Where were we? Let's see, 3 months and a bunch of miles ago... on our way from Montana to California... ah right, Idaho! Time for some "catch up" blogging, as we're finally done driving around in the west and ready to sit in one place (Tucson) for a while.
We've been through Idaho a couple times, and we continually find new things to appreciate about it. Geology, for one. National Forests, mountains, rivers and waterfalls - we could certainly focus on Idaho sometime in the future and see many more wonderful things.
But first! I had not yet run an FKT in Idaho, so I poked around the website and discovered one that looked doable (McGown Peak Circumnavigation). Plus in a new (to us) area that could be fun to explore. We did a day trip from Twin Falls, up past Ketchum, to the Sawtooth Wilderness. Beautiful place! We'd love to come back and roam around some more.
I did a write-up with the run details:
We are (were) here:
The mountain I was about to run around:
There were a bunch of little creek crossings, and this one happened to have logs across (most required wet feet instead):
An example of the many trees across the path in one section - John could bring a saw out here and be happy for days!
Loving the scenery and flowers:
And pretty lakes:
Possibly one reason this is called the "Sawtooth Range":
Snow in July - sure, why not? It wouldn't be the last snow of our summer:
Hard to believe there was still so much ice on the lake, wow:
Over the top saddle and the start of the burn area:
Another water crossing, par for the course:
The start of the straight shot back down/toward the finish:
There it is again, thank you McGown Peak!
John went on his own adventure to a nearby high point, returning with photo evidence:
My view of John as I was running back to the parking lot, almost there!
Running it in, hoping my time would be good enough - and it was, at least until it got beaten a couple times a month later. Phew, just got that route in before it turned competitive. Not the first time that has happened, always a reason to "go for it" when I find a potential FKT route and I'm not sure I'm quite ready yet.
"Around McGown", a solid workout on a fun day:
Craters of the Moon! One of our favorite out-of-the-way places, with volcanic rocks and moon-like landscapes. Also a nice set of trails with a doable total distance. An excellent place for a trail run training day.
John and I went opposite ways on the North Crater trail, so I started with the Spatter Cones:
Early morning sun on the crater landscape:
Snow as promised inside the "Snow Cone":
Still somehow enough moisture for little flowers to bloom:
One of the "Big Craters":
John heading the other way along the crater rim, amid the cinders:
Love this "duck down" feature of the trail:
Trail marker amid the lava:
I believe this is called "witch's broom" but I can't recall why it happens:
Talking a walk on the Tree Molds trail and admiring the lava field that stretches off into the distance:
One of the molds where a tree once stood before it was surrounded by lava:
This may have been a larger tree at one time:
Horizontal molds:
The "Big Sink", a former lava pond:
I went for a run on the Wilderness Trail, coming across more tree molds and interesting shapes:
And cinder fields with optimistic flowers:
The Caves trail winds through the middle of a big lava flow:
Gotta love it!
We are seeing more Rivian trucks all across the west, especially at charging stations. 3 out of 4 EV's, in this one instance:
A rare bit of cover at a charging station, plus space to pull in with our travel trailer - much appreciated on both counts:
We based out of Twin Falls for a week, with one picture to show for it:
I suspect we'll be back another time for more exploring, thanks Idaho!
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