Tarn below Sawtooth Lake
Hiking up from Iron Creek trailhead you first pass Alpine Lake that sits in a deep bowl under Alpine Peak. Next up the trail is this lovely high mountain tarn, with fish jumping. It is just below Sawtooth Lake.
I had seen the Sawtooth Mountains from many vantage points but had never hiked among them. I have always admired their rugged character. Then, as is often the case, photographs from a flickr member inspired me to “take a hike” among them. Sawtooth Photography (a.k.a. Fred)..Thank you. Your world class photographs of the Sawtooth motivated me.
The Iron Creek to Sawtooth Lake & McGown Lakes saddle hike story:
After I left Garden Valley I resisted what I considered doing and that is taking the 11 mile trip up to Placerville and then return to the Garden Valley road, instead of heading over to Idaho City. I didn’t want to be late in getting in camp and getting a good start for the hike the next day.
There were two vehicles at the Iron Creek trailhead parking lot when I pulled in. I grabbed a wilderness permit from the trailhead box, so I could fill it in and have it completed when I started my hike the next morning.
Choice of campsite? No problem. Not one other person camped there on the 31st of August, 2009. I selected site #4 so I would be close to the restroom and a large bear proof garbage bin. I was set. I always keep my wristwatch and cameras on “Washington time” and operate accordingly, going to bed at a usual time and going hiking at a usual time (local time).
I woke up at 5:30 am; was done eating breakfast and getting ready by 6 pm and then drove over to trailhead, rechecked my maps, gear, and deposited my permit in the box. I also chugged a morning diet Pepsi (good caffeine source). I was on the trail to Sawtooth Lake by 6:30 am (7:30 am Idaho time). The two vehicles that had been parked there the night before, drove by my camp late the night before, so my truck was the only vehicle at the trailhead when I started my hike. There would be 14 vehicles from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Nevada - - when I returned at noon (Washington time).
I hadn’t gone far until I bumped into five or six young grouse, either
feeding or gathering gravel for their craw, on the trail. They were
completely unafraid of me and all but one, paid no attention to me at
all. So I snapped a few low light photos of them. Soon after I found a
folded five dollar bill in the trail (strange). The trail was a little
muddy in a few places from the rain that had muddied the Payette
River, but that held the dust down and was to my liking.
On the topo map I had made with my National Geographic topo map
program, I showed it would be a bit over four miles from Iron Creek to
Sawtooth Lake. The trail sign indicated it was five miles (lots of
switchbacks). Whatever it was the hike was so scenic and enjoyable
that I honestly didn’t notice the distance. Puffy white clouds in a
blue sky overhead and far down below me in the valley, a log fog like
cloud parked over the town of Stanley.
I arrived at Sawtooth Lake at exactly 9 am, two hours of hiking. I
wanted to hike up to the saddle to McGown Lakes, so I could photograph
Sawtooth Lake from up above and to see the lay of the land leading to
the McGown Lakes (I had heard it was really burned over).
But after spending time at the small tarn below the outlet of Sawtooth
Lake, I decided to hike south along the shore of Sawtooth Lake to get
some photos of Mt. Regan (ten thousand footer). Then I found a nice
knob along the lake shore, where I decide to mix some Gatorade powder
with some of my water bottles and have a salty snack, before hiking up
to the saddle. I still had not seen another hiker.
I soon found that a couple of cheeky golden mantled squirrels considered my chosen snack location, “theirs”. They really were pushy, coming up on my day pack and scampering down my leg as they checked out my “supplies’. I don’t know if it is a local adaptation but never have I seen golden mantle squirrels with such white fur over most of their body. We compromised and they accepted two cheese crackers and the crumbs from my Pringle potato chips as “blackmail” payment for letting me eat and drink my Gatorade in relative peace.
I stayed along the squirrel camp on the shore of Sawtooth Lake for quite awhile then shouldered my pack and started up the 1/2 to 3/4 mile trail that would take me to the high saddle over Sawtooth Lake. Here I came upon two backpackers who must have passed underneath me while I was at squirrel camp, as they had come from Granjean by that direction. They hadn’t seen me and I hadn’t noticed them.
The three of us hiked together to the saddle then visited at a sign post that had two fire fighter helmets hanging on it. They didn’t have a good map of the area, so I gave them all the topo maps I had made for this particular hike. The trail leading toward McGown Lakes through the burned over forest looked pretty “ugly” and having put in close to 6 miles or at least 5 miles by my maps, I decided to return the way I had come.
I met every version of hiker you can imagine on the way back down from Sawtooth Lake. Properly attired, properly equipped to the antithesis. Near the trailhead I met two young men and two women, with one of the men carrying a toddler in his pack. They had no water, no packs, nothing but what they hiked in and since they were obviously Amish or Mennonite, the two women wore head bonnets and below the knee, conservative, well pressed dresses and were hiking in street shoes. I don’t know how far they intended to go, but they were at least a mile up the trail when I passed them.
Noon at the trailhead. Decision time. I had thought about going down and camping near Pettit Lake and perhaps hiking up to Alpine and/or Twin Lakes as a second hike. I wasn’t sore or too tired from the hike I had just taken, but I decided that I would rather be lazy and explore some back roads by pickup truck, and then camp my way back home. First up in my thoughts was John Tucker’s (of Garden Valley) Placerville, Idaho. Though I didn’t know Placerville’s particular history I had read of the gold strike in the area and the area around Idaho City.
To read "The full Story" that goes with these photos, please open the "Sawtooth Trip Sept 2009" photo set folder and read the narrative contained within. Thank you. OMT
Comments and faves
sawtoothphoto (33 months ago | reply)
that is a cool vantage point...love this image!
sawtoothphoto added this photo to their favorites. (33 months ago)
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
Sawtooth - - There was very little wind when I first arrived at Sawtooth Lake and hiked the shoreline trail to my "trail break" spot (with the golden mantled squirrels). Within 30 minutes the wind came up fast and strong, so I'm glad I got these photos of this tarn and some of Sawtooth Lake, before that happened. OMT
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
Thank you Fly Flipper. Had I known a strong wind would soon arrive I would have hurried a bit to get more "still water" photos with the tarn and with Sawtooth Lake. Always need an excuse to go back. Goat Falls and Goat Lake is another excellent hike in the area, so hopefully I will get another chance. OMT
Lance Rogers (33 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot.
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
Thank you Lance. I'm fortunate to have so many places like this to hike, within a day's drive of my house. OMT
Lauren Jensen (33 months ago | reply)
this is so crystal clear!
dbushue (33 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Landscape Beauty !, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
what a great story....always enjoy reading your adventures and of course, seeing your amazing, inspiring photos.....fabulous shot of this area!!!
This Awesome Photo was seen in:
North American Nature & Wildlife Photography
dbushue added this photo to her favorites. (33 months ago)
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
RS - - Thanks, though I know you are looking at this scene through the eyes of an avid "fly fisherman" instead of a scenery seeking hiker. There WERE trout rising in both this tarn and in Sawtooth Lake. Fly Flipper's Cabela travel 3 weight might be just the ticket (or too small) for the trout in the tarn. OMT
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
Lauren - - The tarns and lakes are so clear you can easily see the bottom in water 20 to 30 feet deep. It is also very cold water, being up as high and fed by snow melt. Good luck with your dance career. I have a feeling that you get about 10 times more exercise than hikers do. OMT
dbushue (33 months ago | reply)
This is a really beautiful photo, and my pick for a Landscape Beauty group Photo of the Day for September 7, 2009 which is featured on the group's home page. Thank you for sharing this magnificent photo with us, along with your many other outstanding landscape photos.
Beautiful photo as seen in the group
"Landscape Beauty !"
Landscape Beauty !
Please Invite other Landscape Beauties to this Group too !
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
Darlene - - thank you for you really nice comment on this photo. Since you are the administrator for "Landscape Beauty", I will take a keyboard stroke ot two to provide you with some feedback. At one time I joined and posted many photographs to your excellent collection of photographs (in Landscape Beauty). The reason I no longer belong or post is because of the large number of "photo group icon billboards" I get with so many of the comments. It is a personal thing with me, but I really enjoy feedback but a "nice photo" and then a big bright "advertisement" photo group icon, clutters what I want to see in the way of feedback. So I find myself deleting a large number of "comments with photo group advertisement photos".
If there was a single text message included with a sincere photo group member comment like "seen in photogroup ABC", I wouldn't object, but the photo group "billboards" are what I do object to. I pass this feedback along to you in an intended constuctive and positive manner, just in case others feel the same.
Good luck with your photography and any and all photo groups you may decide to create and adminster. Best wishes. OMT
D133H added this photo to her favorites. (33 months ago)
D133H (33 months ago | reply)
This is a beautiful picture and a beautiful place...wish i was there now!
oldmantravels (33 months ago | reply)
Silver Dollar Diner - - Thanks. Probably going to be a ton of snow up at Sawtooth Lake.....real soon. What I would have given to have tried a hot bowl of your corn chowder at my lunch break on this trip. Your restaurant is "on my list" for my next trip into the area. OMT
D133H (32 months ago | reply)
oldmantravels - - -Snow is definitely on the way...we might see some here tomorrow and it's cloudy and cold today! Come see us when you're here next time and we'll hook you up with the soup of the day...if you're here on Friday...we have Clam Chowder...Let us know that you're on Flikr, too! Take care...keep taking those great photos...we'll be watching!
oldmantravels (32 months ago | reply)
SDD - - May your winter be short and your diner profitable. I will make a point of taking a meal with you at your diner and meeting you if ever in the area spring, summer, fall or winter. I already know what I'm going to order (it rhymes with corn chowder or clam chowder). Thanks. OMT
copperhorse and Deedee Niederhouse added this photo to their favorites.
Deedee Niederhouse (27 months ago | reply)
Very Nice work!
oldmantravels (27 months ago | reply)
DeeDee - - thank you for your kind comments on some of my photographs and for making me a flickr contact. I appreciate both. Good luck with your photography. OMT
chas s. added this photo to their favorites. (26 months ago)
Losp KK (23 months ago | reply)
Supreme reflection .. Mother nature at one of her best .. Excellence in composition and in capture !
oldmantravels (23 months ago | reply)
Losp KK - - thank you for the visit to my photos and your kind feedback. OMT
creekandtrail, rala-4, Mat.Tauriello, and dcfups added this photo to their favorites.