2024: Another 4000 Mile Adventure

[ttora4runner]

The past couple of years while traveling over the two weeks I take for vacation I found that I’ve cut the trips short due to some loneliness and depression that sets in (comes with traveling solo) but something hit differently this year and the two weeks went by leaving me wanting more.

Travel this year took me back up into the NW corner of Wyoming back into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, central Montana, though Idaho along the Lolo Motorway, into NW Washington, then down into Central Oregon and California before returning home to Arizona.

Wyoming – last time I visited NW Wyoming it was to drive the upper section of the Morrison Jeep Trail, this time around I spent two roughly two days hiking around the area while staying at the Beartooth Lake Campground.





View from the campground.



Hike to Granite via the lower Granite Lake trail.





















Granite Lake

 

[ttora4runner]

Where the trail cross one of the outlets for the lake – I opted not to wade through the trail to the other side as I didn’t see a good way to do so. I opted to turn back at this point.






Once back at the trailhead and getting some lunch I headed back out to check out Sawtooth Lake since on my last trip I didn't make it back to it.







Right before the lake trail drops a short hill – I opted to walk it to see if I could make it down but I figured I could make it down but didn’t think I had the break-over to make it back up and over so I took the by-pass around it which was still kind of sketchy. Once down I parked my vehicle and walked the remainder of the way since I wasn’t starting to feel good.

Outside of two UTV’s that where leaving the area when I got down I had the lake to myself to enjoy.




I didn’t stay along time since I wasn’t feeling well and the clouds had started to build so I headed back up the trail so I wouldn’t get stuck in it.




Once back at camp I took some medicine and relaxed to while waiting out a small storm.

Evening hike.




The hike for the following day was up Beartooth Creek trail to backside of Clay Butte, Beartooth High Lakes trail and back down to campground via Beauty Lake trial while avoiding a rain storm.

 

[ttora4runner]

Heading up the trail.








Looking North from the backside of Clay Butte.




What a dork.




Heading back down the hike lake trail, I’d love to camp at one of these lakes.












Beauty Lake

 

[ttora4runner]

I got lucky on this hike, by the time I reached the other side of the lake it had started to sprinkle and you could tell the area I was just in was coming down harder. I hope the older lady I passed had rain gear on her.

After grabbing some lunch once back at camp I headed back up to check out the Clay Butte Lookout – avoid some lite rain.






The rest of the day was just spent at camp resting and reading a book since I had an early morning planned for the next as I would head back up to Bozeman Montana area to reattempt riding the Bangtail Divide trail.

Bangtail Divide trail – last time I was here there was smoke in the area from wildfires making a little hard to breathe and I opted out of the last section of the trail since I was spent. This time around I made the full 25 mile trip and the 7 mile road ride back to my vehicle at the trailhead.

These blue skies wouldn’t stay.






The peak off to the left in the distance was my hike for the following day.











Last this view was covered in smoke the last time I was here.




This is where I bailed last time. I almost bailed this time as well as my legs felt like jell-o and the slightest uphill I had to walk.

 

[ttora4runner]

The hike for the following day in the distance.


Trail completed and time for the 7 mile ride back.


Unfortunately, for me I only made it a mile before it started to rain and I had to stop and pull out my poncho (the Walmart cheap ponchos are only good for an emergency) as it started to pour. I wasn’t overaly fond of having to ride along the side of the road back to my truck with vehicles passing me. Fortunately, it stopped raining maybe a mile or two from my truck so I was able to get dried off some.

The original plan was to camp at Fairy Lake to hike the following day up to Sacagawea Pass but given the rainstorm in the area and my tent still being damp/wet from the prior day I opted for a hotel for the night, which was a blessing as I was spent after the events of the day.

The following day I made the hike up to Sacagawea Pass and checked out Fairy Lake.








At the pass.




Mountain goats coming down from one of the other summits in to the north.

 

[ttora4runner]

After grabbing some lunch I was back on the road to Lewis and Clark Caverns an area I hadn’t been to in almost 30 years, took the short cave tour while my tent dried out.








Early evening mountain bike on the one trail outside of the campground.








The stay here gave me a chance to plan for the next day as well as I had to official plans and need to kill sometime before heading to the KOA (yes I stay here mainly to get a shower) in Missoula, Montana.

The plan for the following day was to head back to Louise Lake for a short ride up to the lake and an even shorter ride back down.






Headin on back.






Need to make it back here at some other time.


View from the trial.






Louise Lake – outside of two campers there was no one here and was very peaceful.

 

[ttora4runner]

Headin back out












Once back to the main road and fueling up I was off to the KOA in Missoula for the night before heading out on the Lolo Motorway the following day (been trying to drive it for a few years). I’m glad I made a cabin reservation on this visit as luck would have it was raining yet again.
After a good night sleep (somewhat) I was off on the Lolo Motorway across Idaho.

 

[ttora4runner]

Lookout
















The after math of the Lolo Motorway one of the if not the dusty trail I’ve driven, I felt sorry that my bike and to endure that dust.


I had planned to stay at a Forest Service campground for the night Kamiah but after driving though it (again in the rain) I didn’t get good vibes and made last minutes reservation at the KOA. Which worked out in the end as it had rained again over night – I couldn’t seem to escape the rain on this trip if you couldn’t tell by now.

Back on the road again the following day to head up to the NW Washington and North Cascades to visit the Mt Baker area – hadnt been here in 30+ years.
Camp for the next two nights (rained both days) was in the Silver Lake area just north of Maple Falls.

First order of business for the following day was to hike up to Winchester lookout above Twin Lakes then over to the Mt Baker area to check out Artist Ridge along with a score of other people.

















Love the views on the way up to the lookout.

 

[ttora4runner]

Hello Canada.




Mt Baker from the Artist Ridge area






Sat out yet another rain storm in my truck while reading and planning for the next day, tried to find cell service as well which there is barely any.

The next day I was off early again to try and avoid another rain storm that was forecasted for the day. I opted to hike down to the Galena Hain Lakes Loop to Ptarmigan Ridge and out along to the ridge and out to Coleman Pinnacle but the weather wasn’t on my side again and I opted out heading to the Pinnacle – got rained on yet again by the time I got back to my truck. I really need to get better rain gear.





Probably one of my favorite photos from the trip.

 

[ttora4runner]

Back to the truck.




Nooksack Falls on the way back to camp and to escape the rain.




Spent the remainder of the afternoon/evening checking out Silver Lake and doing some exploring around the campground before heading to bed to start the next early day on the road to SW Washington to visit Cape Disappointment and to the next campsite for the night.

Fort Canby

 

[ttora4runner]

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse














Seeing the ocean is always a enjoy.




North Head Lighthouse


On the trail to the lighthouse


Head Lighthouse Keepers Residence

 

[ttora4runner]

The area did not disappointment and was nice to see the ocean and feel the breeze. The stop also gave my gear a chance to fully dry out from the past week and half.
As the trip was winding down I had once final area to explore in central Oregon Lake Betty Lake trail around Waldo Lake. I’ve been keeping an eye on this area for a few days watching for any sort of wildfire activity that would force me to change plans but thankfully, there was no issue. I did discover while out on this trail that he had been though a fire a little while ago and started to notice dangers signs though out warning of potential issues within the burn zone. The trail was open from everything I could see/find on it but a couple of signs towards the end made me question if I should’ve even ridden it. I will say at the start of the trail everything felt fine but towards the end I found that I burned though almost all 3L of water I had riding though the burn scar – that was driest area I’ve ridden (felt like zero moisture in the air). Other than that I wouldn’t mind returning to ride the trail again once it has more time to recover.





Everything looks fine here but in the distance ?








Everything is not fine – kind of crazy riding though this area.

 

[ttora4runner]

Prior burn area – life does return.










I opted to take the road back than finish the trail as I was spent after that ride – the road wasn’t any better. Once back at my car I threw in an electrolyte packet into a cold bottle of water and downed it – felt so good. After a quick break at my truck I was off to LaPine State Park for the night before heading to California to visit my sister and her family.

Quick trip to the coast with my sister and her family.










End.

Despite the rain this was the best trip I’ve had in a long while and have no regrets outside of not having proper rain gear – it almost got into purchasing a Go Fast Camper by the time I was done. After this there is so many more places that need to be explore – till next time.

 

[Ace Brown]

You sure saw lots of pretty lakes. I’m drawn to water too when I’m traveling. But I usually have some type of boat to get out on the water. Very relaxing for me.

Nice photos.


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