In Idaho

This is definitely the first time Mikey has made an appearance on the blog...This pretty much sums up his world view. At least he's got a helmet on. Connecticut seems back in the distant time now with the new job gaining steam. But this was a gorgeous day, and unusual in that the entire family was out on the farm at once.







Here in Hailey temps have been hanging steady in the mid 70's with humidity at around 25%. It's been so dry that I've been continuously thirsty, having sweat wicked away by the wind and sun before I could even notice I was perspiring-a tricky situation. But I'll live. I've recovered from the drive out as well. Without a doubt it was the most taxing long distance drive I've attempted yet. My stay in Fort Collins with Tim Wood, while fun, was anything but relaxing. The elevation combined with no joke- three beers- had me reeling. The next day I struggled through the Wyoming steppe, past towns built around flame belching oil and gas refineries and open pit mines. The new west sits atop the surface of the old like a pimple. Towns like Little America, a tiny highway hamlet, lend a face to inexorable change. Against a backdrop of glittering wind turbines the sun exploded on the horizon in a sunset unmatched against the previous nights. There is always the moments in a road trip where the earth seems surreal, the people small and helpless, and the journey tragic and feeble. It happens in big country mostly, on that day falling on me like the gravity of a big decision about to be made. But it always passes and the next morning the sagebrush valleys of southern Idaho stretched toward high snow bound peaks. And then quite suddenly I arrived.
After much eating and sleeping I took a hike up Carbonate mountain to get my bearings. Above is the town of Hailey stretching north to south between the foothills of the Pioneer Range and Smokey Mountains.
Wildflowers on the hilltops were in bloom. Indian paintbrush, the red in this photo, added to the scenery. There have been plenty of wildlife stories that bring the landscape alive, from co-workers stumbling onto wolves in hot pursuit of an elk, foxes running along the back porch, to moose in the rivers. Idaho is the wildest state that gets the least attention nationally. Although Sun Valley, north of Hailey is now a world class destination for the wealthy. Supposedly Bruce Willis, yes Bruce Willis, owns a bunch of the historic buildings in town. It's an odd mix of the mega wealthy and the old west, an experiment continuing to offer new data. Perhaps best about the town is that within ten minutes you can be looking at snow studded peaks in roadless valleys, accessible by tough roads or hiking trails. Options for recreation are unlimited and I have a three day weekend approaching...