SOUTH FORK RUN 2009.

For Christmas I gave cousin Jessie her very first whitewater trip. I absolutely adore giving 'adventure gifts' because it means I GET TO GO TOO! We booked a trip with Cascade Raft (easily the classiest of the local raft companies) for the Staircase run on the South Fork of the Payette. When Jessie climbed into the raft that sweltering afternoon, I think she was rather unsure of what she was getting herself into. But, when she climbed out at Banks, I know she was a true . . .

WHITEWATER ADDICT!

READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!

JESSIE LOOKS A BIT NERVOUS DON'T YOU THINK?

BUT NOT TESS! SHE LOVES THE CLASS IV!

AFTER HAVING JUST DONE THE OBLIGATORY ROCK JUMP!

WELL, ONE OF US JUMPED. THE OTHER OF US STARTED TO CHICKENED OUT ON HER FIRST ROCK JUMP ATTEMPT ~BUT~ HER (ONLY SLIGHTLY) OLDER COUSIN REFUSED TO LET HER MISS OUT ON THE EXPERIENCE . . . AND GAVE HER A SWIFT PUSH!

SHE GOT HER REVENGE THOUGH, SHE LET ME RIDE AROUND THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON WITHOUT TELLING ME I HAD A LOPSIDED HELMET!

JESSIE REALLY DID GET THE FULL WHITEWATER EXPERIENCE THAT DAY!

SHE RODE THE BULL TOO!

RIDE 'EM COWGIRL!

HERE'S JESSIE LOOKING NERVOUS AGAIN . . .

AND NOW DIGGING IN AND LOVING IT!

AH, THE WHITEWATER!

COULD I BE HAVING ANY MORE FUN?

I'M PRETTY SURE WHITEWATER RUNS IN OUR BLOOD!

CINNABAR 2009.

Cinnabar has to be one of my absolute FAVORITE places in the world! Each time I make it back into this TRUE ghost town, I feel BLESSED! There just aren't may places like Cinnabar anymore. And I can't help but wonder how long it will remain. By some miracle the raging forest fires have spared this remote treasure. By an even greater miracle, the government has allowed its historic buildings to remain untouched. A trip to Cinnabar entails a long day of riding rough roads, deep in the remote backcountry. The scenery is spectacular, the air fresh, the smells divine! As far as other travelers, we rarely encounter them. That's right. A whole day without seeing ANYONE else! A true, honest to goodness ghost town! As I am never sure Cinnabar will be there the next time I visit, I absolutely relish my time there. This particular trip was extra special for me. Just when I thought my little town couldn't get anymore heavenly, I arrived to find it painted with WILDFLOWERS!

MAIN STREET

I WADED THROUGH SOME HORRIBLE, LIKELY TOXIC, MINE WASTE MUD TO GET SOME OF THESE PICTURES! IF MY TOES BEGIN TO FALL OFF, THIS PICTURES EXPLAINS WHY!

AH, THE GIDDY HOUSE!

THIS LITTLE HOUSE IS EASILY THE MOST ENTERTAINING PART OF VISITING CINNABAR! I'VE BEEN IN A HANDFUL OF TIMES AND STILL NEVER TIRE OF GIGGLING MY WAY THROUGH IT! A TOUR OF THE GIDDY HOUSE IS A BAFFLING EXPERIENCE FOR THE SENSES. THE HOUSE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAS BEEN PUSHED FROM ITS ORIGINAL FOUNDATION AND NOW SITS RANDOMLY ON THE HILLSIDE AT A PRETTY GOOD SLANT. WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE GIDDY HOUSE YOUR EYES TELL YOUR BRAIN YOU ARE IN A HOUSE. YOUR BRAIN RECALLS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO WALK AROUND IN A NORMAL, FLAT-FLOORED HOUSE AND WHEN NONE OF THIS INFORMATION MATCHES UP WITH THIS TERRIBLY SLANTY FLOORED HOUSE, YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR EQUILIBRIUM BECOME TERRIBLY CONFUSED! IT IS DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE THE WAY YOU FEEL IN THE GIDDY HOUSE--I PERSONALLY THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF BEING DIZZY AND DRUNK. YOU CAN'T HELP BUT STUMBLE AROUND AND GIGGLE--HENCE THE REASON WE, YEARS AGO, NAMED IT THE GIDDY HOUSE! FROM THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, IT IS ALSO PRETTY HILARIOUS! EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE LEANING WAAAAY SIDEWAYS!

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE DOGS ARE UNAFFECTED AND THAT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO HOLD ON TO KEEP FROM FALLING DOWN!

I HEART THE GIDDY HOUSE!

AND I LOVE THE OLD HOTEL TOO!

KICKIN' IN A WILDFOWER PATCH IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL

IF I WERE TO LIVE IN CINNABAR, THIS IS THE HOUSE I WOULD LIVE IN.

I LOVE THE BIG WRAP-AROUND PORCH!

THE 'HAZARDOUS WASTE' SIGN IS A BIT UNNERVING THOUGH!

AND NOW A FEW FUN PHOTOS FROM THE RIDES IN AND OUT . . .

ON THE RIDE IN WE UNLOADED RIGHT NEXT TO A HUGE HUCKLEBERRY PATCH!

YUMMO!

ON THE WAY OUT I POSED FOR SOME PICS WITH BEAR GRASS . . .

SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T TAKE ME ANYWHERE!

YIKES!

SUCH A COOL BIG OL' TREE!

A FEW FLOWERS AT A WATERING HOLE

CHILLIN' ON SOMEBODY'S FRONT STEPS IN STIBNITE

I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF MY SADERS!

ONLY IN YELLOWPINE, MY FRIENDS, ONLY IN YELLOWPINE!