WS03 Trout Creek to Libby

Some of us carry a GPs or a bike computer with an altimeter.  So how much did we climb yesterday? Depends on who you ask. Somewhere between 2,700 feet and 3,600 feet. Quite a variation. And nobody knows the correct answer. But we do know that we had two significant climbs yesterday; the one in the afternoon had gradients steeper than 10%. And we know we had no significant climbs today.  You don’t really need an altimeter.

Click on the link below to see today’s route and the elevation profile. Also click on the yellow Symbols to see photographs taken on the route.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/93853

Today we went west for 19 miles, north for 35 miles and east for 15 miles.  Most of the day, at least the first 54 miles, was in the forest so the scenery at mile 10 was the same as at mile 30 and the same as at mile 50.  The 35 mile north section (SR-56) was an outstanding cycle road; wide, smooth, rolling and very little traffic.  At mile 44 we found “Little Joes”, a cafe and bar in the middle of the national forest.  The owners were very friendly and the food great.  Our group ate all of the homemade peach pie in the restaurant.

We have about 9 miles on SR-56 after lunch.  It’s mostly down hill as we approach the Kootenai River. On US-2 going east toward Libby, we continue downhill – it looks like we’re going into a canyon.  The road takes us to Kootenai Falls (see photo at end of blog) and we hike out to see the falls.

 

Yesterday's temperatures: 80 in Dallas and 90’s in Montana.  Bob Lynn reported on Facebook that is was 120 on his ride in California. We had partial relief from the high temperatures today thanks to occasional cloud cover.

 

 

We spend two nights in Libby. Two loop rides are offered for tomorrow. one 95 miles and one retracing some of today’s route on US-2. Neither is appealing so we’ll probably take a rest day, well deserved after two 70 mile days.  And Saturday’s ride out of Libby has the most climbing for the entire tour. Rest up.

Kootenai Falls