When on these trips I am often challenged with coming up with suitable superlatives to describe the scenery. This time is no different. I am awed by the Sawtooth mountain range and its jagged, wild and striking peaks. They are not the biggest or tallest mountains around but you can't gaze at them without feeling a grand sense of wonder. I am just blown away. I want to return some day for a family vacation.
Redfish Lake Lodge, our home until tomorrow, sits right on the lake facing the mountains. 6,500 feet. We arrived around 3 p.m. yesterday (Sunday), secured one of the last available cabins and then hopped a shuttle boat
to the far end of the lake. Also on the boat was a couple from Switzerland. They had been in the U.S. for a few months, camping, hiking and climbing the largest peaks in our country. While we were going for an easy 30 minute walk up to a elevated lily pond
, they were hiking up four miles to a base camp where they were going to spend the next few days rock climbing the steep faces of Grand Mogul, Decker Peak and the Elephant's perch. Humbling!
Similarly humbling was the experience of passing dozens of bicycle riders on our way from Sun Valley. While we were descending a 30+ miles stretch of steep downhill switchbacks, these riders, men and women, some our age, were coming in the opposite direction , with determined and anguished faces, as if they were on the final stages of the Tour de France. I was so impressed with their fitness and their fortitude. Oh how I would like to be able to do that.
We had a terrific dinner at the lodge; the baby ribs for me and the lake trout for Eric. Sandy, our server, described how she lost her college softball scholarship last year after "shattering" her leg in a snowboarding accident. With a stiff upper lip she suggested that it must have happened for a reason and that for now she was just going to enjoy her time up in the mountains. I really admired her positive spirit.
After dinner I went into the bar for a beer while Eric went outside to call Celia. I ordered the local porter and the bartender delivered it to my table a minute later. When he arrive he said " Is that an ipad?" I replied "yes". He forcefully countered; "Put that away. I don't allow computers in my bar." What? His bar? In the following couple of seconds I pondered my alternatives. Should I politely comply. Should I stake my ground? Should I commence negotiations? There is no doubt that the other patrons were on his side and I didn't want to make a scene. So, I closed the case and timidly put it back in my backpack.
I know that the Redfish Lodge is supposed to be a place to turn your back on civilization and enjoy the serenity of this far away spot. However, I couldn't help but sit there and quietly pout. My professional career has been based on the premise that the customer's voice rules. Where does he get off imposing his personal views and scolding me like that. Butthead!
Eric and I love this place so we've decided to stay another day.
We are going to rent mountain bikes, do some hiking, maybe fly fish a bit and otherwise relax around the lake. Montana and Yellowstone can wait.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Stanley, ID
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