Tag: Overland

-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 ….

After touring around the Seafoam Guard Station, I direct my attention to the road ahead. The road splits into three options at this point… East, to Sheep Mountain,  North towards Josephus Lake, and Up to Seafoam Lakes. There also happens to be a sign posted with a notification that the road has been washed out a few miles ahead. Since Seafoam Lakes is one of my intended destinations the choice will be up … then maybe North depending on actual road conditions ….

Pic repost out of the guard station …

Road 010 to Seafoam Lakes starts off gradual following a beautiful valley that has impressive steep slopes on either side. The lower road is in great shape with lots of flow lending to a fast pace.

Mid point meadow

After the mid point meadow the effects of past fire become evident and the road begins to increase its accent towards the rocky ridges ahead.

As I ascend the road starts to narrow and road bed slowly becomes a bit rockier and loose … still not a challenge for the capable DRZ!

I continue to climb reaching the edge of the once was tree line …

Seafoam Lakes sit on a bench at approx. 7800ft. A pretty good climb up from the 6200 ft Seafoam Guard Station and a bit below the ominous 9400ft Langer Peak.

As I near the top the effects of the past Halstead Fire become very evident … the fire ran through this basin fast and hot leaving not much more than charred tree trunks in it’s wake ….. a sad reality that we’ll never see this basin back to its previous splendor within our lifetime.

A tree across the road is a sign that I’m the first to ride past this point this season. Quick work is made of the single tree with my saw conveniently packed in my OBR ADV Gear Tool Pouch.

I finally arrive at Seafoam Lake ….

A few green trees still stand on the opposing lake edge …

Along the accessible side, a single stand of trees survived, before the fire this was probably a prime camp spot right along the waters edge, but the danger of falling snags eliminates any reasonable potential to ever future camp IMO.

On the plus side the water appears clear and the fish were rising …. maybe next time a fishing pole will need to occupy my kit!

to be continued …..

Once finished exploring around Vanity Summit it is time to continue north into the immediate valley and areas to me currently unknown …

Rd 008

Rd 008 continues approx. another 4-5 miles past the summit before arriving at the Seafoam Guard Station.

Entrance sign

Main buildings

Corral and flag pole

While the buildings here at the guard station appear to be some what kept, the grounds are pretty over grown. It’s evident that this station has not been occupied for some time. It seems as if these remote outposts are not so much utilized for personnel anymore, but for possible equipment storage. I hope they will continue to maintain these structures at least for no other reason to preserve the stories that they all can tell.

Immediately past the guard station the road forks … East to Sheep Mountain (012), North to Rapid River and Josephus Lake (008), and West/Up to Seafoam Lakes (010). My intended route for today is to make the climb up to Seafoam Lakes and then possibly Josephus Lake… Sheep Mountain will need to wait until another ride. My OBR ADV Gear designed soft luggage rides making little to no interference with me … the rider. This allows me to tackle more sections of trail while keeping my focus where it needs to be … on the trail.

Challenge accepted…

To be continued ….

After making my stop at the Wagon Town historical marker …. the road begins to climb in elevation towards the 7700′ Vanity Summit …. as I climb up this section of road it is hard to not imagine the fully loaded wagons crossing this pass in support of the mines …

Vanity Summit does not disappoint as it presents breathtaking ridgeline views all around … what is amazing is the evidence of how hot the previous fire was by the presence of the black stumps, but then to have a totally healthy tree right next to it.

South

North

East

West

I notice a two track running off the west side of the summit …. I know that the wilderness boundary exists some distance from the main road, but this track has recent ATV tracks and is not signed to be closed. I check my map and it does exist as a dotted line …. the map indicates that this track runs up towards Langer Peak passing some small lakes. The decision is made to explore!

First lake about a 1/4 mile from the summit ….

The track starts off smooth and easy, then starts to get a bit rockier ….

The track continues for what seems like 3-4 miles and concludes at an old mine… the mine has obviously been blasted closed, but the tailing pile is still evident.

View off the tailing pile …. maybe Ruffneck Peak?

Passing by a higher lake on my way back down ….

I descend back down towards Vanity Summit … I stop at a view point just above the summit that provides a nice perspective up the valley I’m going to travel next …

Time to get going …. lots more country to still see ……

(Luggage by OBR ADV Gear)

For years I have driven past Seafoam Rd as I made my way around Cape Horn to Stanley….every time making a mental note that I needed to put this road on my “to ride” list. I have made my way up and around Beaver Creek/Pinyon Peak, which offers nothing short of amazing views as you ride along 8000ft ridge roads… I expect the country over Vanity Summit to offer much of the same!

(Note – somewhere along my ride I inadvertently switched the setting dial on my camera so that most of my days pics seem slightly over exposed …. so being that these are my only pics of the ride they will have to do) 

This being one of those day rides a few hrs from home … I’ve chosen to trailer the bike to the Bear Valley Rd cutoff as my staging point. Arriving at approx. 10:00 am, the air is still crisp and refreshing, but starting to warm, so the bike is unloaded and gear adorned for the days adventure! All required items to survive the day are tucked away nicely in my OBR ADV Gear luggage.

As I’m prepping for my ride … a USFS truck pulls up with an older gentleman and his dog stepping out. We chatted for a bit and regrettably I do not recall his name, but this guy and his dog were outstanding representatives for the USFS, Challis RD. He drives shuttle for the River Rangers who patrol the many tributaries of the Salmon.

After saying a goodbye … the first few miles will be on hardtop.

Hwy 21

Within minutes I arrive at Seafoam Rd, turning north …. I’ve noticed over the years that the USFS needs to spend a few $$ on sign replacement. Most are weathered and peeling … some even falling over.

Lower Seafoam Rd runs fast through open meadows …. most of the area is heavily scarred from the Halstead Burn a few years back.

The uniqueness of the area I’m riding today is that it is surrounded by the Frank Church Wilderness via an easement for the many historical mines in the area, some with still open claims, although probably not much actual activity.

I pass the Beaver Creek cutoff that will take you up and over Pinyon Peak and head north towards Vanity Summit. Along the way I notice a board sign along the road explaining the area as a stop over point for supply wagons carrying supplies up to the mines.

Same sign pre-burn … evidently there was still some structure left, which is now all but burned leaving only a charred spot to reference it’s once existence!

Pre-burn photo from www.usdirtbiker.com

To be continued …..

The day is still young making my choice clear …. right, along Anderson Ranch towards Fall Creek. This will extend my ride a few miles with fuel reserves looking satisfactory ….

Being  that this is Memorial Day weekend …. the South Fork Boise has just opened up to fly fishing. Traffic on the road is moderate with cars parked along its edge every 1/4 mile (+/-) …. I blast through straight to the dam.

Anderson Ranch Reservoir

The water release is from the bottom portion of the reservoir making the water below very cold …. glacial Oregon Coast type cold!

I make my way past the spillway and then start my traverse along the northern shore of Anderson Ranch Reservoir towards Fall Creek.

I reach Fall Creek to find it fairly quiet for a holiday weekend, but with the cool temps most of the masses must have remained at home or are recreating elsewhere …

I turn north along Fall Creek Road … Rd 129. The fires of the last few years have left a resounding impact on this area. Most of the drainages are all but scorched, but it is nice to see some new private construction and rehabilitation activities taking place …. a foreign concept to the USFS evidently?

My intention is to connect with Meadow Creek Road, which will steer me towards Prairie, but when I reach Meadow Creek Rd it is closed … option 2 is Rd 159, which is further north towards Trinity.

I reach Rd 159 and to my relief it is open ….

Some falls along Fall Creek …

159 flow ….

Rd 159 takes me over a ridge just south of Lava Mountain before dropping me down the west side into the Prairie valley.

The pass …..

The pass opens up as an old landing. I’m crossing through State Endowment Lands at this point, so this landing might be used once again in the future.

To be continued …. (luggage by OBR ADV Gear)

After a quick visit stop at Inscription Rock I continue my journey south to the Danskin Peak Rd. Cloud formations are starting to rise in the south and I want to make my destination of Danskin Peak early just in case any storms decide to blow in ….

View down from Inscription Rock …

Clouds forming to the south …. I’ll be keeping an eye on these!

There are still a few miles of riding to get to Danskin Peak Rd …. more twists and turns with random off shoots directed at I-84 and North Mountain Home …

My OBR ADV Gear 38l Adventure Bag also works great for day trips …. compression straps allow me to secure the contents when the bags are being used under their rated 38l capacity.

More interesting rock formations start to present themselves along the road …

I arrive at Danskin Peak Rd as soon as I stop taking pictures of random rocks 🙂

The road immediately starts to climb with the valley dropping quickly behind my shoulder ….

Danskin Peak in the distance ….

…. to be continued

After quickly exploring the remaining structures of Mayfield … I continue on my way down Mayfield Road.

The road twists and turns staying true to it’s path along the Danskin Foothills.

When selecting this route … it actually was not obvious to me the significant history that this road holds. Points of interest along the way help to paint a picture of what it was like for early settlers to make this journey across this high desert.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/nowhere-no-more/Content?oid=928854

http://americantraditionalmanac.com/oregon-trail-byway-reveals-wisdom-of-early-idaho-travelers/

One such site is that of Inscription Rock along Bowns Creek, a school bus sized rock that was a lay over location for weary travelers. To leave messages for travelers from behind, messages would be left on the rock face out of axle grease…. Some plenty visible still today.

Inscription Rock

Messages from the past ….

….. to be continued (luggage by OBR ADV Gear)

Spring this year has been rapidly passing me by with little to show for it in terms of riding. Excuses being a dime a dozen I figured it was high time to get the wheels rolling and the tires dirty.

Memorial Day is staring me down with a threat of “clear” weather most of the weekend… Most all of Idaho has been afflicted with fairly threatening thunderstorms the past few weeks … and one thing I don’t play chicken with is lightening!

Even with our reported dismal snow pack this season, most high passes are still fairly snowed in with roads being closed…. so the question is asked … where do I feel like pointing the bike today? … Danskin Peak Lookout sits along the southern edge of the …. yep … the Danskin’s …. and is a destination that I have not visited for years.

I decide to trailer the bike to a staging point along Blacks Creek Road … this will cut out some tedious commuting across the valley and extend my fuel range. From the staging point I back track to Mayfield Road and start heading south.

The pavement only lasts maybe a mile once on Mayfield Road …. hello dirt! The landscape at this point is heavy sagebrush and cool rock formations.

My OBR ADV Gear Switchback Tank Bag keeps my camera close …. and rain gear stored away in my

38l ADV Saddlebags.

The first part of todays route is a back country byway that follows the Oregon Trail …..

After a few miles some old buildings come into view. One appears to be an old hall with a stage visible through the window. Across the road are a couple of homesteads. I’m sure life was much simpler back in those days …. and complicated ….

…. to be continued