Jimmy Smith Lake, Idaho

The Ridge could only get us to the trail head. Only foot or horseback from there, a two mile trip. It was our best and warmest day of our June trip. Fishing wasn't good, only two fish in about two hours. It was a nice hike and of course the dogs loved it.

It was peaceful and we didn't see another soul up there.

I can't have a post on the ROC without pics of our Ridgeline. After leaving Jimmy Smiths lake we continued south up the East Fork of the Salmon River until we got to a locked gate.

Beautiful country! It looks very peaceful and relaxing.

Here's more scenery from the canyon.

We took a different road back to camp so we could see something new. It connected to the highway south of Challis. We got into a couple of mildly rutted areas and passed some snowfields, but nothing challenging to the truck. The Lost River Mountains in the distance are the tallest in Idaho and were still fairly snowed in. We also spotted this moose with her baby in the willows.

OK, the best for last in this bunch. This is one of my favorite pics of the truck. I love the evidence of our backroad adventures on the bottom with the reflection of the clouds above the crease line.

Thanks for shareing those SWEET photos !!

My parents live in Priest River ID...........:D

Looks like good times, Truckin'.

WOW- great pics!

Great pictures Truckin'..thanks for sharing.

Thanks for shareing those SWEET photos !!

My parents live in Priest River ID...........:D

We have friends in the Priest River area and in St. Maries. It's pretty up north too, but not as dramatic.

Thanks for sharing the great pic's! looks like a great area!

Wow Truckin, These are unbelievably gorgeous pictures! Did the “Big Guy” find these back roads on the Navi?

those are great pics. ;) what kind of camera are you useing?

5S Dude, I'm the recreational director, trip planner and the navigator of the family. BIGGUY rarely even makes a suggestion about where we should explore. He hasn't figured out how to operate NAVI beyond the basics. That's my realm.

We'd been to Mosquito Lake once before, but approached it from the west instead of the east. That's the place I describe in my other post. In all our years of exploring the surrounding area, we'd never driven up the East Fork Canyon. It was a Forest Service worker at the local "Land of the Yankee Fork" visitor center on the outskirts of Challis who told us about the hike into Jimmy Smith's. This visitor center is a must do if you are in the area.

This was the first time that we used NAVI off road and we were delighted to see every single dirt road we took was in the system. When I had trouble finding us on the paper map for cross reference (the dirt and small roads disappear when you zoom out) we'd just hit the enter button and I'd use the long/lat readings to find us on the maps. The NAVI system did a much better job of naming the roads we were on, even if it was only FS - 138, or in the case of the fuzzy photo, Challis Creek Road (camera focus problem--the screen has a sharp display). There are signs only at the main intersections of the most used roads and the paper maps didn't have the roads named either.

I'm unhappy with Alpine's decision if these minor roads are gone on the newest software release for the NAV system. That's what Chief is reporting. I will not be upgrading, because you can't just swap it out and go back to your old DVD.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4334

We went on another trek based on a recommendation from the Forest Service worker that wasn't as scenic, but now we can say we've been there too.

Checking with the BLM and/or Forest Service is something I like to do especially when we're in new territory. The people who live and work in the area can give invaluable suggestions. I will be checking in more religiously with the Ridgeline to get an idea about road conditions, even in areas we know. A year ago in S. Utah we saw at least four roads that had been washed out and knew of two other washouts we didn't travel to in the Henry Mountains. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the power of heavy rain. I'm glad we were in the Trooper on that trip because at least one of the places we had to turn around would have been questionable with the RL's turning radius. Other than the washouts, the Ridge could have gone on any of the roads on that trip.

those are great pics. ;) what kind of camera are you useing?

Thanks. I got a new digital after having a dreadful cheap one. Mine is in the class of super zooms (12x optical) and that's one of the primary reasons I got it. It also fits my hand securely and perfectly. It's a Konica Minolta Z3. They are up to Z6 now. I'm thrilled with it. The macro zoom is as impressive as the distance zoom. Mine's only 3 or 4 megapixel, but that's plenty for me. I think the new one is 5.

This flower cluster is less than 1 1/2 inches wide.

Man, those are some scrawny pack mules! Hope you packed some ALPO in there for them. I bet they did have a ball in those boonies. How do you keep them from scootin' off after rabbits & such?

Totally beautiful country!:) You just can't beat the west. Makes me want to just get out and go hiking more often....at least when spring arrives! Someday I'm going to explore more of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. I just can't explain why I love that type of land so darn much.:D

WOW!! Beautiful country. Thanks for sharing it with us. Great photos. :)

Man, those are some scrawny pack mules! Hope you packed some ALPO in there for them. I bet they did have a ball in those boonies. How do you keep them from scootin' off after rabbits & such?

No doubt that we had something good for them in there and they always get some of our picnic too.

These girls are very people centered. They have been known to chase after a squirrel or two, but when it really matters, they stick close. They jumped a deer one day and actually let it run off when I told them to stay. I've had other dogs who would have been in hot pursuit.

Great Pics! Some beautiful country up there! I gotta hit the road more often :p

Man, we are missing out in the Northeast. Not much wide open country to explore. A lot of heavily wooded areas. Someday, me and my Ridge will get out west to explore!!! Great Pics and thanks.:D

Absolutely stunning pictures, Truckin'. Thanks for posting them.

My pleasure to let folks see the places we get to explore. I love getting out and photographing our adventures.

I hope it inspires more RL owners to do the same.

Great pictures Truckin', especially the ones with the critters.:D
I do love the wildlife!

My pleasure to let folks see the places we get to explore. I love getting out and photographing our adventures.

I hope it inspires more RL owners to do the same.

Thanks Truckin' (and BIGGUY)! You are inspiring me! We are still waiting for our reservations to come through for Banff this summer, when we will be going up through Idaho. Getting kinda worried as it gets closer.

I look forward to more of your pictures from the great outdoors up there! You're right between my brother and my mom, who live in Okanogan, WA and Star Valley Ranch, WY. It is beautiful up there!

Beautiful photos Truckin' !!!