Return to the Selway
Awakening early on the 4th of July we headed out to visit the Selway river. It really is a long drive down there...4 hours or so...from Coeur d'Alene. It's a bummer too, because the drive I had over there from Montana took me down past the Lochsa, which is never tiring. But going through towns and up crowded highways is annoying. I believe this is the main reason I haven't been down there as much since moving up here.
Anyways. Made it to the trailhead and got going, just in the nick of time to catch the heat of the day. It was crowded along the little dirt road, which was expected. Time to hit the trail and get out of the commotion. We were all eager to get moving.
Hike hike hike. Hot hot hot. That pretty much sums up most of that.
On the way I strolled past a big rattlesnake and the dog (who was behind me) got curious and just stuck her head right into it...trying to get a good whiff I guess. The snake backed up into a little alcove, curled, and let us know it wasn't happy. Moving on, we needed to stop and filter some water. Dumping the packs we got some sweet Selway water and noticed my pack was pretty much covered in "sweat bees." Never knew that's what these things were called. The search I did today said, "will not sting unless provoked." Well, they seemed to like my sweat quite a bit, and so would land on my pack, trousers, shirt, and skin. I'd move. They would decide that they were "provoked" and proceed to sting me. Little bastards! It wasn't a sting like a wasp or yellowjacket...but it sure got your attention!
Moving on. We found that we entered the area that most people decided was enough hiking for a day (like us) because every good campsite was occupied. Many more people than I expected to be in there. Finally located a little spit of sand and decided that was camp. "It'll be like the rafting trip" I thought. Sure enough, sand in everything eventually...but luckily not blowing around quite so much.
Lucca enjoying being in camp
Even the dog was tired
Just funny. Quick! Act nonchalant!
We had some interesting neighbors that didn't seem to understand backpacking and solitude. Two of them fished about thirty yards from our camp. Then another came into our camp (with the same group) and chatted for a bit. Throughout the evening, there seemed to always be one of them around, either watching our camp or looking at the scenery or SOMETHING. It was disconcerting to say the least. Didn't really appreciate the constant feeling of being watched.
Plenty of food, plenty of water, and plenty of driftwood for a nice fire. It was a very nice evening...but the early morning, followed by the drive, proceeded by the hike in the heat led us into an early evening.
View upstream from camp
View downstream from camp
Nice evening photo
The next day it was decided that we would hike out and proceed up the Lochsa on a mini-history of Tom. Not until after having me stroll past the same rattlesnake in the same place yet again. The encounter went better this time and I was able to snap some photos of our pissed off friend. After that, we used other snakes on the trail (I think they are racers?) to educate the dog.
Sarah on the way out. Our camp was on that sandbar in the background.
Mr. Rattlesnake happy as he got
Classic Selway photo
Bummer it was too cold to swim!
The trip up the Lochsa was interesting even for me since I've lived most of my life along highway 12...I remember saying "I could probably tell a story of something I've done up every drainage from Lolo Pass to Lolo." I guarantee that road will be with me forever. Of course, we only went as far as Wendover campground Saturday night. CONCEDED to Wendover...the dispersed sites were all occupied. One would have been perfect, but an elk decided to die there this past winter. Then the dog decided to try and roll in the carcass. No chance that campsite will be visited much by anyone this summer. Bummer. But, since we were close...breakfast at Lochsa Lodge is always appropriate when in the area.
All told, we made it back to Coeur d'Alene around 1500 Sunday. I'm one to immediately take care of gear, so I did that and spent the rest of the evening making hot dogs for dinner. (Yea, when in a campground everyone seems to want to cook hot dogs. The smell got to me and made me want some. Therefore: hot dogs for dinner.)
The good news is that this hot holiday weekend probably opened up a lot of the high country, so I'm guessing the next time I'm able to get out backpacking, it'll be up away from the sweat bees, rattlesnakes, and insanely hot south slopes. Up into rocks, ice, and the cooler temperature of the high places! I'm ready!
Anyways. Made it to the trailhead and got going, just in the nick of time to catch the heat of the day. It was crowded along the little dirt road, which was expected. Time to hit the trail and get out of the commotion. We were all eager to get moving.
Hike hike hike. Hot hot hot. That pretty much sums up most of that.
On the way I strolled past a big rattlesnake and the dog (who was behind me) got curious and just stuck her head right into it...trying to get a good whiff I guess. The snake backed up into a little alcove, curled, and let us know it wasn't happy. Moving on, we needed to stop and filter some water. Dumping the packs we got some sweet Selway water and noticed my pack was pretty much covered in "sweat bees." Never knew that's what these things were called. The search I did today said, "will not sting unless provoked." Well, they seemed to like my sweat quite a bit, and so would land on my pack, trousers, shirt, and skin. I'd move. They would decide that they were "provoked" and proceed to sting me. Little bastards! It wasn't a sting like a wasp or yellowjacket...but it sure got your attention!
Moving on. We found that we entered the area that most people decided was enough hiking for a day (like us) because every good campsite was occupied. Many more people than I expected to be in there. Finally located a little spit of sand and decided that was camp. "It'll be like the rafting trip" I thought. Sure enough, sand in everything eventually...but luckily not blowing around quite so much.
Lucca enjoying being in camp
Even the dog was tired
Just funny. Quick! Act nonchalant!
We had some interesting neighbors that didn't seem to understand backpacking and solitude. Two of them fished about thirty yards from our camp. Then another came into our camp (with the same group) and chatted for a bit. Throughout the evening, there seemed to always be one of them around, either watching our camp or looking at the scenery or SOMETHING. It was disconcerting to say the least. Didn't really appreciate the constant feeling of being watched.
Plenty of food, plenty of water, and plenty of driftwood for a nice fire. It was a very nice evening...but the early morning, followed by the drive, proceeded by the hike in the heat led us into an early evening.
View upstream from camp
View downstream from camp
Nice evening photo
The next day it was decided that we would hike out and proceed up the Lochsa on a mini-history of Tom. Not until after having me stroll past the same rattlesnake in the same place yet again. The encounter went better this time and I was able to snap some photos of our pissed off friend. After that, we used other snakes on the trail (I think they are racers?) to educate the dog.
Sarah on the way out. Our camp was on that sandbar in the background.
Mr. Rattlesnake happy as he got
Classic Selway photo
Bummer it was too cold to swim!
The trip up the Lochsa was interesting even for me since I've lived most of my life along highway 12...I remember saying "I could probably tell a story of something I've done up every drainage from Lolo Pass to Lolo." I guarantee that road will be with me forever. Of course, we only went as far as Wendover campground Saturday night. CONCEDED to Wendover...the dispersed sites were all occupied. One would have been perfect, but an elk decided to die there this past winter. Then the dog decided to try and roll in the carcass. No chance that campsite will be visited much by anyone this summer. Bummer. But, since we were close...breakfast at Lochsa Lodge is always appropriate when in the area.
All told, we made it back to Coeur d'Alene around 1500 Sunday. I'm one to immediately take care of gear, so I did that and spent the rest of the evening making hot dogs for dinner. (Yea, when in a campground everyone seems to want to cook hot dogs. The smell got to me and made me want some. Therefore: hot dogs for dinner.)
The good news is that this hot holiday weekend probably opened up a lot of the high country, so I'm guessing the next time I'm able to get out backpacking, it'll be up away from the sweat bees, rattlesnakes, and insanely hot south slopes. Up into rocks, ice, and the cooler temperature of the high places! I'm ready!
posted by geotracker12 at 3:48 PM
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