A Challis, Idaho Face

Fluff Wood, pictured is a Challis Idaho BBQ phenom. He is as friendly as his smile and his BBQ is exquisite in the great way a casual, no-frills, simply prepared BBQ can be. Think Traeger smokers on a trailer with everything and more you would want...  OK, and ribs! 

Fluff Wood

The other morning I drove in the west entrance to the Nature Conservancy and encountered a herd of elk that was pretty strong in numbers. They kicked up a bit of dust and were back-lit and agitated. Sandhill Cranes flew low dizzying circles over alfalfa and recently cut barley and sometimes landed deftly like long-winged bombers on a short and final. The National News no longer played stories of the Beaver Creek Fire but the smoke had left for the most part and the crowds had mainly left in a frenetic race to escape and left Silver Creek as it often is on a late August morning.

Elk. Silver Creek Preserve, Idaho. 

Fly Fishing Photography

Here are a few images from a recent trip over to the Big Lost River.  The Tricos are still happening but probably starting to slow...  If you are wondering how the fire is here, the skies are clear of smoke and it's beautiful. We have been in the evening thunderstorm cycle which has given us small but much needed hits of rain.

John Huber & A Bent Rod. Big Lost River, Idaho. 

Big Lost River, Idaho. 

Female Trico Dun. Big Lost River, Idaho. 

Ok..., the image below looks like 4 fishermen all fishing together.  What's wrong with the picture is that all 4 fisherman were NOT fishing together. I witnessed the two fisherman farthest upstream in the image enjoying a great morning to themselves. A crew of 3 descended upon the river and commenced fishing right next to and in the same run as the 2 other fishermen who had been there for an hour or so. I had to take a picture of this. Most fly fisherman have a great sense of etiquette but it is almost always a small few who just don't care about anything but themselves even if they are two hours late getting to the only spot on the river they know... Mutual respect for one another does go a long way.

Bad Etiquette 101

Silver Creek Preserve

Below is a panorama of the Silver Creek Preserve. This was taken on Aug 10th and the Beaver Creek Fire started on Aug 7th. The Beaver Creek Fire on this day was picking up momentum.  The good news here is that the air is getting much much better and the firefighters are making substantial progress.

Silver Creek Preserve & Smoke. 

Here is a quote from the Hailey Chief of Police: 

From Hailey Police Chief Jeff Gunter
---
"As the news of the Beaver Creek Fire becomes more optimistic, and fire containment numbers continue to rise, here are some personal thoughts. 1st, we just witnessed a 108,000 acre fire rage through our valley that was larger than the size of Denver. 2nd, so far we only lost a few a structures, the property owners are in my thoughts and prayers. 3rd, keeping the fire confined to the west side of the HWY is miraculous. This fire had the potential to burn thousands of homes. The battle to stop the fire is ongoing and will continue for some time. 4th I thank all the firefighters who risked their lives and protected all the communities we live in. I witnessed so many acts of heroism. I also wish to thank all of law enforcement who have work so many hours breathing the unhealthy air, putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the wonderful valley where we live. Teamwork, so far has minimized the damage and I am confident this effort will continue until the fire is put out. Thank you to all the emergency services that come from out of the area to help us fight the beast, May God bless this valley and everyone who participated in this event."

 

Here is a link to a news story recently passed along to me discussing the economic impact fire has had this year in the west. The title is: Cost of Western blazes spreads like wildfire HERE 

Silver Creek

I spent the evening last night on Silver Creek and the better part of today down there as well.  The conditions have substantially improved here with the Beaver Creek Fire now at 47% containment. Smoky skies have been lifting in many areas by the early afternoon and our local streams are void of fishermen. The next few days may be some of the least crowded fishing at Silver Creek you will ever see in August.

Net & Sunset. Silver Creek, Idaho. 

Beaver Creek Fire V

For those of you who have not been to the InciWeb site for fire info here is the LINK. While many residents are still under mandatory evacuation orders, certain areas are opening back up. As things are changing by the hour, check with the InciWeb site or the Idaho Mountain Express for updates. Today is the least smoky day in awhile in Hailey probably due to the wind out of the south. This fire is undoubtedly an economic firestorm for this valley which relies on August as one of the two or three busiest months of the year here. 

On the fishing front, now is the time to fish Silver Creek as it is the least crowded it will likely ever be in August and the fire activity is all to the north and north west. 

A retardant bomber unleashes near Sun Valley, Idaho. 

Beaver Creek Fire IV

Here are a few more images from the Beaver Creek Fire which is still actively burning in the Sun Valley, Idaho area. Here is a link to a recent Idaho Mountain Express Update. Also, here is the InciWeb site which seems to have the best information on this fire and stays current: InciWeb 

 

A Hot Shot crew clears a fire break near Baldy (Sun Valley, Idaho ski area). 

Conifers go up in flames. Hailey, Idaho. 

A helicopter unleashes on Carbonate Mountain. Hailey, Idaho.

Beaver Creek Fire III

Here are a few images from the Beaver Creek Fire from today. Last night the fire gained a lot of ground and caused evacuations up and down the valley including Hailey and as far north as Lake Cr.  

A DC-10 roars over Carbonate Mountain. Hailey, Idaho. 

Carbonate Mountain. Hailey, Idaho. 

Beaver Creek Fire, Idaho II

Here are more images taken today of the Beaver Creek Fire just north of Hailey, Idaho. The fire has largely been out of control and has moved west to HWY 75 about 6 miles south of Ketchum & Sun Valley, Idaho. Many evacuation orders are in effect and it is now the nation's number 1 fire priority. For more info and updated info check out this link to The Idaho Mountain Express.

A major wind event pushes out of the west. 

Fire, Smoke and Light. Beaver Creek Fire, Idaho. 

A wide angle image as seen from the Valley Club which is just north of Hailey, Idaho. 

A helicopter unleashes water just above Starweather. 

Beaver Creek Fire, Idaho

The Beaver Creek Fire, for those of you who don't know, has just turned more westerly and has been burning down Greenhorn Gulch since late this afternoon. Greenhorn Gulch is about 6 miles south of Ketchum, Idaho. This fire is certainly threatening many homes and has hopefully not burned any yet. Evacuations are in effect for certain areas. I took the images below between 5:15 and 7:45 tonight. The images were taken from a few different locations not far from HWY 75. 

A fire retardant bomber unleashes and heads to the west. Beaver Creek Fire, Idaho. 

North facing slope of Greenhorn Gulch. 

South Facing slope. Greenhorn. 

A helicopter comes in to siphon water from a nearby pond. 

Camera: Nikon D3s

Lens: Nikon ƒ2.8 80-200 afs

Stocker Road Black & White

Below is an image taken of and from Stocker Road which is the west side entrance to the Silver Creek Preserve. The cloud in the background is actually smoke from the Beaver Creek Complex Fire. A substantial size crew--an ICP (Incident Command Post) has set up camp between Hailey and Ketchum off of Buttercup Rd. This fire is believed to be caused by lightning and has grown to approx 35,000 acres and at the time of writing this is 16% contained. Here is the link to the USFS Large Fire Incident site: Here

Stocker Road & Smoke. August. Idaho. 

Below is an image of Silver Creek from The Nature Conservancy section and the Beaver Creek Complex Fire. 

Silver Creek Preserve & Smoke. Idaho

Camera: Nikon D3s

Lens: Nikon ƒ1.8 50mm

Silver Creek Callibaetis

I pulled off of Silver Creek a couple of nights ago around 10 pm and there were a ton of Tricos and Callibaetis in the grass and when I stopped near the Creek they were attracted to my car headlights. The two images below were taken well after dark of callibaetis on or near my headlights. 

A headlight Callibaetis. Silver creek, Idaho. 

Callibaetis. silver Creek, Idaho. 

Female Trico at 10 pm. Silver Creek, Idaho. 

Camera: Nikon D3s

Lens: Nikon Micro ƒ2.8 105 mm

Wildflower

Here are a few macro shots of dried wildflowers...

Dried Wildflower I

Dried Wildflower II

Camera: Nikon D3s

Lens: Nikon Micro ƒ2.8 105mm

Picabo Quinceanera

I was hanging out at Picabo Angler, in Picabo, Idaho a few days ago and there was a Quinceanera happening behind the store and on part of the airstrip. A Quinceanera is a Latin American celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday. It generally marks the point between girlhood and womanhood. The birthday girl and a few of her friends walked into the store and I raced out to my car and grabbed my camera and got a few quick images of her and a few of the others...

A fifteen year old celebrates her birthday. Picabo, Idaho.

Camera: Nikon D3s

Lens: Nikon ƒ2 35mm