Part Three. Take heart! We are almost half-way done with the Idaho Vacation Posts. Click on the links if you missed Part One or Part Two.
The Hiawatha Trail! The crown jewel of rail-to-trail mountain bike trails! 15 miles of breathtaking scenery in the Bitterroot Mountains at the Idaho-Montana border.
You can ride the gently downward sloping 15 miles from the East Portal to the Pearson Trailhead and then take the shuttle back. If you're a PUSSY. Or you can do the roundtrip all on your own. Which of course is what Josh and I would do. Because we're sporty.
Sporty. See?
It's a beautiful trail, really.
The trail is named for the very modern "Hiawatha" trains that rode the Milwaukee Road rails back in the day. I am not a train buff, per se, but I do love the romance and adventure of the railroad heyday.
I found this 1945 image on the Internet. I would love to find an original that was in good shape for framing.
Look carefully. Can you see Josh?
The trail boasts 10 tunnels and 7 high trestles. The longest tunnel, at 1.7 miles, is challenging to ride through on a bike, even with a light. Then again, there was a family ahead of us with a 6-year-old named Autumn on a little pink bike and she had no trouble. These Idaho kids are tough.
See the creek at the bottom? That's where I would have liked to see a bear. Too far away to get me, but still visible.
The highest trestle crossing was 230 feet. I thought I would be scared riding over it, but it felt very solid and safe. Although I did object a little when Josh wanted to stop and lean over the side taking pictures. I was afraid he would drop my camera.
Shuttle? I don't need no stinkin' shuttle.
The last 3 or 4 miles down the trail were very rough and bumpy. By the time we got down to the Pearson trailhead, I was definitely feeling like this was a workout. We rested for a little while and watched the weaklings who were boarding the shuttle bus that would take them back up to the top.
Then we started back up the trail. The hot, bumpy trail. No, wait. The miserably hot, painfully bumpy trail.
Let me state for the record that Josh could easily have ridden all the way back up to the top. But after about 2 miles (on a slightly uphill slant this time), I realized that I was not up for it. If there was no option for a ride back, I suppose I could have sucked it up and kept going, but it would have taken a long-ass time.
It was hot, see. And my head hurt and there was a rock in my shoe and...etc.
So, we rode back over the bumpy part, waited for the next shuttle, and then I pushed some kids and old women out of the way so I could be the first one on the bus.
I don't remember anything else we did that day because I think I went to sleep at 8pm.
Despite my defeat on the trail, it was a fantastic bike ride and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was amazing. If you ever get out that way, it is sooooo worth the price of the bike rental.
More tomorrow!
You gave away the ending! And I'm all about suspense.
Great pictures, beautiful area, you crack me up, literally. How hot was it?
Posted by: Pam L | July 19, 2011 at 11:24 AM
She had a rock in her shoe! Remember, "Slow and steady wins the race." Unless you take the bus, then slow and steady wastes a lot of time.
Posted by: Mizter | July 19, 2011 at 06:48 PM
Stupid kids and old women ... who do they think they are?
Posted by: FC | July 19, 2011 at 08:16 PM
You crack me up, too. This sounds like fun, but I would have opted for the one way ticket, too.
Posted by: Cathy S. | July 19, 2011 at 09:03 PM
It is always better to take the one way ticket, that way you get to see new scenery! I am heading west in 2 days, can't wait to see some mountains. Your pictures are beautiful.
Posted by: gail | July 20, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Cool poster.
Otherwise, too much vertigo for me. When Tony and I got married in Las Vegas, we stayed way high up at the Bellagio. I had to crawl around on my hands and knees for a while and inch slowly over to look out the window.
Same experience in Taos, NM, on a trip out to the Something-or-Other River Gorge. I got about 5 feet out onto the bridge and had to turn back. Peanut walked confidentally out and lingered, looking over the railing, while I waited, roasting in the hot sun, for her to return. Show-off!
Heights like that make me feel like I'm being physically pulled down. I worry that I'll tumble off the bridge or fall out a window by mistake!
Posted by: Anne | July 20, 2011 at 07:48 PM
I am tired just reading about the bike ride- off to rest until the next post. I am so sleepy..
Posted by: the bee who is so tired | July 21, 2011 at 02:12 AM