Again at the Baron Creek Ford ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Once again, I have reached the ford of Baron Creek, but this time my path does not cross it.

The sounds of the rushing waters of Baron Creek gave me a restful night’s sleep, and now, on the morning of August 21, I faced a decision. My plan called for me to hike uphill, gaining more than 3,000 feet, to Sawtooth Lake, then loop around to the Trail Creek Lakes, where I would spend the night. Another 10 miles or so awaited me in the morning, including a 3,600 foot descent through a mostly burned forest. The other option was a 3.9 mile walk downhill to the trailhead.

In all honesty, this decision was already made when I failed to reach the Baron Lakes two days earlier. I reckoned I could dayhike to Sawtooth Lake the next day, rested and laboring under only a daypack (On advice of the locals, I hiked to Goat Lake instead, from the same trailhead.). I had already been reckoning various milestones as “lasts,” and, as the sun rose, I celebrated that this dreadful strawberry flavored protein shake would be the last. The sun was only just beginning to light the surrounding peaks when I was packed up and on the trail.

Sunrise From Baron Creek ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Sunrise from my Baron Creek campsite, the backpacking trek's last one.

I thought the trail would ford the creek, but it remained to its north the whole way back to the South Fork Payette River. The trail was fairly easy and unobstructed, despite the frequent stretches through burned pines. The wildflowers were gone; only a few bright blue berries and an occasional dandelion were left as remnants of summer’s warm sun. Fall was coming fast, with harsh winter not far behind.

Back within the shade of the forest, the creek’s sounds became more urgent, as though it knew it would soon be lost into the river. Through the trees, lit by the morning sun, Baron Creek tumbled out of the mountains toward the valley floor, home of the South Fork Payette.

Baron Creek Through Sunlit Trees ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Baron Creek tumbles through the sunlit trees.

As the canyon widens and gives way to the river plain, the trees pull back and views open up to the smaller peaks to the west, and lofty Grandjean peak to the southeast. Fifteen minutes later, I reached the wilderness boundary. Five minutes later, I was once again looking at the ford across Baron Creek. Nine days earlier, I crossed it on my way into the mountains. I sat on a log and listened to the waters, entranced by their song and the beads of light reflecting on their ripples. After a final snack, I strapped on the pack for a final time. Turning away from the ford, I headed north, back to the trailhead.

About 45 minutes of familiar, practically level hiking led me back along the heard but unseen South Fork Payette River to the beginning. My pace was swift, but I had to stop for a moment on the bridge over Trail Creek to watch its chaotic final bounds toward the river.

Trail Creek ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Trail Creek, from the bridge near the Grandjean trailhead.

The trek to the trailhead took a whisker over 2 hours. My car was waiting. I returned my permit into the box from which I’d taken it 9 days earlier. I changed into the last fresh clothes I’d brought and drove the short distance to the hot springs. A series of social paths zig-zags down the steep river bank. The first hot pool I found was tiny and extremely hot. A local directed me to more desirable pools, and I sat in them for almost an hour. It was necessary to flail around in the pools every few minutes, lest the hot water would stay on the surface and icy cold water on the bottom.

Sacajawea Hot Springs ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Sacajawea Hot Springs lies beside the icy cold South Fork Payette River.

Returning to the car, I took one more “last” — the last look at the river pouring forth from the mountains, my home and playground for the previous nine days (and one more yet to come).

Grandjean Peak and South Fork Payette River ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

Bidding farewell to Grandjean Peak and the South Fork Payette River

Again at the Baron Creek Ford, ID09-0821-6263R, UTM 11T 0648904 E 4888026 N NAD27, Boise National Forest | Sunrise From Baron Creek, SW09-0821-6244R, 0651936 E 4888168 N; and Baron Creek Through Sunlit Trees, SW09-0821-6258R, 0649781 E 4887772 N, Sawtooth Wilderness, Boise National Forest | Trail Creek, ID09-0821-6270R, 0648176 E 4889976 N; Sacajawea Hot Springs, ID09-0821-6280R; and Grandjean Peak and South Fork Payette River, ID09-0821-6282R, Boise National Forest, Idaho | ©2009 Jeff Blaylock

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