HomeMy Public PortalAboutAlpine Lakesr
.00king for lakes
171-
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5�1,4 �/F.5- M,4,A/ 14q?msf � (9 -97,
Pete Zimowsky
Gary and Ann Hines take in the view of Louie Lake and Jughandle Mountain.
��F o - k o , y
D i s c o v e r i n g
a l p i n e g e m s
f u l l o f t r o u t
B y P E T E Z I M O W S K Y
T h e I d a h o S t a t e s m a n
M C C A L L G a r y a n d A n n H i n e s t o o k a b r e a t h e r
a f t e r h i k i n g a f e w t h o u s a n d f e e t i n e l e v a t i o n t o
L o u i e L a k e .
T h e h i k e w a s w o r t h i t . T h e y s a t o n a b o u l d e r a n d
b e f o r e t h e m w a s a m a g n i f i c e n t v i e w o f t h e r i c h b l u e
w a t e r s o f t h e l a k e a n d t h e g r a y c r a g g y c l i f f s o f
8 , 3 0 5 - f o o t J u g h a n d l e M o u n t a i n . T h e l a p p i n g w a t e r s
o f L o u i e L a k e p r o v i d e d a n a l p i n e s e r e n a d e .
T h e r e i s n o t h i n g l i k e i t i n t h e i r s t a t e o f
P e n n s y l v a n i a , t h e c o u p l e f r o m P i t t s b u r g s a i d , a s
t h e y s o a k e d u p t h e s u n a A d t h e g r a n d e u r o f t h e h i g h -
m o u n t a i n s e t t i n g , m i l e s f r o m t h e n e a r e s t h i g h w a y .
T r o u t i n t h e l a k e s u r f a c e d f o r f l i e s a s t h e c o u p l e
t a l k e d a b o u t t h e i r h i k e a n d t h e o t h e r l a k e s t h e y
w a n t e d t o v i s i t . T h e y w e r e s t a y i n g w i t h r e l a t i v e s i n
M c C a l l a n d t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f t h e c l o s e d a y h i k e s t o
a l p i n e l a k e s .
F o r m a n y r e s i d e n t s a n d n o n - r e s i d e n t s a l i k e
I d a h o ' s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 0 0 0 a l p i n e l a k e s a r e
s o m e t h i n g t o b e d i s c o v e r e d .
T h o u s a n d s o f b a c k p a c k e r s a n d d a y h i k e r s t r e k t o
t h e l a k e s e a c h s u m m e r . E a c h t r a i l i s d i f f e r e n t a n d
e a c h l a k e a n e w e x p e r i e n c e .
T r e k k e r s k n o w t h a t i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e m t o
g e t t o a l l o f I d a h o ' s l a k e s i n a l i f e t i m e , b u t h i k i n g t o
h i g h m o u n t a i n l a k e s i s a n e v e r - c h a n g i n g a d v e n t u r e .
T h e y a r e c o n s i d e r e d I d a h o ' s g e m s a n d t h e m o s t
s c e n i c a n d u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r b o t h h i k i n g a n d
f i s h i n g .
T h e s u r p r i s e s a t h i g h l a k e s a r e n o t o n l y s c e n i c . A
f i s h e r m a n d o e s n ' t k n o w w h a t h e ' l l f i n d o n t h e f i r s t
c a s t . O n e l a k e m a y h a v e b r o o k t r o u t , a n o t h e r
r a i n b o w s .
H i g h l a k e s t r o u t a r e t e m p e r a m e n t a l , t o o . T h e
f i s h i n g m a y b e g o o d a t a l a k e o n e s u m m e r a n d n o t
t h e n e x t . J u s t a s k S t e v e G e i e r , N a m p a , w h o w a s
c a s t i n g s p i n n e r s f o r t r o u t a t L o u i e L a k e .
H e r e c a l l e d h o w f i s h i n g w a s f a b u l o u s t h e p r e v i o u s
y e a r . I t w a s r a i n y a n d t h e t r o u t w e r e v e r y a c t i v e .
T h i s y e a r i t w a s s u n n y a n d t h e t r o u t w e r e a c t i n g a
l i t t l e f i n i c k y .
B u t f i s h e r m e n h a v e c o m e t o k n o w a n d a c c e p t
t h a t c h a l l e n g e . T h e y d o b e c a u s e e a c h a l p i n e l a k e i s
w o r t h t h e g a m b l e a n d c a n o f f e r a s u r p r i s e , w h e t h e r
i t b e r a i n b o w , c u t t h r o a t , b r o o k o r g o l d e n t r o u t , o r
e v e n g r a y l i n g .
A l p i n e l a k e s a r e a l s o a p o i n t o f d i s c o v e r y f o r t h e
I d a h o D e p a r t m e n t o f F i s h a n d G a m e .
" W e ' r e i n p r o c e s s o f p u t t i n g t o g e t h e r a c o m p u t e r
d a t a b a s e t o a c c e s s a l l s t o c k i n g h i s t o r y , " s a i d V i r g i l
M o o r e , F & G s t a t e f i s h e r y r e s e a r c h m a n a g e r .
" T h e r e a r e l a k e s w h i c h a r e n o t o n t h e l i s t t h a t
h a v e b e e n s t o c k e d . W e s t i l l f i n d u n n a m e d l a k e s w i t h
f i s h i n t h e m . "
H i s t o r i c a l l y , m o s t o f I d a h o ' s h i g h m o u n t a i n l a k e s
w e r e b a r r e n o f f i s h . F i s h p o p u l a t i o n s w e r e
e s t a b l i s h e d b y s t o c k i n g i n t h e 1 9 2 0 s .
T h e F i s h a n d G a m e ' s m o u n t a i n l a k e s f i s h t r u c k
b a c k i n t h o s e d a y s w a s t w o 1 0 - g a l l o n m i l k c a n s o n a
D e c k e r p a c k s a d d l e , c i n c h e d t o a s t o u t m u l e o r
p a c k h o r s e , a c c o r d i n g t o a n a r t i c l e i n t h e
J u l y / A u g u s t e d i t i o n o f I d a h o W i l d l i f e m a g a z i n e .
T o d a y m o s t h i g h m o u n t a i n l a k e s a r e s t o c k e d b y
p l a n e . T h e y r e c e i v e 1 , 0 0 0 t o 2 , 0 0 0 f r y e v e r y t h r e e
y e a r s d e p e n d i n g o n t h e i r s i z e . L a k e s w h i c h h a v e a
b u s i e r b a c k p a c k e r s e a s o n , o r t h o s e w i t h r o a d s
l e a d i n g t o t h e m , a r e p l a n t e d m o r e f r e q u e n t l y .
S o m e m o u n t a i n l a k e s h a v e n a t u r a l r e p r o d u c t i o n ,
e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w i t h p r o l i f i c b r o o k t r o u t .
T h e F & G h a s b e e n c o n d u c t i n g a n i n v e n t o r y o f
a l p i n e l a k e s o v e r t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s w i t h t h e h e l p o f
t h e F o r e s t S e r v i c e a n d v o l u n t e e r s . I n f o r m a t i o n o n
e a c h c h a i n o f l a k e s i s r e c o r d e d , e s p e c i a l l y s u c h
t h i n g s a s t h e d e p t h , s t a t u s o f t h e f i s h , s p e c i e s ,
g r o w t h r a t e s a n d g e o l o g i c a l f o r m a t i o n s .
F r o m t h e r e t h e F & G m a k e s a d e t e r m i n a t i o n o n
s t o c k i n g , s a i d M o o r e .
I f f i s h e r m e n c o m e u p e m p t y h a n d e d a t a l a k e a n d
s e e n o s i g n o f l i f e , t h e y s h o u l d c o n t a c t t h e F & G .
T h e r e m i g h t h a v e b e e n a w i n t e r k i l l . T h e F & G
r e l i e s o n f i s h e r m e n f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n h i g h l a k e s ,
s a i d M o o r e . H o w e v e r , s o m e l a k e s w i l l r e m a i n
b a r r e n t o k e e p t h e n a t u r a l e c o s y s t e m , h e s a i d .
" W e ' r e g a t h e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n b i t b y b i t , " s a i d
M o o r e , c o m m e n t i n g t h a t i n a n o t h e r t w o o r t h r e e
y e a r s a n g l e r s w i l l s e e s o m e c h a n g e s . T h e r e m i g h t
b e l e s s s t u n t e d f i s h i n h i g h l a k e s , h e s a i d .
A l t h o u g h t h e f i s h i n g i s i m p o r t a n t , t h e s c e n e r y a t
h i g h l a k e s p r o v i d e s j u s t a s m u c h i n c e n t i v e f o r t h e
h i k e r . A l p i n e l a k e s a r e s c a t t e r e d f r o m b o r d e r t o
b o r d e r a n d o f f e r a v a r i e t y o f h i k i n g e x p e r i e n c e s
f r o m o n e - t o f i v e - m i l e t r e k s . S o m e c a n b e e a s y d a y
h i k e s , o t h e r s m a y t a k e s e v e r a l d a y s t o r e a c h .
I n m o u n t a i n r a n g e s l i k e t h e S a w t o o t h s ,
b a c k p a c k e r s c a n p l a n w e e k - l o n g t r i p s a n d h a v e
d i f f e r e n t l a k e s t o c a m p b y e v e r y n i g h t .
A u g u s t a n d S e p t e m b e r a r e s o m e o f t h e b e s t
m o n t h s t o v i s i t a n a l p i n e l a k e . S o m e h i k e r s c o n t i n u e
v i s i t i n g t h e l a k e s i n O c t o b e r , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e
w e a t h e r .
rA _ /
Steve Geier casts a spinner at Louie
Lake.
cs7..14 14-q
Hiking guides
Books point right direction
to state's high mountain lakes
One of the easiest ways to learn about Idaho's
high mountain lakes is following the footsteps of
an experienced trekker through the pages of a
hiking guide.
Some of the books blazing the trails across
Idaho's high country are:
■ Trails of the Sawtooths and White Cloud
Mountains, by Margaret Fuller, Signpost Books
(out of print, but being revised).
■ Trails of Western Idaho —From Sun Valley
to Hells Canyon, Fuller, Signpost Books.
■ Hiker's Guide to Idaho, by Jackie Maughan,
Falcon Press.
■ Sawtooth National Recreation Area —A
Guide to Trails, Roads and Waters in Idaho's
Sawtooth, White Cloud and Boulder mountains,
by Luther Linkhart, Wilderness Press.
■ 50 Eastern Idaho Hiking Trails (and
Trouting Retreats), by Ron Mitchell, Pruett
Publishing Co.
■ Hiking Trails of Southern Idaho, S.R.
Bluestein, Caxton.
■ North Idaho Hiking Trails, Sheldon
Bluestein, Challenge Expedition Co.
O I
?65
"wo fishermen try their luck trolling on Goose. Lake just offshore from
caMpground.
Idaho
drivemin
W__ _boasts
Goose Lake — With a relatively
new road, this alpine lake located
alp
n
a es
near McCall and New Meadows is
When the sub' f hi moon -
J gh
most drive -in" lakes. In Vail ey
one of the most heavily used drive -in
lakes in the area. With populations
tain lakes comes up, most anglers
County, Blue Lake lies just below
of rainbow, cutthroat and brook
automatically think of heavy back-
Snowbank Mountain and offers the
trout (I've heard tales of brookies in
packs, long tortuous hikes, and sore
angler willing to hike about a half-
the three- to-four pound range), the
muscles.
Granted, many of the best Idaho
mile (downhill going in — uphill
coming out) a chance to fish one of
lake is best for trollers and float
high- country lakes do require ex-
the most scenic lakes in our area.
tubers. With excellent camping fa-
cilities, Goose Lake is high on my
traordinary effort. Sore muscles are
Ideal for float -tube fly fishermen
(as are most of these drive -in
list of recommended drive -in lakes.
a part of the game.
But for those fishermen who are
lakes), Blue Lake is more than
Granite Lake — Another lake
reached via the Goose Lake - Hazard
unable to make these back - country
trips, whatever the reason, there
worth the short hike. The lake con-
tains good populations of rainbow,
Lake access, Granite is a nice little
are alternatives. We are fortunate
cutthroat and brook trout from 6 to
back country lake with good popula-
tions of annually stocked rainbow
in the Gem State — to have a
number of excellent alpine lakes
14 inches.
Summit Lake — Located in Valley
trout. With no designated camping
that we can drive to.
County between Warm Lake and
facilities, the lake is reached by
While the fishing in these easy ac-
Landmark. Only three acres in size,
leaving the Hazard Lake road near
cess lakes may not be as good as in
the lake is populated with brook
Brundage Reservoir. The final mile
some of the traditional walk -in high
trout and stocked rainbows. The
or so will discourage campers with
mountain lakes — and admittedly'
camping area is about a quarter
large trailers. I fished the lake last
we see more empty beer cans and
mile from the lake. The fishing can
summer and found the stocked rain-
potato chi bags — it fills a nitch in
Po p g
, only be listed as fair.
Louie Lake — Ram as a tour
bows both active and edible.
Hazard Lakes — There are three
the Idaho angling scene.
i wheel only road, the drive to Louie
lakes in the Hazard chain. While the
A list of some of the more popular
! Lake is worth the effort. With popu-
road ends at Middle Hazard, the an-
drive-in lakes includos:
Blue Lake — Although not truly a
lations of good sized cutthroat trout,
gler may choose to hike a short dis-
drive-in lake, I couldn't in good con-
"al_
the lake is fishable to both float
tubers and bank fishermen. Located
tance to Big Hazard or Upper Haz-
ard. The fish population is primarily
science omit one of my favorite
just below Jug Handle Mountain,
stunted brook trout and stocked
,the lake is reached via the Boulder
rainbows. The camping facilities
Lake road.
are excellent.
?65
Pei@ ZIMOWsky
Outdoors
Louie Lake —
mine all mine
Remember when I suggested
that backpackers adopt their
favorite alpine lake to help clean
up litter?
Remember when I said non -
chalantly that I'd take Louie
Lake near McCall?
Well, the Forest Service took
me up on my offer. Next sum-
mer expect to find me at Louie
Lake hauling out trash.
I've adopted Louie Lake.
Any volunteers?
Now that I've volunteered,
who else is going to help out?
Linda Fitch, acting McCall
District ranger, and Earl Kim-
ball, Krassel District ranger,
have plenty of high- mountain
lakes in the Payette National
Forest that need adoption.
Their districts take in the
heart of alpine country east of
McCall.
"People have so many won-
derful ideas, I don't know if
they know where to channel
them," says Fitch.
Persons who want to tend an
alpine lake during the summer,
could make a few trips in and
clean them up. The Forest Serv-
ice will provide garbage sacks.
You could also scatter debris
from unnecessary fire rings,
check the condition of trail signs
and tell officials if the signs
need replacing, and haul in grass
seed for rehabilitating areas
that have been tromped down
by livestock and people.
Volunteers also can help sup-
ply the agency with needed in-
formation on the status of a
lake's fish population.
Scout projects
Any Boy Scouts or Girl
Scouts need service projects?
Kimball is enthusiastic about
having dedicated visitors help
the Forest Service protect and
preserve the pristine qualities of
lakes.
The Adopt -A -Lake concept
can be tailored to most visitors'
talents and desires, says Kim-
ball. In some instances, trans-
portation or a subsistence allow-
ance might be provided, depend-
ing on the nature of the project
and availability of funds.
Fitch says volunteers are
needed for other projects: work-
ing on campgrounds, building
fences, replacing trail signs, and
even building a bridge near a
campground to provide access to
a mountain bike trail.
Weekend tip
Get out your backpacking
maps this weekend and see
which lake you'd like to adopt.
Then, come Monday, give Fitch
or Kimball a call at 634 -8151 or
write to them in care of the Pay-
ette National Forest, P.O. Box
1026, McCall, ID 83638.
By the way, do any other na-
tional forests have high moun-
tain lakes backpackers can
adopt?
The adopt -a -lake progl`am
shouldn't be limited ,to hikers,
Some lakes are accessible by
four -wheel -drive vehicles, horses
and trail bikes, and these groups
can also help out.
It sounds like we're breaking
trail on an exciting program and
Idaho's thousands of alpine
lakes will get the attention they
deserve.
One good thing about clean-
ing up the garbage at an alpine
lake — once you get done, you
can do a little fishing.
S ra tc sm'd h 31'ti ly -9, / � q 5
A whole new cane
of worms
High - mountain
lake fishing
is worth the effort
By Pete Zimowsky
The Idaho Statesman
B ump, bump, bump.
The nagging float tube
keeps hitting you in the
back of the legs and starts to
drive you crazy.
The tube didn't feel like it
weighed anything in the car. But
one mile up the steep trail to
Boulder Lake near McCall has
changed your mind.
It's nuts. It's also early July
and time to try to get into high -
mountain lakes in Idaho. It's a
pastime that combines hiking
and fishing, or backpacking and
fishing.
Some lakes above 7,500 feet in
elevation are still surrounded by
snow. Others are full to the brim
from snowmelt. The creeks flow-
ing out of them look like silvery,
raging rivers.
You want to be the first one to
your favorite lake, maybe even
just days after the ice has left,
and when the trout are ravenous
after a winter of being cooped up
under the ice.
Any bug that hits the water
surface drives them crazy.
But is it sane to climb 1,500
feet in elevation on a trail that
resembles a brutal stairway to
the clouds?
For fishing? Sure.
The float tube hanging from
your daypack causes the pack's
straps to cut into your shoulders.
Your arms are going numb with
every step.
Are we having fun yet?
The pack also contains neo-
prene waders, wading shoes, flip-
pers and fly fishing equipment.
Don't forget extra clothing, a
camera and lunch.
By a mile and three quarters
your ankles are giving out be-
cause it's the first real alpine
hike of the season.
The trail is muddy and slip-
pery. Your hiking boots are get-
Pete ZlmowskyThe Idaho Statesman
Larry Finn, Boise, hooks a.cutthroat trout at Boulder Lake near
McCall. A fly and bubble did the trick.
ting wet. The valley below is ,80
You decide not to take the
degrees but up here in the Salm-
chance and instead scramble up
on River Mountains, it's a co6l.
granite boulders off to the side.
60 degrees.
You're hanging on by your fin-
You're sweating but chilly at
ger tips with the weight of the
the same time.
tube and pack trying to pry you
The thundering creek coming
off the mountain.
out of the lake is growing louder
Is it really worth it? By this
and louder. You're almost to the
time, you're thinking your buddy
top, ready to peak over the ridge
had this crazy idea of carrying a
and see the long- awaited lake.
float tube into an alpine lake and
You've been waiting for the
it was pure nuts.
sight for 10 months. Suddenly
You slip and your knee grinds
the trail comes to the swollen
into a sharp boulder. A few cuss
creek. What used to be an easy
words echo in the high country.
hop over a few rocks is now a
You give it one more shot. Sud-
walk in swift, knee -deep, bone -
' denly you poke your nose over
numbing water.
the boulders and there it is.
Boulder Lake. Two long miles.
Cutthroat trout are surfacing
on the lake for bugs and the
splashes are rippling the mirror
shine of the waters.
Snowpacked mountains are re-
flected in the lake. Winter is just
barely leaving this country. In
fact, the whole north - facing
shoreline of the lake is covered
in three feet of snow.
The mountains look good
enough for skiing and you won-
der why you didn't think about
bringing the cross - country skis.
But hey, that's another day.
The effort today is for fishing.
The trout are jumping and
You're sure glad you have the
float tube now to get you out
into the lake.
Wow, any minute now the first
mountain -lakes trout will be on
the end of your line. It's started
again for another season. Explor-
�3fai s P11 Ilk Su tq a, ia?,
I'd �d of
ing mountain saxes and catching
wild rainbows, cutthroats, gray-
lings or golden trout.
Hey, someone forgot to tell you
the water temperature is 40 de-
grees from the fresh melting
snowpack.
It's freezing and you'll only be
able to stand a few hours waist
deep in the water in the tube.
It doesn't get any better than
this.
Heavy snows remain in the high country as this float -tube fly fisherman casts a line for cutthroats last week in Boulder Lake near McCall.
Pete 2fmowskyThe Idaho statesman
sigh lakes fishing has finally started.
Steep t ail takes. ou to
fittle -known weak
Hike near McCall
Sarah and Andrew Armstrong of McCall hike down the Snowslide Lake
trail. The two are veteran backpackers despite being 8 and 6 years old.
Snowslide Lake
unie
1 McCa!: 'lye, A&
'1
Lake
rewards efforts
with a Snowslide
By Karen Bossick
The Idaho Statesman
In the mood for some snow ice
cream?
No need to wait until the
snow flies a couple months from
now.
Just grab the milk, eggs and
vanilla extract and head for
Snowslide Lake.
The lake, a dozen miles north-
east of McCall, lives up to its
name even in late summer with
a swath of snow splashed across
the face of Snowslide Peak.
The trail to Snowslide Lake is
a mere two miles from Lick
Creek Road. But don't let that
fool you into thinking the hike
is going to be a breeze.
As with so many trails in the
McCall area, this one goes up,
up, up and up. You're likely to
feel like the big bad wolf, huff-
ing and puffing most of the way.
What's more, you have to
cross the icy North Fork of Lake
Fork Creek before you ever set
foot on the trail — not a pleas-
ant thought for some hikers,
even when the creek is low.
And, finally, the trail is not as
well- maintained as it could be,
even though the Forest Service
cut out a few logs that had fall-
en across the trail earlier this
summer. It's rough and rocky
and you have to climb over some
tree roots and boulders. And
there are a couple places near
the top where it's easy to lose
the trail amidst the copycat
boulder beds and stretches
where people have gone off trail.
Still, the trail makes a nice
dayhike on fall afternoons when
the air is crisp and tarna-
racks ks are changing co
even an acceptable backpack
destination for those who don't
like to go far.
"We backpack it because we
live in McCall," says Pat Arm-
vi!z� — 9 (' � /11l
strong, who spent a night at
Snowslide Lake recently with
his wife, Merry, and children
Sarah, 8, and Andrew, 6. "If I
was choosing something for a
family just starting out, I'd prob-
ably choose a more gentle hike
like the one around Redfish
Lake.
"The Snowslide Lake trail is
quite steep and somewhat un-
maintained. But normally we
don't run into anyone up there.
We take it slow and easy, have a
lot of fun, look at the wild-
flowers, the haystacks the pika
make ... And the kids have a
great time."
Those who persevere can pic-
nic or camp at Snowslide Lake,
which sits at the foot of 8,522 -
foot Snowslide Peak.
The peak, one of Idaho's least
known summits, lies in the Lick
Creek Range, the largest of the
Salmon River Mountain Su-
branges. The range runs 40
miles from north to south, divid-
ing the North Fork of the Pay-
ette River from the South Fork
of the Salmon River drainage.
Snowslide Peak rises abruptly
above the lake, climbing 1,400
feet in less than half mile
If you you wish, you can con-
tinue following the trail past the
upper end of Snowslide Lake
through a wildflower meadow to
Maki Lake.
To get there: Turn right off
Highway 55 past Hotel McCall.
Follow East Lake Street around
the lake as if you're headed for
Ponderosa State Park. Turn
right on Lick Creek Road. The
road is paved for the first couple
miles, then turns into a wash -
boardy gravel and dirt road.
Though not the best of roads,
the winding road can be driven
in a two -wheel passenger vehi-
cle. Take your time — there's a
fair amount of traffic on the
road. Besides, you'll enjoy
watching the clear gentle
stream that parallels the road.
Look for Slick Rock, a solid
grey dome rock 800 feet high
about eight miles out. It and
neighboring granite boulder
cliffs set McCall area apart from
Sun Valley and other areas.
The trailhead lies 12 miles
down Lick Creek Road, one mile
past the trailhead for Box Lake.
�, 0-111
Heads up: This lake gets a lot
of use because the trail is short
and reasonably close to McCall.
Consequently, it battles erosion
problems, as well. You can help
preserve the area by avoiding
taking short cuts on switch-
backs, packing out all your
trash and avoiding camping too
close to the lake. Stay at least
100 feet away from the lake
when possible.
By Karen Bossick /The Idaho Statesman
You're apt to find some snow at
Snowslide Lake most any time of
the year.
Tl((� /&�(l1a �S�'a ��srn an /o /.z&,/l9s-
Warm up to a hike
to Coffee Cep Lake
before it's too cold
Trek outside . I
of McCall offers
some. dandy views
By Karen Bossick
The Idaho Statesman
MCCALL — You'll have to
take your own thermos. Moxie
Java and Guiseppe's Coffee
House haven't opened a cappuc-
cino bar on Coffee Cup Lake yet.
But the hike makes a perfect
autumn fling should you want to
treat yourself to one last trek in
the mountains before the snow
settles in for the winter. Of
course, stopping in one of
McCall's coffee houses to fill
your thermos full of hot cocoa
won't hurt.
The W/2-mile round trip is gen-
tle — a good one for families
and hikers who don't like to
exert themselves too much.
You get three lakes for the
price of one hike. And some dan-
dy views of the area northwest
of McCall not seen by too many
people.
Getting to the trailhead is an
interesting drive in itself.
You turn north off Idaho 55 on
the road leading to Brundage
ki area. Past the ski area the
oad turns to washboardy gravel
nd dirt. But the scenic rock
utcroppings and grand boul-
ers lining the road should hold
our interest, provided you can
eep your mind off the parts
oiling around in your brain
rom the bouncing of the auto.
Past Goose Lake you'll see the
barred embers of once -proud
rees rendered to toothpicks
uring the forest fires that be-
ieged the area near McCall dur-
'ng the summer of 1994.
If you look closely, you'll see
he mosaic contrast of green and
lack between trees that were
pared and those that were not.
Near the trailhead is Muriel
ails, a pretty gurgling water -
all right alongside the dusty
About 19 miles north of where
)u turned off Idaho 55 is a
- imitive parking lot on your
To get there
get to the brassy Mountain
Coffee Cup Lake is just a
Lakes. short trek down the path to the,
The trail is well - defined,
right A map board gives you a
thanks to the efforts of a group
review of the hike you're about
of volunteers organized by New
_W embark on, as well as a gener-
Meadows Forest Service em- ;hl overall view of the area.
mark
ployees to maintain and
The trail — open to folks on
the trail every summer.
foot mountain bike, motor bike
Even where the path climbs
horse (leave your ATV at
up a staircase of boulders, there
and
home) — begins across the road.
are markers and rock cairns to
- The short uphill jaunt along a
point the way.
jeep I try levels off into a gentle
The trail leads initially
rolling single - track path about
through a small aspen grove
1/2 mile into -the _woods. Tum
into pines. During summer, the
path is strewn with buttercups
right. The trek down to the lake
and dogtooth violets. During
is a quarter mile. But you may
fall it's bedecked by bright or-
not want to leave the ridge giv-
ange -red mountain ash berries
enthemview.
and the red leaves of low -lying
grassy saddle above
brush.
Coffee Cup, you can see the Sev-
Two miles out, you'll wade
en Devils Mountains to the
through a bunch of boulders out
northwest, the indentation of
onto a lush grassy meadow —
the Salmon River Canyon to the
likely the source of the two
north, the Snake River Breaks
Grassy Mountain Lakes' name.
to the west and Granite Moun-
You can usually find some
tain Lookout to the "south.
good bull and cutthroat trout
Should all that caffeine we've
fishing in the lakes, but don't
been talking about give you a
spend the whole afternoon dan-
buzz of energy, you can follow
gling your line. I
the ridge path past Coffee Cup
An even more spectacu ar to yet another mountain lake,
left at the first fork a quarter view awaits you a mile up the Morgan Lake.
mile up the trail and left again , ridge. To get there, retrace your Or you can retrace your steps
at the second. steps to the third fork and fol- to the ridge above Grassy Moun-
About two miles out, you'll low the fork you didn't take up tain Lakes and follow the south -
take the left fork once again to the ridge. bound path to Frog Lake.
Coffee Cup Lake is place to find lots of handsome pine trees.
Thy laah6 sfuf<>.sman 2 �96
Thirteen - year -old
relatives, explore
fishing tube.
Reservoir
By Karen Bossick
The Idaho Statesman
SMITH'S FERRY
Peak Reservoir may
press.
But Tripod Lake, a scant two
miles from the Cougar Moun-
tain Lodge in Smith's Ferry,
isn't a bad place to dangle your
-� worm.
The lake, about 75 minutes
1 north of Boise, is tiny compared
with Lucky Peak. It's only about
' 30 acres.
But the reservoir, which sits
in the shadow of Cougar Moun-
tain (at least, when the sun is
` positioned right), never lacks
g for folks who come to snag the
rainbow trout Idaho Fish and
Game plant in the reservoir. Or
i camp in the primitive camping
sites along its banks.
The reservoir actually sits on
land that was given to the state
k of Idaho to benefit public
q - schools when Idaho became a
Keren BosslCk /The Idaho Statesman state.
Tim Farnham, an Alabaman in Idaho to visit The Department of Lands
s Tripod Reservoir from the perspective of a fl 'leases the property to Idaho
Fish and Game for recreational
purposes.
That's where the Department
of Lands gets money for the
schools.
Idaho Fish and Game im-
proved roads into the area about
a year ago and installed a privy.
It also stocks the reservoir regu-
larly, planting 1,500 rainbow
trout in mid -May and another
1,000 this past Fourth of July.
"The fishing's good here,"
said Eleanor Farnham, of Gar-
den Valley, who treated her 13-
year -old grandson Tim Farn-
ham, of Alabama, to a camping
trip at Tripod Reservoir. "I don't
think he's ever been to a place
where the fishing's been so
good."
The Southern Idaho Timber
Protection Association built the
3m,
reservoir in 1935 as part of an
elaborate irrigation system tc
water the lawn of its facility
opposite Cougar Mountain
Lodge on Idaho 55.
The Association was formed
to provide fire protection for
parcels of timber that weren't
within Forest Service bound-
aries. There are only two left —
'the Southern Idaho association
and an association near the
Clearwater River in northern
Idaho.
No one seems to know how
Tripod got its name. Maybe it
was christened by one of the
dutch oven cooks that used to
fix the grub for loggers who
used to work in the area. Or,
maybe it or its neighboring Tri-
pod Meadows, Tripod Summit or
Tripod Creek was a triangula-
tion point used for aerial survey
mapping.
Don't look for any Hyatt Re-
gency's here. Or, even, Ho -Jo's.
Accommodations are free but
primitive and limited. You have
to bring your own picnic table
and barbecue grill.
Fish and Game has provided
an outhouse. Again, primitive.
If you tire of fishing, you can
follow a trail most of the way
around the lake.
Or take a canoe out on the
reservoir.
Old logging roads east of the
reservoir are suitable for family
mountain bike rides. They sport
some nice views of Cougar
Mountain Lodge and Round
Valley below.
Or, perhaps, you can go trail -
biking on the washboardy dirt
road heading northwest to Sage -
hen Reservoir.
Or the equally washboardy
dirt road heading southwest
through Tripod Meadows up to
Tripod Summit.
To get there: Drive north out of
Boise on Idaho 55. At Smith's
Ferry, turn west onto the High
Valley Road across from Cougar
Mountain Lodge.
Turn left at the first summit
and, taking the left fork, drive
straight up the hill. The reser-
voir, less than a quarter mile
from the turnoff, is marked by
an Idaho Fish and Game Put In
and Take Out sign.
��i ��F _ T n A M ���� S T f �� i ��s m ��. " i
T r a i l t o L o u i e L a k e m a k e s
B o t h t h e j o u r n e y a n d t h e d e s t i n a t i o n
w i l l h a v e y o u r e a c h i n g f o r y o u r c a m e r a
A y e , f a l l . D r o p y o u r t e l e p h o t o a n d z e r o i n o n
T h e r e ' s a n i p i n t h e a i r , a n d t h e h i l l s t h e i m m e d i a t e s u r r o u n d i n g s a g o r -
a r e a l i v e m a k e t h a t a b l a z e w i t h ' e o u e d e e p b l u e s o l o T i f f s k f r a m e d -
t h e c o l o r o f y e l l o w t a m a r a c k a n d a s - y g r a y g r a n i t e
l P M r n m t a i n .
p e n .
T h e r e ' s n o b e t t e r t i m e f o r a h i k e i n
t h e m t h a r h i l l s .
S u r e , t h e u r b a n s c e n e i s f l u s h w i t h
t h e h u s t l e b u s t l e o f f o o t b a l l g a m e s ,
e n d - o f - t h e - s e a s o n s o c c e r t o u r n a -
m e n t s , f u n r u n s a n d f a l l f e s t i v a l s .
B u t y o u o w e i t t o y o u r s e l f t o g e t
a w a y f r o m t h e m a d d e n i n g c r o w d s
a n d c a t c h y o u r b r e a t h a m i d s t M o t h e r
N a t u r e ' s f a l l f i n e r y .
P a c k a p i c n i c , t u r n " L o u i e , L o u i e "
o n y o u r W a l k m a n a n d h e a d f o r L o u i e
L a k e .
T h e p o p u l a r l a k e n e a r M c C a l l
m a k e s a n i c e e a s y d a y h i k e . I t ' s 1 �� / z
m i l e s o n e w a y ; t h r e e m i l e s , a l l t o l d .
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o f M c C a l l o n I d a h o 5 5 . T u r n e a s t o n t o
K r a h n L a n e a n d f o l l o w i t a s i t m e t a -
m o r p h o s e s i n t o E l o R o a d a n d t h e n
F a r m t o M a r k e t R o a d .
F o l l o w t h i s r o a d f o r t h r e e m i l e s ,
t u r n i n g l e f t a t t h e f o r k o n t o t h e B o u l -
d e r L a k e R o a d .
N e a r l y f i v e m i l e s f r o m I d a h o 5 5 ,
y o u ' l l c o m e t o a n i n t e r s e c t i o n . S t a y
r i g h t a n d f o l l o w t h e r o a d a q u a r t e r
m i l e m o r e i n t o a c a m p g r o u n d a n d
t u r n r i g h t a g a i n . D r i v e a q u a r t e r m i l e
f u r t h e r t o t h e e n d o f t h e r o a d a n d
p a r k .
Y o u ' l l f i n d t h e t r a i l h e a d o n t h e l e f t
s i d e o f t h e r o a d . C r o s s B o u l d e r C r e e k
v i a a l o g b r i d g e a n d b e g i n c l i m b i n g .
I t ' s n o t a t e r r i b l y s t e e p c l i m b , b u t i t i s
a s t e a d y c l i m b .
F o l l o w t h e t r a i l t h r o u g h t h e h u c k l e -
b e r r y b u s h e s f o r a h a l f m i l e t o w h e r e
i t i n t e r s e c t s w i t h a n o l d j e e p t r a i l .
T h i s t r a i l c o n t i n u e s u p w a r d s f o r
a n o t h e r m i l e t h r o u g h p i c t u r e s q u e
b o u l d e r s .
D o n ' t f o r g e t y o u r c a m e r a . Y o u ' r e
l i k e l y t o f i n d s o m e w o n d e r f u l v i e w s
o f L o n g V a l l e y f r o m y o u r p i c n i c s p o t .
T h e a r e a , n o w o c c u p i e d b y D o n -
n e l l y a n d C a s c a d e , w a s c r e a t e d b y
m a s s i v e b l o c k f a u l t i n g 1 0 m i l l i o n
y e a r s a g o .
S c i e n t i s t s b e l i e v e 4 , 0 0 0 f e e t o f s e d i -
m e n t f i l l e d i n t h e h u g e c h a s m i n e n -
s u i n g y e a r s .
N e z P e r c e , S h o s h o n i a n d B a n n o c k
I n d i a n s s o j o u r n e d h e r e b e f o r e E u r o -
p e a n s s e t t l e d i n t h e v a l l e y i n t h e
1 8 8 0 s . T h e y b u i l t a l i f e b a s e d o n f a r m -
i n g , l o g g i n g a n d m i n i n g .
O u t d o o r w r i t e r M a r g a r e t F u l l e r
h a s d e s c r i b e d t h e l a k e a s r e s e m b l i n g
a w i t c h ' s h a t .
F r o m s o m e v a n t a g e p o i n t s , i t a l s o
r e s e m b l e s a b a c k w a r d s o u t l i n e o f t h e
s t a t e o f I d a h o .
I f y o u ' r e h o t , y o u c a n c o o l o f f w i t h
a f r i s k y s w i m t o t w o s m a l l i s l a n d s i n
t h e l a k e .
Y o u c a n h i k e b a c k t h e w a y y o u
c a m e . O r , i f y o u ' r e f e e l i n g e n e r g e t i c ,
y o u c a n c o m p l e t e a s e v e n - m i l e l o o p
b a c k t o y o u r c a r .
J u s t f o l l o w t h e t r a i l t h a t y o u h i k e d
i n o n a s i t h e a d s u p t h e h i l l o v e r l o o k -
i n g t h e l a k e .
A t t h e t o p c a t c h J u g h a n d l e T r a i l .
T a k e a m o m e n t t o c a t c h y o u r b r e a t h .
F r o m t h e r i d g e , y o u c a n l o o k w e s t t o
B r u n d a g e M o u n t a i n a n d f u r t h e r s t i l l
t o t h e S e v e n D e v i l s .
T u r n l e f t , f o l l o w i n g t h e t r a i l a c r o s s
t h e r i d g e t h r o u g h g r a s s m e a d o w s
a n d d o w n h i l l t o w h e r e i t c r o s s e s
t r a c k s w i t h a n o t h e r t r a i l . T u r n l e f t
a g a i n a n d f o l l o w t h i s b a c k b y t h e
B o u l d e r L a k e .
F r o m h e r e i t ' s a j a u n t y t w o - m i l e
t r i p d o w n a l o n g s e v e r a l s w i t c h b a c k s
t h r o u g h a t h i c k f o r e s t .
W h e n y o u r e a c h B o u l d e r M e a d -
o w s R e s e r v o i r , a p o p u l a r d e s t i n a t i o n
f o r f i s h e r m e n , y o u ' r e a l m o s t h o m e .
T h e p a r k i n g l o t i s j u s t b e y o n d .
H e a d s u p
` f i / ,
a f i n e f a l l h i k e
B e s u r e t o c a r r y a r a i n j a c k e t . T h e 0 4
w e a t h e r c a n d o a J e k y l l a n d H y d e : r t r
n u m b e r t h i s t i m e o f y e a r , w i t h s u n n y
m o r n i n g s g i v i n g w a y t o s u d d e p K a r e n B o s s i c k i T h e I d a h o s t a t e s m a
d o w n p o u r s . J u g h a n d l e M o u n t a i n p r o v i d e s a n i d y l l i c b a c k d r o p f o r L o u i e L a k e , a p o p u l a r
A n d l e a v e t h e c a m o u f l a g e a t h o m e a l p i n e l a k e a f e w m i l e s s o u t h e a s t o f M c C a l l .
B r i g h t o r a n g e a n d r e d j a c k e t s w i l l d -
j u s t f i n e , t h a n k y o u , n o w t h a t h u n t i n g
s e a s o n ' s i n f r i l l s w i n g .
'�5 l c(c Q 3-'�a ?, r�s /nG h '-Z/Z V 99
GALLERY: My Best shot
Mountain majesty: Lucille Wilson- Gregory, of Mountain Home,
submitted this photo. She had taken this picture of her husband,
Barney Wilson, one morning in July 1961 while they were vacationing
at Hazard Lake.