Nancy and I took a trip through the Sawtooth Wilderness..

[DC/Id]

We thought the high mountains of central Idaho might be the place to escape the heat so we took a Saturday trip up through Sawtooth wilderness area.
This is what the area looks around Sun Valley.
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Not many trees on those hills, but there sure was a lot of people in the resort/vacation area for the rich and famous. It took us two hours just to get lunch in Ketchum. We were glad to leave this overcrowded area and head over Galena summit. After going over the 8800 ft. summit, we were greated by this view of the Sawtooth range and the Salmon river valley.
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The Sawtooth mountains average about 11000 feet in elevation and are quite rugged so to speak.

The Salmon River, also known as the River of No Return, is a famous whitewater and fishing river. It also the longest river in the U.S. that is contained in one state. This is the headwaters of the mighty Salmon river from the car window as I drove along.
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The elevation of these mountains makes assures them of snow year around, and even a couple glaciers are on top.
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I took this photo of the mountains from the town of Stanley to show how they got their name.

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If you watch the national news, you know that Idaho is ablaze with wildfires. The smoke was all around us on our trip, but our route was safe from fires, at least when we left it was. As we went over another high mountain pass, Banner Summit, we noticed a lot more smoke. Banner pass is closed most of the winter due to avalanche but we came upon another danger this trip. As we came down from the summit we noticed a fire right in our path.

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We almost turned around. It is not a good way to die, forest fire you know. We still had oncoming traffic so we kept going. Driving through a naarrow with fire on both sides of the road from a fire that had just gotten started, we were a little nervous. The fire trucks had just started arriving as we passed, and the road was closed just minutes after we got the heck out of there. Glad we didn't get barbaqued!

Hope you liked the trip, DC

 

[Tom in Victoria]

Thanks for the trip; great looking country, mountains are rugged alright. I was surprised at the elevation of the passes.

Any serious mining in the region ?

 

[DC/Id]

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[Ed SW Fla]

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[John M (Ct)]

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[General Ray]

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[Brian(upstateNY)]

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[Ralph In CT]

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[deathwind1]

I Went Tru Calif. Nevada Idaho And Back Home---There Was Enough Smoke To Bother My Throat In Idaho---I Thought That In Wilderness Areas Were Closed To Driving---Was That Road Put In BEFORE It Was Designated As Wilderness??---I Have Had To Fight Forest fires When I Worked For I.P. In 1 Of There Plywood Mills---That Ain't Fun---Its A H#$@ Of A Lot Of Work---I Wonder If We Are STILL Required To Carrie An Ax-Shovel During The Summer Like We Used To Do!---I Still Do When Traveling---I Would MUCH Look At Your Pictures Of Forest Fires Than Take My Own Pictures Of Fires---D.W.

 

[Craig in Alabama]

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[MK_(MO)]

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[JSinkAZ]

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[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

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