On the Road in Idaho and Oregon - 2008 . . .
on our route to the Pacific Northwest

Updated: 11/30/08

 

Idaho . . .            Oregon . . .

 

Idaho . . .

 

a f0819id falls_240_1.JPG (52417 bytes)a f0819id falls_241_1.JPG (51669 bytes)Idaho Falls, ID was an interesting place. In the mid-1800 the town was built along one of the few fording points in the upper Snake River. As the city's need for electricity grew, the river became the source of that power.

   a f0819id falls_236_1.JPG (39447 bytes)   a f0819id falls_242_1.JPG (53933 bytes)

 

a f0819id falls_250_1.JPG (21732 bytes)   a f0819id falls_256_1.JPG (57236 bytes)   a f0819id falls_257_1.JPG (66933 bytes)   

 

a f0819id falls_260_1.JPG (46533 bytes)  a f0819id falls_261_1.JPG (50270 bytes)

 

The Idaho Falls waterfalls are created by a diversion dam for a hydroelectric power plant. The original dam was installed in 1909. The dam we see today was contracted in 1982.

It all starts at the dam. This is a dam to control the water only - it contains no turbines. The power generation comes from barrel/bulb turbine generators under the edge of the falls. The system generates approximately 50% of the city's electric power needs. Above the falls, the Snake River is tranquil.

 

a f0819id falls_272_1.JPG (58368 bytes)   a f0819id falls_264 dam_1.JPG (45459 bytes)   a f0819id falls_267 start river_1.JPG (41154 bytes)   a f0819id falls_268 start duck_1.JPG (37112 bytes)

 

 

 

bulb_turbine_1.jpg (22304 bytes)We were not familiar with this method of generating electricity. Mary Lou searched the Internet for information on this type of system. She found it uses is a hydro turbine in which the entire generator is mounted inside the water passageway as an integral unit with the turbine. (For more information go to www.free-flow-power.com)  

 

 

 

 

 

a f0820id_100 c lds crop_1.jpg (33953 bytes)Since its completion and dedication in 1945, the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Latter Day Saints has been a part of the landscape and a tourist attraction. Unlike regular chapels where Sunday meetings and other activities are held, this temple is reserved for faithful members to worship and make sacred covenants. A newly remodeled visitors center is located on the grounds east of the temple.

 

 

 

 

 

This sign greeted us as we entered our campground in Idaho Falls. It got your attention.

a f0819id falls_286 sign camp speed_1.jpg (50135 bytes)

 

 

 

Idaho has beautiful terrain.

 

a f0819id_108_1.JPG (36915 bytes)      a f0819id_105_1.JPG (50238 bytes)

 

 

 

Fred saw this rock configuration and named it "Grumpy".

Fortunately, he made the photograph before we were to far past it to recognize it. 

Maybe he should write the Idaho Highway Department and suggest establishing a "Grumpy" tourist attraction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove beside the Palisades Reservoir for a long time. It offered fantastic views.

 

 

a f0819id_117_1.jpg (27537 bytes)   a f0819id_130_1.jpg (33233 bytes)   a f0819id_136_1.jpg (27829 bytes)

 

    a f0819id_144_1.JPG (39741 bytes)  a f0819id_145 dam_1.JPG (45079 bytes)

 

 

   a f0819id_152 dam clo_1.JPG (51666 bytes)   a f0819id_153 dam power sta_1.JPG (48125 bytes)

Power generating plant . . .

 

 

 

Below the dam the Snake River feeds the valley with water for irrigation.

 

a f0819id_155_1.jpg (45355 bytes)   a f0819id_163_1.JPG (38394 bytes)   a f0819id_166_1.jpg (27572 bytes)

 

 

 

The Sawtooth Mountains in the distance . . .

 

 

 

 

Harvest time in the area . . .

a f0819id_183 harvesting_1.jpg (27613 bytes)   

 

 

 

What a view these people must have from their front window.

 

a f0819id_127 house_1.JPG (61440 bytes)

 

 

This was a very 'welcomed' and nice rest area. The view was great and a picnic area was available on the lower level.

 

a f0819id_203 rest area_1.JPG (46557 bytes)   a f0819id_206 rest area_1.JPG (50964 bytes)   a f0819id_212 rest area_1.JPG (46272 bytes)

 

 

 

 

   a f0820id_104 dirt covd bldg crop_1.jpg (30233 bytes)        Many ranches have buildings with roofs covered with dirt.

 

 

 

a f0820id_112 mtn w anten2_1.JPG (16542 bytes)a f0820id_113 mtn w anten1_1.JPG (29481 bytes)If there was a big hill or mountain is an area of primarily flat land, you could bet the top would be filled with antennas. This one had a dozen antennas.

 

   

 

 

 

A nice ride . . .

 

a f0820id_117 hwy20a_1.JPG (64057 bytes)   a f0820id_119 hwy20b_1.JPG (39388 bytes)   a f0820id_223 hwy20c_1.JPG (48188 bytes)

 

 

 

a f0820id_205 inl1 sign_1.JPG (35486 bytes)In the middle of a desert area we saw this sign and several white building off in the distance.

It was in this area that we discovered the Experimental Breeder Reactor 1 - 2008.

 

 

 

 

a f0820id_225 hwy rd kill_1.JPG (28050 bytes)
               Roadkill . . .

 

 

 

a f0822id_108 other side_1.jpg (44690 bytes)a f0822id_111 one side_1.JPG (47026 bytes)Leaving Craters of the Moon National Monument - 2008 we found lava and ash on the left side of the road and dry prairie on the right side of the road.  

 

   

 

 

 

Most of the smoke we observed at our campsite in Craters of the Moon was from a forest fire.

 

Some smoke, we were told, originated from this truck fire a couple miles from the park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A RVer in the campground in Idaho Falls strongly suggested we visit Sun Valley. We left the HHII on a rest area on our route and drove the 30 miles north on Idaho Route 75 to Sun Valley.

 

a f0822id_129 lazy cows_1.JPG (41992 bytes)   a f0822id_135_1.JPG (40976 bytes)   a f0822id_160_1.JPG (41632 bytes)

 

a f0822id_140 mtns cows_1.jpg (42517 bytes)   a f0822id_144_1.jpg (31443 bytes)

 

These animals were real thin . . . and . . . they stood still so long, someone painted them.

 a f0822id_155 painted animals_1.jpg (54190 bytes)   

 

 

 

a f0822id_204 sign sun valley_1.JPG (64042 bytes)In Sun Valley, bicycles and small golf cart type vehicles are used frequently. Their bike paths, like some others we saw, had a yellow line separating the bicyclists. 

 

a f0822id_172 bike path_1.jpg (47098 bytes)   a f0822id_173 4 wheeler_1.jpg (44683 bytes)

 

 

We continued outside town and turned around at the skeet shooting area. When we headed back to town we saw some ski slopes.

   a f0822id_181 skeet_1.jpg (39929 bytes)   a f0822id_194 ski hills_1.jpg (28930 bytes)

 

 

   

a f0822id_224 lunch_1.JPG (45473 bytes)Mary Lou suggested we stop at the 'restaurant' on a hill in town.

 

   a f0822id_209 lunch_1.JPG (75912 bytes)   a f0822id_210 lunch_1.JPG (54270 bytes)   a f0822id_222 lunch_1.JPG (55863 bytes)  

 

 

 

a f0822id_219 crossing flags_1.JPG (53230 bytes)a f0822id_216 crossing flags_1.JPG (45588 bytes)Several cities in the area have a pedestrian safety flag system. At each corner a supply of orange flags is available for pedestrians to use. The pedestrian carries an orange flag when crossing the street and deposits the flag at the next corner.

 

   

 

 

Fields are irrigated while the stock graze.

 

   a f0822id_244_1.jpg (44360 bytes)   If not irrigated, it looks like this.

 

 

A lot of farmland/ranchland . . .

 

a f0822id_254_1.jpg (41431 bytes)      

 

 

 

The highway department uses these huge plastic roofed building to store road maintenance supplies.

a f0822id_278 hwy bldg_1.jpg (22542 bytes)

 

 

 

This cow was in a trot when we passed it. When we called '911', the dispatcher told us they already had someone coming out to take it home.

 

a f0822id_281 cow on road_1.jpg (23049 bytes)   a f0822id_282 cow on road_1.JPG (37130 bytes)            a f0822id_300 cow sign_1.jpg (39301 bytes)

 

 

The road ahead . . .

     

 

 

 

It was interesting to see the variety of entrance gates.

 

 a f0822id_345 ranch entrances_1.jpg (35277 bytes)

 

 

 

Every once in a while you would see a house and more antennas.

 

 

a f0822id_353_1.JPG (36830 bytes)   a f0822id_356 antenna hill_1.jpg (27167 bytes)   a f0822id_360_1.JPG (58701 bytes)   a f0822id_396_1.JPG (33336 bytes)

 

 

 

Irrigation is needed . . . water is moved in ditches, concrete troughs or pumped. 

a f0824 id road_103 irrag_1_1.jpg (31444 bytes)  a f0822id_394_1.jpg (26490 bytes)

   

 

   

Wide open range . . .

 

 

a f0822id_405_1.jpg (54071 bytes)      a f0822id_410_1.jpg (27849 bytes)

 

 

a f0822id_422_1.jpg (42157 bytes)      a f0822id_461_1.jpg (34189 bytes)

More straight road . . .

 

 

   a f0822id_478_1.jpg (30466 bytes)

 

 

 

Oregon . . .

 

   a f0824 id road_114 ir welcome_1_1.jpg (46466 bytes)          

 

 

 

a f0824 id road_117_1_1.JPG (27603 bytes)   a f0824 id road_133_1_1.jpg (29627 bytes)   a f0824 id road_135_1_1.jpg (21898 bytes)

 

a f0824 id road_144_1_1.jpg (55187 bytes)     a f0824 id road_151_1_1.JPG (44198 bytes)

 

 

a f0824 id road_159_1_1.jpg (25153 bytes)  

The fence wire stopped some of the rocks. 

 

    

We just caught this 'cowboy' working his horse around barrels in a corral near the highway.

 

a f0824 id road_100 training_1.jpg (34855 bytes)

 

 

a f0824 or and dredge_231 sign adj_1.jpg (64963 bytes)The ride to Sumpter was nice. We passed the Sumpter Valley Railway train on our way to the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area. The train station was next to the dredge.  

 

a f0824 or and dredge_114_1.jpg (35198 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_128 railroad_1.jpg (31646 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_129 railroad_1.jpg (37906 bytes)

a f0824 or and dredge_230 railroad station_1.JPG (53342 bytes)    

The Ranger panned gold for Mary Lou.

 

  a f0824 or and dredge_139 panning_1.JPG (37747 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_140 panning adj_1.jpg (57017 bytes)

 

 

The Sumpter Valley Dredge was build by the Sumpter Valley Dredge Company in 1935 and operated until 1954. During operation, the dredge dug up more than $4 million dollars worth of gold. We were told that it mined the valley, then the dredge was updated and made more efficient. So, they turned it around and dredged back over the valley. 

 

a f0824 or and dredge_134_1.JPG (50301 bytes)     a f0824 or and dredge_199 d layout_1.JPG (79927 bytes)

 

a f0824 or and dredge_187 d _1.JPG (45241 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_196 d buckets_1.JPG (68131 bytes)

a f0824 or and dredge_144 dredge_1.JPG (53750 bytes)      a f0824 or and dredge_207 d_1.JPG (54228 bytes)

 

a f0824 or and dredge_210 d_1.jpg (63338 bytes)This guy walking by the buckets is a good size comparison.

        a f0824 or and dredge_169 d_1.JPG (56575 bytes)                        a f0824 or and dredge_205 d_1.JPG (67053 bytes)

 

 

 a f0824 or and dredge_145 dredge_1.JPG (65525 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_150 d_1.JPG (57930 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_152 d_1.JPG (58985 bytes)   a f0824 or and dredge_168 d_1.JPG (59297 bytes)

 

 

a f0824 or and dredge_155 d_1.JPG (53428 bytes)A volunteer did a good job explaining the workings of the dredge. The restoration is only partially completed. The second story containing the control room, is also going to be reconstruction.

As it happened, there was an older gentleman listening to the volunteer who had been on the dredge as an 8 year old little boy. He remembered the noise making it impossible to hear anything. 

     

 

 

 

   

The town of Sumpter is probably very happy the dredge was located in their town.

 

a f0824 or and dredge_233 sumpter_1.JPG (40449 bytes)      a f0824 or and dredge_236 sumpter_1.JPG (65619 bytes)

The only thing left of the bank after the town burned in 1917 is the vault.

 

 

 

If you would like to buy some Alpacas, we will give you the phone number.

a f0824 or alpacas no phone_1.JPG (27892 bytes)

 

 

 

Seen parked in Baker City . . .

a f0824 or and dredge_250 rwb train_1.JPG (60034 bytes)

 

 

 

This drive-up window in Baker City seemed appropriate for the area.

 

a a f0825or_492 crop_1.jpg (68985 bytes)

 

  

 

a f0825or_571 ggh_1.JPG (34844 bytes)We had a great dinner at the restored 1889 Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, OR. The hotel reflects the rich history of Baker City's legendary gold rush past. Points of interest are the stained glass ceiling, the crystal chandeliers and the curved balcony. 

         a f0825or_498 ggh_1.JPG (63975 bytes)   a f0825or_555 ggh_1.JPG (32682 bytes)   a f0825or_501 ggh_1.JPG (50254 bytes)

 

a f0825or_495 ggh_1.JPG (46923 bytes)   a f0825or_509 ggh_1.JPG (30893 bytes)

 

a f0825or_528 ggh_1.JPG (44047 bytes)   a f0825or_530 ggh_1.JPG (30762 bytes)   a f0825or_554 ggh_1.JPG (39105 bytes)

 

 

You could ride around town 'in style'.

 

a f0825or_568 ggh_1.JPG (49745 bytes)      a f0825or_573 ggh_1.JPG (47607 bytes)

 

 

 

a a f0825or_583 tall bldg crop_1.jpg (43169 bytes)Another attraction in town was the Baker Tower - the tallest building in Oregon east of the Cascade mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a neat name for a pharmacy.

 a f0825or_579 rx pill box_1.JPG (48262 bytes)

 

 

We were amazed at all the irrigation required in this part of the country. Here is a close look at a system.

 

a f0825or_585 irra_1.JPG (33821 bytes)        a f0825or_587 irra_1.JPG (41617 bytes)        a f0825or_588 irra_1.JPG (61205 bytes)

 

 

 

a f0825or_590 dog run hunting_1.JPG (76381 bytes)Our campground in Baker City had an entire field where dogs could run. The dogs we saw running in the field were having a great time.

Your dog was safe in the field because they also posted a "No Hunting" sign.

 

 

 

 

 

Along the road.

a f0827or_102_1.JPG (30444 bytes)

 

 

Cabbage Hill . . . We were warned six miles ahead of Cabbage Hill that a 3.5 mile 6% grade was coming. We received three warnings. Photographs of the views don't do them justice, it felt like you could see forever.

 

a f0827or_119_1.JPG (35052 bytes)   a f0827or_130_1.jpg (28541 bytes)

 

 

 

a f0827or_135_1.JPG (32748 bytes)  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Back on reasonably flat road . . .

 

 a f0827or_154_1.JPG (37314 bytes)   a f0827or_156_1.JPG (35608 bytes)   a f0827or_158_1.JPG (29322 bytes)   a f0827or_163 loc_1.jpg (35741 bytes)

 

 

The road ahead . . .

 

 

           

GO BACK TO  > > > Pacific Northwest - 2008

 

Top of Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hit Counter