We started our return pilgrimage back home … heading south to Ponderosa State Park on Payette Lake, Idaho. We had long wanted to see Payette Lake and the community of McCall, Idaho.
We followed the Salmon River through the mountains lined with high desert sage brush, following the river and then climbing to the forested mountains and up to Payette Lake, around 5100 feet elevation with surrounding mountains hosting ski areas. The Salmon River valley was filled with smoke… and the high desert sage brush looked dry and vulnerable. The forested mountains, gigantic ponderosa pines and the beautiful lake provided a welcome sight … we had arrived at Ponderosa State Park and the charming town of McCall, Idaho with nearby ski areas.
Ponderosa State Park is another one of the well-designed parks in the Idaho State Park system. It is heavily used by families for their camping experiences by a lake … paved bicycle trails for kids and ready access to the lake. There are an amazing number of families with six, seven, even eight children … all stair-stepped one to two years from each other … we are clearly in the land of the L.D.S. church … even a few families with one adult male with two or more adult females and multiple children … perhaps “living the principle” (see “Big Love”).
Our site is spacious and shaded by huge ponderosa pine trees towering about 400 feet tall with small pine squirrels and chipmunks chattering in the huckleberry shrubs on the forest floor. Payette Lake is larger than I had expected, supporting a wide range of water craft, with the town of McCall anchoring the lively village life around the lake. We walked along the lakeside, watched the sunset over the water, cooled by the breezes off of the water and spied a couple of fawns (still spotted) munching a few bushes in the early evening. Tomorrow we’ll explore the area by bike.
Bambi seemed pleased to be back in a forest, cooled by breezes off of the lake … protected by a gigantic ponderosa pine.
Shout-Out to Bob’s sister and brother-in-law: We passed by the area where our friend, Bob, has a sister and brother-in-law, living near Cottonwood, Idaho. Actually, we understand that they have a home in a remote location where they have an airplane in a hanger that also includes their home … makes me mindful of winter conditions in the high desert. Alas, timing did not work to visit, but perhaps another time …
1 comment:
The Salmon River is a great class II - Class III paddle with wonderful wave sets and few threatening obstacles. I know how confirmed you are to your bikes, but on a return visit you should really get on the river.
I must say 400 ft. pines are impressive, and I hope a welcome reprieve from the heat and smoke.
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