Soda, Tetons, Bozeman

A couple weeks ago we got back from CA and the week right after that I had to fly to Soda Springs ID.  Yes, that fateful city along the Oregon trail where carbonated water flows right out of the ground and is free for the taking. Kind of a cool place, but out in the sticks just does not begin to describe it.  There is a lot of Phosphate mining in the area and I was there working on a mine reclamation. I will be back a lot in the next few years, and as it ends up I had to go back the next week, although I knew that going into it.  Soda Springs is a cool town if you happen to be in the area and if you need a brief history of the town with all the major attractions just let me know...I got 5 minutes to spare.

 

So, knowing that I had to go down there and that the job would only be about two to three days in length I worked with a co-worker to arrive on Sunday and then be done by Wednesday.  That would then allow me to bring the family and go on a little vacation after the work "week".  It also gave us a chance to go to Lava Hot Spring just 20 minutes from Soda Springs.  That alone is well worth the trip.

It was starting to get cold in the mountains and on the way down I thought it prudent to delay the scheduled camping and rent out a old forest service rangers cabin just outside of Butte MT.  We have rented a couple of fire lookouts before, but I will have to say they were head and shoulders above this place.  Sooo Soo much dog hair all over the rug, wood floors, couches, and everywhere.  Not a good thing for a guy that is allergic to dog hair.  It did have heat though, but every time the furnace turned on it smelled of dog piss and dying animals.  Since the basement was locked I was unable to remove the air filter.  The smell became unbearable and eventually we had to shut the heat off.  It still stayed pretty warm so we did not have to resort to the electric oven for heat, but we were ready to leave.  Brenda commented that she would have felt cleaner camping.  Poor Matthew could not even crawl on the floor and was relegated to the pack and play as we sat in the middle of the living room in the kitchen chairs which were the only chairs you could actually clean.

 

Soda Springs was good since I had a house rented, albeit a small one.  Work went well and I had a good time working out in one of the most beautiful valleys in ID as far as I am concerned.  They mine the Phosphate Veins in the area and kind of tear up the forest, but after the reclamation it looks pretty good.  Strip mining can be problematic especially when it is on Public Land, but it provides food (fertilizer) and jobs.  I am glad to be part of the reclamation and restoring of this wonderful creation

 

 Thursday we were off for some Family time in Tetons...ohhh yaaaaa.

We blasted through the over crowded town of Jackson and did not miss anything.  Arriving at Jenny Lake that day was shaping up to be awesome.  We looked around and decided to take a walk to hidden falls and inspiration point.

Well the easy trail was "under construction" so we took the intermediate trail and thought we could take the boat back at the end if we got tired.  We had neglected to pack the baby bjorn or the baby backpack, so we proceeded while holding both of the rugrats in our arms.  A long long 3.5 miles we arrived at the end and then saw it was 4pm...crap..didn't the ranger say the boats....stop at 4pm.  Well, we ended up having to walk all the way back yet again holding the boys.  James did walk about 1 mile, but if we expected him to walk back we would have been there a very long time.

As evening approached it was still a stunning view.

James really needed some cheese at the end since he had worked so hard.  Both the boys were troopers and pretty good, but we were glad to be done.

 

I had planned on camping, but the nightly lows of 30 deg F had us second guessing ourselves and if our infant could keep his hands warm while still sucking his thumb.  In the end we decided to get a cabin and it was probably a good choice although they did wake up quite early since they could see us from across the room.

The next morning was epic with not a cloud in the sky and reflecting Mount Moran on the Snake River.

You may see a picture similar to this in a couple of months if you make the list this Christmas season.  Friday we had to leave Tetons and head through Yellowstone to end at my rents in Bozeman.

We did have a good time and had a chance to take a few walks we don't normally do.  Also got a chance to yell at another tourist who parked his car in the middle of the road and started to run directly towards a grizzly bear 100yds away.  Let me set the record straight here, I did not care that he was in danger of getting eaten, but there is no way I was going to be stuck behind his car while he was getting his head split open and arms ripped off.  Eventually I got him to understand English and his wife moved the car while he stood along the side of the road.  I kept an eye out hoping the see survival of the fittest in action, but the bear must have just eaten. 

Matthew was glad to be on carpet and crawl all over the place without borders.

Saturday we headed out to Fairy Lake.  It is about 7 miles down a rather bumpy dirt road.  Usually I am in a work rig and find that it has been on so may mines and dirt roads that the suspension has become "calibrated".  My dads fancy newer car is a little bit tighter and really felt the bumps.  I kept encouraging my dad to go faster because the faster you go the less you feel the bumps, but I think he knew better.  Besides, less bumps but more elbows and slaps from my mother telling him to slow down is not really an even trade.

Such an awesome lake.  We did not catch any fish, but when we got home I headed out to the Gallatin and had a blast.  All in all it was a great trip and good to hang out with the Rents and have the kids terrorize grandma and grandpa for a while.

 

The trip home was uneventful except a couple attitude adjustment stops.  It appears as if fall is upon us with highs here being about 60....is it too early to have cabin fever.