CRACKER TOUR OF IDAHO 7/11-7/15

CRACKER BROTHERHOOD ( FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE TRAVELING TEUTONIC BROTHERHOOD )

 

LENGTH – 1100 MILES  /4.5 DAYS

TRAIL BOSS- JOHN    KTM 950

RIDERS   -      TIM        KLR 650

                       KURT       KTM 950

                       BYRON   KTM 950

                       THAD       BMW 1200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY  7/11 ( DAY 1 )

LENGTH ~290 MILES

MET AT PERKINS ON BROADWAY

 

SUNDAY’S MORNING SHOWERS KEPT THE DUST DOWN ON ROCKY CANYON => GARDEN VALLEY. WE SPOTTED  ELK, DEAR, TURKEY & GROUSE ON THE WAY.

GARDEN VALLEY GAS STOP

BEAR VALLEY

 

DAVE , 43 YEAR RESIDENT OF YELLOW PINE, EXPLAINED SOME OF THE FINER QUALITIES OF BARRY.

LUNCH IN SILVER DOLLAR GRILL.

 

BARRY- “JUST IMAGINE MY AMERICA OF LESS CARBON AND MORE GOVERNMENT. “

THE INFO IN YELLOW PINE WAS ELK CREEK SUMMIT WASN’T OPEN , SO WE OPTED TO TAKE LICK CREEK INTO MCCALL.

LICK CREEK SUMMIT

NORTH SHORE PAYETTE LAKE.

 AT THE TOP OF THE FRENCH CREEK ROAD I STOPPED AND TALKED TO SOME DIRT BIKERS OUT OF MCCALL. THEY WERE AT THE “BEAR PETE” TRAIL HEAD. I DIDN’T REALIZE IT SO FAR IN FROM WARREN WAGON ROAD. THEY ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT SOME OTHER TRAILS DOWN TOWARD THE SALMON.

SALMON RIVER ROAD INTO RIGGINS

CRACKERS AT END OF THE DAY IN RIGGINS

BARRY “ CRACKERS- THE OTHER WHITE MEAT.”

MONDAY 7/12 ( DAY 2 )

MILEAGE ~ 215

ROUTE – RIGGINS => SLATE CREEK=> HUNGARY RIDGE  => HWY 14 / 12 => LOLO MOTORWAY=> POWELL

 BREAKFAST IN RIGGINS

YES THERE STILL ARE ESKIMOS IN RIGGINS

 

 

 

 

 

 

SLATE CREEK

 

 

HUNGARY RIDGE

HUNGRY RIDGE & HWY 14 /SF CLEARWATER

 

TO GIVE US MORE TIME FOR THE LOLO WE DECIDED TO CUT OUT ELK CITY & THE ELK CITY WAGON ROAD & TAKE THE PAVEMENT TO SYRINGA.

ON HWY14 WE GOT CAUGHT BEHIND A FLAT BED & LOGGING TRUCK, BUT IT ONLY LASTED A FEW MILES TO THE HWY12 INTERSECTION.

WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL RIDE ON HWY12 ALONG THE CLEARWATER  TO KOOSKIA .

THAD

FSR100 ON THE WAY TO THE LOLO.

WEST ENTRANCE OF THE LOLO

THE LOLO IS PART OF THE NEZ PERCE TRAIL THAT LEWIS & CLARK FOLLOWED CROSSING IDAHO. THE MOTORWAY WAS BUILT BY THE CCR IN THE 30’S.

 

 

MET UP WITH JIM AT ROCKY RIDGE CAMPGROUND.

JIM WAS UP WITH HIS DIRT BIKES TO CLEAR TRAIL. SAYS THERE IS ~ 150 MILES OF SINGLE TRACK.

SAYS THE FOREST SERVICE IS ADDING ~150 MILES OF ATV TRAILS WHILE CLOSING 170 MILES OF SINGLE TRACK. HE’LL JUST HAVE TO BUILD MORE !

HE HAS A GREAT ATTITUDE !

JIM & TIM SHARING NAMES & STORIES.

 

ROCKY RIDGE LAKE

ENCOURAGING THE CRACKERS TO MOVE ON DOWN THE LOLO.

  ONE OF THE KNOCK OUT VIEWS ALONG THE LOLO.

VIEW OF THE BITTER ROOTS FROM THE LOLO.

 

THE LOLO HAS STRETCHES THAT HAS A DIRT BIKE FEEL- ON THE PEGS / WORKING THE CLUTCH- ON THE 950 .

 

THE LOLO NOW HAS THE OFFICIAL BOSSART BROTHERS SEAL OF APPROVAL-

       CRACKER APPROVED

REST STOP AT FSR107 JUNCTION. WE HAD A UNANIMOUS DECISION TO RIDE THE REST OF THE LOLO INTO POWELL. SOME WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE MIGHT ALREADY BE AT THE END.  WE WERE LUCKY, IT LOOKED LIKED A LOCAL HAD CLEARED TREES WHILE RIDING AN ATV (THE PATH WAS NARROW).

 

INDIAN POST OFFICE LAKE

END OF THE LOLO AT POWELL.

CAMPSITE AT POWELL.

ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE WE ROLLED INTO CAMP, A WIND STROM BLEW THIS TREE ON A TRAILER.

THIS LADY WAS IN THE TRAILER READING WHEN SHE HEARD A RUCKUS & SAW HER FRIENDS RUNNING. SHE HIT THE DECK & A CHAIR KEPT THE ROOF FROM CRUSHING HER. 

 

 

TRUNK OF CEDAR THAT SNAPPED.

TUESDAY 7/13 (DAY 3)

ROUTE :POWELL=> LOLO=>DARBY=>CORNER=>SHOUP=> CHALLIS

LENGTH ~ 250 MILES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE HEADED OUT OF POWELL ~ 8AM & HAD A FEW MILES OF BEING ESCORTED THRU SOME ROAD CONSTRUCTION. WE STOPPED IN LOLO HOT SPRINGS FOR BREAKFAST AND A SOAK.

LOLO HOT SPRINGS . LOOKS JUST LIKE A SCENE FROM “COCOON” DON’ IT ?

 WE ALSO HAD A SURPRISE VISIT FROM SPIDER MAN IN LOCKER ROOM AFTER THE SWIM.

THE RIDE FROM LOLO INTO DARBY WAS A BORING MIX OF PAVEMENT , ROAD CONSTRUCTION & STRONG CROSS WINDS FOR BITS OF EXCITEMENT.

 

BEEMERS COME WITH STOCKED MINI BARS !

THE 2ND HALF OF THE DAY MADE THE MORNING A DISTANT FADED MEMORY.

PAINTED ROCKS STATE PARK IN MONTANA.

HORSE CREEK ROAD

VIEWS OF LOST RIVER RANGE ON THE WAY INTO SHOUP.

 

 

 

TIM

DESCENT  INTO SHOUP ~ 5000FT DROP IN 10 MILES AS THE ROAD CORK SCREWS INTO THE SALMON RIVER.

GAS STOP IN SHOUP. GRAVITY FEED SYSTEM

 

 BARRY “ I LIKE MY COUNTRY LESS THAN YOU LIKE ME. “

 

 

 

 

 

WE HAD BEERS AND A HOT MEAL IN SHOUP. THE COUPLE IN THE BACKGROUND ARE RETIRED FROM NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY & SPEND THEIR SUMMERS ON PANTHER CREEK .

 

   

 BARRY – “YOU MAY BE WORRIED ABOUT ME, BUT YOU OUGHT TO BE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE MILLIONS WHO VOTED FOR ME. “

 

GOAT ALONG SALMON RIVER ROAD.

I BLEW BY THE INDIAN DRAWINGS, THINKING THEY WERE ON PANTHER CREEK.

 

RANCH ALONG PANTHER CREEK

ME & THAD ALONG PANTHER CREEK, A FANTASTIC STRETCH OF ROAD. PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST RIDES IN IDAHO.

THAD STOPPED TO COMPARE GRINS !

 

THAD STOPPED TO POINT OUT THE COUPLE WE MET IN SHOUP HAD JUST TURNED INTO ONE OF THE CABINS BEHIND US.

JIM CAME UP ON HIS 4 WHEELER AND STARTED CHATTING. WE SPENT 10-15 MINS WITH HIM. HE MOVED UP TO HIS PLACE IN THE MID 80’S FROM KENTUCKY. DOES MOST OF HIS TRADING IN SALMON, ABOUT A 30 MILE DRIVE. GOES INTO MONTANA FOR THE BIG PURCHASES.  THERE IS A MINE NEARBY THAT KEEPS THE ROADS PLOWED IN THE WINTER.

SUMMIT OF PANTHER CREEK.

MORGAN CREEK

ON THE WAY INTO CHALLIS WE SAW A SINISTER FLEET OF VEHICLES, DARK BLUE WITH SATELLITE  DISHES , LOOKED JUST LIKE A JURASSIC PARK SCENE. THE NEXT MORNING ONE OF THE LOCALS SAID IT WAS A MILITARY BRANCH SHOWING OFF ITS WARES .

 

BARRY STUMPED TO RECORD CROWDS IN CHALLIS.

RECORD CROWDS FOR BARRY IN CHALLIS

CHALLIS LODGE ON MAIN STREET !

WE DECIDED TO CUT SOME MILES OUT OF THE WEDNESDAY RIDE, DELETED THE LEG THRU THE PAHSIMEROI VALLEY AND MADE BIG SMOKEY CG OUR DESTINATION.

 

WED 7/14 (DAY 4)

LENGTH ~190 MILES

 

WILLOW CREEK SUMMIT HWY93 . MT BORAH IN BACKGROUND.

EARTHQUAKE SITE BASE OF MT BORAH.

BOTTOM OF BURMA ROAD INTO COPPER BASIN

 

  CREST OF BURMA ROAD. LOST RIVER RANGE IN BACKGROUND

BURMA ROAD DROPPING INTO COPPER BASIN

 

 

WEST END OF COPPER BASIN

PHIL & HIS BROTHER ON THE WAY OUT OF COPPER BASIN

 

COPPER BASIN GUARD STATION

FELLOW TEXAN ! HOWEVER THEY LOOKED TO BE AN AGGIE :-(

 

 

LAKE CREEK TRAIL HEAD AND CAMPGROUND.

LOOKED TO BE LIMITED MOTORIZED TRAILS LEFT IN COPPER BASIN. THIS MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE.

 

 

KURT , THAD & TIM STYLING THRU MULDOON CREEK.

I MANAGED TO FIND THE DEEPEST HOLE , ALMOST OVER THE FRONT WHEEL. THE 950 DOESN’T TRACK AS GOOD AS THE 300 WITH A TRIALS TIRE.

 

MULDOON CANYON.

 

ON THE WAY OUT A ROAD SIGN POINTED TO MACKAY.  I KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO MACKAY TO I WENT LEFT INSTEAD OF RIGHT.......WHICH WAS THE WRONG WAY.

I WENT UP WILD HORSE CANYON, GREAT VIEWS –BOTH WAYS !

THIS IS THE SAME PEAK AS ABOVE FROM THE TRAIL CREEK SIDE.

I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO SAW BOTH SIDES !

THAD & I DRAGGED RACED UP TRAIL CREEK. HE SMOKED ME.

TRAIL CREEK DROPPING INTO SUN VALLEY.

QUITE A BIT OF TRAFFIC ON TRAIL CREEK, SO WE HAD TO BE EASY ON THE THROTTLE AS WE DROPPED INTO SUN VALLEY.

THAD , TIM & I WAITED AT SUN VALLEY LODGE TO REGROUP. AFTER ABOUT 45M WE DECIDED TO HEAD BACK UP. AS WE GOT TO THE SUMMIT WE  MET BYRON. HE SAID KURT WAS SICK & CAUGHT A RIDE IN PICK UP INTO TOWN.

WHERE KURT PARTED WAYS WITH HIS BIKE.

KURT SAID ON THE WAY OUT OF COPPER BASIN HE STARTED FEELING OFF. ON TRAIL CREEK HE HAD TO STOP & PUKE. HE JUST KEPT GETTING WORSE.

THE “TRUCK”, A RETIRED DOC & DENTIST WERE COMING BACK FROM FISHING MACKAY RESERVOIR, STOPPED WHEN THEY SAY KURT LYING NEXT TO THE ROAD :

1) GAVE KURT A RIDE DOWN TO TOWN

2) TOOK BYRON BACK TO GET KURT'S BIKE.

3) ROGER CAME BACK TO CHECK ON KURT & GAVE HIM A RIDE TO THE BEST WESTERN.

 

BYRON RODE BITCH BACK WITH ME TO GET KURT’S BIKE FROM THE LODGE.                    WE BOTH STARTED FEELING OFF, BUT CHALKED IT UP TO RIDING DOUBLE IN SUN VALLEY.

KURT’S WIFE WAS DRIVING KURT’S TRUCK IN FROM BOISE. WE DECIDED TO CAMP NEARBY SO WE COULD LOAD THE BIKE IN THE MORNING.

WE CAMPED AT THE “NORTH FORK GC” JUST OUT OF TOWN.

I WAS STARTING TO FEEL BAD. GOT MY TENT SET UP BY 6PM & DECIDED TO LAY DOWN.

~ 8 BYRON FIXED SOME CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP. I HAD A CUP OF SOUP & A SMALL SPRITE. WENT BACK TO BED. I MADE IT THRU THE NIGHT W/O ANY EPISODES. ( I WORE MY BOXERS & SHORTS TO BED TO PROTECT MY SLEEPING BAG.)

HOWEVER BYRON SAID HE WAS UP PUKING & TROTTING ALL NIGHT.

AFTER REVIEWING THE GPS DATA BASE & CONSULTING WITH BARRY’S HEALTH CZAR WE MUST OF GOT SOME BAD FOOD / PICKED UP A BUG SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOLO HOT SPRINGS AND CHALLIS.

THURSDAY 7/15 ( DAY 5)

 

  LENGTH ~ 163 MILES

I LOST A PAIR OF SHORTS IN THE MORING AFTER I THOUGHT I WAS HOME FREE. THE REST OF THE DAY WAS SUBDUED. WE GOT KURT'S BIKE LOADED THEN HEADED OUT WARM SPRINGS ROAD.

SHEEP NEAR THE TOP OF DOLLAR HIDE.

ON THE DOWN HILL SIDE I WENT “HOT” INTO A TURN. WHEN I STRAIGHTEN THE BIKE UP I DRIFTED INTO THE DITCH AND COULDN’T RIDE IT OUT, DROPPED THE BIKE.

BYRON & TIM HELPED ME LIFT THE BIKE AND WE WERE ON OUR WAY.

LATER NEAR SKELTON CREEK THAD PASSED ME AND FLAGGED ME DOWN. MY RIGHT PANNIER HAD DROPPED OFF !

WE USED MY STRAPS TO FASTEN IT BACK ON. TIM HAD A COUPLE OF EXTRA BUNGEE CORDS FOR MY DRY BAG.

 

 

 BLACKS CREEK ROAD & I84. THE CRACKER BROTHERHOOD PUT ANOTHER TOUR IN THE CAN , HERMITICALLY  SEALED IN IN A UNDISCLOSED BUNKER !