A big, wide, wonderful world out there

6 days on the road. About 26+ hours of driving - there, from and all round. A day of fall and a day of winter, wonderland snow, one cloudy day for 3 hours of shopping, we packed a lot in. Mainly photographing and exploring fall colors on the Sawtooth Scenic Byway.

Sun Valley has these lucious hills that look like bundt cakes sprinkled with powdered sugar after a dusting of snow. And the glorious, shimmering colors of Aspens, Birch, Cottonwoods and red shrubs (to name a few). Well, we just can't stop saying "wwwwooow".

We happened upon the 25th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, where they bring the sheep down from the mountains for winter through the streets of Sun Valley. We drove to Redfish Lake in the snow where we had lunch at a 1929 lodge (only problem, no one was wearing mask in the restaurant where everyone was crowded in one spot). This is a place that David would really love, I am thinking we should go back post-Covid for a few days of fishing. Even on a cloudy, snowy day, the water was so clear.

We headed over to Alturus Lake on the way back to Sun Valley. An out-of-the-way lake that I am sure is a blast in the summer. It has small sandy, beaches with crystal clear water. Lots of camping areas. But that day, in the snow with hardly anyone there, it was the quietest place I have ever been. We drove for miles on a small road lined with snow covered trees. 

We arrived in Sun Valley during a sunset. It was glorious for a day, snowing and 19 degrees for a day. And the drive to and from was breathtaking in the vastness of our country. Sometimes stuck in my house, doing dishes, I forget.

Heading home to rain While exploring the maps of where we should go, I discovered some places I want to go next trip in the summer. All of this is close distance of Sun Valley.

One being the Shoshone Falls, "often referred to as the Niagara of the West, Shoshone Falls is a must see attraction in Twin Falls, Idaho. At 212 feet tall and 900 foot wide, Shoshone Falls is one of the largest natural waterfalls in the United States surpassing the height of the famous Niagara Falls. Shoshone Falls is located on the Snake River as it carves its way through a deep basalt Canyon on its way to the Columbia River."

 Who knew they had many sand dunes in Idaho. Bruneau Dunes State Park looks interesting and I think the kids would love it. "Bruneau Dunes park boasts the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America with a peak rising 470 feet above the surrounding desert floor. Explore the dunes in your hiking boots or rent a sandboard from the Visitor Center, but off-road vehicles are only permitted  on the main road. You can also fish for bluegill in the lakes at the foot of the dune; unlock the mystery of the desert with a breathtaking hike or horseback ride; plan a group picnic or visit the Bruneau Dunes Observatory (during non-COVID-19 times) and gaze at the night sky through the Observatory’s collection of telescopes."

Since we drove through there the last time, I have wanted to go back to Craters of the Moon lava field. "Craters of the Moon is a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. We invite you to explore this "weird and scenic landscape" where yesterday's volcanic events are likely to continue tomorrow."

Oh, and I almost forgot. I LOVE this color of orange. It GLOWS. Pantone number is P17-15!