Ride At The Top Of The World

Ol' steelhead and I cleared our busy calendars (ha!) for the middle of the last week in August and planned the "big trip" to catch the Challis area IAMC Callenge 2010 sites.  If everything went well we could potentially collect seven sites and I might have a chance at scoring a Paltinum Knobby.  Well, though we had tons of fun, it was a much larger task than I had anticipated and we just ran out of time and energy. 

We checked into the Challis Hot Springs Resort and RV Camp about noon Tuesday, had lunch and headed south out of Challis up Garden Creek to Mill Creek Summit, elev. 8,800', and on to Mill Creek road.  There are many marked historical sites along the Custer Motorway and we stopped to take in The Seven Graves site continuing on to Custer for our challenge site photos and a quick visit to the museum.  There is a lot of aging rusty mining equipment to interest the gear-head and the museum is hosted by a knowledgable volunteer.  Then we were off on our way up Jordan Creek past the Hecla Grouse Creek Mine, over Loon Creek Summit, elev. 8,687', and down West Fork Mayfield Creek to the Loon Creek G. S. and Diamond D Ranch.  From there we took FS172 to Pinyon Peak, elev. 9,942'.  It was extremely smoky as the big fire at Banner Summit had blown up with the afternoon winds and the visibility was very poor.  After a site pic we returned over Loon Creek, stopped at the Yankee Fork Dredge for photos and rode out to Highway 75 for a smooth backlit ride back to the resort, a late supper and a hot springs soak.

Wednesday morning we got underway after breakfast and a fill-up in Challis.  We backtracked south on Highway 75 to the East Fork Salmon River Road and headed south and then west to the Livingston Mine. There I continued on up the track to the top of Railroad Ridge, elev. 10,300', to view Chinese Wall and the spectacular panoramas of the White Cloud and Salmon River Mountains and the Lost River Range.  I spent some time making photos then returned to the mine area and we headed back down the East Fork to the Road Creek turn off and climbed to the summit of Walkers Way to descend in Pecks Canyon.  Before we interseted the Trail Creek Road we stopped to admire the tallest point in Idaho, Mount Borah elev. 12,664'.   South on Trail Creek Road took us to the East Fork Big Lost River Road, past Wildhorse to Copper Basin and our site there, the Copper Basin G. S., elev. 7,920'.  With site photos made we backtracked to the Burma Road turn off and climbed The White Knob Mountains to Corral Creek Summit, elev. 8,802'.  We paused there to take in the magnificence of the Lost River Range and admire the beauty of the Lost River Valley near Mackay.  The descent to the valley floor is steep but easily done and the road intersected Highway 93 for our return to Challis.  We had originally planned to take in the confluence of the East and West Forks of the Pahsimeroi River, site #32, but we just ran out of time.  The smoky smudge from the Banner fire hung over Challis valley painting the mountains in a fiery glow as the sunset drew dozens of hungry mule deer from their shady midday haunts to graze on the lush uncut hay.  After another picnic style dinner we soaked in the hot waters and called it a night.  At 5,000' the summer heat dissipates quickly and soon cools for deep sleeping.

We thought we might try for the Aztec Mine site on Thursday but thought better of it and returned home.

Looking east on Garden Creek toward Challis.

Mill Creek Summit, elev. 8,800', looking northwest.

Yankee Fork River.

Seven Graves area was where the dead were buried when the cemetery at Bonanza was not accessable.

Custer area near mill site.

  Li'l Kawkroach at Custer site.

  Ol' steelhead restin' in front of the Empire Saloon (formerly).

Hecla's Grouse Creek Mine from Loon Creek Summit, elev. 8,687'.

West Fork Mayfield Creek near Loon Creek G. S..

   Li'l Kawkroach easily made the climb to Pinyon Peak, elev. 9,942'.

Views from Pinyon Peak were extremely limited due to smoke from Banner Summit fire.

This is view southwest of Pinyon Peak towards Banner fire.

Smoky Diamond D Ranch.

Same view of West Fork Mayfield Creek with smoke from Banner Summit fire.

Last look at Jordan Creek Valley from Loon Creek Summit.

Yankee Fork Dredge near Bonanza.

East Fork Salmon River Valley with Joe Jump Basin backdrop.

steelhead rounding the nearest curve, that white dot is his headlight.

Livingston Mine on Big Boulder Creek.

View of Jims Creek from the road to Railroad Ridge.

Li'l Kawkroach in front of Chinese Wall, White Cloud Mountains, elev. 10,300'.

Panorama of Chinese Wall, Crater Lake and Salmon River Mountains.

   Crater Lake.

White Clouds, Foreground, Salmon River Mountains, background.

The ride down Railroad Ridge.

A ranch on the East Fork Salmon River.

  Foraging cranes on East Fork Salmon R.

Big Lost River Range from Walkers Way.  Mount Borah is the tall(est) one on the left, elev. 12,664'.

   Li'l Kawkroach and Tippy relax after ride to Copper Basin.

  Ol' steelhead claiming site #31.

Lost River Range with mirror view of White Knob Mountains.

Tippy rests in front of White Knob Mountains.

Panorama of Lost River Range with White Knob Mountains to the right.

Verdant river valley floor below rugged peaks.  Gotta be a top 10 spot in the state.

Li'l Kawkroach in final pose of the day ...what a backdrop!

  Supper and a hot springs soak.  Aaaah!

Ol' steelhead and I are always amazed at the punishment that these old KLRs take and keep on scratchin'.  We also realize how fortunate we are to be ale to take in all the great locations, scenery and wildlife that are availble in this great state.  Again, Ed and the IAMC board, what a great idea ...incentive to explore parts of Idaho I've only read and dreamed about.  At my age this is a gift, and I thank you for it.  I know I'll not achieve a "Platinum Knobby" but I don't think that's the point ...I've had a blast tryin'.

Gotta be the ride of the year for me.      oldnut.