Blue Gulch - Rapid River

First, a little Covid explanation. We were traveling 'safe' with Dave wearing a surgical mask in my truck; a surgical mask with little bunnies imprinted on it, courtesy of Dave's wife, the pediatric surgeon. And when we got back to the truck, I used a Clorox wipe to disinfect the celebratory beer that Dave had brought for me. Leaves a little after-taste, but safety third!

I picked Dave up a few minutes before 8, and we were off. It was going to be a big day. I have been up Rapid River many times, including all the way up to the McRae cabin. And I have been up Blue Gulch to Cannon Ball Mountain. But I haven't connected the two trails until today.

And we knew it was going to be a big one: 15 miles with a ton of gain. Dave has been riding a lot, but doesn't have much hiking miles on yet. And me, well, I'm just old.

When we arrived at the trailhead, there were three horse trailers unloading. We had Ruby, who is a little afraid of horses. Her fear makes her bark at them. So we had to scoot to avoid interaction. As we headed down the trail, two horses were gaining on us and there is no place to get off. So we sort of jogged the first half mile to the intersection with the Blue Gulch trail where we could get out of their way. Then it was low gear up the steep hillside to this view.

This is not a heavily used trail. Which made us feel all the more spoiled.

But note that throughout the day, the trail we followed was 'intermittent'.

We're going to be climbing that wooded hillside. And if I do it right, this time will be on a trail (see the above-linked trip up Cannon Ball to learn how to do it wrong).

Blue Gulch

I was feeling a little dissappointed because last time I saw elk here.

Crossing the creek in Blue Gulch. And on a trail!

This hike takes you from dry grasslands to beds of moss and back to grass again. Several times.

From here, we were climbing a north-facing, shaded slope. As a result, we hit a few small patches of very firm snow. But no real problem, and glad we didn't carry snowshoes.

Then back onto sunny slopes. Puppy on the trail. Snow on the horizon. Elk in the woods.

Ruby posing with more elk in the woods.

Click for the bigger pictures where you might be able to see the elk. Same technique works if you are trying to see the trail....

Zoom in on elk.

More elk.

Looking back at some of the country we were crossing. I think the snowy bit in the background is Southwest Butte.

There was more to see than just elk. I think the peak on the right is The Ogre.

Back to the elk again.

Are you getting this, Craig? I could have zoomed and cropped to make the elk more evident, but the grandeur of the country is not to be diminished.

The trail we were following is not on the map. So this is to show there really is a trail.

Then we spooked a group of mulies from their shaded siesta.

It's interesting how elk run uphill and mulies run down. Here, mulies down.

More elk. More mountains.

Can't see the elk? Click for the bigger version.

We had been doing a high traverse for miles. Meanwhile, the sun was moving across the sky. It was with some relief that the trail finally started going down, down down. And it was also a relief to find an easy bridge over Bridge Creek.

Just like the trees across the creek here, there were now lots of trees across the trail. Climbing over deadfall is hard work for tired legs.

All those horses from this morning were at the McRae cabin, maybe 15 of them? And they were wandering about in the meadow, as were their riders. So with Ruby on a leash, I had my hands full and did not take a single picture. So I stole this one from Dave.

Here we are, Ruby running free again, crossing the bridge over McRae creek. Below here there were again tons of trees in the trail. I was skeptical when the horse folks said there were about 30. Rightfully so, because I think that was an undercount.

We were moving at a quick plod, making up for the more leisurely pace (with rest stops, even!) earlier in the day. So not a lot of photos. Here, we're about to turn left into the canyon of the main river. If you want to see more of Rapid River, check the link at the top of the page.

From McRae on down, we lost some of that Private Idaho feel. There were people camped at Potters Place, with more backpackers heading up the hill. But it was still beautiful.

This is in the main canyon, just above Second Bridge. Shadows moving in.

Somewhere below here we did take a short 'lunch' break, our third or fourth for the day. And then it was beat feet for the truck.

This was an absolutely incredible hike. But hard work.

Sorry, no picture of Dave wearing his bunny mask on the way home.

Dave's pictures (Part 1)

Dave's pictures (Part 2)

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