‘Tis the Season to Get Outside
Whatever winter holiday your family chooses to celebrate, longer days unite us all. Despite the cold temperatures, the Salmon Valley has plenty of outdoor activities with which to fill your extra hours.
Steelhead
Preparing for Winter in the Salmon River Valley
Whatever the arrival of winter means to you, I hope you have all you need to celebrate and find time to relax. If you’re still out there preparing, I understand because I think I might be chopping wood for the foreseeable future. Make sure to wave when you pass me on the ridge road.
Autumn Approaches
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, there is still plenty to do here in the valley before we wade into the approaching holiday fervour.
The Season’s Change Is Upon Us
Long my favorite season, I relish the days as the sun rises later each morning to burn off the chill and the shorter evenings bring with them the smell of wood smoke. Before we get caught up in the whirlwind of the holidays, and the eventual winter gloom, we first get the fleeting respite that is September.
Life Lessons Learned at the Fair
On August 17th, I will get my chance at fair redemption. The Lemhi County Fair kicks off that Saturday and lasts through the week. The closing day is Saturday, August 24. Events will include the Family Fun Night-Alcohol Free, Horse and Dog Races & Ranch Rodeo, the Salmon Stampede PRCA Rodeo, and more.
Summer in Full Bloom
“The earth laughs in flowers.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson Wildflowers are generally associated with late spring and early summer, but Salmon has always been unconventional. July is halfway over and temperatures are climbing; the last of the balsamroot blooms may be wilted memories, but the lavender is in full bloom! On Saturday July 20, Shannon and Doug Weaver are hosting the 6th Annual Lavender Fest in Carmen, just four miles from downtown Salmon. There will be lavender wares, lavender lemonade, lavender picking, live music, and much more. While you’re here, download a wild plants app and walk one of the nearby trails in search of other late-season wildflowers. Just north of downtown Salmon sits Discovery Hill, or Disco to the locals. Here you will find over 32 miles of trails for hiking, biking, trail running, and frisbee golf. Other great trails in the area include the Goldbug Hot Springs trail, the Henry Creek Loop, or a nature walk at the Sacajawea Center. After your walk, enjoy a Schilling “Grapefruit and Chill” Cider at the Pork Peddler. This refreshing hard cider is infused with hibiscus flowers. I highly recommend showing up a few days before the Lavender Festival so that you can enjoy the music of the Black Lillies on July 18th at Sweetwater Hollow. I may be partial because the band is from my hometown (Knoxville, TN—Go Vols!), but American Songwriter Magazine backs me up. The magazine describes their sound well: “vocal harmonies that recall the Eagles, Steely Dan-esque lyrics, and plenty of crunchy Southern Rock guitar.” The show starts at 6:00 PM. Make a long flower-filled weekend of it by booking a riverside room at the Stagecoach Inn, walking distance to the show! For more information about all the great things to see and do & where to stay go to visitsalmonvalley.com
Solitude between Mountain Peaks
The Lemhi offers something for everyone—it’s approachable and kind to newcomers, yet it’s pristine and complex enough to satisfy even the most discerning anglers
Landon Shares Her Story of the 4th of July and Salmon River Days
Ten years ago, the best looking man I had ever seen told me about Salmon River Days. I was in no place to be making plans for the holiday weekend—Fourth of July was almost two months away and Salmon was 250 miles from where we were working together at the time, but, as I said, most handsome man I’d ever seen. It was my first summer in Idaho, and I had never even heard of Salmon. When the holiday rolled around, I had the weekend off, and the lure of fireworks, a demolition derby, dunk tanks, and a parade down Main Street proved more than I could resist. I loaded up the rig and started the drive. Next thing you know, I was at Arfmann’s Four Seasons buying a USA t-shirt and some light-up sunglasses. This year the events start on Thursday, July 4, and continue through the weekend. There will be sidewalk sales, craft sales, and art shows in town; along with events out at the rodeo grounds. Fireworks will be after dark on Thursday, and the parade will follow on Friday morning. Friday night features live music at the Sacajawea Amphitheatre at 7:00 PM. Saturday brings a full day of activities, and the demolition derby starts at 6:00PM. The weekend will wrap up with live music at Sweetwater Hollow on Sunday night. Maybe I will even get to dance with that good looking man who hasn’t been able to shake me off after all these years. After several years together, I cannot remember our anniversary, but this year I will celebrate it on the Fourth of July. If you can’t make it down for Salmon River Days, keep an eye out for news of the Lost Trail Music Festival. This annual event falls on the July full moon weekend, which will be July 12th-14th in 2019. Along with a packed music line-up, there will be food, beer, hiking, camping, yoga, and art. For more information on Salmon River Days and all the things mentioned here, go to www.visitsalmonvalley.com
Head off “Summer Learning Loss” with a visit to The Salmon Valley.
The days are getting longer, and school is out for summer. Although I look forward to the lazy summer afternoon and slower pace that June brings, I also vividly remember some of the boredom I experienced during summer breaks as a kid.
Summer is Coming to the Salmon Valley
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James, qtd. in A Backward Glance, Edith Wharton Summer is fast approaching and with it the pleasant leisure of the summer afternoon. Although many recognize the summer solstice as the official start to summer, the Farmers’ Almanac also references another date: the meteorological beginning. This beginning is based on the annual temperature cycle and occurs on June 1st. As someone who is continuously trying to fit everything in, I am going to advocate for that June 1st date. After all, there are a lot of summer events kicking off in June, and if we wait until June 21st, we will miss so much. It seems the Lemhi Valley Farmers Market also recognizes the earlier date as the 2019 opening day is Saturday, June 1st. There will be local produce, ready to eat goods, artisan crafts, kids’ activities, and more. The weekly market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at The Veteran’s Memorial Park, rain or shine. While there, you may come across Jeremy and Jessica from Swift River Farm, a local outfit that just received their official Organic Certification! Swift River Farm also takes the hassle out of food packing for those of you who may be planning a river trip this summer. Visit their website, give them a budget, and they will take care of your produce needs! Speaking of boating, June also brings the annual Salmon River Fest at Sweetwater Hollow! Join the river community on June 7th and 8th. There will be two days’ worth of activities, including a community float, gear swap, film fest, and live music. Info on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/280484712906473/ Kick off summer whenever you would like, but you’ll find me toasting the changing of the season on June 1st, with a crisp glass of rosé on a summer afternoon! Landon is an international travel guide and writer who is based out of Salmon, Idaho. Her work in the travel industry takes her to rivers around the Pacific Northwest, the Galapagos Islands, and Cuba. Her work as a writer mostly just takes her to a table in the back of a local coffee shop. She writes for television and creates online content. When not working, she enjoys fishing, boating, and knitting.