There is a creek that flows in the northern half of Idaho that is an idyllic place, clear spring water flows over a perfectly smooth and clean gravelly bottom, logs fallen across its width inviting you to cross, grass growing along its banks and the sun brightly illuminating the landscape. I came upon this treasure while exploring the areas springs that are the beginning of the Henrys fork of the Snake River. I had only imagined places like this exist.
Growing up in the eastern US, one can barely imagine water as clear as this. There, only the finest and rarest springs can compare. Here water like this is abundant. There are at least five major springs contributing to Henrys Fork, and many other minor ones. This is mainly a surface stream with hidden upwellings augmenting its flow. You can imagine trout in every section of the river. I am only a few miles from one of the two major ecosystems on earth that is complete with its entire life chain from predators to prey. Here you might be considered prey by some of its predators, and one thing for sure, you will see or hear wildlife.
This is a glorious place to camp. No other campsite for a thousand miles it seems. The day is beautiful, low humidity, with warm breezes. Here is my camp.
I turned in with the sunset, and was enjoying the night, when several loud shots sounded. Startled awake, I grabbed my weapon. Was it poachers, or any threat to me? I didn’t know. After a few minutes, I heard sloshing steps crossing the creek, from something large, very near my camp. Breathing slowly, I listened. I heard deep sniffing very near, raising hair on my neck. Only a couple minutes later, I heard footsteps shuffling away, I was very glad that J had flown back home a day before. I was able to get a good nights sleep afterward, weapon kept near. I had my wildlife spotting, if only by sound, moonlight, and rising neck hair.
Comments