Stanley has finally come alive! Spring held on until the bitter end and now the snow melt is finally releasing its fury on the creeks and rivers in the Sawtooth Valley. The annual 4th of July parade and fireworks kicked off summer in Stanley. Whitewater rafting is at its peek, wildflowers are blooming, tourists are flocking to Redfish Lake and some hiking trails are accessible.
Snow in higher elevations has put a kabosh on hiking to most of the popular destination lakes in the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains unless you pack your skis or snowshoes (I don’t know about you, but mine were packed away months ago). The good news is the snow is melting fast and there are a few trails open such as Alpine Meadows, Alpine Lake and Bench Lakes. On Wednesday, I ate my PB&J on the log that crosses the outlet of Hell Roaring Lake (one of my favs) and pretended I had enough courage to climb the Finger of Fate.
Not only was the earth heaven under my hiking shoes on Thursday, the scent of fresh pine needles and blooming lilac made my spirit soar with mountain air intoxication.  Williams Peak was the backdrop as a bravura waterfall cascaded over the granite rock face into Marshall Lake. Magical! Although there were a few snowy patches on the descent to the lake, I managed to stay upright (for those who have hiked with me know this was quite an accomplishment).
If you’re heading to Stanley, stop by the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch and enjoy a glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade on our front porch. Until then, reach out to us on our blog. Guest bloggers and comments are always welcome!
Happy Trails!
Erica Cole, Office Manager, Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch