Redfish Lake State Park
Trip Start
Nov 19, 2007
1
92
169
Trip End
Ongoing
Stanley,
Idaho,
United States
Friday, August 29, 2008
While walking into a health food store in Ketchum, we met a couple of guys who struck up a conversation about our RV. Both of them got excited and animated about the route we "had to take" on our way to Yellowstone National Park. One of them even came back into the store 10 minutes after saying goodbye and brought a map for us with the route laid out. That much enthusiasm made us agree that we would change our planned route to follow his.
We drove up Route 75 though the mountains to get to the town of Stanley and Redfish Lake State Park. "Full campground" signs were hanging at the entrance to the campground loops (probably because it was Labor Day weekend), but we pulled in and asked the host if there were any openings? We got lucky and ended up with the last space. There are no hookups, but the place is beautiful and pristine.
Just before dusk, we walked a couple of miles down the road to a ranger's program around a campfire. Before the program began, we watched ospreys flying away from the river with large fish in their talons. The name Redfish Lake, comes from the landlocked salmon that live there and used to be so abundant that they would turn the lake red when they were spawning
Jodie & Maudie
. The ranger's program featured a local author who read a short story from his latest book. Around 13 of us sat on crude wooden benches under the stars enjoying the night air and his story. When the program was over, we walked back under the biggest star filled sky I can remember. The blackness of the backround was intensified by the absence of any light from towns or cities. We were unable to walk more than a hundred paces without stopping to look up at the Milky Way and the contellations. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
Aug. 30th., Sun.
We got up early and took a walk in the woods and over to Big Redfish Lake. This lake allows motorized watercraft, whereas Little Redfish does not. There are cabins and rooms for rent at the lodge, bike rentals, boat rentals and a beach. We had no idea that this kind of a resortlike section existed just a couple of miles up the road from our rustic, quiet and unspoiled area. We had delicious salmon omlettes for breakfast, went for a swim and walked back to our site for a ride on a borrowed paddleboat.
That night, I made a fire and cooked up some of the organic lamb we got at the farmer's market in Ketchum, while Jodie made some Idaho potato salad and pepper salad. Another meal to remember, in a place we are very sad to have to leave in the morning. Everyone here has been friendly, especially the host who made sure to move us to a better spot when it opened up, let us borrow his paddleboat and offered us jobs as hosts if we ever want to work with him. We also met Bruce, who brought a full sized Marilyn Monroe cutout and had it up against a tree in his campsite. He took us out for coffee and shared his words of wisdom on finding a small town to live in.
This is one of the top 10 places we have stayed and all because of a stranger's enthusiastic recommendation.
Comments
Marilyn
Could Bruce-who looks like a salty old devil-advise where I might find such a cut-out?
Jody and Maudie
P.S. Great picture of you two-I will spare you any 'witty' comments.