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After my Coeur D’Alene trail maintenance trip wrapped up, I had time to explore parts of northern Idaho that I rarely get to visit. I spent the night tucked away in some shrubs near Buckskin Saddle and rose early the next morning for a hike to Delyle Ridge. The trail was a delight. Someone had done a really nice job of cutting back substantial shrub growth and clearing fallen timber. It was a mostly flat hike through a typical northern Idaho forest filled with fir, pine, hemlock, larch, and western red cedar trees.
Sego Lilly 
Smallflower Miterwort; aka – Bugs on a stick 
I was trying to capture the fine mesh of a dense spider web. Can you see it? 
The view from the top of Delyle Ridge, looking down upon Clark Fork river with the Cabinet Range as a backdrop was better than a morning cup of coffee. 
The collapsed remains of what was once a fire lookout and later a falcon hacking site atop the ridge. 
The Clark Fork River, named for William Clark (of Lewis & Clark) empties into Lake Pend Oreille. Shaped like an ear, Lake Pend Oreille is the fifth deepest lake in the United States and host to the NSWCCD Acoustic Research Detachment of the US Navy. 
The moist, fertile Clark Fork valley is perfect for dryland farming
The next post will cover my adventure to Moose Lake later in the day.
Rangewriter 
Linda, thanks for the hike. Nice views. Keith
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Twas my pleasure, Keith.
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Great pics! Whenever I see scenery like this, I’m led to believe that places like this are where we’re meant to be. Over crowded conditions in noisy, dirty cities aren’t conducive to peace, serenity and communion with our creator(s).
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Yes, I agree. But we keep breeding. Our public spaces are getting more public all the time. And I believe that climate change is also contributing to an unbearable migration of people to this area. I don’t want to be a NIMBY, but overcrowding is moving from cities to the heartland. Those lucky enough to be able to work from home and make a living at it, are fleeing the city life. Who can blame them?
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Breeding! Like that. 😎
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😉
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You need to put together a book of your amazing photography of Idaho’s natural beauty & the historical city info like the photos you did on Boise. You have seen & tasted so much of Idaho’s charm.
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Haha. Thanks. That’s been done. By really fine photogs with real equipment and real chops. Mark Lisk, for one.
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Wow! So gorgeous! I’d love to get back to Idaho one of these days.
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Idaho is an interesting state. It is so diverse (environment wise, not socially!). The north is beautiful for it’s lush forests and considerable wildlife. While where I live, in the south, it is much drier, but interesting in its own way. Maybe someday our paths will cross. 😉
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You walked up there? and camped in the shrubs? With or without a tent? Good for you, and without coffee! It is beautiful country. I was impressed with” the fifth deepest lake in the United States”. Here in Alberta, there are not many lakes one can swim in because of swimmer’s itch from parasites and algae bloom. Most are very shallow.
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Ah, dear Jane. I am fortunate. Yes, I did walk to up to the old lookout. But it was a really easy and pleasant walk, except for the last little bit that got a little steep and the trail sort of petered out. I’ve just resorted to using trekking poles and must confess that they make a huge difference. Now I wonder what took my so long.
And I did camp in the shrubs, sort of. When I plan to be somewhere for no more than 1 night and I’m alone, I usually sleep inside my car. My car comfortably accommodates my sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and me plus all my gear. I find as remote a place as I can and back into the shrubs. I roll the windows down so I can see the stars and I’m in heaven. As a backpacker, I have all the necessary things to make this sort of off the grid camping possible. I leave no trace but my tire tracks. I feel safer this way than I would in a noisy campground that is really a small city invading the woods.
I did not know that the lakes in Alberta are so shallow. Many lakes in the Rockies are deep, but few quite as deep as Lake Pend Oreille.
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Yep, saw the spider web. 😀
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Cool! I was afraid only I could see it because I was there, lol. Kinda hard to capture with an iPhone. 😊
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Beautiful country! Thanks for taking us on your hike in words and photos!
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My pleasure, Denise. Wish I had your photographic skills. But also, I don’t wish to be lugging the equipment that accompanies you on your excursions.
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