Friday July 22, South Fork Forest Camp on the road to Elk City, ID
Thank you, thank you to B & Photoraphy ad UPS….yes my new lens arrived as scheduled 24 hours after ordering. Felt so relieved, and Ian did to as new we would have to wait around for it to arrive.
Had a good walk this morning before breakfast along the river, a chance for some exercise before it got too hot.
By the time we left camp at 10 it was almost 30 degrees, sleeveless tops and a cool skirt were the dress for the day. We meandered around town waiting for the parcel to arrive, and by early afternoon we were heading south on Hwy 95, towards Elk City. When we were in Missoula we met Tas, a friend of Richards who works for the forest service surveying areas for harvest. He had been working n the Elk City area and suggested we take the drive which follows the south fork of the Clearwater River up into the mountains. It seemed like a great idea especially as it was the start of the weekend and always know that it is much more difficult to find campsites during the summer. This drive is up in the mountains and has small forestry campgrounds as well as the opportunity to camp on the side of the road.
We climbed well up from Lewiston and the road opened up into vast prairie land, cropped for as far as you could see. It was such a contrast to arid dry hills around Lewiston. Grangeville is the centre for all the grain growing area, and from here we turned off the main road and headed to Elk City. The name conjures up a real wild west feeling, should be really interesting, We wound steeply down to the bottom of the gorge and joined the river, and it was another great drive as the road slowly wound upwards following the river.
It was getting later in the afternoon and found a really nice Forest Service Camp with a spot that opened down to the river…..blissful. There was even a sandy beach and surprised that the water wasn’t too cold, although don’t think I would like to swim.
We got chatting with a couple from nearby Grangeville and he told us about the issues they are having in the area with wolves. About 15 years ago, against much public opinion, 20 wolves were released back into this county and all hunting of wolves was banned. Now official figures say there are 1500 wolves in the county but locals estimate there are two to three times that number. The elk and moose that were in abundance in the area are now very scarce and the wolves are coming into the small towns and killing animals including dogs and even horses.
Ian has had the axe out and attacked the rings of firewood left at the campsite and as the sun dropped down behind the hill and the temperatures dropped he had a great fire going. A pretty good way to spend an evening, along with a glass of wine!
Had a good walk this morning before breakfast along the river, a chance for some exercise before it got too hot.
By the time we left camp at 10 it was almost 30 degrees, sleeveless tops and a cool skirt were the dress for the day. We meandered around town waiting for the parcel to arrive, and by early afternoon we were heading south on Hwy 95, towards Elk City. When we were in Missoula we met Tas, a friend of Richards who works for the forest service surveying areas for harvest. He had been working n the Elk City area and suggested we take the drive which follows the south fork of the Clearwater River up into the mountains. It seemed like a great idea especially as it was the start of the weekend and always know that it is much more difficult to find campsites during the summer. This drive is up in the mountains and has small forestry campgrounds as well as the opportunity to camp on the side of the road.
It was getting later in the afternoon and found a really nice Forest Service Camp with a spot that opened down to the river…..blissful. There was even a sandy beach and surprised that the water wasn’t too cold, although don’t think I would like to swim.
We got chatting with a couple from nearby Grangeville and he told us about the issues they are having in the area with wolves. About 15 years ago, against much public opinion, 20 wolves were released back into this county and all hunting of wolves was banned. Now official figures say there are 1500 wolves in the county but locals estimate there are two to three times that number. The elk and moose that were in abundance in the area are now very scarce and the wolves are coming into the small towns and killing animals including dogs and even horses.
Ian has had the axe out and attacked the rings of firewood left at the campsite and as the sun dropped down behind the hill and the temperatures dropped he had a great fire going. A pretty good way to spend an evening, along with a glass of wine!
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