WWR Day 17 Darby,MT to Salmon,ID
WWR Day 17 Darby,MT to Salmon,ID
Mon Aug 12, 2019
Distance 77.6
Start elevation 3891
End elevation about 4000
High point 7935
Low point 3891
Climbing ~ 2800????
Ride time 7;31
Total time about 8:40
Days bike camping: 11
Contiguous days riding : 1
The day off in Darby was good. I rested my body, hung with the Dutch guys some, researched options, and tried the tiny local brewpub Bandit Brewing.
Darby had a good freindly vibe. Good market, confectionery coffee shop, super nice RV park owners (very well kept) and the Brew pub was a double plus.
We got all sorts of local info at the Bandit from the friendlies, and beer was quite tasty.
The first night the Dutch riders and I tented it. It rained all night. 2nd night I got a bunk in the bunkhouse. My only other bunkhoyse denizen was a young Swede hiking the Continental Divide trail. We chat a fair amount but he spent those 20 hours hanging out in bed consuming more calories. When he wasn't trying to catch up on the massive deficit, he was out getting more from the next door market. He was hanging waiting for a new pair of hiking shoes (#4) at the post office on Monday. He travels incredibly light- all gear sans food was about 10 lbs! Food was about a kilo per day! No stove or fuel- he cold soaked rice, potatos, noodles. He averaged 30 miles per day!!
Well, recovery day was a huge meal and beers at the only restaurant, and then looking at section 3 of the WWR. Yikes a number of 4000' climbs, though sometime through this section we start getting into more classic rocky treeline peaks. I am a bit done with huge climbs in forest tunnel/ burned forest. I decide to do a pavement bypass, and take the hwy 93 to Challis in 2 days and one 3000' paved climb and skip 3 4000' Backcountry dirt climbs.
Day 17
I follow the Bitterroot River upstream out of time, really pretty country and nice riding, at least until I start climbing in earnest.
Another slow climb up to Loss Trail Pass, where this is a ski area that straddles the border with the state line ridge dividing the two sides.
A ripping 14 mile downhill on fresh pavement, with a couple of flagman waits at top.
I am following part of the Lewis and Clark trail again , which is a roadride I have been eyeing on and off. I am also reading a Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage which documents Merriwether Lewis's life and the Corps of Discovery's expedition. I am a few weeks away from this section in the book.
It flattens out and is beautiful cruising for many miles along the North Fork of the Salmon
Once I reach North Fork town, then I have 22 miles of following the Salmon up river to the larger town of Salmon itself.
I quickly set camp and head over to the brewery for a cold one and dinner.
CODA
I will close on an unsettling note.
I came across a couple of hand made signs along the road a bit north of North Fork.
It did get my mind going in a thoughtful
and speculative fashion. And empathy for the sadness that reaches out to passerbys.......
Mon Aug 12, 2019
Distance 77.6
Start elevation 3891
End elevation about 4000
High point 7935
Low point 3891
Climbing ~ 2800????
Ride time 7;31
Total time about 8:40
Days bike camping: 11
Contiguous days riding : 1
The day off in Darby was good. I rested my body, hung with the Dutch guys some, researched options, and tried the tiny local brewpub Bandit Brewing.
Darby had a good freindly vibe. Good market, confectionery coffee shop, super nice RV park owners (very well kept) and the Brew pub was a double plus.
We got all sorts of local info at the Bandit from the friendlies, and beer was quite tasty.
The first night the Dutch riders and I tented it. It rained all night. 2nd night I got a bunk in the bunkhouse. My only other bunkhoyse denizen was a young Swede hiking the Continental Divide trail. We chat a fair amount but he spent those 20 hours hanging out in bed consuming more calories. When he wasn't trying to catch up on the massive deficit, he was out getting more from the next door market. He was hanging waiting for a new pair of hiking shoes (#4) at the post office on Monday. He travels incredibly light- all gear sans food was about 10 lbs! Food was about a kilo per day! No stove or fuel- he cold soaked rice, potatos, noodles. He averaged 30 miles per day!!
Well, recovery day was a huge meal and beers at the only restaurant, and then looking at section 3 of the WWR. Yikes a number of 4000' climbs, though sometime through this section we start getting into more classic rocky treeline peaks. I am a bit done with huge climbs in forest tunnel/ burned forest. I decide to do a pavement bypass, and take the hwy 93 to Challis in 2 days and one 3000' paved climb and skip 3 4000' Backcountry dirt climbs.
Day 17
I follow the Bitterroot River upstream out of time, really pretty country and nice riding, at least until I start climbing in earnest.
Another slow climb up to Loss Trail Pass, where this is a ski area that straddles the border with the state line ridge dividing the two sides.
A ripping 14 mile downhill on fresh pavement, with a couple of flagman waits at top.
I am following part of the Lewis and Clark trail again , which is a roadride I have been eyeing on and off. I am also reading a Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage which documents Merriwether Lewis's life and the Corps of Discovery's expedition. I am a few weeks away from this section in the book.
It flattens out and is beautiful cruising for many miles along the North Fork of the Salmon
Once I reach North Fork town, then I have 22 miles of following the Salmon up river to the larger town of Salmon itself.
I quickly set camp and head over to the brewery for a cold one and dinner.
CODA
I will close on an unsettling note.
I came across a couple of hand made signs along the road a bit north of North Fork.
It did get my mind going in a thoughtful
and speculative fashion. And empathy for the sadness that reaches out to passerbys.......
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