Woke up to snow on the mountains above Ketchum and Sun Valley. The temperatures dipped into the 30’s overnight.

Ernest Hemingway spent just final years in Ketchum, Idaho. I located the street he lived on in his final years, but the house itself is closed and has very clear “No Trespassing” signs at the beginning of his street. Apparently the house has been vacant for almost 60-years.

Drove to some hot springs outside Of Ketchum. The hot spring was a small pool located within a creek.

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Points of Interest

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Drive from Ketchum, Idaho to Outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Beautiful drive from Ketchum, Idaho to the Wyoming border. Stopped for the night at a campground next to a small creek.

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Atomic City

Atomic City was called “Midway” until 1950, as it is halfway between the towns of Blackfoot and Arco. The town had a larger population when the neighboring Idaho National Laboratory site was newer, known as the “National Reactor Testing Station” until 1975. Apparently there was a small meltdown in the testing station and the town never recovered.

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Began the day with a four-and-a half hour bike ride on the Wood River Trail. Ride from Ketchum / Sun Valley to Hailey, getting in a total of 37 miles.

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Afternoon ride into the hills. Caught a thunderstorm with heavy hail. It was a rather cold ride back to the van.

Drove to Ketchum, Idaho.

Started the morning biking the trails outside of Bend, Oregon. Bend has a very nice mountain bike trail system for all levels of skill.

Drove through the John Day Canyon heading east out of Oregon. Stopped for the night at in Depot Park in Prairie City heading to Ketchum, Idaho since many of the things to see I’m Washington State are closed.

Biking up the Deschutes River today. It’s in the low 50’s today and threatening rain.

Had some pizza in downtown Bend overlooking the park on the river.

Found the REI in town. Very cool building!

Camping this evening in the Deschutes National Forest. This area is right outside of Bend and actually crowded with folks that look like they are staying for the summer. Lots of old-school converted busses and ancient motor homes and campers.

Camped outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming last night. Got up before sunrise and drove over the hill to Jackson Hole.

Visited Grand Teton National Park. Bought some bear spray, as last time I was at Jenny Lake I had a run-in with a grizzly bear mom and cub. Hiked around Jenny Lake, up to the falls, and Inspiration Point. With the crowds and lack of social distancing, hiking in a mask was necessary.

Sampled some of the local brew at Snake River Brewing company. Camped in the parking lot.

At Lake of the Woods Oregon. Got some lake time and biking on the High Lakes Trail.

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Drove to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Hiked Mt. Lassen 1,957 feet of elevation change in 2.5 miles. Made it up to the top in one hour 50 minutes. Portions of the trail are still covered with snow.

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Woke up to a rather busy camp with workers arriving first working on replacing polls for the multiple power and other lines running through the site. Another guy showed up for a run with his dog. Then the four-wheelers started to arrive.

I’m camping close to where I spent many weeks each summer at scout camp. According to the map on my phone I’m about 3 miles away from my favorite swimming hole. My bright idea was to bike out there. How long could it take for a six mile round trip? Well . . . apparently 3 hours and 36 minutes to ride 10-miles because I missed a turn. Of course I didn’t have cell service out there so I couldn’t tell where I was relative to where I wanted to be. So, there was a little bit of trial and error.

The road – if you could call it that – was full of rocks, roots, mud, and water, up to 18 inches deep in places. I’m lucky that it was 70 degrees out because my feet where wet.

I did finally come across the place I was looking for and it was just as great as I remembered.

After the bike ride I headed to the van dealer in Reno, Nevada, as my back doors somehow got out of alignment and I could see light coming through. At the dealer I enjoyed their assortment of beverages and took advantage of a very clean restroom. Alas, they couldn’t fix the doors and sent me in my way. I went to the hardware store and got some weather stripping and some Gorilla Tape. I will perform surgery in the morning.

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The Chimney: This chimney belonged to a restaurant built in 1935 and burned to the ground in 1960. There is a Christmas-eve tradition for locals to gather and light a fire, sing Christmas carols and toast those that have gone on to the golden hills.

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Found a place to camp at Wilson Lake in the National Forest.

Began the morning at the Tunnel Creek Station Cafe to meet the shuttle that takes you to Spooner Lake that gets you to the beginning of the Flume Trail.

After being dropped off at Spooner Lake, there is a 4-mile fairly steep climb to get to the beginning of the Flume Trail. With the elevation of 8-thousand feet, the steepness and length of climb, I ended up pushing the bike up the hill after the third mile.

Back in the day, the flume began at Marlette Lake.

The Flume Trail itself is narrow with steep drop-offs. The views from the trail are beautiful.

Did some additional riding on the very beautiful Incline Village to Sand Harbor Bike Path.

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Drove from Tahoe, through Truckee, California and on to where I spent many summers at scout camp.