Jim's home | Motorcycle home | PNW loop home
Sun Valley
The Sun Valley resort is adjacent to the town of Ketchum, ID. It's similar to other ski towns like Steamboat Springs, Vale, Aspen. Lots of money. Lots of big, fancy houses, all based on tourism. Hemmingway is buried there. I missed going to his grave, but my friend Don visited and saw the empty liquor bottles, cigars and fishing stuff that people left on it in rememberance. I went through Sun Valley last year in late summer with my friend Austin on our big trip to Colorado. At that time there was quite a bit of smoke from forest fires in the air. Not so this time around. Some aspens were starting to quake. Perfect hiking temps, and it got chilly at night. In fact it was in the upper 30s the morning I woke up to do the final stretch to Sun Valley.
I'd taken a bath in the John Day river just before going to the Moto Guzzi rally in Fossil a few days before. It was time for another bath, so I bathed at the same spot the morning I left the rally. The river water is warm in September. This is Rte 402 near Monument, OR shortly after my morning bath. Heading east into the morning sun. Next it was north on 395, then east on the Susanville-Galena road leading to Austin, OR. I love that road, the way it winds along the middle fork of the John Day river. Then across some really remote areas to Unity, Vale and then Ontario.
I'd hoped to find a campsite somewhere between Lowman and Stanley, ID that night. I did indeed find a great campsite just east of Lowman. This picture shows the Banks-Lowman road that popular with sport bike riders. I was there on a Sunday. Lots of RV traffic coming down from the mountains while I was heading up into the mountains. So very little traffic for me. Distressing amounts of forest burned up by fires around there though.
My beautiful campsite at Mountain View Campground on the Payette River. Like most other campgrounds I stayed at, most sites were empty.
My friend Don and his entourage were out hiking the next day, so I headed around the Sawtooth Mountains into Ketchum to hang out for the afternoon. Views of the Sawtooth Mountains.
A goose down miniskirt at one of the many shops in Ketchum. Guess you'd wear that when it was cold.
Hanging out in Ketchum for a half day was interesting. On trips like this I focus a lot on riding, so it was a change to park my bike and walk the town. Ketchum has a good system of bike/walking trails. Lots of fit looking people in yoga pants and wicking, UV resistant clothing use them. I changed out of my leathers for that afternoon and strolled on jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops. Was disappointed with the food at Sawtooth Brewery and Public House. Beer ok though. So many shops there. Shopping seems to be a thing there.
My friend Don with his wife Joanne (in pale blue), plus others from a group that he travels/hikes with every year. They were kind enough to let me sleep on the couch in their condo after we went out for dinner. Warfields in Ketchum was very good for food and beverages. They have a second story terrace for dining that looks out across the town and valley.
Don amongst the aspens. We did this 6 mile loop hike the next day.
The hills are alive!
Quaking aspens.
Joanne crossing a log bridge.
Don and I.
Continue to the way to Quincy