Month: August 2015

-Josephus Lake-

Josephus Lake is a small lake that sits at the end of Rd 010, two lakes actually that reside right next to each other… I have seen pictures and read other reports of these lakes, but never seen them in person, so I proceed to the roads end to check them out.

The lakes were just barely touched by fire, but still left with an abundance of green trees. They also appear to be somewhat shallow with reports of good fishing ….

Log footbridge spanning between the lakes …

My visit to Josephus Lake is quick … I snap a few pics and load back up to backtrack a few miles to check out Seafoam Mine. Seafoam Mine is still supposed to have an old ghost town of the past. I find my road connection, cross the creek, and head up the hill only to encounter a locked gate halting my progress? … No ghost town today!

My next option is to head up towards the Greyhound Mine … I have no expectations of what might or what might not be there, so we’ll see.

A few miles up the road I find a rather larger tree fallen across the road. I do pack a capable hand saw in my OBR ADV Gear Tool Pouch, but not significant enough to tackle a project of this magnitude and I’m in no mood to drag the bike underneath.

I once again reverse my track … back a ways there was a road that ran along the rapid river. Worth checking out anyway since it is along the way …. I make it about a 100 yds down the rapid river road only to find more trees fallen across it’s path.

I at this point conclude this to be my days end … I’ve seen some new country and are back in here a ways …  and alone. Probably best to head back over Vanity.

Looking back up Rapid River towards Vanity Summit

Stopping right before Seafoam Guard Station

South over Vanity

I’ve logged under 100 miles on todays ride, which to some might seem unusual, but with the varied terrain and primary objective of Seafoam Lakes achieved I’m ready to wrap up the day.

…..Until the next adventure!

After soaking in the splendor of what still is and of what once was … I continue forward to explore still a couple of tracks extending past the lake.  The first left stops approx. 100 yds in to an old landing…. evidence of a mine or activity of is present above.  Curiosity dictates further investigation!

Just above the landing I do find a couple of excavated areas that were once covered. I’m not sure if these areas were actual mines or maybe exploratory holes as they do not extend in very far?

Relics of mining past ….

View down to Seafoam Lake …

After concluding my investigation of this spot I continue up the road which climbs and winds a short distance concluding at a once was trailhead…

The views of the surrounding ridgelines are clearly visible through the burned trees …. although dense forest would still be my preference.

Idaho wilderness ….

I hike around a bit and then start my retreat back down the mountain ….

Seafoam Creek (I think)

Once back down in the valley I continue back up Rd 008 …. the reported washout had been repaired, but without a drain culvert, so the next storm of significance will probably wash out the road once again ….

Junction to Josephus Lake (my next stop) and Grayhound Mine …..

Why run soft luggage vs a hard box… one reason is safety when running remote roads such as these. Should you go down and extend your leg backwards … hard boxes have been reported to cause knee injury or even worse broken lower legs. Soft luggage systems will provide give and even a level of padding. The OBR ADV Gear Saddlebag system also utilizes Acetal Ladderlock Buckles that break at approx 100-125 lbs. It’s better to have a strap that will release allowing the bag to swing backwards and hopefully preventing any injury. Other products from OBR ADV Gear such as the Sherpa Tail bag will also provide another option to secure gear out of the way.

To be continued ….