Sam Owen

July 10th, 2024

I hitched up and drove through Sandpoint on the way to my next campground on the east side of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Ponderay). Sam Owen is a Forest Service campground near the small harbor town of Hope. It is probably the most popular campground in northern Idaho. This is probably due to the large sand and gravel beach and boat launch on the lake. Most campers seem to come for a day or two, and each morning head down to the beach where they can swim, lay in the sun, kayak, and blast their favorite music on a boom box. Fortunately, my site was in the upper loop, so the noise was minimal.

I was kind of idling again, while waiting out the busy July 4th holiday and following weekend. My next destination will be my highlight of the summer at Glacier National Park. I have not been there since the summer of 1979. As that was 45 years ago, I assume it will be different than my last visit, i.e. smaller, missing some glaciers and less snow. Of course, this will be due to climate change. There are not many places you can go over a half century, where the difference would be notable.

So yes, I believe that the climate is warming. Do I think we should all start driving electric vehicles, switch away from gas stoves and furnaces, and spend trillions of dollars in mitigation steps being proposed? No, but that is because I think that there is already enough warming baked into the earth, that it is too late to do anything to prevent eventual disaster. I know that seems pessimistic and I could go on, but for now, just “party on”.

Here at the campground, there was a nice firework display down at the lake last Thursday. I heard it, but did not watch. Unlike Detroit, the village of Hope still celebrates Independence Day on the 4th. The next day, many campers packed and headed home.

I went on a short hike of the Sam Owens Trail. The park and campground were built on land donated by Sam Owen and his wife Nina back in the middle of the last century. A short way up the trail, is a spur path that goes to their gravesite. The site is on top of a hill and overlooks the lake and mountains to the west. Visitors to the site have left wildflowers, turkey feathers, large pine cones, and slices of apple on the headstone. The apples were consumed by the many deer in the area, who seemed to have little fear of humans. I saw 5 of them while walking, two of which were bucks.

In anticipation of the national park, I spent my next to last day, charging batteries and cleaning lenses for my 35mm camera. I rarely use it anymore, as the more simple iPhone camera does pretty well with the snapshots I normally take. If I used the 35mm, setting it up and using it properly would mean becoming a photographer, rather than a hobo. I would never get anywhere. Glacier, however, is a place of wondrous scenery and abundant wildlife. Even a hobo can get good photographs. Just avoid trying to use your selfie stick to get your portrait with a grizzly bear.

Today is my last day in Idaho for a while. It has been hot here, 90s. I like the higher elevations where it tends to stay cooler. I am writing this post in the shade of a large Hemlock tree, before beginning more preparations for the drive into Montana. At my leisurely pace, it will probably take about 5 hours of driving. There will be things to see along the way, places to stop, and small towns through which to walk.

Back in 1979, I was struck by differences as I drove through Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Somebody along the way told me the following:

“If you want to see what Colorado was like 50 years ago, visit Wyoming. If you want to see what Wyoming was like 50 years ago, visit Montana.”

I know what Montana was like 50 years ago. And now…