Forth and back TOR '20

[RBMann]

CK-

I have always found less traffic on 296 than Beartooth.

[RBMann]

Day 16 - Colter Bay to one of my favorite campsites in the Lost River Range 228 miles



Another sunny morning to start the day and do a casual ride along the base of the Tetons-





I had never noticed the peak with the cool racing stripe. Mount Moran's face is marked by a distinctive basalt intrusion known as the Black Dike-

[RBMann]

Day 16 - Continued

We left Jackson about noon after lunch and gassing up. Time to dash across southern Idaho to Arco. No stops or photos. Arco provided supplies for the night and gas again. Ralfie kicking back at camp. Stream for cooling drinks and a 360º killer view-



We decided to walk up the road before dinner-





The Inner Child decided we to should take this trail straight up to the top of the ridge-



Part way up my knees decided they would be happier to go down and walk back to camp on the road-



Ralfie up high. In the end we were both happy with the routes we chose-

[signit98]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

I love that road to Cody...

The whole area...

[RBMann]

Day 17 - Pass Creek to Montour 246 miles



The highlight of today was supposed to be a return ride up to the headwaters of the Pahsimeroi River. After two earlier attempts we got there on the third try, two years ago. This morning was not looking good and as we got closer to the turnoff it was raining in the mountains. The trail and water crossings would be difficult in the rain. If we got there, standing in the rain to take poor photos seemed pointless. Maybe next year-





We had rain sprinkles before stopping in Stanley for gas and food. It looked like we were in for some real rain as we headed west and sure enough it happened. Suited up we rode through the heavy cool rain, downed trees and wild animals toward Lowman. As we descended from a pass the rain suddenly stopped, the sun came out and the temperature went up 20+ degrees. What an amazing rapid change in weather. Another day of low photo taking but we ended in a nice campground with sweat, cool drinks and food-

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by RBMann

Day 16 - [/url]

What I find even more cool than the existence of the stripe is the fact that nature likely flipped it 90 degrees.

[signit98]

Here is the rain we were riding into...



Capt'n Banana, fully prepared.



Does this rain suit make me look fat?

[RBMann]

Was that right before you almost hit the fallen tree because you were taking pictures?

[signit98]

Originally Posted by RBMann

Was that right before you almost hit the fallen tree because you were taking pictures?

yup

[Swamper]

Thanks for sharing your post here. It brings back a lot of memories of my rides through those area's. Also points out I need to stop more often and enjoy the scenery and smell the roses as they say. What is your camera set up, sure doesn't look like a phone camera being used. I may even get back to camping a little on our rides.

[RBMann]

Swamper-

I use a Nikon D7100 with a 18-200 lens, kind of big and heavy. My phone pics are good enough for me but no real control or zoom. About 40% of the ones I am posting are phone pics like this one-



If I ever get another camera it might be something like this-

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MS16V42/?coliid=I1Y3975H5TFGYU&colid=25GOR2XMAN98Y&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Or-

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F5HPXK4/?coliid=I1NY4N3X6P9P1J&colid=25GOR2XMAN98Y&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

However I would need to do more research and get CKCarr's approval.

[signit98]

I am very happy with my combo of the phone (Samsung S10) and my travel camera:

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-rx10-iv

I remember schlepping around 50 pounds of camera and lenses for my AK trip... not really an option anymore.

[RBMann]

Day 18 - Montour to Copperfield CG 153 miles



We spent the morning meandering the backroads along the Payette River. We got to Huntington, OR where I wanted to re-ride the west shore road of the Snake River-





It was a hot dusty day so we found a spot with water access-



From the shore I saw this animal breach but when I called Green Peace they seemed uninterested in a whale sighting on the Snake River-



We climbed away from the river and by the time we hit pavement my bike was not feeling right. At camp there was only 6 PSI in the rear tire. We had a hard time finding the leak but finally plugged it so it was ready for the next day. Nice to be in camp with food and drink while fixing the tire-

[signit98]

I liked the road up the river.... it was hot, but it was pretty.

The cooldown stop was a necessity. It was 900 degrees and dusty as can be.

Plus, I wasn't the only "Whale" in the water...



We had a good conversation:



A look back.



At the end of the day, we found out that the showers at the Copperfield campground were closed.... not a problem when you have biodegradable soap and a creek with 85-degree water...



Later in the evening, I found out that Rick is a Mosquito whisperer, who knew?

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by signit98

Best farmers tan ever!

[RBMann]

Yeah, I kind of got fried on our Great Basin hike at 10,000'.

[RBMann]

Day 19 - Copperfield to Headquarters, ID 255 miles



In the morning my tire was still holding air, the sky was clear and the air was warm. For a long time I have thought about getting from the river up and over to Council, ID without using the paved road. We drove north on the east side before turning onto Kleinschmidt Grade ascending out of the Hells Canyon-





Things were going well for about 15 miles when that old funny feeling returned and my rear tire was flat again. Ralf's plugs don't like me and eject themselves. Here is my trusty man servant holding the air pump so it doesn't get dirty on the ground-



Gummy ropes held for the rest of the trip-



I always enjoy riding through wheat fields in the Palouse Country-



The second time today we would try one of my 'I wonder if that is a good road' from Hwy 12, Lolo Pass road north to I-90. We stocked up on food and gas in Pierce which was good since Headquarters had nothing. About 20 miles later Ralf decided to head up a logging road around a berm so no trucks could follow and found us a nice flat spot with a view. So there we are in the middle of nowhere when we hear some fools screaming F--K! a lot in some kind of fight then they start playing with chainsaws. They were camped down by a river and could not see us. Once it got dark everything was quiet-

[Droptarotter]

Socks and sandals.....stylish!!

Cheers

[RBMann]

Day 20 - Headquarters to Thompson fall, MT 194 miles



I woke up early to another bright sunny day. Here is the view from the tent-



And shooting across our living room in Ralf's direction-



No sounds from Beekeeper's tent so I went on a wild flower shoot. Maybe it is normal but to me there was an amazing variety within about 100' of our camp-















If these were in my yard they would be weeds but here in the middle of a clear-cut on a nice morning it was kind of serene.

[RBMann]

Day 20 - Continued

Time to break camp. While packing up I noticed my spray-on gas tank protection was developing a skin rash-





On paper and Google this route looked to be a nice forest road along a scenic river. It was all that but for some reason I didn't find it impressive. Might have been the front tire snapping sideways and sliding a couple times. Big foot plant and saved it. No falls but after 100+ miles my shoulder was not happy and I was ready to be done with it-









A few miles before the Montana border the road becomes paved and I though good. However after a couple miles it returns to dirt and climbs up to the border at Hoodoo Pass-





Nice riding north from St. Regis but then on Hwy 200 there was quite a bit of smoke from forest fires. At the Thompson Falls SP there was a 'full' sign out front. Damn, so I asked the woman attendant, "You're full, any suggestions". She explain yes they were 'full' but there were cancellations so we could have #16, #19 or camp on the bluff. That is not what full means to me but still happy we could stay. We checked out the three options and decided the bluff was best, certainly had the best view. River swimming, sunny, warm and shade made it a great choice-