WWR Day 19 Challis, ID to Upper O'Brien CG
WWR Day 19 Challis, ID to Upper O'Brien CG on Salmon River
Wed Aug 14, 2019
Distance 42.5
Start elevation 5177
End elevation 5870
High point 5960
Low point ~5100
Climbing ~ 1400'
Ride time 4:47
Total time about 5:40
Days bike camping: 13
Contiguous days riding : 3
Another nice blue sky day, with highs in the mid 80's.
I follow the Salmon on Hwy 75 all day today.
The day started with a breakfast burrito at the restaurant next door to my RV park. It was huge and I did not get it all, so I took the remainder for lunch.
A little shopping to fill out dinner and tomorrows breakfast and I am on the road.
The salmon valley is wide and hills dry around Challis, much as it was yesterday.
I follow Hwy 93 couple miles down before turning on to State Hwy 75 which will be my companion for the next 4 decades of miles.
The traffic is light, and there is mostly a bit of a shoulder to work with as blinky does it repetitive thing. As I peddle the valley narrows considerably and I can ch aight on the Salmon again. There are a few minor hills as the road makes room for river side ranches, fields and the occasional outcropping.
The barren hills stat to reveal occasional green crowns in the distance.
I am heading mostly west and every peddle stroke gathers me closer to the sources of this river.
I am matching the river as I climb, every riffle, Cascade and rapid is yet another rung in the ladder I am climbing.
Soon the green crowns are no longer in the distance, and green mantled shoulders present themselves. More on north facing slopes. I continue to reach the next rings on the ladder, and the trees reach down toward the river. Hesitant ly at first and then some bolder groves, reaching all of the to the river, like an Indian brave counting coup.
These retreat but their boldness prevails as more and more waves of trees reach the river.
I finally leaving BLM lands and enter the ChallisSalmon National Forest.
There have been plenty of boat launches and campground along the way, but I have miles to go. A lot of rafts and kayaks are on the road and as I climb the river is quite active with them.
I run into road work and a section of single lane road. I stop and the flag lady works out how I can proceed. She generously gives a ice cold bottle of water, and it really hits the spot at 39 miles.
I race behind the snake of cars for a mile when our turn arrives, which is quite an effort. I quickly get to the turn off for O'BRIEN CG. It is a ways below the road and on the other side. Checking my map sources, the next few are right on the hwy, so I stop here for the night.
I told myself I need some shorter days, and today I start!
I camp just across from a nice rapid. I languidly setup camp, and head to river to refresh - wash legs and head.
Thoughts of food never leave me but I put off my ramen dinner while I do chores.
It was tasty with some salmon, shrooms and green beans.
SIDE NOTE
Ahh, a shower again. I skipped the previous night iin Salmon due to time crunch and skuzzy showers at the El cheapo RV Park.
I did notice some new sun burn patches, this time high on my forehead, under my helmet.
Well apparently when I stop to dry off the sweat band, and wipe with bandana, I push the hair back. I have 2 new oval sunburn patches right where the front two helmet vents are!
If this keeps up there will freckle patches by the time I am done
Wed Aug 14, 2019
Distance 42.5
Start elevation 5177
End elevation 5870
High point 5960
Low point ~5100
Climbing ~ 1400'
Ride time 4:47
Total time about 5:40
Days bike camping: 13
Contiguous days riding : 3
Another nice blue sky day, with highs in the mid 80's.
I follow the Salmon on Hwy 75 all day today.
The day started with a breakfast burrito at the restaurant next door to my RV park. It was huge and I did not get it all, so I took the remainder for lunch.
A little shopping to fill out dinner and tomorrows breakfast and I am on the road.
The salmon valley is wide and hills dry around Challis, much as it was yesterday.
I follow Hwy 93 couple miles down before turning on to State Hwy 75 which will be my companion for the next 4 decades of miles.
The traffic is light, and there is mostly a bit of a shoulder to work with as blinky does it repetitive thing. As I peddle the valley narrows considerably and I can ch aight on the Salmon again. There are a few minor hills as the road makes room for river side ranches, fields and the occasional outcropping.
The barren hills stat to reveal occasional green crowns in the distance.
I am heading mostly west and every peddle stroke gathers me closer to the sources of this river.
I am matching the river as I climb, every riffle, Cascade and rapid is yet another rung in the ladder I am climbing.
Soon the green crowns are no longer in the distance, and green mantled shoulders present themselves. More on north facing slopes. I continue to reach the next rings on the ladder, and the trees reach down toward the river. Hesitant ly at first and then some bolder groves, reaching all of the to the river, like an Indian brave counting coup.
These retreat but their boldness prevails as more and more waves of trees reach the river.
I finally leaving BLM lands and enter the ChallisSalmon National Forest.
There have been plenty of boat launches and campground along the way, but I have miles to go. A lot of rafts and kayaks are on the road and as I climb the river is quite active with them.
I run into road work and a section of single lane road. I stop and the flag lady works out how I can proceed. She generously gives a ice cold bottle of water, and it really hits the spot at 39 miles.
I race behind the snake of cars for a mile when our turn arrives, which is quite an effort. I quickly get to the turn off for O'BRIEN CG. It is a ways below the road and on the other side. Checking my map sources, the next few are right on the hwy, so I stop here for the night.
I told myself I need some shorter days, and today I start!
I camp just across from a nice rapid. I languidly setup camp, and head to river to refresh - wash legs and head.
Thoughts of food never leave me but I put off my ramen dinner while I do chores.
It was tasty with some salmon, shrooms and green beans.
SIDE NOTE
Ahh, a shower again. I skipped the previous night iin Salmon due to time crunch and skuzzy showers at the El cheapo RV Park.
I did notice some new sun burn patches, this time high on my forehead, under my helmet.
Well apparently when I stop to dry off the sweat band, and wipe with bandana, I push the hair back. I have 2 new oval sunburn patches right where the front two helmet vents are!
If this keeps up there will freckle patches by the time I am done
Maybe rotate the helmet sideways and backwards to move the vent holes around?
ReplyDeleteOuch. And I seem to recall that girl in the exorcist doing that. Didn't turn out so well then
DeleteSounds like your making great progress Dan. How are the legs holding up?
ReplyDeleteWell the tweaked knee from Fernie time frame hardly talks to me any more. The legs are doing fine, but I find the big climbs are not the favorites. That's also a mental thing. My bypass of several 4000' climbs and riding along the Salmon was a good move. Healthier attitude now.
Delete