2007 Northern Rockies Road Trip continued (Page 2)

Tuesday, the 7th, I motored north on U.S. 95, a scenic highway. I recorded the smaller towns along the way, and was feeling good. I would get through these hottest areas for the trip, and, this day, it was cool enough, and later, overcast. Coming to Riggins, ID, I inquired about a "road closed" sign on the turnoff that I was to take. The helpful rangers showed me a detour on the maps, and said the mostly gravel road was good, but it turned out to be two miles longer. I jumped at the information and was on my way.

My library guidebook used the words, "most magnificent," in describing the view from the Heavens Gate lookout where I was headed. I mostly stayed in second gear on my drive up, and gained views along the way. Soon, I was high up, and saw that the smoke had mostly settled into the valleys, leaving the clear vistas of the Seven Devils Mountains (top photo), and parts of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

It is a short, 350 yard, trail to the lookout, and I was immensely enjoying the vistas all about. A few other hikers were about, and although you cannot see the Snake River, the sights were splendid.

Back to Riggins, I shot the town features, and saw some rafters on the Salmon River. Then, I had a excellent, scenic drive, north. Many turnouts and historic points led to my shooting so many more photos. I had read of the history of the Nez Perce tribe, with a National Monument of a battleground along the way. The sky was nice, with huge clouds and hazy light. This was all new country to me!

Coming to flatter land, and keeping to U.S. 95, I stopped at the official vista point, at the top of the Spiral Highway, with a great, although hazy, vista, of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers, and the towns of Lewiston, ID, and Clarkston, WA. I stopped again in the town of Moscow, ID, looking like this was a nice place to live.

Through rolling hills, I continued north on U.S. 95, expecting some good scenery about Lake Coeur d'Alene. There was no highway vista point, but I then came into Coeur d'Alene, ID. This is an upscale resort, with nice development, and boat rides and things to do. I parked, and walked about, wishing for more time here. I didn't get any food, but got more fuel, and then headed west on Interstate 90 to Spokane, WA, where lodging was cheaper. I had another sausage and eggs dinner, and resolved further, then, to lose some weight on this trip.

Up at a good hour, Wednesday the 8th, I motored through part of town, and headed back east to drive-up Mt. Spokane. Roads were closed, and I had no good maps. I guessed right at a way to go, and then came to WA 206, the highway to the top. The weather was bad, and clouds completely obscured the view, said to be great. I had no time for any clearing, so motored on, shortly, after a few summit shots of the stone house on top. The clouds allowed for a shot from below the top, though.

The clouds lay over the Interstate, too. I made a stop at Treaty Rock, with historic carvings and glyphs. It remained overcast, so I passed by Coeur d'Alene. Now, there were no better photo ops than the late afternoon sun, the evening before. I motored east on I-90, planning to visit more towns. I was disappointed by Kellogg, ID, but Wallace, ID, was impressive. I had my usual fun walking about and snapping lots of photos. These are old mining towns, with plenty of historic buildings.

I had no reservations this night, so had to work on that. The overcast cleared to blue sky and clouds past Lookout Pass. I made quick stops in St. Regis, and Superior, MT. Then, I came to Missoula, MT. I was set on the best peak, the next day. I planned to camp, since I was told that the Bitterroot Valley was as expensive, for lodging, as Missoula.

Motoring south, then, on U.S. 93, I was headed back into more smoke. Arriving to Hamilton, MT, this smaller town turned out to be a surprise. It has a historic section, too, but then with diffuse light from the smoke. The Bitterroot Range to the west was silhouetted by the smoky fires, but I was here. I found a motel by chance, and then got a reasonable room rate.

So, Thursday the 9th, I got up, with a motel wake-up call, and had a moderate, early, breakfast. Motoring south, I followed some good directions, and after about 50 minutes of slow driving along the gravel approach road, came to the trailhead for Trapper Peak, the highest summit of the Bitterroot Mountains.

A good trail leads to the top. Sighting an elk, I had some fears about grizzlies and wolves, with some Net info about their historic habitat and reintroduction. I ran into another solo hiker, and my worries were dispelled. Up higher, the smoke had mostly sunk into the valleys, and the summit vistas were O.K. I relished being successful, with a time of 3:10, and snapped away at the gorgeous scene. The other hiker came up, and I later had my fill of pictures.

Clouds were building up. I sought to find a better way down, getting into class 2 talus and a false summit on my ascent, but a use trail took me way down to the south, and I then had to traverse way left, back to the trail. I sped down back to the car, and thunder boomed in the distance just as I returned.

Motoring carefully down the rocky and partially rough road, I was back to the paved highway by about 4 p.m., and then zoomed back north on U.S. 93.

I had to make Helena, MT, tonight. I managed to get through rush hour traffic in Missoula, then it was light traffic eastward on I-90. Lots of smoke overhead. I took U.S. 12 through highly rural parts of Montana, then came to the "visitor-friendly" town. Room reservations and a reasonable, set price are sure nice!

Friday, the 10th, I woke up early again, to hike the local Mt. Helena City Park, with a prominent mountain to easily summit in this part of town. Trails led up nicely, with a smoky sunrise (bottom photo left), and plenty of other hikers getting their exercise. The view of the town was nice, and shortly, after a small summit loop on the trails, went back to my motel room. After visiting the nearby State Capitol, I was enjoying coffee and a cookie at a bakery in town.

Checking out of my motel, I headed south on Interstate 15. I came to Butte, Montana, which I had longed to see better. I walked about the historic section of town, with an ongoing Irish festival. I did this quickly, then drops of rain fell as I was finished.

Continuing south on I-15, I enjoyed relaxing and making stops along the way. Yellowstone National Park was to the east, a temptation with scenic mountains to be seen in the distance. I would do that later, seeing more of that park, on another road trip.

Passing under various storm cells, my windshield got a good wash, and I looked forward to better weather southward.

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