I don't mind saying where this is because face it, once you are in the mountain of Idaho and Montana
you are truly in bumfuq territory.
When were in this are in August, we rode of portion of this trail, and got a taste for more, we
wanted to make a big loop. There is a trail that follows the mountain crest/divide all along
the Idaho/Mt Border called, guess what , the Stateline trail that conencts up with the Goose
Creek trail.
What a gorgeous fall day. We load up the rig, prepared for alpine conditions just in case. 2.5 hour
drive, lots of coffee.
Hoodoo Pass is right about 6000 feet. We pack up, taking waaay to much extra shell layers ( we found
out later, but better to be prepared in the mountains) The trail starts off as an old jeep road, but
soon turns into single track that alternates from pristine trail to degraded fall line parallel
gouges ( got to love those old school pack trail builders). We follow the ridgeline as it rolls,
drops and then climbs. Our quick study of the map didn't include look at the elevation gains - both
Mr. Adventure and I end up really feeling the altitude as we do several stretches of "push the bike
up a steep fall line". But, oh is it excellent up here! The trail follows just to the side of a big
cirque with lakes down in the basin, so every now and then we have to dump the bikes and hike over
to the edge for a look-see. Between the climbs, there are high alpine grassy meadows that you can
just put into the second chain ring and motor on, as the trail follows the contours. . Now that is
something I could do all day. We are right at the tree line, so it's very open Another push up to
7300 feet **gasp** and then we start to work our way down.
We can see the meadow, one of our destinations that we rode to last summer from up on top.
The trail follows the meadows and then starts to descend into the forest. A nice swoopy trail, the
occasional hairpin or downed log. You can tell these are old trails. the surface of the trail is
mainly crushed rock on soft dirt... fun, challenging where the old trail is a foot deep from stock
traffic. W get dsumped out at a little lake, and then it's familair territory... high meadows that
we explored last summer. This is a sweet section, rolling down through meadows, flowers, small creek
crossings and cedar forest. 8 miles of this... ;-) Highlight of this section is when two grouse fly
our right in front of me and I get a bug in my eye, all at the same time.
then the real fun begins, the return ride to the pass. It could be shuttled, but as it was just the
two of us, we chose to just suck it up and make a loop, This means 5 or so down the gravel along
goose creek, a fast pedal. Then we hit the *paved * road ( don't ask me why there's a poaved road
out here, we sure couldn't figure it out...) and have a nice easy climb back to the pass. Only 12
miles and it's getting late.The canyon runs e/w and we stay in the sun as we climb. At about mile 22
we both are getting seriously saddle sore. The fall colors along the creek and the conversation keep
us some what distracted. At mile 25, we walk just to give our butts a break. Pedal some more. I
stick my thumb out whenever a truck goes by, but that's about 2 vehicles. Them I realize, odometer
check...yup,
996.5 Well hot dang, I HAVE to ride the rest of the way, no bailing now. Yeehaw, I roll over to 1k
just a mile below the pass. We'd pause to celebrate, but we're beat, almost back to the car,
soaked, sweaty, the wind is picking up , the sun is going down and it's time to get home.
photos to follow.
Penny