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Show The Sawtooth Mountains The Trip That Wasn't Yellowstone we approached our ascent. sun created a longing to terrain for the shaded and ahead. Three miles past began our climb up to the itous serene landscape have become overshad- weekend? I had my argument. The gang piled into my Subaru bound for Sawtooth Lake and a Rocky Mountain high without the exhaust fumes. | wasn't prepared for it. Rounding the last turn on Galena Pass, about nine miles north of Sun date advance reservations. In addition, if those were to fill up, there are many primitive sites along secondary roads. We set up for the night at the Stanley Lake campground then huddled by the campfire discussing tomorrow's direction. Valley, we saw it. Breathtaking peaks and ridges of snow-tipped mauve granite, serrat- The dogs chased each other through the ed aside from the crackle of hot wood. Yellowstone forbids dogs outside the camp- crests silhouetted against an intensely owed by the result af robust tourism in one blue sky, the teeth ofa saw. of the nation's largest parks. But where else would I find the splendor of the Tetons? The warm July sun danced on the Salmon River, as we stopped to take photographs and relish the world around us. I had looked forward to a weekend in the wilderness. But "in the wilds" has taken on a whole new meaning in Yellowstone and my vacation stood in jeopardy. My traveling companions had the look of James Mitchner on a quest for the last, great American novel. I had to convince them of a parallel adventure. And so, I discovered Sawtooth National Recreation Area near Stanley, Idaho. Both parks are about a six-hour drive from Salt Lake City, host peaks and rivers for hiking, climbing, backpacking, boating, biking, crosscountry skiing and snowmobiling. So what if the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is only 1,178 square miles, compared to Yellowstone's 3,472 square miles. How much land do you need for:a Glaciers molded the landscape 2 million years ago, scooping out the myriad of basins and picturesque lakes in northern Idaho to supply ourselves for camping and backpacking before turning toward Stanley Lake and beyond. The small town of Stanley is ideal for last-minute groceries, camping supplies and sporting goods. It also provides a hotel, several motels, restaurants, gift shops, and a state liquor store. The convenience-store clerk mentioned there was only one commercial trailer and RV park within the Sawtooth Recreation Area. Hurray! Around the lakes and along the rivers there are nearly 500 campsites. The most popular are at Redfish, Little Redfish and Alturus Lakes. But even those don't man- woods providing site. Tomorrow, the only night's in the Sawtooth sound, National the south and through tne trees, we eyed Alpine Lake and its sapphire water. No camping's allowed down there, thanks to years of abuse. Look but don't touch. We continued on our way to Sawtooth Lake The deep oval is the largest lake in the Sawtooth Wilderness - almost a mile-and-ahalf wide. We had to travel beyond the main ridge to find campsites because overuse of the area has restricted camping to west of the ridge. Did I mention there were no other hiking parties in sight? From the top of the ridge surrounding Sawtooth, trails stretched in all directions. But we planted ourselves. We had traversed six miles and, well, we weren't out to over do it. This was the moment to relax, bond, cook, reflect, eat, and touch the stars. Generators didn't hum, headlights didn't flash. The sun dropped behind the ridge and were together alone. The next morning we descended, the dogs leading the trail. The crisp mountain air chilled the insides of our noses and chapped our lips. We scanned the ragged horizon, watched hawks soar. No one passed on the trail and we chuckled at our secret find. While others fought the crowd in a delicate pristine place were crowds seem obscene, our Idaho trailblazers raked in the goods. Fresh air, fresh sounds, fresh sights. We agreed we need to stay off familiar beaten roads and take those less traveled. No more planned vacations to the same places everyone else plans to visit. Tomorrow, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area may become the Yellowstone of today. But for now, we'll appreciate the solitude. Oh, and if you go, don't tell my friends I sent you. They'll kill me. @ Recreation Area, they're coming with us. The next morning, Steve and I borrowed a canoe and paddled around Stanley Lake. Brad preferred to fish for rainbow trout by the water's edge. Bonnie said the morning air was still too frosty to emerge from her tent. We were to wake her later, Sure. By mid-morning, we were driving the short way east on Highway 21 back to an earlier turnoff for the Iron Creek Transfer Camp. We sighed easily at the sight of the Iron Creek Trailhead - a very wide trail with a gradual incline. We marked in the trail register: "Sawtooth Lake or bust!" A moderate one-mile climb brought us to the wilderness boundary and then the Alpine Way Trail. The trail to Sawtooth Lake was well-marked, so we didn't have to frustratingly tell the boys to look at the map. Once through the wildflower meadow; HOLIDAY DESSERTS Assorted Organic Fruit Pies Pumpkin Danish Rings Ginger Bread Chocolate Pecan 3 DAYS ADVANCED Pie Pie NOTICE 801-649-5686 Open 268 Everyday Main St., at Park 7 A.M. City C1. JOVd « SIWIL NIVINNOW By Jill Adler aught between a rock and a hard place. One long weekend to play this summer and the last thing I wanted to do was spend it with a cityload of Winnebagos, trailer maidens and screaming rug rats. Old Faithful, jagged majestic peaks, a afternoon ridge. To Alturus Lake in Stanley Basin provides one of the area’s pristine camping and fishing locations. The abandon the flat steep switchbacks the trailhead, we edge of a precip |