Road Trips!

RoadTripsForFamilies.com editor appeared on Seattle Fox TV station talking about the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies. Check it out at: http://tinyurl.com/28hj9ay

White Bird, Idaho, is part of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail, which is a non-traditional park managed by the National Park Service, covering 38 sites in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The White Bird Battlefield is a great self-guided interpretive hike, located about 4 miles north of Swiftwater RV Park.  Learn more at: http://www.nps.gov/nepe/index.htm

Road Trips for Families is an online magazine covering family travel from the road trip perspective.  Learn more at http://www.roadtripsforfamilies.com 

The Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies include some of North America's most scenic lakes, rivers, mountains, charming towns and historic places.  The Drives connect 19 spectacular National Parks, Monuments and Recreation Areas via nationally designated Scenic Byways and Historic Trails.  Learn more at http://www.drivethetop10.com

Swiftwater RV Park is a small, exclusive private campground on the banks of the Salmon River in north central Idaho, and only 17 miles from Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Learn  more at:  http://www.swiftwaterrv.com

 

Cycling the Transamerica Bicycle Trail with Heidi

Okay...it's been a while since a post, but no worries...we're here.  There was so much rain in May and June, I think I drowned, but now I'm saved by awesome Idaho sunshine!

A very nice young woman, a Colgate graduate, cycling from coast to coast on the Transamerica Bicycle Trail Route - Adventure Cyclist - enjoyed a great tenting experience by the banks of the Salmon River at Swiftwater RV Park on July 1st.  Dear to my heart, rural community development - focusing on recreation in the Northwest - is a focus in her life.

Check out her blog as she writes about travel experiences, even the Silver Dollar Bar in White Bird, Idaho...yahoo!

Heidi, we wish you safe, speedy, and friendly cycling.  Thanks for staying at Swiftwater RV Park, and writing about the area.  Good  luck, and keep in touch!

Downtown White Bird - Changed

Historic Gas Station destroyed in recent fire demolished by community volunteers.

This downtown building has been in the Lee family for generations and the cinder block building was burned out completely on Jan 18, started from a wood stove.

Community spirit and helpfulness removed the unsafe building, block by block and demolished it entirely.

By the next day after the fire, Lonnie had received more food and household goods/clothing then he could’ve imagined.  This past week, more people than we can count helped remove the unsafe cinderblock building structure, and cleared the area, creating the now vacant lot.  People from nearby, and far away, lent equipment - big and small track hoes and dump trucks – provided gas and diesel at no charge, donated hours of labor - from the meticulous removal of each cinder block to scooping up salvageable materials to haul away for salvage – and hundreds of dollars in donations.  Every piece of scrap that could be sold for salvage was hauled away to Kamiah, with those monies used to cover cost for diesel and hydraulic fuel etc., to make the multiple drives. To list everyone who helped, from tiny to large contributions, of any kind, would take a full page, and then I’d probably still inadvertently leave someone out!  This has been a great community rally, and everyone’s efforts are sincerely appreciated.

YouTube - Idaho's Hells Canyon...and More!

YouTube - VisitIdaho's Channel

Snowy Salmon River and White Bird Creek

In mid December, it was very cold for several days, and the combined snow/ice along the banks of the Salmon River was beautiful.  Since my new phone/camera (LG enV3) was on hand - though no cell coverage in the Salmon River Canyon - I snapped a few pics.

Not too many fishermen on this day!

During a mid-day walk a few days later, the snow-covered White Bird Creek, and road, were worthy of a few pics too.

Check out more pics on Swiftwater RV's page on Face book:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=186560&l=3eff59bce4&id=100000018226170

WHITE BIRD BATTLEFIELD WALK

A tour of the White Bird Battlefield will take place this Saturday, November 14, at 10am PST. Plan to meet at the entrance to the Battlefield on Old Hwy 95, about two miles north of downtown. Kevin, from the Nez Perce National Park Service headquarters in Spalding, will be guiding the 1.5 hour walking tour, and is a fountain of information about the Nez Perce, and the White Bird Battlefield site. This is a rare opportunity to learn more about our area’s history, and so far, the weather looks to be good. It is advised to wear good walking shoes and bring water.

LETS GO FISHING !

The fish are jumping, literally, on the Salmon River, and fishermen are beginning to seriously toss their lines in the river attempting to reel in a steelhead. More jet boats are cruising along, and bank fishermen are starting to dot the sides of the river. Folks are beginning to catch ‘keepers’, and one that I saw was over 25” long. One guy reportedly has caught 24 already this week - can that be real - WOW!!

IDAHO HIKERS....from Alabama!

What do you do for vacation each year?

Some of us might be lucky to have a vacation, or not, but being in the hospitality and vacation business here at Swiftwater RV Park outside of White Bird, Idaho, we see vacation folks daily. Recently we had four hiking guests from Florence, Alabama. These four buddies take a week's vacation with each other every year, and the activity is always camping and hiking. Lucky for us, the 2009 destination was Idaho. They’ve been exploring many western states for the last several years, so this year it was central Idaho’s turn.

Paul, Jack, Craig and Steve begin their trip began by flying into Boise from Alabama, complete with checked luggage which included tents and camping gear. After renting a Chevy Suburban, they stuffed everything inside and headed to Stanley, Idaho to begin the week’s hiking and camping adventure.

The Sawtooth mountains were wonderful, and so was the Frank Church Wilderness, all of which added to their great store of fun memories from over the years. On this side of the mountains, they ended in White Bird, Idaho. tenting a few nights by the Salmon River at Swiftwater RV Park. Nearby hiking treks included up Rapid River, and to Heavens Gate, where at the scenic overlook, they visited with the USFS Ranger and enjoyed the fabulous views into four states. By the way, this spot in the Seven Devil Mountains is the highest viewpoint on the Idaho side of Hells Canyon. Awesome vistas were the name of the game, complimented by just about perfect hiking weather.

Music to my heart, they also exclaimed that Swiftwater RV Park is a great place to camp, and they appreciated our super clean facilities and laundromat. Since White Bird is Idaho’s shortest driving distance into Hells Canyon, we urged them to stay another day and hike from Pittsburgh Landing to the Kirkwood Historic Mansion, but their flight home couldn’t be postponed.

Back home in Florence, Alabama, one guy is a department chair at the University of North Alabama (www.una.edu), and his friend is a retired chair/professor, so they’ve been friends for years. Another guy is a economic development specialist for the Tennessee Valley Authority, who actually lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while the other guy is an engineer for the FAA. It’s super to meet interesting people from other parts of this great country, and how happy I am they chose to vacation in Idaho!

In other years, they’ve camped and hiked Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon and Montana. From hiking, to fishing, hunting, 4-wheeling, and wild-life watching, the west has the best!

Sitting beneath the giant willow trees at Swiftwater RV Park, alongside the Salmon River, on the second day of their hiking trip, sharing memories, food, drink and laughs, they’re probably beginning to plan next year’s hiking and camping adventure.