It’s been an interesting and very busy last couple of weeks and I have neglected to post adventures here on Davefaitlemonde. Although the adventures have not been posted, that doesn’t not mean that adventures have not been happening! I’ve decided to lump the last couple of weeks into one blog so fasten your seatbelt. First up, “Cody’s Ridge Fail”. I’ve been wanting to revisit a hike John and I did about 5 years ago, Cody’s Ridge up to Golden Lake Peak. As I remembered it, there is a faint trail leading up the ridge then it opens up and you have a nice walk to the peak. Anne, Carl, Coco, and Nicole joined me. Nicole broke off early and hunted for Morels, she was the smart one. Carl had similar memories of the ridge as I, that being a faint trail, Coco was just having fun, and Anne wanted to practice her whistling skills.
After we left the main trail, we never found the faint trail and what ensued was a full on Alder King Beat Down. We did find this interesting carved up tree from 1993. We climbed about 1000 feet and as conditions got worse, we cut our losses and retreated. Interestingly though was we approached the main trail again we did find the faint trail. The crew was in no mood to re-assend on this glorious faint trail route. I shall return!
The next day Nicole and I decided to hit the “Park” and combine an easy hike with some morel hunting.
Nicole loves the smell of Ponderosa Bark. If you have never smelled a Ponderosa, you should!
After trolling around the park for a fair bit we found one morel then ended up on the Secret Beach. Nicole decides to ice her feet.
Shortly after Ponderosa Park, Nicole headed back home leaving me with hopes that some day she will move back to Idaho. I however needed to press on without her. I met up with Rich and headed up the road to Upper Payette Lake. We hoped to do our normal loop around the lake but soon found that route was not yet open. I shall return.
Next up, Jigsaw! I’ve been back in McCall now for 6 weeks and still have not done one of my favorite close in hikes! Also, after 6 weeks I had my first Tom sighting!
Tom and I met up and climbed what is also known as “Hot Rocks”.
It has been an abnormally dry spring season so these little pockets of soil which are normally covered with Spring wild flowers were already bare. Although there were no wildflowers, there was a bonus, no ticks! For those who are not familiar with Jigsaw, it is generally ticky in the Spring.
A wide angle view from the top.
Now a zoomed in view of the Wallowa Mountains off in the distance. In the foreground, Lake Payette. Ok, I am mostly caught up now!
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