Idaho State Journal from Pocatello, Idaho • Page 23

EXPLORING IDAHO IDAHO, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1973 loaho stot Journal Section Page 3 Visit Indian Rocks park, Pebble now By PETER MAUHN ENJOY magazine Editor About two weeks of brisk-night camping remain for you to en joy Indian Rocks State Park, or Interstate 15 just 20 miles south of Pocatello, at the Lava Hot Springs-McCammon exit. The park has been operated this summer by four Idaho State University students in recreation management: seniors Roy Evans and Del Duncan, who have been co-managers; and juniors Bruce Small and Mark Powers. The foursome managed to mow grass and designate one area next to a small pond asadayuse picnic site; they erected a couple of pieces of imaginative play equipment, built from old timbers; they planted some fast- growing trees at the barren lava- rock campground area, and they roughed out a three-quarter mile nature trail, with the help of Karl E. Holte, associate professor of botany at ISU. In June, Idaho State Parks and Recreation Department Director Steven W.

Bly told ISU his department would have the Indian Rocks State Park designated the State Repository for Indian Petroglyphs in that area." And that points to a problem which the students, and overseer Del Williams, superintendent at Massacre Rocks State Park near American Falls, both agree needs attention. As of this writing, there are only two "Indian rocks" at Indian Rocks Slate Park, and they both have been hand carried in from nearby areas. All summer, the students tried to get timber companies, the National Guard, the State Highway Department and even a power company to lend them the equipment to pick up 10-20 ton rocks in the Inkom-McCammon area which are inscribed with petro- glyphs (designs scratched into a rock surface) or pictographs (colored representations). They even approached the highway department about the huge boulder at the rest stop 1-15 northbound lanes just north of McCammon. Their argument was the rock had once been at the site of the park before it was developed, and Genuine Idaho Opal Triplets Cuff Links Pendants Pins i A i Lapidary Equipment Metal Detectors EXPERT CAMERA REPAIRS STAGE STOP 915 Yellowstone Ave.

Across from (Irani! Central 232-6705 should be returned. To no avail. There are still only two Indian rocks at the park, but there is a short slide show of some of the more interesting ones in the area. Unfortunately, the students have not had time to get pamphlets on rock writ, ing, or to set up a photo dis. play in the small visitor center; but they'll be glad to talk with you about the rocks.

Likewise with the nature trail. The desert isn't sere and lifeless, despite its appearances. There are dozens of types of plants and flowers blooming most of the summer, and nearly a score of different animals have been spotted by campers and the students. Dr. Holte will work with the students this fall and winter to publish a detailed self- guiding booklet on the major plants they located in August.

The trail should be open for amateur botanists and ecologists next summer. The park is deceptive. It appears much smaller than its 3,604 acres, bounded by the Portneuf River and Marsh Creek. It consists, generally, of a prehistoric lava cap stretching nearly to Inkom. In the park's borders are a couple of sink-like areas which boast trees, water and abundant plant and animal life, say the students, but tourists are discouraged from hiking over the rough lava rock to reach them for fear of accidents.

There are a total of 51 campsites, including 20 with trailer' recreational vehicle hookups; a sanitary dump station, and mod. ern rest rooms complete with hot water showers. The campground fee, unfortunately, is fairly stiff: $3 a night for in-staters and $4 for out-of-staters, plus 50 cents for electricity and water hookups. There have been rumors, however, the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department will lower the fees for next summer. There is no charge for the day use area.

The information center is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, until the park closes Oct. 15. Talking it over An excellent fall color weekend jaunt would involve a leisurely drive over the old Highway 30 from Pocatello to McCammon (just take Fifth street south, and stay off the freeway).

Turn right, go over the freeway, and turn right again into the campground. Stay there the night, but be sure and take a trip a mile west into Marsh Creek valley to see its turning trees. The next morning, head east on Highway 30 to Lava Hot Springs. Here you can stop to enjoy a soak in the state-owned resort's hot pools, or you can continue on. Around the bend you're now heading directly north, by the way you'll be driving alongside some of the most spectacular autumn color in this area.

The hills to both the west and east are swathed with aspen and mountain maple which turn PRESSING MATTERS By LOUIS WOLZ One returned tourist reports the satisfactory completion of his trip-he bear all his checks home. When you get something for nothing, you just haven't been billed for it yet. It's not the things you don't know that get you into trouble-It's the things you think you know for sure. There's just as much barbecuing going on at ever, but not as much of it smells like steak. People who complain about the way the ball bounces are usually the ones who dropped it.

We'll carry the ball at "ONE HOUR MARTINIZING" See us for quality cleaning of the clothes you really care about. Open All Day Each Saturday Flower Fresh One Hour Service Alterations and Repairs Shop-ln-Car Window--Free Parking Your Professional Suede and leather Refinishers O.H.M. CLEANERS, INC. Karl Holte, Ph.D., (right) associate professor of botany at Idaho State University, talks with Del Duncan, left, Dell Williams (center) and Roy Evans about plant identifications on a nature trail ISU students Duncan and Evans helped rough out at Indian Rocks State Park. Williams, manager of Indian Rocks and Massacre Rocks State Parks, oversaw the student intern program this past summer.

(Journal photo by Mark Bunn) bright gold and fluroescent red after a heavy frost. This weekend should be top time to view the show. There are several roads going up into the woods and these are fun to follow; but they aren't advised after a rain or snow If you're driving a ve. hide that gets stuck easily. To continue and return to Pocatello a different way, continue to Bancroft on Highway 30.

Ten miles beyond, take State Highway 34 to the right it says "Grace Thatcher." Stay on this until it intersects State Highway 36, turn turn right and go to Preston. Turn north on Highway 91 and you'll get back to Interstate 15 some 34 miles later at Arimo and Virginia. And along the way you'll continue to see the brilliant fall foilage which should be at its best this weekend and next week if it doesn't rain or snow, and if there's no wind. The trip from the campground at McCammon to Lava, Preston, Virginia Arimo and back to Pocatello should take you most of the day, if you stop to look frequently. Although there might be a cafe open along the line somehwere, tourists would be wise to take along a picnic if this trip is a Saturday-Sunday.

Most small towns in southern Idaho have limited tourist facilities on Sunday. DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE A LEARNING PROBLEM? ebrouiii CAN HELP HIM CATCH UP OR KEEP UP 232.3941 737 East Clark Ph. 232-1217 PRIVATE HOME TUTORING.