Welcome to Oregon.

Eastern Oregon is not the typical scenery you think of when you hear Oregon.  This part is much more farmland and funny-looking tractors. They love John Deere out here.  Only the best.

I made it further west, and got confused because I thought I was in New Mexico.  Straight roads for miles, no trees, and lots of shrubbery.

Soon I made it into the Umatilla National Forest, which is about one third of the way across the state from the east side.  I was very hungry, but I can't force myself to just stop on the side of a paved road unless it's in a park or something.  Instead, I took to the forest roads.  Several miles in, I stopped at an arbitrary place by some trees, which were no more distinct than any other trees.  This made a great lunch spot, and I also got to smell the butterscotch of the ponderosas.  (Ponderosae?  What's proper plural?)

I came down through the hills and got a view of Strawberry Mountain (tallest in picture).  The only thing better would have been if the lady who was parked next to me would have shut off the horrible music blaring from the speakers (all doors open mind you).

Several hours later: I made it to the side road that would lead me to Barnhouse Campground, which is a free site that hunters (and sometimes Wild Hunters) use during hunting season.

This was by far the best campground I have come across at this price. A fire ring with a GRILLING section, and a table, and high quality dirt to set your tent stakes into.  Surrounded by more ponderosa than you could ask for.  It was a good place to land.  I spoke with a guy who was visiting from the Mount Hood area of Oregon.  It was strange because he was just sitting on his table, not doing anything.

My campsite.

Sadly I didn't use the grilling station, but I did use nearly the whole table to spread out my cooking fiasco.  It was great to have everything all in order, since it tends to get a bit unordered being jostled around in the car on these mountain roads.  I slept very well, considering I over-fed myself for dinner and couldn't do much else but sleep.  It pays to eat well on the road.

PS: I'm beginning to realize that using roman numerals was a bad idea for this blog series.  It's easy for me to just add one to the last part, but for all of you, there is probably a fair amount of deciphering involved. Sorry.  I guess it's an excuse to brush up.

EDIT: I'm horrible.  I forgot to include the route maps again.  Sorry.  Here is the 5.25 route.

Day 42: 202 miles.

And for the second day, 5.26, here is that route map:

Day 43: 306 miles.

This brings the total up to 8155!  They are certainly adding up quickly. All of it has been so different though, and that's the reward for making it through so many miles.  So many different landscapes to see throughout the country, and I won't have even seen it all by the time of my return.