Indulge in I.F.’s playground

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

By Henry Sweets

As the summer excursion season approaches we want to explore, and tell you about, the places nearby that you might otherwise miss.

This past weekend, muddy trails and a bad case of valley fever drove me in search of dry hiking trails, and some cultural exploration at Idaho Falls’ recreational riviera: Heise Hot Springs and the Kelly Canyon area.

About twenty miles before Idaho Falls, we followed signs on Highway 26 to the Heise Hot Springs and the Kelly Canyon Ski Area in Ririe, Idaho. After exploring the gravel road that lines the bank of the south fork of the Snake River and the paved/gravel Cress Creek Nature trail, we went on to the hot springs that were, well, not so enticing. I know the Romans used to do it, but … the gurgling, 108-degree, naturally heated hot tub was chlorinated and did not seem like a smart $8 investment. So we moved on toward the Forest Service trails ahead.

Before our hike, we stopped for a slice of pizza and a beer at the all-season resort’s pizza parlor/clubhouse.

As it would be, our friendly server told us that a pitcher of Fat Tire was $9, while each small glass was a full $3. We needed no convincing and bought the pitcher.
As we carried our beer onto the porch, I became overly aware of how much we stuck out. Nervous and without a corner to hide in, I heard a voice say “there’s room over here,” next to a couple in their 40s.

We sat, exchanged pleasantries and began laughing at the expense of the novice golfers attempting to tee off.

Brian and Jessie, our tablemates, both live in Idaho Falls and hope to get married someday. Brian is a Grandpa. As it turns out, he has had lots of good times in Jackson but claims not to remember them.
As our conversation continued, Brian said he likes to ride his Harley down roads just to see where they go.

“It’s like my dad said, ‘Every road goes to somewhere,’” he said.
“Yeah,” I thought. “And this road just took a twist towards a pitcher of Fat Tire, and dudes with barbed wire tattoos and cutoffs golfing with their girlfriends.”
By the time we finished the beer it was 3 p.m. Almost completely unmotivated, it was a quiet relief to find that the road to the trail was snowed in. Instead we scrambled up a huge rock fin, and then a couple miles up a BLM trail that is actually referred to as “Little Kelly,” as in Little Kelly Canyon.

I had hoped to turn this Idaho hiking adventure into a worthy tale for the Planet’s first excursions column. I was disappointed that I might have failed.

On our way home, we stopped in Star Valley. For the rest of the ride home, I retreated into the solace of that region’s famous square ice cream. Utterly American and unashamed, I knew that being an exercise freak, or an eco-nerd is sometimes less important than sitting on a porch, and watching what the rest of the world is doing.
PERMALINK:
Indulge in I.F.’s playground | Planet JH News Article: Sports & Recreation

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