Wild West Route

[Iowagriz]

Username was the location for the last 16yrs.  Griz is for U of Montana - but getting within 10yrs of retirement so got to move back to the mountains.

More details: (north to south)
initial climb out of Troy is a little cramped, pinched against cement guardrail and narrow shoulder, 2nd time we rode the wrong side of the road.
backroads are paved, but quiet, then you hit hwy56
i think 8 miles of pavement, decent shoulder
then gravel over the rattle creek pass
then another 8miles of pavement to the intersection with hwy 200
hwy 200 is busier, but mostly downhill towards Noxon, has a decent shoulder as well.

[threepin]

sorry inertia man- did not realize those washouts were so bad, I would think they would be fixed at some point since its the only road through that area- of course FS budgets are low these days. The Iron creek and lower lake roads creek are shown on the Kootenai forest map, MT atlas and OSM i have.

[threepin]

just for grins i called the sandpoint ranger station and they said that that road is permanently de-commisioned, quote "obliterated" several years ago.
Bummer
There's nothing north that really connects well.

The only real good alternative then would be to exit the Yaak via Libby and the Fisher river road to perhaps silver butte pass and the vermilion rd. then west on blue slide cross the river through trout creek and back to the loop.This could be pretty nice Seems more in line withe the ethos of the route. But then i am the one responsible for the push up from the wigwam on the GDmbr. If you go through trout creek the cafe in the old RR station makes a bitchen burger

[Inertiaman]

Looks like some travel issues may delay my departure to MT, so I am considering a different approach.  Park van in Missoula, one-way rental to Whitefish.  Ride Segment 1 to Superior; if I'm feeling good and forecast isn't bad, I can continue; if my bad leg is bothering me, its a short day on pavement into Missoula to my van.  If I continue thru Segment 2 to Darby, then I can again get myself back to Missoula via one day of pavement. 

This gives me more flexibility and more time to do some paddling and fishing before or after the trip. Also addresses some lingering anxiety I have about my still-recovering leg, which I haven't tested yet on demanding 4+ day trips.

@Iowagriz, check your PM . . . I may need a place to park my van in Missoula!

@threepin, if you have any dirt/gravel ideas for Superior==>Missoula or Darby-->Missoula, let me know.  At a minimum, from Darby, it looks like one can avoid the main highway 93 between Hamilton and Florence by staying on secondary roads to the east. 

[threepin]

i'll take a look
in the bitterroot you can go on the east, there is also a railtrail ish section along the northern part.
Years ago i had planned a route using the magruder corridor that i got to by taking rock creek south then skalaho pass then south on some road to come out near Darby- i'll see if I can find it

[Iowagriz]

I have your route from Superior to Missoula.  I scouted it for the WWR connector to Missoula.  I'll get that to you.  My guys rode it, a good route with a big climb. A little logging this summer, but great views.

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[threepin]

Griz, do you mind sharing a rough description? I had thought about using the 9-mile valley at one point

[Iowagriz]

Yes ,here is the link from when I drove it last year. You'll see 1 or 2  minor route corrections when you zoom in, but this gets you to just outside Frenchtown.

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/43687868

The guys in my group that rode it hit some logging activity about halfway up. The road was tore up, but still passable. I think they said 4 miles of ugh...

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[threepin]

Griz- thanks I've been wanting to check out the 9-mile valley

Inertiaman- keep an eye on fires and smoke- generally they have been more of an issue the farther south you go around here.

[Inertiaman]

Inertiaman- keep an eye on fires and smoke- generally they have been more of an issue the farther south you go around here.

Everything up there was a mess when I rode the GDMBR in 2017, one fire blocked access to the Whitefish Pass section, the Rice Ridge fire blocked much of the route near Seeley Lake, I was breathing smoke for 2 or 3 days of the route, etc.  This year is looking great by comparison.

[Inertiaman]

I have your route from Superior to Missoula. 

Thanks, I'll add that to the Garmin.

[Inertiaman]

Got myself to Montana but riding is tbd.  The route is free of fires but it sure isn't free of smoke.  AQI > 300 across much of segment 1 today. 

I'm gonna wait a few days, practice my Tenkara skills (or rather lack of) and see what things look like later in the week.