September 27, 2014
Sun Valley
Jessie McCaleb Was Killed Here by Indians
Cedar Creek
Lost River Cowboy Church
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| Jessie McCaleb Was Killed Here by Indians |
Awoke a few times during the night to light rain pelting the
car. I knew the forecast was not great but remained naively optimistic. Put in
ear plugs and dozed off. Morning came with heavy fog down to about 7,000 feet.
Climbing the 12,000 plus foot Mount Idaho would have to wait another day.
During the evening, I had noticed several cars traveling
west on a beeline road cutting through the valley below. Got out the map to see
where all the traffic was heading. Learned that Trail Creek Road connected the Lost River
Valley to Sun Valley. I had taken this road out of Sun Valley a few years ago,
but had turned off through Copper Basin and over Antelope Pass. The stretch of the
road to the Copper Basin junction would be new territory to explore. I was up
for some window-shopping in Ketchum anyway.
Clouds hung low over the small foothills on each side of the
road. Infrequent window wipers kept the light drizzle off the windshield. Soon
the paved road turned to hard-packed, well-maintained dirt. The smooth drive
through the mist and landscape was relaxing. About half way to the summit, I
came upon a heavy-duty construction crew working on the road. A flagman waved
me over and told me I would have to wait for the pilot car to take me through
the construction. As he was standing by my open window, the sudden blast of the snare drum intro to Johnny Horton’s Bismarck
blared from my speakers. The guy jumped a bit and gave me a “what in the heck
was that look.” I told him it was Johnny Horton. He smiled and said, “North to
Alaska.” We had an instant surreal connection in the middle of nowhere on a
rainy day. We chatted a bit till the truck came to lead me through the torn up
stretch of the road. Should have got a photo of him.
Coming over the pass, the rain intensified. The driving rain
and narrow slick road made every vehicle more cautious and connected. Cars and
trucks courteously pulled over if they had extra space on their side to let
cars hugging the edge pass by. Waves were exchanged. One woman, perhaps
overjoyed at the courtesy, smiled and waved ecstatically as she passed. I
descended into Sun Valley.
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| Trail Creek Pass |
In Ketchum, I walked the streets, checked out some sales,
bought Jessica and Ben a shirt, and ate a taco at Mama Inez. Bought a $3.00 cap
and a $3.00 book from a thrift store, and looked for daguerreotypes or tintypes
at a couple of antique stores, struck out. I did find a small early 20th
Century Mexican painting of Christ floating above a circle of sheep that I
liked. The shop owner assured me it was a steal at $375. The previous purchase of
the two 50% off shirts, the $6.00 purchase at the thrift store, and the $4.00
taco already put me over my spending comfort level for about three weeks. I
passed on the painting. Finally, bought some gas and headed back over the pass.
Driving south on 93, I pulled over to check out Battle
Ground Cemetery on a bluff over looking the north end of Mackay Reservoir. A sign
read, Jessie McCaleb was killed here by Indians in 1878. McCaleb and several
pioneers were buried here in a small fenced plot on the hilltop. From here, I
photographed the landscape to the west from the place McCaleb was killed and
buried.
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| Jessie McCaleb Was Killed Here by Indians, Mackay Reservoir North |
Back on the highway, heading south, I found another
intriguing side road heading towards the Lost River Range. The road was so good
that I just kept driving to see what I could find. Soon I came to a small creek
lined with saturated green foliage...a verdant corridor through the desert. I think the stream was Cedar Creek or a branch of it. I stopped and
made images till dusk. Three Dog Night’s
Never
Been to Spain played on iTunes.
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| Cedar Creek, Lost River Valley, Idaho |
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| Cedar Creek, Lost River Valley, Idaho |
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| Cedar Creek, Lost River Valley, Idaho |
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I planned on driving back into Mackay, getting cell service,
and calling home to check in that night. I wondered how I would pass the time
till bed. Mackay is never a bustling place, even at the peak of summer, now
it’s almost a ghost town. Driving into town, I passed the Lost River Cowboy
Church. The brightly lite interior made the Saturday service a fish bowl. I saw
a preacher and 7 or 8 members in the congregation.
I had never been to a “Cowboy Church” and decided to check
it out. I am always interested in how people see the world and how they think.
I walked in and was greeted by the members. Several invited me to get some
coffee and treats in the back of the room. Next, I choose one of the most
comfortable looking chairs in all the assortment. Five minutes later, I
remembered I still had my $3.00 cap on. This being church and all, albeit a
cowboy church, I sheepishly took it off. The lanky guy behind the pulpit made
of welded horseshoes looked the part. He wore a burgundy patterned western
shirt and cowboy boots. At the foot of the podium stood a pair of boots, one on
each side. Each boot was bursting with brightly colored silk flowers. Behind
the man, a six or seven-foot-cross made of barn wood hung on the wall.
I gathered the guy was in charge of leading the praising and
praying. His name was Adam. Members praised Jesus for the good things in their
lives and asked for prayers to help them through the challenges of life. Later
Adam, and his wife, Karen led the singing. Karen strummed chords on a guitar
and the congregation sang good ole Baptist flavored hymns. Afterwards the
preacher delivered a sermon on the mercy of Jesus, not judging, and keeping thoughts
single and pure.
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| Lost River Cowboy Church, Mackay, Idaho |
At one point, he said something about not judging those who
live an alternative lifestyle. The Lord would be the judge. I think there might be a judgment alluded to between those two points of view. He added the story of David and Bathsheba. In this version, poor
Bathsheba got half or more of the blame. He said she knew who her neighbor was
and she invited trouble by being naked on her rooftop. Try telling that to a
feminist. From my little knowledge of ancient Jewish life, I thought rooftops
were common places to bathe and sleep as they provided a degree of privacy. According
to this sermon, Bathsheba knew David would be troubled that night and walking
the terraces above her roof. She planned the whole seduction thing by bathing
naked during the king’s insomnia.
I also was interested to hear the extremely wet fall was a sign of the second coming.
The meeting ended with a closing prayer by Adam. It was a
fairly vanilla Christian prayer. The only note of interest was the concern
voiced for “the LDS” during the benediction. He asked the Lord to bless the LDS
that they might depart from their misguided notions of Jesus, accept him as
their Savior, and be saved. I’ve been around “the LDS” long enough to know that
they profess a sincere belief in Jesus Christ and consider Him their Savior.
But, hey, who am I to judge?
After the prayer it was time to socialize around the food
table in the back. I talked a bit with Karen and learned that she and Adam have
a B and B north of Mackay. Ben and I may end up there someday. I was encouraged
to have a salad, so I did. Then I got to know a Border Collie who had come to
church with its owner. The dog reminded me so much of Lacey with a sweet temperament
and beautiful collie features. I thanked the group for letting me spend some time
with them and left.
Found a place to pull off the road and sleep.
