The Rocks Were Going Crazy!

On Monday, we drove from Boise to Salmon, Idaho. It was too far to go and return on the same day, and we didn't want to haul the camper up the twisting and turning mountain roads, so the plan is to stay at a hotel in Salmon, and travel back by another route to the campground in Boise on Tuesday.

The first part of the drive was very mountainous with lots of incredible hairpin curves, but as you would expect on this type of drive, the scenery was gorgeous. At some places on the drive, the really tall mountains with snow capped peaks came into view. We drove through lots of forested areas with mostly lodgepole pines. There were many debris slopes, as well as warnings of falling rocks. The drive was somewhat desolate with towns few and far between, and the towns that were there were really tiny, with only a few houses or cabins. 

The drive was along the Salmon River and again we saw some rafters along the way. We also saw some large mule deer in the water near the bank of the river. We stopped to take pictures, and when they spotted us, they scampered up the bank and out of sight. 

We found it very interesting that along the drive, in places where there were steep drop offs and precipitous cliffs, there were usually no guardrails. Sometimes there were guardrails, but they were very low, hardly enough to stop a tumbling truck. The choice to not have guardrails was an interesting one, but we have to admit, it really allowed us to enjoy the view.

Along the drive from Stanley to Challis, the scenery was incredible. The mountains contained rocks that were exhibiting all kinds of geologic designs - they were twisting and turning, bending, folding, pointing up, jutting out - around every turn there was some new geologic phenomenon - the rocks were going crazy! It was breathtaking as we drove, anxiously awaiting what we would see around the next bend. 

Even though the pictures cannot come close to capturing this beauty of nature, I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.




A nice message in the rocks













This is the city of Salmon Idaho, our home for the night.


We saw many bikers along the drive today. Apparently, a few of them are staying at our hotel.



Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 22, 2024 at 8:23 PM

    I guess some of those moments could be called caught between a rock and a guardrail! Falling rock and no guardrail? Beautiful country that could take your breath away!
    Ellen Hebert Hutchinson

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 25, 2024 at 4:57 AM

    You must be loving the geology. Den😎

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 4, 2024 at 10:31 PM

    Astounding pics!
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete

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