Gods Country!

Not all of my travels have been to populated places. In fact, the most remote places in the USA are what recharge my batteries. It is not about being a mountain man or getting back to nature. It is so serene, and it fills your senses.

• You can hear sounds that others miss after a couple of days to adjust from the honling horns, sirens, and road noise.
• You can smell the grass - the animals - the trees - the fresh air. These odors become even more rich as your nostrils rid themselves of the pollution stains of urban life.
• When camping, everything tastes better. Whether you are cooking over the fire or have brought your campstove the food just tastes better. Perhaps the hiking and exploring add to its intensity!

Going for a hike, taking nap by a high mountain pond, animal watching, or just sitting next to the fire, these moments are priceless.

“I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.” - Steve McQueen

I have done my best to spend as much time as possible in far-away places. Here are a few pictures of one trip in the Idaho backcountry:

This is the southerly view from the Beartrap Lookout in the Sawtooth Range, in Idaho.

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From this location my satellite phone did not work, so I called their technical support from my cell phone. It worked, just enough for them to tell me they were having problems because of adding more satellites. The nearest town is about 60 miles beyond my car.

From the high mountains of central Idaho to streets of San Francisco and downtown Manhattan, this Ford Explorer has been everywhere! Maybe I will dig up some more pictures of the travels of this vehicle for other postings.

Have you ever wondered what a lookout really looks like? You could drive 8 hours northeast from Boise... or just take a peak. Here is the decommissioned Oreana Lookout (elevation 8,075 feet):

Hungry? Thirsty? Too bad... but if you were lost in the woods this would make a decent temporary shelter, complete with a fireplace.

Here is the view that this lookout affords:

There are risks that go with being in the backcountry. On this trip, my friend Wayne and I discovered a pack of wolves. We were able to determine this by their paw prints in the snow. A little disconcerting when you are 60 miles or over two hours drive, up a gravel road without any form of communication to the outside world. Then the late October weather turned cold and snowed on us, but of course it was absolutely beautiful as you can see:

There were other pictures from this trip that I would like to share but will save them for another posting. I hope you enjoy this little trip down memory lane. As a current resident of New Jersey, this is reassuring and helps with the homesickness that I experience.