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Base Camp
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: June 1, 2001
- Miles Hiked: 8.4
- Elevation Gain: 1,450'
- Hiking Partner(s): Chuck
Bauman
- Description:
- I'm going to have to admit right up front, that between Utah, Montana,
and this weekend, I have done more in terms of traveling before the
middle of June than I typically do all summer long. I consider
myself pretty lucky to have a wife that lets me run around the woods as
often as I do. I can certainly say that I am happy the way 2001 is
starting out.
- This particular hike was supposed to be named "Stanley Hot
Springs" or "Seven Lakes Loop", but after an unwise
decision by Chuck and myself, it was reduced to "Boulder
Creek". Because of this, I am sure I will spend more time
talking about our rafting trip rather than our hike.
- Chuck and I had been planning a hike
somewhere in central Idaho for quite some time. We selected the
Clearwater National Forest, which is also near the Bitterroot Wilderness
Area. After significant planning for some backpacking, we
decided to add a rafting trip also since we were going to be right by
some of the best white water in Idaho. So, in addition to our
hike, we also made our way down the Lochsa River.
- We utilized "Three Rivers
Rafting" out of Lowell (ID), which is located at the intersection
of where the Selway and Lochsa Rivers become the Clearwater River.
We spent Thursday driving and then car camped in Lowell (ID) Thursday
night. Friday morning we had a bit of breakfast, signed away our
lives absolving Three Rivers from any liability, and grabbed our
wetsuits.
- Of course Chuck and I jumped into the
front of the raft with the least experienced guide hoping to get our
moneys worth. Coincidently, the guide on our boat was from North
Dakota and was attending the University of North Dakota. This is
where both Chuck and I graduated from college. Anyway, of the 22
miles we rafted, there were approximately 40 rapids with about a dozen
of them being class IV +.
- The Lochsa Falls turned out to be the
most exciting set of rapids as the boat in front of us sent two
individuals into the drink, and the boat behind us was tipped over
entirely. Our raft made it through safely, and we assisted with
picking up the pieces of the boat behind us.
- We stopped for lunch and were served
fried chicken, noodle salad, chips & salsa, kool-aid, cornbread, and
cheesecake. As we finished up the trip, we handed over our
wetsuits, fleece, and helmets, and were off to the trailhead.
- Our intentions were to hike in four to
five miles Friday night after rafting, do a ten to twelve mile day hike
Saturday, and then hike out the four to five miles on Sunday morning and
drive home. Unfortunately, when we reached the creek crossing at
4.2 miles, it was running more rapidly than we anticipated. We
scoped it out and decided to try and ford Boulder Creek the next
morning.
- I was pretty tired from rafting, and we
both slept in late on Saturday morning. After waking and having
some breakfast, we knew we wouldn't be able to reach our original
destination of the Seven Lakes area, so we decided not to cross Boulder
Creek just to sit in Stanley Hot Springs on the other side. We
broke camp and decided to do another short day hike in order to get
some views of The Crags.
- After reaching the trailhead and our
vehicles at Wilderness Gateway Campground, we drove back into Lowell
(ID) for some lunch and to regroup. By the time we stopped at the
Ranger Station and found out that the road to the trailhead of the day
hike we wanted to walk wasn't open yet, it was approaching 4:00.
At this point, we ran out of options and decided to cut our losses and
return home.
- Although we didn't quite accomplish our
goal, we had a great time rafting and got a short backpacking trip in.
- Maps:
- All maps face north.
- Click here to view a 2D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Click here to view a
second 2D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Click here to view a
3D map of
the area where this hike is located.
- Photographs:
- The scenery wasn't much to brag about since we didn't get high enough,
but I figured I'd add this shot of us looking like idiots
in our wet suits before the rafting trip.
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