If Mother Nature listened, I would beg her for a prolonged winter, skip spring entirely and leap right into summer. Wouldn’t that be glorious? Let me share with you the signs of spring in the Sawtooth Valley and what springtime is really like for me.
Beginnings of a Sawtooth Spring
Spring begins when the clocks spring forward and my internal clock takes its sweet time to synchronize. As my body tries to adjust to the time change, my sleep cycle gets out of whack. My mood is tested in ways that brings out a touch of the grumpies. Does this happen to you too?
Springtime should be celebrated! Right? Cheers for longer days, warmer temps, spring cleaning, unpacking summer clothes, planting a garden, grilling steaks, riding a bike and running wild in the park.
For me, it’s a season that comes between my two favorite recreational activities: cross country skiing and hiking. Although I walk on Nip and Tuck, Redfish Lake and Stanley Lake roads, they are no substitute for hiking to a high alpine lake in the Sawtooth or White Cloud mountains.
Alas, my playtime will have to wait as the snow melts in the higher elevations. From the looks of it, it’s going to take an eternity.
Until I can lace up my hiking shoes and hit the trails, I’ll just kick back and raise my water glass in a spring salute.
Signs of a Sawtooth Spring
The mountain bluebirds migrate back to the Sawtooth Valley.
The steelhead trout return to their birth place to spawn. This is a must-see Rites of Spring! When the fishermen on Buckhorn Bridge are greater than the population of Stanley, you know the steelhead made it home.
The blaring trumpet-like sound of sandhill cranes can be heard throughout the Sawtooth Valley.
Creeks are rising from the snow runoff.
Fields of wildflowers wave brilliant colors in the wind.
How can I not love spring with all of these beautiful things happening all around me?
One word.
Mud.
Spring is mud season in disguise.
Mud is everywhere. It’s not beautiful. It’s a nuisance that gets tracked into the house and turns my solar flare yellow car to brown. As a wee one, I loved to play in it and sling it at my friends. Now I do everything to avoid it. Mud is another reason why I want to hightail it out of Stanley and not return until summer settles into the Sawtooths.
Is it Summer Yet?
Spring really isn’t that bad. It just isn’t that good either. I’m ready to embrace a Sawtooth summer, skip all of this spring nonsense and hit the hiking trails. What about you?
Please share your thoughts on spring in the comments.