My nieces flew into Boise on July 8th. They were greeted by the sigh of the Boise Foothills on fire, pouring smoke into the air as they landed. I had picked up my rental earlier in the day, so we got right into that and headed for the night’s hotel. That night, we shopped at REI for some gear and clothing. I needed some more tent stakes to put up both my backpacking tents at once, and they needed some clothing.
The next morning, we stopped by a grocery store to get food and drinks for the camping days. The backpacking food was all selected and mostly packed at this point. Then I drove them out past Featherville to the Willow Creek Transfer Camp where we spent our first night. We had dinner in Featherville. Much of the day was quite hot, and it was a challenge to stay hydrated.
The next day, I drove us over to the Canyon Transfer Camp near Smoky Bar. I was a bit saddened to see the old green outhouse had been replaced by a more modern pit toilet. And the best spot was occupied but there were no people and the pay stub was out of date. We took the spot I took last year, which has some shade. We ended up moving the tent around during the day because the girls preferred to wear less clothing and hide from the bugs in the tent. My tactic was wearing long pants and long sleeves to protect me from the bugs, allowing me to enjoy the breeze outside the tent.
At one point, there was shade at our site’s little slice of shoreline and I got us all out of the tent to sit by the cool water. I put my feet in, but it was too cold for the girls. The first night, we tried to share my gray and brown blankets, but they were not big enough for three, so each subsequent night, I slept in a sleeping bag while the girls shared the blankets. We also put the rainfly on for additional warmth after the first night.
The next morning, we had to get moving as early as possible. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get them to buy in for a 5 am wakeup call, so we didn’t leave the trailhead until 10:55 am. Just as the day was starting to get incredibly hot. I put my eldest niece in the lead, with her sister between us. I would be the caboose so that no one got left behind and I could keep an eye on things. I could feel myself slowing, especially on the uphill sections. I think that’s from the anemia I got diagnosed with just before the trip. My eldest niece went fast and got us to the low trail in about an hour, nearly two miles. Here, we took a long break to eat and drink, and then got ready to cross the creek.
The low trail crosses the creek four times. We took each one one at a time. I went first each time and watched the girls cross. They did a great job of handling the cold water, maintaining three points of contact, and not panicking. The water was so cold we all ended up with red legs by the end. Then we found shade and took an hour to have lunch, which was desserts from Trailtopia. I also ate a Spam single because I was extra hungry, but I didn’t make them try it.
We got to Skillern at a more relaxed pace and proceeded to do our best to stay cool while we waited for the sun to sink and allow the temperature to become comfortable. A pair of women with three dogs hiked up with packs. They were also here for the hot spring, which one had visited before on a day trip. She was very stoked to find three more women out in the woods. So was I.
When I judged the springs would be free from sun, I told the girls to get ready and we made our way to the very hot Skillern Hot Springs. The pool was almost too hot for me, and I’m used to hot tubbing every week. I think it was 106. We didn’t stay in too long. Afterwards, we spent some time sitting by the river on rocks warmed by the hot springs. Two wolverines checked us out from across the river. Then we went back and ate dinner. Dinner was a hit, especially because it was starting to cool off.
I set up the solo tent for all our gear, and the triplex tent for us to sleep in. We had to layer the closed cell foam pads a bit to get all three to fit inside, but fit they did. And so did we. That part of the plan worked perfectly. I helped my younger niece, who was in the middle, adjust her sleeping quilt so the open part was underneath her instead of on top letting in cold air. We didn’t need to close the doors, so there was no overnight condensation to drip on our heads.
The two women and their dogs left before us in the morning. I envied them their early departure time. Though if I was on my own, I would have been out even earlier. We got going around 9 am, which was better than the day before, but not great. The day was starting to heat up as we reached the high trail. It wasn’t too bad, even with my body dragging. I was indulged with pictures. After we’d been off the high trail for a while, we were passed by horse packers who turned out to be the ones who left their stuff in the best spot.
We willed up the water box before leaving the trailhead. We stopped at the roadside hot spring and rinsed off faces and feet. It was too hot to get in; not the water, but the air temperature. I got us out to Fairfield, a return to cell phone signal for the teenagers. And then I took us to Betty’s Peruvian Restaurant in Bellevue, Idaho for lunch. I had Aji de Gallina, which was spectacular. We all took leftovers for dinner. And then I drove. Hours and hours, I drove, first to Stanley on paved roads that give incredible views of the Sawtooth Mountains. Then on dirt roads that got insanely bad between the turn off for Dagger Falls and the Deadwood Outfitters Lodge. I passed Deer Flat, where we saw a deer. We saw antelope on the side of the road. And we ended up spending the night at Trout Creek Campground on Johnson Creek Road, just a couple hours from Big Creek.
We watched Hoppers that night in the tent, which was a super fun movie. The next day, we made it to Big Creek and all got showers. The girls were relieved to be with wifi at the lodge. I was relieved to be without it at the campground. We had dinner at the lodge that night, which I thought was delicious.
I think the night at Big Creek was the best one. Because the next morning, I came upon both girls awake and giggling before the alarm, after I’d gone to the lodge to remind my phone, now plugged into a charger, that it was in fact not February 24, 2024. I should have screenshot that, darn. We had breakfast at the lodge, and I bought the girls hoodies, which they proceeded to wear, even in 90+ degree heat.
On the way to my home, we stopped at the McCall Albertsons to get some lunch type food. In Cambridge, we had pizza for dinner from the place in town. We watched some movies. They used their phones. I wanted to give a grand tour but didn’t really get a chance. My period had started that morning, and I was definitely feeling out of sorts with guests in my home for whom I was responsible.
The next day, we headed to Boise. We stopped by the Midvale Mercantile, and Literary Paws in Weiser. I got books for them, and one for myself. We got a car wash to get the worst of the road dust off my rental, and stopped for Icees. At the hotel in Boise, we decided to go simple for dinner and pick things up within walking distance. The next morning, I got them to the airport and returned the rental. They got through security just after I arrived to see if they were still there.
I know there were parts of the trip that each of them enjoyed more than others. And parts that were not at all enjoyable, like my younger niece having to adapt to a morning wake up schedule when she’s accustomed to waking up after noon every day. But I executed my gameplan. I got them out here and showed them some interesting things. Things they couldn’t see in Chicago, or even Illinois. It’s a memory for them, an experience.