Galena Summit

[ski3pin]

One of the nicest person that Julie and I know is our friend Dan. Beside being an incredible musician - banjo picker, he also enjoys Model A Fords. He still owns and drives the Model A pickup he drove to high school so many years ago. He's due to come up and take Julie for a ride in his Model A Tudor.
Dan commented on our latest blog story as I mentioned Galena Summit in Idaho. He sent us this photo and commentary -

"Here's a photo you might get a kick out of. It's been hanging in our house for many years. I don't hear Galena Summit mentioned very often (never), so I have to send it to you. I bought the photo years ago from a guy who worked at a car repair shop in Diamond Springs. He didn't have any info on it, in fact he had a bunch of old photos for sale. He may have told me where he got them, but if he told me, I've forgotten it at this point. The photo really kind of tells its own story, I've thought about it a lot of times over the years. The pickup is a 1926 or 27 Model T Ford, and it looks fairly new, so I'd put the date of the photo around that time, and not more than a year or two more. I kind of think they bought it for this trip. They are probably fairly well to do ladies, well dressed with the outdoor gear of the day. I would say that Galena Summit was a long way from anywhere back at that time. The lady standing by the sign looks like she could be a hired servant along to take care of the menial camping tasks. Seems like if that person was part of the group she wouldn't be back behind the sign like that. From the poses, and the fact that they are out on a trip like that, I would say we have at least 2 spirited ladies in that photo. What's your take?"

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Where is Galena summit?
Frank

 

[ski3pin]

Galena Summit is on Idaho SR 75 between Ketchum and Stanley.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Thanks I was close to that area in spring 2010 coming home from Yellowstone.
We traveled that scenic route from Salmon to Boise.
Frank

 

[Foy]

I'd say you nailed it--two well-to-do "flappers" from the late 1920s.
We stopped in Ketchum for lunch with longtime Raleigh residents and clients who moved to Ketchum in early 2022 and passed over Galena Summit enroute to Stanley in the afternoon, hurrying along to catch the summertime Thursday night street dance. Awesome views descending from the pass.
It all reminded me of college days when campus clubs were the nominators of young ladies seeking to be crowned Homecoming Queen. The Geology Club always nominated Linda Galena due to the fact that she had perfect cleavage. For those without a mineralogy background, galena is lead sulfide and the primary ore mineral produced in lead mines. Both lead sulfide and iron sulfide, known as pyrite (fool's gold), crystallize in the cubic system and are known for their routine display of perfect cubic cleavage. Linda Galena never won, but lack of support was never the reason.
Foy

 

[AWG_Pics]

I'd say you nailed it--two well-to-do "flappers" from the late 1920s.
We stopped in Ketchum for lunch with longtime Raleigh residents and clients who moved to Ketchum in early 2022 and passed over Galena Summit enroute to Stanley in the afternoon, hurrying along to catch the summertime Thursday night street dance. Awesome views descending from the pass.

Foy

Foy
It may amuse you to know that street dance was, in the 1970's, known as the Stanley Stomp and primarily happened in the Stanley Rod and Gun Club, which was a wild bar that we deer hunters, geologists and other ne'er do well's and such would congregate at (80 to 90% males). While listening to 'Jack' the owner and his band play country sort of music. Fist fights and stupidity were common as was shoulder to shoulder crowding and vast quantities of beer and booze consumed. It was a thing. Sometimes fun. Probably more civilized now.
Tony

 

[ski3pin]

Here's to Linda Galena and the Stanley Stomp!

 

[Foy]

Probably more civilized now.

Tony,
Based on a sample size of one, the Thursday night street dance is entirely civilized now. Children of all ages, grandparents even older than us, and non-drinking adults outnumbered the more boisterous revelers at least 3 to 1. Good live music in an environment with more ice cream than beer being consumed.
Not that a good old redneck throw-down wouldn't have been right up my alley in the late 70s and early 80s.
Foy

 

[ski3pin]

Now, I'm wondering if there was a predecessor to the Stanley Stomp the spirited ladies, pictured above, may have attended in the late 20's during their visit?

 

[Occidental]

With one of the two ladies drinking from what I thought might be spare radiator water, it reminded me of my first time across Galena Summit, I would have been about 15. We were headed to the Stanley area with our canoe atop my Dad's 1972 Ford pickup towing a little pop up Coleman trailer, and we started to overheat. We stopped short of the summit to investigate and found we had lost our radiator cap. Dad had 5 gallons of water so we topped off the radiator and fashioned a temporary cap out of black electrical tape. We made it to the top, made sure we had plenty of water and let the engine cool, then coasted down the other side. We bought a new cap at the Sawtooth station and all was well. We went back camping at Stanley Lake quite a few times, some of my best memories camping as a kid.

I guess these ladies didn't need their water, so once at the top you're free to drink!