Hike

A Quake Before You Wake

The shuttering and roiling of the cabin acted as my wakeup call at 6:11:37 AM.  Linda experienced the same.  The source was an earthquake centered 3.2 miles below the earth’s surface and less than five miles from our cabin in Goat Creek.  According to the United States Geological Service, the exact spot was on Elk Creek near the Elk Meadow trailhead.

The 4.2 earthquake (as measured Richter scale) was the second of this magnitude in the past week and 7th since the 6.5 earthquake on March 31st.  I was out on a 4 mile walk on the cabin road at the time of the 6.5 quake and it knocked me off my feet onto the ground.

The March 31st earthquake was the strongest in Idaho in over 40 years.  In 2010 geophysicists discovered a 50-100 year fault line that straddles eastern side of the Sawtooths for over 40 miles starting just north and west of Stanley Lake down to Galena Pass.

The irony, is that I had planned to hike the Elk Meadow Loop starting at 9AM.  The only adjustment to my plan was to go stand on the ground level epicenter location for the quake this AM and the one on Tuesday (located at the Park Creek overlook).

Elk Creek in Elk Meadow west of the Lubeck Cabin and Epicenter of the 4.2 earthquake on 6/14/2020
Elk Creek in Elk Meadow west of the Lubeck Cabin and Epicenter of the 4.2 earthquake on 6/14/2020
Elk Meadow
Elk Meadow

Elk Meadow in the month of June is home to the North American Sand Crane.  The Sand Cranes are extraordinary birds over 4 feet in height who use the meadows, and marshes as their breeding ground and nesting area.  The birds live in the area from March through early July and then Migrate north.

This morning I captured the birds moving in the meadow, honking with pleasure.  Click on the link below.

Video and Sound: North American Sand Cranes Honking in Elk Meadow

North American Sand Crane in the Sawtooth Mountains Spring 2020
North American Sand Crane in the Sawtooth Mountains Spring 2020.
In June the meadow begins bursting with wildflowers.  The first is the Shooting Star.
In June the meadow begins bursting with wildflowers. The first is the Shooting Star.
The Shooting Star.
The Shooting Star.
Wild Larks Croft Lubeck Border Collies are known to patrol the area looking for "ground guys."
Wild Larks Croft Lubeck Border Collies are known to patrol the area looking for “ground guys.”
The Park Creek Over look was the Epicenter of Tuesday's Quake.
The Park Creek Over look was the Epicenter of Tuesday’s Quake.
The view from the Park Creek Overlook.
The view from the Park Creek Overlook.

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