It's been a long, weary winter.  Badly needed to get out in the woods, so yesterday, I took the fam and the dog up over the summit between the Payette River and the Salmon River watershed to stay at a lodge I know there.

Not really too far off the beaten track, since most of the back country is still socked in, but far enough in that I could see some empty country from there. 

Did I mention that it's been a long winter?

The trip in was uneventful.  Still a couple feet of snow at the lodge, but the lake is near ice-out, with some bare patches showing. 

The folks who own the place are nice.  I've known them since they bought the lodge about five years ago.  Food's great.  No water right now, since they don't start using the well until April, but that's okay.  We were the only people up there, which was nice.

The couple who run the place have an Australian Shepherd and a three-month-old Lab pup.  Our hound, Penny, had a great time running crazy in the snow with them. 

Didn't hear the wolf pack that runs in that area last night, but they're around.  Apparently they were howling somewhere across the lake a couple nights ago.

This morning, we woke up to about four inches of new snow.  Not so bad, except that to get back out, we needed to go over a 7000 foot pass.  No other way out.

We'd planned on coming back later in the day.  After talking it over, we decided it would probably be best to go out early, when the mail truck comes in, following the snow plow.  Turned out to be a good choice. 

Still snowing up there as far as I know.  Let's see:

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Yep.  And that's 2000 feet below the pass.

Guess I pushed the season a little, eh?   ;)

Well, all's well that...aw, you know.

Best,

George

Wow George.  You like to push the envelope don't you?   Glad you got home o.k.  Don't know what we'd do without you.

Sounds like fun George.

Ya gotta push once in a while :)

Glad your all safe and sound

Iddy

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Still a couple feet of snow we woke up to about four inches of new snow Still snowing up there as far as I know No water We were the only people up there Guess I pushed the season a little, eh?  ;)

Sure, spring has sprung, but you live in I D A H O.  Unless you have eight reindeer...

But sometimes a sense of adventure together takes over.  :)



Still remember as a tweakling seven yr old and my nine yr old sister, heading up north with Dad in winter dropping off a heavy load in an open sided trailer, ok traction loaded, but getting out when it was empty and lighter took a couple hours getting up the first hilly back road. 

Still a memory getting out, had to unhitch and push, slowly clearing thick snow up the hill in front with our red noseys and rosy cheeks.  Don't think Dad ever let on what a predicament it was, just a plodding family project, and sis knowing and trusting Dad would get us through was inspiring.  :)  Kid power! 

My gripe when I got back home was why Mom packed us off with a thermos of hot chocolate and not a single little marshmallow in it.  MOM!!  Dad laughed, if that was the worst of it...  ;)



It is nice being able to be there when no one else is, glad your ok getting back, I know that mountain driving isn't for me.  Good decision.  More time coming soon to enjoy, pf this time.  :)  Certainly not a forgettable unevent.

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Mom packed us off with a thermos of hot chocolate and not a single little marshmallow in it.

That just screams child abuse Kevin.   LOL

Good onya George...mountains...snow...we gonna get outa here?....yee-haw..let's go....

Jon

Sounds like a nice get-away, even with the snow!