My Private Idaho

                                                         
                                         


        The dry, wool socks feel good after barefooting the mountain stream. Just deep and wide enough to deter most two-leggers, the water crossing gives the area I'm headed into a certain remoteness; it's one of the more unsullied places I've found here in N. Idaho.

       I will not disclose the location of this area, but I will describe it. The only access road cuts and winds through a long, dog-legged canyon, with high ridges on both sides. Narrow, heavily wooded sub ridges and dark defiles pour into the main drainage; most of the terrain is very steep. Hiking from the road to the main ridgeline can be demanding.

       But once the steep bottom portion of the climb is accomplished (approx. 1/4- 1/3  way up), one begins finding little nooks and perches; flat spots amongst difficult terrain, sure to invite a stop, a rest; a look around.

       One finds evidence of this happening in the spoor, sign, scat, and beds of creatures of all sizes. I am continually impressed by the variety of wildlife here.

       Higher still the ground begins to ease back, and larger benches and wooded bowls present; our forests this time of year are magnificent. Larch trees create pockets of fire sparsely coupled with mountain ash and birch or aspen; the ubiquitous vine maple. The high country opens up at times, revealing rocky outcrops and huckleberry amphitheaters.

       One also finds the source of water here; little swelling springs and gurgling brooks fed from underground shelves and pools. It's very clean and pure in taste.

       The highest ridges are usually exposed rock with the saddles typically a cluster of stunted jack pine, many permanently bowed and twisted from winter snowpack. One finds a quite different environment up here than down below, especially if you're exposed to the almost constant wind out of the W/SW. From around Portland and up the Columbia and out over the Palouse comes our weather, mostly.

       Almost constant wind. At times nature takes a breath and there's a calm. Some of my most peaceful, quiet days have been spent high in the mountain arena with the world at your feet, and not a breath in the sky. Solitary moments only achieved after much toil.

       Other times nature deals a sharp blow; what's the opposite of serenity? The weather can become so fierce as to be frightening. Weather and temperatures can change quickly, and one needs to be prepared for this at all times of the year. Sharp temperature gradients are harbingers for electric storms; at times, one can be hard put to find a safe place, hopefully out of the wind. Any weather is almost always accompanied by moisture. After an hour or so of hiking, I decide to stop for a rest.




       The sun crests the divide, it's rays penetrating the dark forest I'm sitting in at right angles, creating a wonderful array of avenues, halls, and shafts of light. Birds and wildlife become more active when you are still for a time, and I am entertained by their antics. My mind drifts, my body calmed by the sudden warmth of the sun.

       The other day my friend Dave Renner told me "thanks"; because of me he now thinks about things like water and air trapped in plastic water bottles and other airtight containers. Precious resources in high demand now removed from a finite supply already taxed. I cannot help noting things such as these.

       I feel our current assessment of "climate change" is a bit off base; far too shallow actually. And thus our proposals to change or fix things will be misplaced and prove to be less than effective.

       However one believes we got here, ever since mankind has existed on the earth we have taken and used and plundered and hunted and chopped things down. We move stones, turn over the earth, burn mass amounts of timber; all the while generating and disposing of copious amounts of human waste.

       We still do the same thing; it's unavoidable. And since we are part of nature, what we do, good or bad, right or wrong, is natural. It's how and how much we impact that matters. We have a collective quality of life due to strong people in the past following their own examples and convictions. The why is not the debate; the action is merely observed. We may or may not change the series of events unfolding before us, but we can adapt.