The North Idaho Front Porch (Star, Clark Fork: beetle, rust, union)

[oregonwoodsmoke]

First frost last night. When do you all have your sprinkler systems blown out?

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by volosong

From yesterday's hike. Didn't bring my camera, so took a few snapshots with the cell phone.

Great pictures...........

Oh, ....regarding your previous post..........I'm curious: ....would you recommend carrying a can of Pepper Spray?......And, would you recommend wearing a pair of "ankle-supported" hiking boots instead of sneakers for crossing those rock fields!

In years past, (when I was several years younger and living alone. and prone to take off on some "day-hunts" alone in the mountains,...." I would leave an informative message on the seat of my truck.......and also on my home telephone answering machine, along with a note on the kitchen table saying: ...."check answering machine for info on where I went on that day's hunt"!

On occasion when I would do one of these "solo" day-hunts on horseback, I sometimes would get as high in elevation as 10,000 feet, which can complicate some sets of circumstances.

Just some thoughts from an "old guy".............

[shades_of_idaho]

Volosong those are some Beautiful shots. LOVE the log across the path. Yep some days we have bumps in our road. Hope you are rested today and not too sore.

[volosong]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

First frost last night. When do you all have your sprinkler systems blown out?

Neighbor just came over, (we have a shared hydro system), and our blow out is scheduled three weeks out. But, forecast says freezing temps at the end of next week, so I have to empty, break down, and bring in my four-tier Medici lion fountain and Roman statues.

[volosong]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

Great pictures...........

Oh, ....regarding your previous post..........I'm curious: ....would you recommend carrying a can of Pepper Spray?......And, would you recommend wearing a pair of "ankle-supported" hiking boots instead of sneakers for crossing those rock fields!

Thanks. On the pepper spray, no. Bear spray, maybe. That range doesn't have many bears. They range a bit further north and east. And that area is too "busy" with human activity. On my trek up, I passed two solo hikers on the way down. And as I was on the way down, I passed a couple on the way up. This was in about a three-hour window in the middle of the day. Also, there is a lot of vehicular traffic on those dirt forest roads.

Ankle supported boots is a very good idea. I was stupid. Hadn't planned to do the hike, was only on a recon drive to the trailhead. Once I was there, I said to myself, "why not?". Shorts, sneakers, a light sweater on a 50˚ drizzly day? At least I took my GPS, topo map, and water.

Letting someone know where I was headed is a good idea too. I have to admit that the thought crossed my mind where I wondered how long I would have to wait for help if I became incapacitated. I'll have to ponder how to let someone know when I take more adventures. Not sure how I'd do that because I like to be fluid and go wherever the winds blow me. North Idaho is a fantastic place! So much to see.

[volosong]

Originally Posted by shades_of_idaho

Volosong those are some Beautiful shots. LOVE the log across the path. Yep some days we have bumps in our road. Hope you are rested today and not too sore.

Thanks. I'm good. Have a group hike in the Post Falls Community Forest later today. Not sore at all.

On those logs . . . I've seen logs like that my whole life, but only yesterday did I understand why they are there. This trail is in very good condition. The logs are there to divert water off the trail and over the side. Because of the steepness of the trail, and because the center of a path is usually beaten down with all the traffic, water would naturally flow down the middle of the path and erode it considerably. These logs were about every 50-100 meters, at an angle to the path and stuck up enough to act as a "dam" and divert water off the path.

[shades_of_idaho]

Originally Posted by volosong

Thanks. I'm good. Have a group hike in the Post Falls Community Forest later today. Not sore at all.

On those logs . . . I've seen logs like that my whole life, but only yesterday did I understand why they are there. This trail is in very good condition. The logs are there to divert water off the trail and over the side. Because of the steepness of the trail, and because the center of a path is usually beaten down with all the traffic, water would naturally flow down the middle of the path and erode it considerably. These logs were about every 50-100 meters, at an angle to the path and stuck up enough to act as a "dam" and divert water off the path.

AH Ha. This of course makes sense. Never thought on it.Even so the trees and just the path all Beautiful. Glad you are not sore today. Enjoy your afternoon jaunt.

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by volosong

From yesterday's hike. Didn't bring my camera, so took a few snapshots with the cell phone.

Your cellphone will do! Those are wonderful, atmospheric images. And down here (SoCal) we're in for another 88-degree day... Sigh...

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by Montana Griz

Great pictures...........

Oh, ....regarding your previous post..........I'm curious: ....would you recommend carrying a can of Pepper Spray?......And, would you recommend wearing a pair of "ankle-supported" hiking boots instead of sneakers for crossing those rock fields!

In years past, (when I was several years younger and living alone. and prone to take off on some "day-hunts" alone in the mountains,...." I would leave an informative message on the seat of my truck.......and also on my home telephone answering machine, along with a note on the kitchen table saying: ...."check answering machine for info on where I went on that day's hunt"!

On occasion when I would do one of these "solo" day-hunts on horseback, I sometimes would get as high in elevation as 10,000 feet, which can complicate some sets of circumstances.

Just some thoughts from an "old guy".............

Hey Griz, good to see you! I've made a habit of keeping a note in my car when I'm driving through lonely, rural stretches, with contact info if something were to happen to me. Same note inside my cell-phone case. I usually don't hike alone--if I do, I have the dogs with me (so I'm not alone! ), but one never knows if one has to hoof it from one place to another, in an emergency, and what one might encounter. I've always been into alternative scenarios so I'm at least half-way prepared for the unexpected...(nice illusion, isn't it?) .

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Originally Posted by shades_of_idaho

Volosong those are some Beautiful shots. LOVE the log across the path. Yep some days we have bumps in our road. Hope you are rested today and not too sore.

Love your metaphor, even if the logs turned out to be put there on purpose!