Day 43 (7/8): Miles traveled: ~ 340

Location: various roadside sites, a random idyllic river beach (near White Bird, ID), ending at lakeside campground (Lake Cascade)

Science: air quality measurements (both particulate counter and MicroTops measurements) in Lewiston, ID (top and bottom of hazy river valley); Salmon River beach (White Bird, ID), and lake peninsula camping spot on Lake Cascade (near dam outlet on Payette River) -- obvious wildfire haze building across the Lake, we had a tiny campfire for smores only that night

Before we left Farragut State Park this morning (early, so we could find some ice!), we searched for the big lake near our campground. Here is what we found (if I hadn't been there myself I would have sworn we were in Austria or Swiss Alps or something):

Rosie was bummed that we hadn't found this the night before because she really, really, really wanted to go fishing. I assured her that we would likely be able to fish all day at the next site (Lake Cascade). 

We then headed south (we were slowly making our way toward Yellowstone, one of the few National Parks I had not yet seen/experienced on past roadtripping adventures).  Today's drive is when I finally realized just how LONG Idaho is. I am originally from Illinois, and on that side of the Mississippi everyone thinks Illinois is incredibly long (folks are constantly amazed that I grew up in Illinois, but was closer to the South (Kentucky, Tennessee) than I was to Chicago). Idaho is much longer, and 1.5 times the area of Illinois, but has less than 1/10th of the population of Illinois. 

Fun facts aside, this was a very interesting driving day. Mountains and rivers create a rough and rawly gorgeous landscape, and it was really HOT and DRY. The elevation changes allowed for very good haze-tracking -- there was clearly a big fire nearby and the smoke did not seem to be very high in the atmosphere.  

Our first stop was at the top of a canyon formed by the Clearwater River, with a view of Lewiston, ID --

Once we got down into the valley, we stopped again to make air quality measurements in a parking lot by Lewiston's river access -- the area seemed very industrialized, with a very fragrant paper mill and other river-based activities along the waterfront.

After Lewiston, it kept getting hotter and hotter outside. And when we hit the Salmon River near White Bird, ID, there were folks swimming in the blue-green river at all sorts of random spots along the highway. Finally, Rosie and I soon succumbed to the swimming urge and stopped at a great spot for lunch. 

We swam for a long time and even saw a tiny river otter swim by us!

Next stop was Lake Cascade. As we drove into the site, the haze seemed to be thickening across the lake.

Rosie was ecstatic about the location of our site -- surrounded by great fishing access. She fished the entire rest of the day (when she wasn't swimming). 

The sunset was outrageously red, more evidence of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere -- 

Rosie and I had a tiny campfire for smores -- weak moment #2 on the trip, facilitated by the need for cheering up Rosie, who, despite her best and patient efforts, did not get a single fish bite on her line. She began to question whether or not there were actually fish in the huge human-made lake, and went to bed plotting other tactics to use the next day.