- July 21, 2018
- 40 photos


The time has arrived: our first camping trip together off the motorcycle. Brenna and I ride together from Boise on back roads to Prairie then up and over Trinity Mountain.
The time has arrived: our first camping trip together off the motorcycle. Brenna and I ride together from Boise on back roads to Prairie then up and over Trinity Mountain.
Somehow it’s me and four ladies camping high in the Idaho mountains, two of them for the first time.
From 9,000 feet to 9,000 feet, my three brothers and I leave Washington Basin for lunch and fuel in Ketchum before beginning our westward leg along the South Fork of the Boise River toward home.
On the second day of our tenth annual ride, my brothers and I descend from Lava Mountain for gas before heading deeper into the mountains. At least that’s the plan. Mountains have a way of messing with plans.
Brenna and I drive to the recently opened Trinity Recreation Area to camp along Big Trinity Lake and feed the mosquitoes. She swims, makes me a flower salad and map while I prepare the hotdogs and marshmallows. After a restless night we leave to the sunrise reflecting fire off placid waters.
I go alone to follow narrow trails along unexplored Lava and perhaps Rattlesnake Mountains. I hope to reach North Star and Smith Creek Lakes seen on the map. The scenery is the best I know this close to home even as aches and pains remind me of my age.
A long loop with unknown impediments requires an early departure. Snow and fire kept us out of the Trinity Recreation area this year. I’m curious to see what remains. Some effort is required to push the GS uphill through snowdrifts.
Snow prevents us from reaching the Trinity lakes so we set up for a night along the cold creek below the lookout.
After two failed attempts, I finally make it to Trinity Lookout, a fairly short ride from home, and find it worth the effort.
My oldest daughter Laura and I ride together on the GS1200 through Smith Prairie for Trinity Lookout only to be yelled at when we arrive. We return through Featherville, not getting home until late at night.