CDE July 9 Day 5 Glacier to Priest Pass
Leaving Glacier was tough, Avalanche Campground was great and the area is beautiful, however the rest of the Continental Divide journey beckoned. The way south went quite a ways on asphalt and we were still aired down from our dirt adventures. This can lead to problems as an aired down tire will run hotter, and combined with hot blacktop can lead to sidewall blowouts. Of which Mike had one! But it was an easy tire change and my Extreme Outback onboard air system had us aired up super quick so we were on the road in no time. We just needed to keep an eye out for a used tire to act as Mike's new spare.
We were working with great waypoints thanks to the AdvRider guys and Mark at
www.bigdogadventures.com but it also helped to come across a fun sign like this. We actually had a chance to chat with the family that made this sign, turns out they let bike riders camp, and they help do bike repair. The back country is filled with great folks like this whom you just don't meet on the interstate.
Much of the northern section of the Continental Divide route could be renamed Tunnel of Trees. but that made these shelf roads with the views they brought much more exciting.
Of course it seems that with all the logging activity in the area someone figured the "Tunnel of Trees" just wasn't wide enough so they came through with what seemed to be a sideways lawnmower on steroids. You can see the results! Very strange.
Long treks on dirt roads works up quite a hunger but lucky for us there were plenty of places to stop. Lunch beside a rustic wood bridge and babbling brook just can't be beat.
Seely Lake was our next gas stop in the afternoon and with this ice cream shop calling us we had to make a stop. Somehow ice cream on an expedition taste much better than at home.
The back country takes you over not just dirt road and by great ranches and homesteads but you also get to cross bridges that seem to have stood the test of time, and maybe a flood or two.
The changing geography we are seeing on this journey stands out all the more because of the miles we are covering. But beyond just the land we are getting to see some strange manmade structures, like this door in the side of a hill. I am sure whatever is behind it is just as interesting. And believe it or not we spotted quite a few of these "hobbit" abodes.
One of the places that had really jumped out at me in various trip reports was Empire Mine. I have to say this area was really well preserved and would not last long in our native Arizona. Glad to see folks passing through here respect the history and leave all of it alone.
One of our last Continental Divide crossings of the day was on Priest Pass, we were ready to stop and set up camp but the wide open rolling meadows with plenty of cows grazing forced us to stop for at least one more picture.