As I have mentioned previously, every year we would do a Rigby Family campout, where all my mother’s siblings and their families would gather at a designated place and spend the week camping. These weeks would consist of water sports, campfires, food, hiking and anything else we could think of doing. This post is about a hike we did while camping at Redfish Lake, located in the Sawtooth mountains in central Idaho.
The story begins with us (see picture below), packing our backpacks and heading up the mountain side early one morning.
Standing: Loren Rigby, Alan Rigby, Bruce Rigby, Rodney Stallings, Doug Denning, Richard Denning
Kneeling: Leo Rigby
The day was hot and the hiking, at times, was steep and difficult. Towards evening, we found a small lake being fed by the ice capped mountain and decided it would be a great place to camp for the evening.
Looking at the lake, the thought of a cool down dip in the lake is what we needed to clear our minds and wash our bodies. The water was clear and as we looked around, we found a rock outcropping that would serve as a great jumping off point. We didn’t pay much attention to where the water was coming from, only that we were hot and needed a swim. We stripped down to our nothings and headed to that rock.
And, we jumped. The title of this post mentions the highs and the lows of the hike. I found out what the lows can be in mountain lakes. The temperature of the water was somewhere just above freezing. Once I hit the water, there was only one thing on my mind, I need to get out and fast. I have heard people say that ice baths are good for you, but I have never been one for cold water and trust me, I did not like the temperature of this water. We all made one jump, and no more. We then started a fire and spent the evening trying to get our body temperature back to normal.
After eating and warming, we rolled out the sleeping bags and prepared for the night. Beds of sticks and brush never make for a comfortable night sleep, but we did the best we could and tried to fall asleep. Finally I dosed and then, there was lightning, followed by very loud thunder and a lot of rain. No tents, just sleeping bags. We all did that which you are not to do in a lightning storm. We found the biggest tree, with the widest branches and went under, trying to stay dry. The storm passed and we then tried to get some sleep in our wet bags and muddy terrain. Not what you would call a peaceful night of sleep.
Morning came, we packed up and started up to the mountain peak. We ended up hiking around the peak on a snow pack of ice, and moving very slowly, because one slip and we would be sliding down into a slush pond of water. After the previous night, this did not sound enticing to any of us. We made it around the peak and found, as we looked down, a snow packed slope. My uncle told us to look around and find a very sturdy stick to use as a third leg to ski down the glacier. He showed us how to use it like a stick pony. We could turn, slow and speed up by pulling on the top of the stick and the other end acting as a rudder in the snow. Pull up to slow, push down to speed up, right or left to turn. What a ride it ended up being as we all glided down that glacier. Towards the lower part of the glacier, I ended up sliding down the stick and was sliding pretty much on the snow. By the time I stopped, I had worn through the seat of my pants.
Looking back, you might say that this hike was a disaster, but of all the hikes I have been on, this one is at the top of memorable experiences. The views, the pristine mountains and slopes, the glacier and beautiful lakes made the trip one to remember. Also, the cold swim will always be in the top of my mind.
Okay, like always, I have to add to what Rich said. This was an experience to remember. You have all read the bible when it talks about Christ walking on water. Well, I could have swore that we almost walked on that water trying to get out.
The second memory that comes to me is the night. I found a log that had been sawed in half. When you put the round sides down, you had a flat side up. I had a pad that I laid on the flat side of the log and with the sleeping bag on top of the pad, I had the perfect bed. If my memory serves me correct, I remember razzing the others because I had the perfect bed and several of them had huddled under a nice big tree with rough ground. I went fast to sleep. It was a good night to dream until I felt water running down my legs. The thunder and water on my legs woke me. I got out of my bag, grabbed my pad and yelled for Uncle Leo. He was huddled under a big tree. He called out and I followed his voice to the tree and then curled up into a ball to try and warm my body. Like Rich said, it was a long night.
The next day on our way to the mountain, we came to a place where we found some red snow. Uncle Leo bent over and scooped up a hand full of the red snow and started to eat. We all stood there wounding what he was doing and what animal created red snow. He explained to us that when a spring is under the snow, that a fungus would sometime form on top of the snow. He said it taste like watermelon. Well, we always believed Uncle Leo so we grabbed some snow and tasted it. He was right, it tasted like snow, but to my memory, I only tasted it once. I was a little Leary. I cannot remember if everyone tried it, but I know that I did. The rest of the trip was pretty much like Rich explained.
I will add one more thing. The trail we took was on the other side of the lake so grandpa (dad) loaded us up in old red (our boat) and drove us across the lake and met us the next day to pick us up and take us back to camp. Great memories and great childhood with these experience. Thanks Uncle Leo.