4llamas
Senior Member
This would be my 15th year of packing with llamas. I had never missed a year and after studying maps and guidebooks all winter my sights were set on some of the iconic locations in Idaho: Bighorn Crags, Sawtooths and White Cloud Mountains. But it wasn't meant to be. Instead of getting stronger with each conditioning hike this spring my three packers were showing their age and even breaking down. It didn't take long to realize that packing in Idaho was definitely out of the question and further trials showed that it was in fact time to retire the entire pack string. I found myself in a lousy funk. In all likelihood there would be no packing at all this year.
So I decided to go scout those areas, do some hiking, fishing, riding my mountain bike, check out some trailheads and locate places to disperse camp with the llamas for when I eventually get to pack in Idaho. Unfortunately while I was down in Grass Valley, Cal. purchasing a couple of beautiful but young and inexperienced Ccara llamas I stepped on a rusty old 16d nail and drove it into the bone of my foot, right behind my toes.
With a fresh td booster and a system full of antibiotics I hit the road Tuesday after Labor Day. My route was up the gorgeous McKenzie River corridor, through Sisters, Bend, Burns and to my first camp at Bully Creek Reservoir near Vale. There I spent some time talking with a couple of bird hunters and giving them a tour of my camper. Earlier I heard them shooting and they reported bringing down 8 dove. That night the wind blew and gusted harder than I have ever before experienced in my camper. It set off the car alarm of the bird hunters and my truck was rocking and making noises I've never heard. Four times that night I got up and walked around to make sure everything was okay.
Day two I wound my way along the Payette River on Hwy. 52 to Horseshoe Bend, Banks, through the lovely Garden Valley, Lowman and my second camp at Bonneville Campground. At every opportunity I stopped at the Forest Service Work Stations for maps and information on roads. Very helpful people those FS employees and I was able to identify some interesting areas for exploration on another trip. However, I don't agree that the hot springs at Bonneville make it a good place to camp. The mixed water in the tub was tepid and the pools by the river were shallow and muddy. Both couples I spoke with said it wasn't worth it. Oh well, maybe another place another time.
(Sorry, that's all the pics the site will allow me to load)
On the third day I spent about 4 hours driving the few remaining miles to Stanley. Coming out of the mountains and into the basin area was the perfect region to look for dispersed camping with meadows suitable for a layover with the llamas. One of the first areas I looked at was Bull Trout lake, there is actually a campground with corrals, but I think it is available by reservation and there are only 4 or 6 sites. Not to worry, the closer I got to Stanley the more choices I had. I don't remember how much dirt road I drove that day, but I remember how odd it felt to not have my llama trailer behind me. Obviously that made it much easier to explore dirt roads. There are some beautiful creeks and rivers in the area. That afternoon I roamed around Stanley, had lunch at the Mountain View and went to the FS station for camping information. The Redfish overflow camping was indeed almost empty, but I didn't locate the beautiful view and running creek. I stayed anyway as I was leaving early the next morning for Challis and beyond. Woke up to 22 degrees the next morning. Crisp and clear with a full moon coming due in a few days.
The log book says it's day four, okay, I'm already losing track. Stopped at The Bakery in Stanley for a cup of brewed coffee and a blueberry scone. They serve huge, goodlooking breakfast and bakery items. Yummy. The place was getting packed, but I managed to wedge myself into a corner and call my bride of 25 years. Bless her heart she was back home working and taking care of the new llamas. Yes, there were some issues between the new girls and the old alpha, no it wasn't anything to worry about. Lots of spitting, none of it guttural. Mostly just staking out territory. No they don't seem to miss me, but they sure look forward to the Asian pears the wife brings from the orchard.
On to the Bighorn Crags Campground and trailhead.
So I decided to go scout those areas, do some hiking, fishing, riding my mountain bike, check out some trailheads and locate places to disperse camp with the llamas for when I eventually get to pack in Idaho. Unfortunately while I was down in Grass Valley, Cal. purchasing a couple of beautiful but young and inexperienced Ccara llamas I stepped on a rusty old 16d nail and drove it into the bone of my foot, right behind my toes.
With a fresh td booster and a system full of antibiotics I hit the road Tuesday after Labor Day. My route was up the gorgeous McKenzie River corridor, through Sisters, Bend, Burns and to my first camp at Bully Creek Reservoir near Vale. There I spent some time talking with a couple of bird hunters and giving them a tour of my camper. Earlier I heard them shooting and they reported bringing down 8 dove. That night the wind blew and gusted harder than I have ever before experienced in my camper. It set off the car alarm of the bird hunters and my truck was rocking and making noises I've never heard. Four times that night I got up and walked around to make sure everything was okay.
Day two I wound my way along the Payette River on Hwy. 52 to Horseshoe Bend, Banks, through the lovely Garden Valley, Lowman and my second camp at Bonneville Campground. At every opportunity I stopped at the Forest Service Work Stations for maps and information on roads. Very helpful people those FS employees and I was able to identify some interesting areas for exploration on another trip. However, I don't agree that the hot springs at Bonneville make it a good place to camp. The mixed water in the tub was tepid and the pools by the river were shallow and muddy. Both couples I spoke with said it wasn't worth it. Oh well, maybe another place another time.
(Sorry, that's all the pics the site will allow me to load)
On the third day I spent about 4 hours driving the few remaining miles to Stanley. Coming out of the mountains and into the basin area was the perfect region to look for dispersed camping with meadows suitable for a layover with the llamas. One of the first areas I looked at was Bull Trout lake, there is actually a campground with corrals, but I think it is available by reservation and there are only 4 or 6 sites. Not to worry, the closer I got to Stanley the more choices I had. I don't remember how much dirt road I drove that day, but I remember how odd it felt to not have my llama trailer behind me. Obviously that made it much easier to explore dirt roads. There are some beautiful creeks and rivers in the area. That afternoon I roamed around Stanley, had lunch at the Mountain View and went to the FS station for camping information. The Redfish overflow camping was indeed almost empty, but I didn't locate the beautiful view and running creek. I stayed anyway as I was leaving early the next morning for Challis and beyond. Woke up to 22 degrees the next morning. Crisp and clear with a full moon coming due in a few days.
The log book says it's day four, okay, I'm already losing track. Stopped at The Bakery in Stanley for a cup of brewed coffee and a blueberry scone. They serve huge, goodlooking breakfast and bakery items. Yummy. The place was getting packed, but I managed to wedge myself into a corner and call my bride of 25 years. Bless her heart she was back home working and taking care of the new llamas. Yes, there were some issues between the new girls and the old alpha, no it wasn't anything to worry about. Lots of spitting, none of it guttural. Mostly just staking out territory. No they don't seem to miss me, but they sure look forward to the Asian pears the wife brings from the orchard.
On to the Bighorn Crags Campground and trailhead.
