Sbbch Nwsltr 09 01 06 Final.Pdf
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Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen September 2006 Ellen, Warrior and Chet at Ingeborg Lake About 15 miles. We spent 4 rugged lake. We lunched at In August SBBCH members made nights at Ardeth Lake and had Rock Slide Lake - another two rides into the Sawtooth the entire lake to ourselves. beautiful lake. We rode further Wilderness. One ride was by Good campsite and good down to Benedict Lake at 8240'. Charles Lox and Ellen Knapp. grazing. We figure that most We also took a little used trail to The other was Doug and Terri backpackers can only make it to the tucked away and scenic Argo and Bill and Marybeth Conger. Each ride has a tale to tell. Edna Lake in one day, then they Three Island Lake at 8598'. We The first is By Ellen Knapp pass up Ardeth Lake on their cut 3 downfall on the trail e rode 6 days and camped way to their next camp spot. between Rock Slide Lake and W5 nights in the Sawtooth Monday we rode about 12 miles Benedict Lake. Coming back, Wilderness. We rode about 70 to Hidden Lake and the Cramer we were able to see the Red miles, I'm sure Bindi Sue(our Divide at 9480'. Fantastic views. Mountain fire smoke plume dog) ran even more. We had Didn't meet anyone! In true from Ingeborg Lake. about 38 hours of 'in the saddle' BCH fashion, we cut 3 downfall time. Excellent weather, from the Hidden Lake Trail. We minimal bugs, dry conditions. crossed the South Fork of the Perfect time for a pack trip. Payette River a few times - it's We saw some of the most narrow near its headwaters. spectacular scenery available, Tuesday we had a spectacular and it's right in our backyard. 12 mile ride with completely On Sunday we rode in from fantastic scenery. We rode over Ellen on the trail from Alice Lake Pettit Lake Tin Cup trail head at the Ardeth Lake/Spangle Lake Wednesday we had another 12 6996' via Yellow Belly Lake and divide at 8952'. We dropped mile ride. We again rode over Edith Lake. We then went over down to Spangle Lake at 8585' the Ardeth Lake/Spangle Lake Sand Mountain Pass at 9400'. and met a group of 6 horse folks divide at 8952'. On the way we We rode past Edna, Veron, and camped there. We then rode up cut out a downfall. We had Summit Lakes and dropped to Ingeborg Lake at 8890'. What negotiated it the previous day down to Ardeth Lake at 8228'. a beautiful high mountain, and had decided that it was too Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen September 2006 dangerous for horse crossing. 8520', a long narrow lake tucked Summit, Vernon, and Edna away below the peaks. We then Lakes. We went over Sand went cross country to Heart Mountain Pass at 9280' to Lake, another stunning high Toxaway Lake. We then mountain lake. We stumbled climbed Snowyside Pass at 9280' across a hiker at that lake - the and dropped down to Twin only person we met all day. On Lakes at 8868' were we set up the return ride we could see camp and spent the night. We how the Red Mountain fire had had a bit of rain that night and Alice Lake exploded and could now see the woke to a grey day. We decided On this ride we turned SE down new explosion of the 'contained' it was the right time to be the Middle Fork of the Boise Trail head fire. The Sawtooth heading out of the wilderness. River. Our goal was the Flytrip peaks were beginning to be Friday we had an easy 7 mile Creek trail and Camp and Heart shrouded in smoke. ride from Twin Lakes at 8868', Lakes. The views of the canyon Thursday, we packed up. The past Alice Lake and back to and peaks were stunning. We smoke was rolling in and we Pettit Lake at 6996'. The view of cut 2 more deadfall that were wanted to take a longer route the Stanley valley was hidden treacherous for horses to cross. out to the trailhead and did not by smoke. The Flytrip Creek Trail was want a marathon ride. We rode It was a wonderful trip and just very rugged, steep, and rocky. 12 miles that day. We retraced the right length. We lunched at Camp Lake at our route from Ardeth Lake to By Terri Argo couple of fledgling packers However, we were “ planning” SURFING THE SAWTOOTHS (namely Teri and Doug Argo) to go up to the west side of he week of August 13 into the Sawtooth Wilderness. Chamberlain Basin in the Frank Tthrough 19 found Bill and This trip had been several Church Wilderness. Plans Marybeth Conger leading a months in the planning. changed because of fires near Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen September 2006 the Big Creek trailhead and did a couple day rides, and did of it. Also beware some of the Yellow Pine. So, we decided we some fishing, and a lot of bridges as they were in would go into the Frank Church relaxing. disrepair. (Maybe this could be just east of Sea Foam, that is For those of you who watch a trail maintenance project for until the fires closed that area, NASCAR for the crashes (why us next year?) We took a day too. In the process of calling else?), I’m sorry, the worst ride up from Ardeth Lake over various Forest Service offices to disaster to befall our party was the ridge toward Vernon Lake. find out what was NOT that the Argo’s self-inflating This trail is steep and not well- burning, we found out that the mattresses became self- suited to pack stock. It could be fire which had been raging near deflating. We stayed warm, but done, but I would choose an Grand Jean had finally gone out the ground did get a bit hard. alternate route. and this trailhead was now The weather was beautiful, and open. It is nice to live in a state we enjoyed wonderful scenery where there are lots of options each day. We only covered for places to ride! about 40 miles with the pack stock, which just might qualify as a record for shortest distance the Congers have covered during a 5 day trip. Had we pushed our animals harder, we would have covered more ground, and we might have had more exciting things to report Ardeth Lake (NASCAR style). But alas, all We left from the trailhead on we got was a very relaxing Sawtooth Camp Visitor Monday morning and rode into vacation. Elk Lake, which is about 11 miles along the South Fork of the Payette River. There was a lot of feed at the upstream end of this lake, and we spent a relaxing evening in camp watching the horses eat. The next morning, we continued up to Ardeth Lake and over to Spangle Lakes where we made camp. Our Bill, MB & Terri log surfing intent had been to go down to Trail Summary: Atlanta and back up the Queens The trail up the South Fork of River; however, we did not the Payette River from Grand have our stock in as good of Jean trailhead to Ardeth Lake, shape as that trip would have and then over the ridge to required, so we opted for Spangle Lakes and Ingeborg spending a couple days at Lake is wide and firm. It is laid Spangle Lakes and another at out very well for pack animals. Ardeth Lake before heading Be prepared to deal with dead back out to the trailhead. We fall as there was a fair amount Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen September 2006 President ’s Letter Dear SBBCH Members, Well the Schindele’s and I had a nice trip to the Selway Lodge, except for Sally’s rib of course. It was kind of like old home week for me. And I hear the Sawtooth Wilderness was full of our members in August as well. We kind of covered the state from one end to the other. I’m looking forward to our Treasure Hunt with the 4H on the 16 th and want to thank Ellen for all her hard work on this. It’s important to get young people involved in our organization and this is sure a good way to do it. Congratulations on their birthday in September go to Bill Conger, Diane Dann, Tracy Dineen, Gary Farnese and Kay Ryan. One other thing, we reviewed, voted on and approved the August meeting minutes at the September meeting so they won’t appear in this month’s newsletter. See you in camp Bob The Red Mountain Fire taken from Bruce Meadows. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! Squaw Butte Back Country Horsemen September 2006 By Moosely Adams very smooth road, we are at the of a chain saw was heard. This was sleeping with my herd Squaw Creek trail head / camp continued for the next six I mates when I noticed a ground. No one else it here yet, hours. We spent most of the Cyclops opening the gate to our so we unload and he gives us day standing in the shade, as pasture. It had a bright eye in some apples and brushes the Rob worked on the trail. At the middle of it forehead that road dust off us. He then 15:30, we turned around. I hurt my eyes to look at it. applies bug spray, something I heard Rob say something about When it got closer I could see it really don't care for.