I am out of school for potato harvest and decided to spend the day enjoying the outdoors. I loaded my fly rod, shotgun, chain saw and camera and headed out at 5:45 in the dark. About 10 miles out of town it started raining very hard and I almost turned around and headed home but then I thought, "If you wait for rain to stop, you may miss a life-time of experiences."
The rain had slowed to a misty wetness as I pulled into Sand Creek Pond #4. The planters were hungry and I was enjoying them when other fishermen showed up. The giggling told me some were teenage girls. They went down the pond and soon the giggles turned into excited shouts - they were catching fish also.
I found out that a young man was a very smart young man and knows exactly what to do with young women - pick them up at 6:15 in the morning and take them fishing. They will never forget you. Actually he and one of the girls are students of mine. Here he is will a large rainbow - the girls also caught large fish.
The rain had subsided as I left the Sand Creek Ponds with the trees just starting to change into their fall colors.
I headed across the high mountain desert successfully finding sharp-tailed and sage grouse. This is Split Butte, one of the dozens of buttes caused by volcanic eruptions.
As I climbed higher the clouds had dropped around the shoulders of Fog Butte - aply named. There I was able to get a load of fire wood.
As I climbed higher and did some scouting for deer and elk, I found beautiful pockets of colored aspen.
After experiencing a sudden down pour, I found this Swainson's hawk trying to dry out its feathers in the wind.
What a great day spent in the wildness of Idaho.
