The Redfish Run
Redfish Lake is in the Sawtooth Mountains to the Northwest of Sun Valley. It gets its name from what used to be huge runs of Sockeye salmon that made their way from their typically 4 year life cycle in the Northeast Pacific 900 miles up the Columbia into the Salmon and finally to the lake. As sockeye enter fresh water they rapidly change from the brilliant aquamarine blue that gives them the fishermen's name of "bluebacks" to a bright red body. The heads go green and hook snouted. Dams, nets, pollutants and natural hazards have whittled the runs to next to nothing, but there are still a few. Just before we arrived the hatchery above Stanley organized a "roundup", a netting of native fish that had made the trip and safely transporting them around some final hazards to the golden pebble bottomed stretches of the the river to spawn. Something in the vicinity of 130 fish were transported up. 900 miles of upstream swim! Some genes!
The run is about twelve miles and covers about 1000 feet of vertical. Three hours is a typical level 1-2 time allowing for a short snack break at the far west end of the Lake. The kids and Matt and Kate headed out about 11:00. I am a bit jealous of that, and of how good the accomplishment feels at the end. Still, sitting on a log, bare feet toasting in the sand, Oskar playing on the beach, some solo time to relax, and the dramatic backdrop of Mt. Heyburn and the Grand Mogul and all the other ragged peaks of the Sawtooths set off by the shining blue of the lake is pretty darn good too.
It should be full blown Autumn but the days are hanging between between an exultant Indian summer and the onset of late fall. We have been on the edge of a weather pattern. On Saturday in Ketchum, 70 miles to the south we finished the last workout of the day in a darkening afternoon with scattered big drops of rain. Half an hour later it came down hard, pounding loose the wonderful smells of leaves, summer grass, and dust; distinct and intense and sharp as though you plucked a bud of sage and crushed it beneath your nose and took it in. Here at Redfish it is sunny and there are summer clouds, all white and cottony looking. The wind is is still warm but as it freshens it picks up a subtle edge. The lake is capping steadily as far as we can see, and some of the clouds gray a little on their undersides. The march of seasons will resume soon. The wind rattles the Aspens leaves and puffs of them release and scatter. There is a voice, hushed and low.
"Enjoy the warm sand and the sun and the blue skies. Enjoy the softness of the wind, but get ready. Its warmth is the heat stolen from the lake. And look at the noon day shadows in the peaks; how long they are and how dark. Be ready. These are the Mountains and I am October."
BMA Nordic Fish Tacos
We wrapped up the Redfish Run with Burke Mountain Nordic Fish Tacos. These have become a favorite. Atkinson's, the local market, prides itself on getting good fish and happened to have a wonderful batch of Pacific rockfish. These are a fish boat favorite for firm white flesh and great flavor. Fresh cabbage, red and green, cilantro, lime juice, a little honey and a favorite hot sauce, a salsa ( we like the Hailey local "KB's" red or green tomatillo versions, and a fresh peach/mango brand) a nice big chunk of hot grilled fish rolled up in a big tortilla...es muy bueno! Dos es mejor!
Matt headed off tonight. The wind blew the mattress he bought up here and the rack off the top of his car so there was a rescue run. We got him underway again minus rack and with mattress and frame secured with lines through the cab and out the doors. Could be a long drive to SLC.
Back here in Ketchum it is late and it is raining hard. Its cold too. Snow, 3-5 inches of it, is in the forecast for Wednesday. The voice up at Redfish wasn't kidding. Be ready.
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