2019.09.22 - Redfish Lake to Craters of the Moon
09.22.2018 - Saturday - John got up early today, made coffee and staked out a spot lakeside to take a few photos of the Sawtooth Range at sunrise. It was worth the wait - the tops of the highest peaks caught the rising sun's rays as a backdrop to the lake that was dead still in the early morning.
Because today's run to Craters of the Moon was relatively short, we had a leisurly breakfast and begrudgingly abandoned our campsite on Redfish Lake. On the way back to the highway, we checked out the other campground (Glacier View) and took a quick trip to the Redfish Lake Lodge on the west shore only to find that it was closed for the season. There were still a few boats on the lake, but the campgrounds were only partially full, even on a weekend.
We made our way down the Salmon River Valley and scoped out the RV park in Smiley Creek where we cancelled our reservations the afternoon before. Not surprised to say, it was no comparison. The "RV spots" for larger rigs were basically side-by-side parking spots on a grassy area right next to the highway. Glad we didn't go down that road (literally).
Just south of Smiley Creek, we climed the grade out of the Salmon River Valley leaving the Sawtooth National Forest behind us. Towards the top of the grade, we stopped at an overlook for one last view. Rene was especially impressed with the beauty we experienced there and vowed to return.
Continuing down the Sawtooth Scenic Byway towards Ketchum and Sun Valley, ID, we passed along the Big Wood River for much of the way. Lots of brilliant fall colors in the Aspens and Cottonwoods and plenty of fly fishermen and hikers along the way. Going thru that type of scenery, it's tough not to stop every few miles to take in the sights. There were spots, however, that we couldn't pass up (actually, that John couldn't pass up), including a few where he hiked out across the sage to take some shots while Rene' waited in the motorhome.
Entering the Ketchum/Sun Valley area, it was obvious that you were passing into the winter playground for the rich and famous. Being a weekend, the town was packed with tourists and traffic was really slow and heavy. We needed to stop for gas, but because gas stations in town were so tight to get in and out of, we decided to head down the valley where traffic was lighter. Once we left Ketchum, the scenery quickly lost it's "mountain" look as the valley opened up to high country farming. We stopped for gas in Belleview, then headed east towards the town of Carey (a wide spot in the road) and on to Craters of the Mood National Monument.
As we got to the park, we were a surprised how crowded it was for this time of year. The parking lot at the Visitor Center was packed (so we'll stop there tomorrow on our way out). The one and only campground was similarly crowded even though it was only about 3pm in the afternoon. At the campground entrance, we confirmed there were still spots available (first-come, first-serve) so we started checking sites out on the main loop. We passed a likely spot, but decided to see if there was anything better on the other side of the loop - BIG MISTAKE.
The first turn just past the "likely spot" was extremely tight with lava boulders right up to the very edge of the pavement. John took the turn slowly, but not wide enough and got "grabbed" by a lava rock right ahead of the rear tire. Separating the side of the motorhome from the grip of the rock left a 2-ft scrape in a storage bay door, disconnected the exhaust pipe from its hanger and crushed the tip in the exhaust outlet. Luckily, that first "likely spot" was only about 50-ft behind us, so we backed down the road and into the space, exhaust pipe dragging on the pavement all the way. By the way, our "likely spot" which we were now going to call home for the night, was "lucky" Site #13 - go figure.
Upon closer examination, the damage to the door was non-structural and it still operated and latched just fine. The exhaust pipe, however, was another story. It was disconnected entirely from its hanger and was flatted at the tip. After removing the tail pipe section from the muffler, pounding the hanger bracket back into position, prying open the tip of the exhaust pipe then re-hanging the assembly, we were back in business in about 2-hours. All in all, we were fortunate that the damage was pretty much cosmetic. John also noted that we were fortunate that there were no witnesses to the "incident", including us "slinking" back to the site we should have taken in the first place with our tail-pipe-dragging between Kuna's legs all the way. A body shop session back home and new tail pipe tip (already checked - $77 on line) should get us back to par.
By the time John got done with the exhaust repairs, there wasn't time to walk over to the Visitor's Center, just outside the campground. We elected, instead, to do a swizzle-dizzle happy hour, have an early dinner and take a walk around the campsite. By that time, it was dark so we called it a day.
Redfish Lake & Sawtooth Range at sunrise
Doesn't get any better than this
Because today's run to Craters of the Moon was relatively short, we had a leisurly breakfast and begrudgingly abandoned our campsite on Redfish Lake. On the way back to the highway, we checked out the other campground (Glacier View) and took a quick trip to the Redfish Lake Lodge on the west shore only to find that it was closed for the season. There were still a few boats on the lake, but the campgrounds were only partially full, even on a weekend.
We made our way down the Salmon River Valley and scoped out the RV park in Smiley Creek where we cancelled our reservations the afternoon before. Not surprised to say, it was no comparison. The "RV spots" for larger rigs were basically side-by-side parking spots on a grassy area right next to the highway. Glad we didn't go down that road (literally).
Just south of Smiley Creek, we climed the grade out of the Salmon River Valley leaving the Sawtooth National Forest behind us. Towards the top of the grade, we stopped at an overlook for one last view. Rene was especially impressed with the beauty we experienced there and vowed to return.
Sawtooth Range & Salmon River Valley Overlook
Continuing down the Sawtooth Scenic Byway towards Ketchum and Sun Valley, ID, we passed along the Big Wood River for much of the way. Lots of brilliant fall colors in the Aspens and Cottonwoods and plenty of fly fishermen and hikers along the way. Going thru that type of scenery, it's tough not to stop every few miles to take in the sights. There were spots, however, that we couldn't pass up (actually, that John couldn't pass up), including a few where he hiked out across the sage to take some shots while Rene' waited in the motorhome.
Roadside creek view
Fly fishing on the Big Wood River
Fall colors along Big Wood River
Rene patiently waiting while John takes photos
Entering the Ketchum/Sun Valley area, it was obvious that you were passing into the winter playground for the rich and famous. Being a weekend, the town was packed with tourists and traffic was really slow and heavy. We needed to stop for gas, but because gas stations in town were so tight to get in and out of, we decided to head down the valley where traffic was lighter. Once we left Ketchum, the scenery quickly lost it's "mountain" look as the valley opened up to high country farming. We stopped for gas in Belleview, then headed east towards the town of Carey (a wide spot in the road) and on to Craters of the Mood National Monument.
As we got to the park, we were a surprised how crowded it was for this time of year. The parking lot at the Visitor Center was packed (so we'll stop there tomorrow on our way out). The one and only campground was similarly crowded even though it was only about 3pm in the afternoon. At the campground entrance, we confirmed there were still spots available (first-come, first-serve) so we started checking sites out on the main loop. We passed a likely spot, but decided to see if there was anything better on the other side of the loop - BIG MISTAKE.
The first turn just past the "likely spot" was extremely tight with lava boulders right up to the very edge of the pavement. John took the turn slowly, but not wide enough and got "grabbed" by a lava rock right ahead of the rear tire. Separating the side of the motorhome from the grip of the rock left a 2-ft scrape in a storage bay door, disconnected the exhaust pipe from its hanger and crushed the tip in the exhaust outlet. Luckily, that first "likely spot" was only about 50-ft behind us, so we backed down the road and into the space, exhaust pipe dragging on the pavement all the way. By the way, our "likely spot" which we were now going to call home for the night, was "lucky" Site #13 - go figure.
The Too-Tight Corner
The "Guilty" Lava Rock
The End Result - Ouch !!
Kuna Pit in "Lucky" Site #13
Upon closer examination, the damage to the door was non-structural and it still operated and latched just fine. The exhaust pipe, however, was another story. It was disconnected entirely from its hanger and was flatted at the tip. After removing the tail pipe section from the muffler, pounding the hanger bracket back into position, prying open the tip of the exhaust pipe then re-hanging the assembly, we were back in business in about 2-hours. All in all, we were fortunate that the damage was pretty much cosmetic. John also noted that we were fortunate that there were no witnesses to the "incident", including us "slinking" back to the site we should have taken in the first place with our tail-pipe-dragging between Kuna's legs all the way. A body shop session back home and new tail pipe tip (already checked - $77 on line) should get us back to par.
By the time John got done with the exhaust repairs, there wasn't time to walk over to the Visitor's Center, just outside the campground. We elected, instead, to do a swizzle-dizzle happy hour, have an early dinner and take a walk around the campsite. By that time, it was dark so we called it a day.
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