other guys going on the idaho trip

“I can show it as a trail on google earth. Do you guys know how to email a google earch route? I can also print out a map and mail it.”

“Anyway, starting from Seven Devils lake, the trail goes NW and winds counterclockwise around the whole range of mountains. Finally it cuts S past Gem lake and Shelf lake, and finally ends up at Sheep Lake 9 miles later.

The shortcut start at Seven Devils Lake, and heads SW, to the head of the short valley there, up past a short cliffy area, and onto the ridge above and N of Mirror Lake.

You reach a pass overlooking Sheep lake, and head down a ramp that is made from a layer of rock that has weathered faster than the surrounding rock. The ledge is about 10 feet wide in most places, with a pretty steep drop off toward Sheep Lake. With the shortcut I think you can make it to sheep Lake in 3 hours or less.”

“I loaded google earth. But I am not sure how to navigate there. I am not a computer kinda guy, But I will try”

“In google earth first find Riggins, ID, then go W andS till you find Seven Devils lake. The road ends there, and you will see very nearby Sheep Lake, He Devil, She Devil, and the Mogul.”

“Bob can you map out a trail on the google earth?”

“Its a cool site. However I do not know how to enter the tic for the gps coordinates?”

“I don't know how to draw out the route in google, but I can map it out on software at home, and send you the hard copy along with the sawtooth maps.

If you know the lat long coordinates of a place, you can move your cursor until the displayed coordinates match with the ones you are trying to match. The displayed coordinates change as you move the cursor.

For a look at the route, or parts of it, see George Privot's trip report. He calls the pass the "saddle". There is one part that is exposed, and you have to step across a 2.5 foot gap. That general area is pictured below. That is my wife, and she is not a rock climber and had no problem with it.

”

“oh i see that does change when move the cursor.
I will let you know what I may need as far as maps. Thanks
Saddle ok now jump! LOL”

“Oldog I am still a maybe I will know more as it gets closer.If you get your other 5 hikers to commit before July 1 guess I'll stay home looks like wonderful country love to see it.How much would I be looking at to fly out?”

“my far from dayton is 350.00. Yo bear!”

“from Indy”

“olddog, did you get my email about flip loping the hike?”

“340.00 350.00 don't sound too bad”

“yea, I'm thinking .The reason I set them up that way is the Sawtooths was a easier hike ,but with that said I don't mind either hike is fine with me.
I'm thinking about getting my flight booked .Bear,you and stokley are in correct?”

“As of today yes.”

“Quick, but very important question... Will Beano work at those elevations?”

“no , but I can't smell ,OK I'll work on it
did you see those pictures ,cool huw”

“That was not nice about the beano...leave him alone. Why don't you join us on this trip. Beautiful country, lots of real backpacking and good company.

Oldog, I am definitely in and will book my flight very soon. This is going to be a great trip!”

“Thanks, and I've been hounding (Oldog talk) him about going.”

“I did the Pettit/Toxaway loop in search of The Friendly Ranger in 2000. The Rangers at the office were not at liberty to disclose her location to me - a stranger. But I happened to spy a certain something with the words "Sara" and "Alice" written on it.

Three hours later I was camped at Lake Alice - arguably the most beautiful setting I've ever encountered.

Next morning TFR and another ranger walked into my camp. It was only our second encounter, and the first time I had seen her in a year. She was stunned! LOL!

The other ranger bugged-out next morning from Twin Lakes with a bum knee. Sara and I completed the loop in two more nights - doing trail work by day, and getting aquainted by night.

The National Forest Service's Sawtooth National Recreation Area Is one of our country's must precious treasures.
last edited: 3/10/08 3:59:03 PM”

“I've been kicking around the idea of doing just the Hells Canyon area, looks like we need to check out the Sawtooths as well”

“gojo, we need pictures, quick! What did Sarabelle think?”

“I like the idea of doing a long loop in one place. Yo bear!”

“If might be more convenient and require less driving to just use up all your time in the Sawtooths. Its a four hour drive from there to the Seven Devils. Or if you wanted to come out, wash up, resupply, and hit it again, you could come out of the Sawtooths and then drive an hour from there to the White Clouds, and do another loop. Here is a typical area in the White Clouds:



If I was going to hike either the Sawtooths or the Seven Devils, and had not been to either before, I would for sure pick the Sawtooths, easy decision. They are a bigger range, and you could do a loop that took you through lots of nice lakes and valleys, always surrounded by nice peaks.
last edited: 3/12/08 8:02:00 AM”

“I'll expand the hike to take in more of the Sawtooths.
Less car mileage at $10.00 @ gal .More hiking ,Ah was there ever any question”

“good!yo bear”

“gojo, we need pictures, quick! What did Sarabelle think?”
~idaho bob

Sara had the other ranger take our picture as we stood beside Alice with peaks and a windless reflection as the backdrop. She sent it to me enlarged to an 8x11 and framed. She's cool that way. It's a great pic. I had no camera, btw - in my haste to reach Alice, I left my disposable behind.

The question should be what did Sara think of Belle. Belle took up with me in May of that year. I called her "Belle" as a tribute to a good friend named Belinda, who I usually called Belle. Sara called me in June to make arrangements for a rendevous during my July roadtrip. It was after that call that I prefixed "Sara" to "Belle". Rather than tell Sara what Sarabelle's name was, I had her look at her nametag. She was surprised, and pleased.”

“So are you still in touch with Sara?”

“joe, my how these tales change contex over the years!;> All along I was thinking sara was with her boyfriend at Alice lake.Lost cove version. LOL”

“Jer -
Sara met her bofo (another ranger) on a fire in MT just days after she met me at Powerhouse CG in Atlanta (ID). That was '99. She still had the same guy when I last saw her in '03.

I need to give her a call...”

“Hay! We got me mails with the Frendly Ranger! She is doing verry good. She got a dog named Tom. She sayed he prolly got a perty stinky butt - woowoo!”

“be able to shuttle about 4-5 hikers between Redfish & Pettit lakes August 30, I'll buy you a beer”

“A couple Sawtooth/White Cloud reports I have done:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/9696,-1.php


http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/9380,-1.php”

“Hey Sam, I ammback from the islands. Anything new?”

“just working on the route trying to get us in 40-50 miles ,lots of lakes ,mountains, streams, and wildlife. My! whats a person to do
how was your trip”

“very good. did some good miles. lots of sun and sea!”