A Reminder of Verticality of the Downward Persuasion

 It just isn't obvious to a traveler how important it is to get "north" early in spring.  But that depends on what you call north.  It need not mean snow, ice, and mud.

I underestimated how pleasant it is to camp in sagebrush and grass at this time of year.  The weather is chilly, but dry.  The roads are completely dry.  It is windy of course but it is everywhere, in spring.  If it is really chilly and windy my dog and I take great walks, without worrying about rattlesnakes and ticks.  Hungry coyotes are her main danger.  

The chilliness ensures the best sleeping of the year.  It is warm enough to resist using propane heating.  Most days it is warm enough to mountain bike.  Off in the distance, the higher peaks are still snow-covered and beautiful.  Tourism is off-season this time of year.

And I underestimated how civilized Idaho is.  There is a home-grown version of Tractor Supply called D & B Supply.  Lovely.

It is civilized in more ways than one.  Over the course of a year, barbed wire gates cause me enough frustration to threaten to bring pliers and extra wire.   But here I am encountering high-tech gates, made with an over-center cam:

I am downstream of the Yellowstone volcano, so there is plenty of lava around.  And lava tubes.  Wikipedia might make you expect the lava tubes to be horizontal, but we encountered one the other day that made me keep my distance:

I have always hated vertical holes in the ground!  Usually it is mining country where I notice this:

This is why I am uncomfortable in Leadville.  The other reason is that it is Colorado.

Silver City, years ago.  Not sure I would be brave enough to do this, today.

Ajo. It is the unfenced mine shafts that creep me out the most.