Family Camp-The Sawtooths to the White Cloud Mountains

Kim and i spent this last weekend in one of the most beautiful portions of the world, the heart of Idaho, the Sawtooth Mountain Range and the Southern portion of the White Cloud Mountains. We left friday morning on one of the bluest days i have ever seen, and traveled the two and half hours to the Sawtooth Wilderness area. The drive was harrowing at portions with hairpin turns over 7,000' where going any faster than 25mph would have most certainly landed us in the ravine below. Every mile of the drive i could feel the strings of memory from my last trip to the Sawtooths with Jim Czirr come rushing back. From one hill to the other the Sawtooths became more and more visible, tearing up even at one point from the glory of God displayed in his rugged mountains. Mountains were no doubt created to lift our eyes from our earthly estate, to that greater life upwards. Kim agreed that my love for the Sawtooths was not overplayed, but that she was equally impressed with the splendor and beauty of the mountain range.

Before lunch we arrived at the trailhead for Elk Meadow. The wildflowers were in bloom and the air was crisp. It was a perfect weekend, with temperature in the 70s, and blue skies for as far as the eyes could see. Our hike traveled along Elk Creek and through meadows until we reached Elk Meadow, the largest meadow in the Sawtooth range measuring in at about 2.5 miles from one end to the other. It was quite a spectacle to behold framed by the mountains all around. It was early so much of the meadow was completely covered in water. Nonetheless our 5.5 mile hike into the Sawtooths proved to be the beauty and enjoyment we were looking for. As we were having lunch we saw an elk emerge to snack on wildflowers, as well as a few cranes and blue herrons.

We then traveled through south, stopping at every lake in the Sawtooth range that you could reach by car to take in the majesty of God's creation. We spent the next two days at Camp Sawtooth, just north of Sun Valley, at our church's family camp. It was a wonderful time getting to know other families in the church and spending some wonderful time learning about "life together," the theme for the weekend which has it's roots in Bonhoeffer's novel.

On Saturday we went for a hike up a river with two others from the church. It was a different kind of beauty, set in the southern portion of the White Cloud range. River hikes seem to always be so soothing. They continually draw your eyes forward along the river upwards.

We spent Sunday walking around Sun Valley and eventually mosied our way home to Boise where we fell asleep exhausted. Thank you Lord!