Quartz Claims

   A beautifully bound piece of Idaho history stacked in an ancient safe in the Boise County Offices in Idaho City.  The offices reside in what used to be the Miner's Exchange bar.  The staff is proud of the collection and if they are not busy, they are happy to show them to you.

        Entered in these books are page after page of quartz claims, all penned in the florished hand of some long forgotten recorder.  Each a piece of history... a piece of art.

Sun Dog

 One of many beautiful Idaho winter evenings.... A sun dog appeared over the Owyhees just after sunset on December 6th.  They are created by the refraction of light in ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.

The Road to Silver City

Yellow aspen and silver juniper poles lashed together with rusted spikes, barbed wire and blue plastic twine.  Can snow be far behind in the high country?

Spike Camp

Snow Storm's End

Cold, numb and stiff, I shoulder into the wind.  Snowflakes drift collecting on the brim of my hat and catching in my lashes.  In the dusk the only sound is the muted step of the horses and the jingle of tack.  The air is filled with the smell of saddle leather and pine.  I shiver.

 

Above, a thin eggshell moon creeps in and out of fringed clouds.  As the trail steepens, we continue, silent into dark silhouettes of rock outcrops and evergreens.  We left the river three hours ago and are making our way through the Frank Church to spike camp another hour distant.

 

The cold digs in beneath lap blankets and my mind drifts between the stumbles my horse makes more and more often.  As we mount a rise in a dark, icy gust, three canvass wall tents flare bright yellow, illuminated by gas lanterns.  Hounds bound into the halo of light.  Light and the warmth of favorite hunting dogs chesting through deep snow, push back the dark chill of one icy night when I could still ride and the hounds were still young.

 

Stonebreaker Barn

This stately old barn is typical of many found in Long Valley and Round Valley.

Spring Camas

  On cold spring days right after the snow has melted and left the grasses and sedges to push up green in the marshes, the flags of blue camas wave goodbye to winter.

Snowstorm Along the Boise

This morning's bright dawn light was swept away by a fast moving front.  It was brushed east by wind like rough strokes across linen canvas. Sleet, hail then snow.....and finally sunshine.  Can spring be far behind?

Thousand Springs

During this cold snap, this might be the one place in Idaho that is as warm as it looks....not very:-)

Winter Fog

Fog crystalizes on the long grass catching the evening light. 

Middle Fork Boise River

Bullet holes and the US Mail....mountain communication in Idaho.

Atlanta

When the temperatures drop and the snow piles up, Idaho offers so many opportunities to play.

Lucky Peak Reservoir

A very fine Friday afternoon....

Near Bruce Meadows

The earth's axis shifts and temperatures stay below freezing in the high country.  Ice laces the streams shut in crystalline patterns reflecting the colder blue of winter light.  

Late Fall

Late fall powders the face of the desert....drifts down the valley in tides of fog....rests its cold hand on the shoulder of winter.

Idaho Homestead

Somewhere in the ragged edges are reflections of dreams and maybe a kind of peace 

made with what life had to offer.

Ice Scabs

Ice scabs over the desert, glazing grass, coating the blood red weeds and coffining the water until spring.

South Fork of the Boise

Weather Forecast:  Light snow with more to come.

Snow

Blessings of winter.....

Happy Thanksgiving

Best of wishes for safe journeys and a joyful day with family and friends.

First Snows

Snow sifts down on late-clinging leaves.