Though I’d hope to get on another hike to Sawtooth and Alpine Lake, the blisters on my feet were having none of it. So I was glad I could switch gears and inflate the packraft at Stanley Lake which sits in a beautiful basin under McGowan Peak. There was a big earthquake with an epicenter near there a few years ago and the lake level dropped overnight. It was interesting to paddle along the shoreline with a forest that was now dead from being underwater by about eight feet.
After restocking in Stanley, I drove an hour west to Grandjean, a very tiny locale in a deep valley whose main attraction is Sacajawea Hot Spring and also the trailhead for another access point to the Sawtooth Backpacking Loop. My lodging this night at Sawtooth Lodge was the total opposite of the Bill Harrah Suite… it was a rustic old cabin with a tin roof, no WiFi in the valley, a creaky porch looking across the valley and electricity that was turned off by 10:00 pm. It was perfect, actually. There was also a lodge that served surprising delicious meals, including milkshakes, and had a friendly staff.
Their main attraction was a pool that was filled by pumping water from the hot springs. They also had a meadow with several stock tanks in it that could be filled by guests to whatever temperature suited them. Kind of awesome and just like one of those commercials with people sitting in a bathtub in a meadow. I walked down to the primitive hot springs for the afternoon and found a spot for a good soak. The river it was on was a bright, crystal blue. It was a gorgeous setting. I had an amazing veggie gyro for dinner and soaked in a stock tank afterwards as the sun was setting.
To finish the day, I sat on the porch and watched the stars come out. This is a dark sky area and the stars were so bright! Had to head to Boise the next morning and fly out to make it back to Seattle for a swim meet. But this trip is one for the books. I’d like to go back and get out rafting.
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