STANLEY 2010 -- SAWTOOTHS.

After Mom joined Dad and I in Stanley, she and I spent a day seeing Stanley -- as in the actual town of Stanley. My very favorite store in the WHOLE world, Riverwear, is in Stanley so we HAD to do some shopping there! I think I ended up in that store three different times before my vacation was over! :) If they were open in December, I would drive there JUST to do my Christmas shopping! Yeah, I LOVE it THAT much! After our shopping spree, we stumbled upon the elementary school -- where their sign reads, "Home of The Lawn Chairs!" The area adjacent to the school is one of those places I found myself going to again and again. The views -- amazing! After seeing the views, I decided to do sunrise/sunset sessions there just to see the dramatic lighting changed the mountains.

MOM AND DAD ENJOYING THE SUNSET FROM THE COOL SWING

CAN YOU THINK OF A BETTER PLACE FOR A PICNIC TABLE?

WHAT A VIEW!

SUNSET

I LOVE THE PICTURES MOM TAKES OF ME TAKING PICTURES!

THEY ARE REALLY REFLECTIVE OF WHO I AM!

:)

SUNRISE

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO ARRIVE RIGHT AT SUNRISE BECAUSE IT WAS TOO TOO FOGGY!

BUT I THINK WATCHING THE FOG BURN OFF WAS EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR!

GOING . . .

GOING . . .

GONE!

MOM SWINGING AGAIN!

WHOEVER THOUGHT TO PUT THAT SWING THERE . . . SIMPLY BRILLIANT!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING!

A PERFECT MORNING FOR A GRAND ADVENTURE . . .

COMING UP NEXT . . . THAT GRAND ADVENTURE!

STANLEY 2010 -- STANLEY LAKE.

My first full day in Stanley was a solo day for me. Dad had to work and Mom had yet to arrive. Although I am never one to be disappointed by solo adventures, I was bummed that it POURED rain the entire day! It didn't stop me from exploring though -- it just kept me from seeing as much as I would have liked! The dogs and I spent most of the day in the truck (especially since the heater ran out of propane shortly after Dad left for work)! I learned my way around the area and by the end of the day, had a list of places to visit again in the sunshine! Stanley Lake ended up being one of my favorite places to visit -- rain or shine! Since it was largely deserted, the days I spent at the lake were fabulous! There is just something to be said for feeling like a lake that beautiful is yours and yours alone!

A SOGGY MOUNT MCGOWN AND I

DURING MY SOLO ADVENTURING, I HAD DISCOVERED WHAT I PRESUMED WOULD BE A BEAUTIFUL OVERLOOK HIGH UP ON THE MOUNTAIN OPPOSITE THE LAKE. THE RAIN AND THE CLOUDS OBSCURED WHATEVER VIEW THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SO I WAS EAGER TO RETURN WHEN THE CLOUDS HAD LIFTED. THE NEXT DAY MOM, DAD AND I RETRACED MY ROUTE TO WHAT WAS INDEED, A VERY PRETTY VIEW OF MOUNT MCGOWN.

MOM AND DAD

THEY REALLY ARE THE BEST ADVENTURERS . . . EVER!

SUNSHINE MAKES ME HAPPY!

AFTER DRIVING TO THE TOP OF ELK MOUNTAIN, WE DROVE BACK DOWN TO STANLEY LAKE WHERE WE OOGLED CATERPILLARS, WILDFLOWERS AND OH, YEAH, THE MAGNIFICENT VIEWS!

STANLEY LAKE.

FALL 2010.

STANLEY 2010 -- REDFISH LAKE.

I have to admit, I don't think I have EVER been so excited about visiting my Dad on one of his job sites! In addition to working on the Landmark and Elk Creek Guard Stations, he was also awarded the bid for some work in the Stanley Ranger District. In early September I was able to spend FIVE amazing days with him there in the shadows of the majestic Sawtooths (or is it Sawteeth?). This trip was easily the highlight of my summer! I love the Stanley area and was especially tickled to find that the tourists really clear out after Memorial Day! We practically had the mountains to ourselves! Mom too was able to take a long weekend so the three of us PLAYED HARD! We went on so many adventures and I took so many pictures, I have decided to do MULTIPLE Stanley posts! Be sure to check back to see all the posts from my grand adventure! The photos in this post are from my final bittersweet hours in the mountains. We enjoyed a still, quiet morning at Redfish lake!

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and have my senses put in order.

--John Burroughs