THORN CREEK BUTTE LOOKOUT.

I woke up this morning SO ready for an adventure--and indeed, I FOUND IT!  What an amazing day it turned out to be!  I decided to head toward Idaho City with a rather vague plan to visit at least one of the three fire lookouts in the area.  At the very last moment I chose to begin with Thorn Creek Butte Lookout, the most remote of the three.  Armed with my atlas, I planned out my route and set off up the mountain.  It was such a beautiful morning!  If only I could bottle the smell of the woods just after it rains!  I rode with the windows down all day--granted I had the heat cranked--but I just couldn't bear to lock out the supremely delightful smell of the mountains!  Additionally, with the fall season in full force, the hills were decorated with absolute beauty!  I always feel as if I somehow belong in the woods but never so much as I did today!  Knowing that snow will soon prevent such mountainous adventures, I frantically tried to memorize the sights, the sounds, the smells--to shove them in, like a crazed chipmunk!  There is so much fall enthusiasm coursing through me right now, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to find my own crazed chipmunk cheeks bulging a bit!  I have once again brought the memories I've gathered to add to my stockpile here.  I'll store them for winter--hoping that as I engage in these last desperate adventures before the cold and the snow, it will be enough to carry me through until spring.  Without trying to worry too much about the dreaded WINTER SEASON, I'll drop this nutty little adventure on top of my pile before I head out in search of yet another!

    

Although I have traditionally HATED this time of year, simply because it signals the arrival of my most dreaded and despised seasons, I absolutely fell in love with fall today!

    

  

  

Thorn Creek Road . . . 

which was one of the FEW times over the course of the entire day, that I knew where I was!  Turns out my road atlas is entirely worthless when it comes to venturing into the mountains!

PRAYER LABYRINTH.

SOMEWHERE back in the mountains (while I was on a road that clearly did not lead to the lookout) I came across this prayer labyrinth.  It is definitely not something you normally see in the woods!  There was a big sign that explained why it was there, who put it there and how to properly use a prayer labyrinth.  There was a woman there, walking the labyrinth.  I started to walk in, just to look at all the various painted rocks that lined the paths but got so suddenly CREEPED OUT, I didn't go in!  I took these quick pictures from afar and scurried back to my truck.  I'm going to do some research on prayer labyrinths and the organization that claims to use it regularly--perhaps my lack of knowledge caused my uncomfortableness.  How strange, though, that after spending the entire day in the woods BY MYSELF, this is the only time I was freaked out! 

As I hinted at above, Thorn Creek Road somehow never actually manages to get to Thorn Creek Butte Lookout--despite the fact that my atlas shows it goes straight to it!  I wandered around in the mountains--got momentarily excited by this CELL PHONE REPEATER (doesn't it look like a drive-in movie theater screen?) and then somehow ended up popping back out on Highway 21--miles up from where I originally departed it.

Idaho City.

Upon hitting the pavement again, I was still fiercely determined to FIND THAT LOOKOUT!  I drove on into Idaho City and stopped at the Forest Service Ranger station to ask for better directions.  Feeling absolutely no confidence in the advice I received, I decided I had better stop for some lunch before heading up the mountain again--but not before exploring the city a bit!

  

There are so many restaurants in Idaho City--NONE of which look like safe establishments to eat in!  I decided on THE GOLD MINE which was the one with the most cars with local plates parked out front!  Isn't that a fancy way to pick a place to eat!  I soon discovered the place was packed.  There was only one empty table and, as I walked in, EVERY SINGLE head swiveled to stare at me!  I was so intimidated, I almost walked back out!  However, after placing my order I headed to use the restroom and discovered a delightful bar area!  (I also discovered that whoever cleverly carved DOES on the door of the women's restroom, should have practiced his talent a bit more.  I swear I stood there, reading BUCKS on one door and DOGS on the other!  Talk about being confused about which door to go in!) 

The ceiling in the bar was COVERED with DOLLAR BILLS all signed with Sharpies by the patrons who left them!  So, of course, I quickly dug a dollar out of my purse, signed one of my own, and tacked it to the ceiling before I left!

TESS CORMELL

ADVENTURE ON, BABY!

~2008~

(i am particularly fond of the bow george is wearing!)

After lunch at The Gold Mine, I headed out, following the direction the lady at the Forest Service, had given me.  I can't believe, "Drive straight through town and turn right at the sign that says Thorn Creek Butte Lookout" actually worked!  Imagine my elation when I came around a corner and could finally SEE the lookout (while simultaneously realizing I still hadn't suffered major stomach discomfort from the food I consumed at The Gold Mine)! 

While I was stopped to photograph the lookout from afar (and to double check for food poisoning) my voicemail messages came through!  Guess that Drive-In Theater Repeater actually works!  So I checked my message and  then debated with myself about the appropriateness of doing so before continuing onward and upward.

 

An Aspen Grove . . .

  

  

  

  

  

AND FINALLY . . . AT LAST . . .

Thorn Creek Butte Lookout.

  

  

  

Although I have always loved lookouts, I have to admit I chose Thorn Creek today in hopes of finding

LADYBUGS.

I walked all around the lookout turning over rocks and didn't find a single ladybug!  I was so completely discouraged!  However, just as I was heading back down to my truck along the circular drive of the lookout, I happened to kick a small rock . . .

AND THERE WERE A FEW LADYBUGS!!!

SO I FOUND A BIGGER ROCK!

AND ~THERE~ WERE MY LADYBUGS!

    

  

    

  

  

FALL LADYBUG HIBERNATION.

THORN CREEK BUTTE LOOKOUT.

FALL 2008!

~BE SURE TO WATCH THE LADYBUG VIDEOS AT THE END OF THIS POST!~

    

I discovered that the ladybugs were only in a very small area around the south-western corner of the lookout.  Even when I moved just five feet downhill, there were no ladybugs!  This rock, within sight of one of the rocks covered in ladybugs, had not a single bug under it!

I AM SO THRILLED I FINALLY FOUND MY LADYBUGS!

I HAVE TO ADMIT, IF I WERE GOING TO HIBERNATE UNDER A ROCK ALL WINTER, I'D CHOSE A FIRE LOOKOUT TOO!

Coming home I was determined to figure out how the road that finally brought me to the lookout hooked up with Thorn Creek Road.  Well, that didn't happen!  Somehow I ended up at

ARROWROCK RESERVOIR!

  

ARROWROCK DAM AND A VERY DETERMINED ADVENTURESS!

~LADYBUG VIDEO~