October Picture Challenge

Just fer fun, we thought we would start a once-a-month contest to test your familiarity with area attractions, landmarks, etc.....the first person to correctly identify the above picture wins a $25 Mud Creek gift card. Woo-hoo! Hope this one isn't too tough for y'all. Just e-mail us your best guess, but keep in mind that broad answers can be trumped by a more specific one. The winner will be notified in the November Mud Creek newsletter.

Heavens Gate Lookout

School was delayed a week this year, so we were able to sneak in an afternoon at Heaven's Gate Lookout with the girls the last week of August. This is a great place to take out of town visitors who have seen all the local lakes & trees already. From the lookout you can see 4 states; Idaho, Oregon, Washington & Montana. Canada too, I suppose, if you have really good eyesight.

It was surprisingly chilly for late August, but then the whole summer has been very mild. Here we have the gang bundled up & posing at the parking lot sign, before heading up the trail.

To get to the lookout from New Meadows, you head down to Riggins turning left on Seven Devils Road. Seven Devils road climbs up through an interesting residential area and then turns to dirt after a few miles. Once you arrive at the top you have a choice of parking in the large lot, going on to Seven Devils campground, or continuing on to the lookout parking area. From the lookout parking area, you have a 3/4 mile hike up to the lookout itself.

Excellent views in all directions. Here Gordy is looking north, with the seven devils behind him. Below is looking down towards the parking lot. You can see Oregon & Hells Canyon in the distance.

They did a great job with the signage. This one points out six of the seven devils: Black Imp, The Goblin, The Ogre, Tower of Babel, She Devil and He Devil.

Don't forget to pack a picnic lunch. Only one bench to sit on, but plenty of rocks.

The views from the lookout restroom can't be beat. More modern facilities can be found at the main parking lot, but this one certainly has it's charm.

I wouldn't want to make the climb back up to the lookout from the facilities in the dark.Looking towards Montana.Another must see is Seven Devils Lake. To find it you drive to the campground, park near the marked trail head and hike about 1/2 mile. It's a very small lake, but it gives you a taste of the seven devils lakes that can only be accessed by several hours of hiking.

Loon Lake Loop

The Loon Lake loop, either on foot or by bike, is one of those things we have wanted to do for a long time. Last summer we were riding every Tuesday and the Loon Lake loop was on the list of things that were going to get done...then it was on fire, and no longer an option. That's what procrastination will get you!

This Tuesday when Gordy's ride with a friend fell through, we decided at the last minute to ride Loon Lake Trail. We made rushed arrangements for the kids to have a place to go after school, packed up the bikes and headed up Warren Wagon Road to Secesh Meadows. Gordy liked the public phone booth Secesh offers:

Not far past Secesh Meadows is the Chinook Campground and the Loon Lake trail head. We had opted to do the shorter 11 mile loop, rather than the 20 mile loop from Ruby Meadows. The trail heading downstream starts nice, wide and level. Very soon it starts to climb and the edge drops away to the Secesh River below.

I haven't been on my mountain bike much this summer, so I just didn't realized how much of my carefree biking attitude I lost when I crashed last summer. The more we climbed the more I realized what a big chicken I had become.

Speaking of my big crash... this lovely couple came into the store the other day. I don't think they have been in since they were here visiting last summer. So they were telling me about being at Burgdorf this weekend and how a mountain biker there had taken a big fall, huge gash on his head, split his helmet in two....and of course, right way, "we though of you!" they said. Hmm. Yes, the fame of my 'mad skillz' lives on.

The trail climbed and dipped for 3.3 miles along the Secesh, according to my odometer. I walked the parts that really wigged me out. Gordy did not walk.Looking downstream from the bridge:At 3.3 miles (or 4, according to the guidebook) you have the option of crossing the river or continuing on to Whangdoodle Trail. I think this is a hotsprings but I need to do more research to be sure. I just liked the name.

We crossed the bridge and started the climb through a considerably more fire-swept area. It was steep climbing for a third of mile or so. I fell off my bike twice here and the second time managed to clear out my odometer with my flailing. Mad Skillz!

I found that taking pictures was a perfectly valid excuse for stopping along the trail. Gasp, wheeze, pant.The trail goes in and out of the burned areas. I kept kicking myself for not seeing this before it burned.

Impressive number of bridges built along the trail.

Some feathered friends along the trail.
Here Gordy has found a solution for what to do with the bag of crackers while trying to snack along the trail. You simply hang it off your pack strap with an ordinary household clip. Genius!Looking upstream from one of the bridges.

The area is clearly recovering from the fire. It was beautiful even with the fire damage, and will be spectacular again one day. Mother Nature doing her thing.