Tour of Idaho 2020 – Team Hillbilly Succeeds!

It’s been a while. I last posted at the end of 2018. Honestly, I started a couple posts last year but they are still hanging around as a saved draft. Oh well.

In early 2019, Jeff and I decided we’d attempt the Tour of Idaho again in 2020. The previous attempt in 2018 was the hardest thing I’d ever tried to do. Sure, it was difficult from a physical perspective, but mentally, it was by far the most difficult experience of my 50+ years on this sphere. We completed 7+ days in 2018, but bad weather and bad luck brought Jeff and I to a standstill near Lochsa Lodge in northern Idaho. Just 400 miles short of our goal of reaching Sundance Mountain in 9 days.

The 2020 version of the Tour included an additional day (now 10) and an additional 450 miles or so. Also, Day 1 was now Martin’s “filter”. It was designed to be a very long and relentless day of elevation changes, tough trails, and for us, some high temperatures. If you couldn’t make it through Day 1, you certainly couldn’t make a deep run on the Tour of Idaho. In the end, several teams failed to make it past Day 1.

Don’t know what the Tour of Idaho is all about? Well its the longest point-to-point, off road motorcycle ride in the US. You must complete the Tour in 10 days, totally unsupported, and with enough “points” to qualify for a finisher number. When you leave on Day 1, everything you’ll have for the next 9 days is on your back or your bike. You can’t stage parts of supplies at overnight stays and no outside assistance can be utilized for navigation or anything else. Period. Unsupported. As Jimmy Lewis said recently on a TTTT, “The Tour of Idaho ain’t no joke!” Well there you go.

Below is a day-by-day recount of our adventure. I’ve tried to include a couple photos from each day and there are links to Jeff’s videos at the very end. It’s really hard to compress each day’s events into a few paragraphs, but that’s what I tried to do.

Day 1 – The Filter

We left the Malad Hotel at 3am on the first day. Yep, set the alarm for 2am and rode out of town in pure darkness down to the Utah Line. The image below shows what you’ll find at the starting point. Complete with a KAT sticker on the post!

This is where it all begins . . .

Well . . . this was the beginning of a very, very long day . . . 16.5 hours to be exact. We rode the nominal 2-person route and stopped in McCammon for lunch at the Little Rock Cafe. This snagged us a challenge point and some awesome food. I believe it was nearly 280 miles. Navigation was key. Persistence was necessary.

A little over half-way through the day, I coasted into Lava Hot Springs with my low fuel light glowing that ominous orange color. We got a bit to eat, hydrated quickly, filled up the bikes, and got back on the trail. About an hour later, we made our aforementioned diversion to the Little Rock Cafe and then got back on the route with an aim of getting to the flagpole at a reasonable hour. I don’t eat much red meat but those burgers at the Cafe are out of this world and the buns are perfection!

The rest of the afternoon went very well. Everyone talks about how hard the Robber’s Roost climb is but Jeff and I just don’t get it. Seems fairly easy to us. Sure it has some roots and rocks, but come to Kentucky if you want to know what roots and rocks are about. No comparison.

Challenge Point Photo at Inkom Pass on Day 1 – Riding with the Pirate!

Our arrival at the flagpole was sufficiently early and allowed us to get a great dinner and rest up for the 9 days ahead of us. Martin said we did very well in terms of time and told us to slow down a bit going forward. His advice was on the spot. We needed every little bit of energy that could be set aside in the days to come.

The Only Day Off

We met Jeffery Jensen, Don Stafford, and the original TOI Finisher number 1 during our time off the bikes after Day 1. All of them are legends from our angle. Good folks for sure.

Don Stafford and Jeff Stoess at the end of Day 1.

Martin lets you take the second day off, but no others. No exceptions. After 16.5 hours in the saddle, a break was definitely in order. The day off allows for the accumulation of supplemental points that are gathered at local “waypoints” in Pocatello. We did some minor bike maintenance, ate well and went to bed at a reasonable hour.

Day 2 – The Desert

Jeff and I pulled out of Pocatello that morning around 4am. Our mission was to arrive in Arco early enough to get some items at the grocery for breakfast and grab a bite to eat at Pickles.

The morning was good except for one mishap at about 5:15am at the Scout Mountain trailhead. This trailhead has a gate (that was open) and one of those little up and over bridge things you can ride over. Jeff zipped through the gate so I followed accordingly. I just got through the gate and was immediately slammed to the ground, jammed my wrist, and my right leg/ankle was pinned underneath the bike. Happened in a second. Boom.

I yelled for Jeff to come get me (via my Sena) as I was stuck under the bike and my ankle did not feel good at all. My first thought was, “Well that’s the end of this attempt.” But, after assessing the situation and my condition we plowed ahead. My ankle was sore and my wrist started swelling. The wrist issue plagued me the remainder of the Tour. Eventually, I had to wrap it up each morning just to keep going. At times I had to stop to give my wrist a break.

The remainder of the morning of Day 2 was Ok. I like the trails and the mountain passes are really cool. Unfortunately, I knew the desert section would greet us after lunch. That was weighing on my mind all morning long. The mind can really work against you on a ride like this.

While getting a photo at the last Challenge Point before American Falls, I noticed that my brake-side fork seal was leaking. Really? Just 2 days in. Oh well. Had to keep moving.

Just let me be very clear. I hate the desert. The second half of Day 2 starts in American Falls and goes across the desert just skirting the eastern edge of the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Sage brush and lava rock dominate the landscape and this year, we had a nice dose of smoke from all the fires out west. Yuck. The desert sections is a means to an end.

The Middle of Nowhere – Gaston-Beattie Well in the Arco Desert

Typically, you can start to the see the very tip of Big Southern Butte about 3/4 of the way across the desert. Not this time, it was shrouded in smoke up until the last few miles. When it’s faint outline appeared in the distance, Jeff and I were both elated. We knew that our day would wrap up within a couple hours and having that motivation to finish out the day was nice.

The road up to the top of Big Southern Butte was a true beater. Nothing fun about it at all and the view was diminished by the thick smoke in the air. On a clear day, you can see mountain ranges in three different states. Not on our Day 2.

We rolled into Arco a couple hours before dark, filled up with gas, and went to the local grocery store to get some items for breakfast. When I came out, Jeff was talking to some guy in the parking lot. It was Shane Nalley, Mike Kiedrowski’s mechanic from a couple decades ago. Jeff used to race this guy in the 4-Stroke A class. Damn small world I tell you.

When we got to the DK Motel I knew that my fork seal needed some attention but that had to wait until after dinner. As we walked back from Pickle’s Grill, I remembered that my charging brick was in a neoprene-based Moosehead beer koozie cup tucked down inside my Giant Loop saddle bag. We cut it up, wrapped it around the fork tube, and zip-tied it in place. It didn’t stop the leak but it did keep the fork oil off my brake caliper. We later found out that the DJ was praying for me and my blown fork seal!

Day 3 – Central Idaho Singletrack!

For me, Day 3 is when some of the fun begins. Martin added a lot of miles east of US-93 this year but we got an early start and crossed the road at Mackay while folks were still getting their first cup of coffee at the local gas station. Afterwards, we picked up the same route from 2018 and made our way to Ketchum. The Burnt Aspen trail is the first really nice single track on the Tour. It’s the type of stuff I enjoy and it was a treat to ride it again!

The darn smoke was thick again on Day 3 thus the views from our high-altitude challenge points were less than ideal. I’m afraid the burning of the west each summer is the new norm. We’ll have to get used to it.

Thick smoke subdues the nice view

Ketchum is sort of a scary place right now. A COVID-hotspot in Idaho due to all of the out-of-town folks that showed up during ski season. We only stopped for gas and to get a bite to eat at the gas station. Masks and hand sanitizer were crucial and we were diligent in using both for our protection.

Onward to Smoky Bar! The new final resting point for Day 3. We managed to get there fairly early, enjoyed a great meal, an outdoor shower, and a very cold night in a cabin without electricity. The owner of the store was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed to keep moving forward. This place is a little gem in the middle of nowhere!

We also ran into two of three finishers from the Holy Rollers team that completed the Tour in 2019. Carrie and Dave Barton were staying there for a couple weeks so we got to trade some stories with those two while we ate dinner. They also got up at 4am and made me some coffee in a french press! YES! Good coffee! That was a treat for sure. Many thanks for their hospitality.

Day 4 – Longer than Expected

This day was perplexing and set the stage for many to come. In 2018, we ended Day 3 at Smiley Creek, not Smoky Bar. We got into Challis around 4:30pm during that attempt but it took us nearly 16 hours to get there from Smoky Bar this time around. Not good.

We left in the dark. The new norm. Moving before daylight to get a jump on things. Paradise Creek in the dark is just not my favorite thing. Getting to Snowslide early was good and things perked up from there. At least until the smoke intruded on our morning. The headwaters of the Salmon River were inundated with local smoke. It was thick, pungent and a bit ominous.

We made our way out Grand Prize and the smoke diminished as our route to the west became a respite from the fire-induced haze. Getting to Sawmill Station just after noon was good. My wrist was really hurting, but getting some food at Ross’s place was just what the doctor ordered. We ran into Jeremy Machamer when we were getting gas. He finished last year with his buddy Dave. Later, we had lunch with him while we visited with Bill Dart on the deck.

Jeremy Machamer (#65) at the Sawmill Station

The second half of Day 4 was not really enjoyable. My wrist was not doing well and I could tell from the GPS we had a ways to go. One big downed log impeded our progress, but otherwise, we kept a steady pace forward. Persistence.

Note the series of tall cairns marking the trail in the meadow

We got into Challis, Idaho around 8:55pm. It was dark as we rolled up to the the Sinclair gas station for some ethanol free fuel. After filling up, I went across the street one of the grocery stores in town to find it closed. Next, down the road to the other grocery store, but it was closed as well. The lights were on at the Family Dollar across the way but when we rode into their parking lot, they quickly, and deliberately, locked the doors and turned off the lights. Jackholes for sure. Geez.

Luckily, the Village Inn was open for dinner until 10pm. We got stuff for breakfast from the gas station and dinner from the Village Inn. We each got the smothered chicken meal and it really hit the spot after another very long day in the saddle. Unfortunately, my wrist was really swollen and sore. I filled up my drink system bladder with ice and water and fell asleep with it laying on my wrist. This was the first night of many where that form of therapy was utilized.

Day 5 – A Midday Beating

According Martin, Day 5 should be fairly quick and easy. If you get an early start, you should arrive in Salmon with enough time to get a new rear tire at the local Les Schwab tire store. Yep, Martin worked out a deal with those folks so they’d hook you up with a new rear tire. Dismount and mounting is included in the price and let me tell you, it was worth every penny we paid. Our tires were shot. Torched to put it lightly. Jeff and I agreed that for each of us, it was first time we’d paid someone to mount a tire for us!

The trails on Day 5 are mostly fun but I’ll have to say that the Hat Creek area is just brutal. I cannot describe how rocky it is in that burn area. Jeff asked, “Why can’t the damn rocks burn too when a forest fire comes through?” Indeed! Wouldn’t that be nice? It was hot, there was no shade and we were fighting those rocks for several miles. Hoping for a nice smooth quad trail or Forest Service road. My wrist was throbbing but we kept pushing forward.

On top of the world at Taylor Mountain Pass in the Hat Creek Area

There is a particular Challenge Point that I really like and it is required on Day 5. It’s the 45th parallel, halfway between the equator and the north pole. I’d included this waypoint on our route back in 2018 so Jeff and I could stop and get a photo but in 2020, Martin added it to the required list. There was a truck and camper over to the east just off the trail . . . I wonder if they knew that their campsite was at the “halfway” point?

The 45th Parallel Challenge Point

Martin was correct, we did arrive in Salmon just after 4:00pm and headed straight for the Les Schwab tire store. A very friendly young man named Jason took care of us in an efficient and timely manner. We got there around 4:20pm and were pulling out just after 5pm. We used the down time to change out air filters and rest for a while.

A couple worn out GT333’s . . . after only 5 days of riding!

The local full-service grocery store was just down the street and I was able to pick up an ACE bandage for my wrist. They had a good selection of stuff for breakfast and they even had one kind of beer that Kim really likes, Alaskan Amber Ale. I spied some that I like too, but I wasn’t drinking and had to scurry past the beer.

Last Chance Pizza was delivered to our hotel room at the Super 8 and the lady at the front desk kindly through our wet gear in the dryer. Jeff’s bike was surprisingly low on oil so he had to top that off. Otherwise, it was good as we got into bed just after dark.

Day 6 – Over Half Way There

We’d been warned that Day 6 was long and challenging. As a result, we headed out before daylight that morning and covered many miles in the dark as we made our way up and over some ridges and then dropped down into the Salmon River basin just west of Shoup. Jeff and I were both very cold and the lack of sleep was catching up to us. We were struggling to stay awake on the fire roads.

An option for Day 6 is to get an early start and drop your stuff off at the Village at North Fork so you don’t have to carry so much during the day. We arrived before they opened at 9am but they let us in, allowed us to go ahead and check in and let us pay for some burritos for dinner that night and breakfast the next morning. They were very accommodating and made the whole process very simple. Riding without all that weight on our backs was a treat.

We topped of the bikes and headed out for a full day of single track. Some of the trails were challenging but a small dose of fire roads in between provided some respite. The trails east of US93 were nice but kept you on your toes for sure. No rest for the weary.

Just after noon, as we made our way along some high-exposure single track, we spotted a man ahead standing just off the trail. He was loaded down with all the necessary gear for surviving in the great outdoors. I bet he was 65 years old and looked to be very fit. He was a retired chemical engineer from Massachusetts that was hiking the Continental Divide Trail. Evidently, he’d been hiking for many days and had many to go. We chatted for a few minutes and then rolled on down the trail. Amazing who you’ll come across out in the middle of nowhere.

Lunch on the Continental Divide Trail – Kate’s Bar and Peanut Butter

One new section on Day 6 was called Powder Gulch. Martin had several waypoints in this area and because the trail was new, nothing was burned in so the route was not easy to identify. There were pieces of blue tape here and there but not much else to go on other than your waypoints. None of the teams had navigated this section correctly, at least not yet.

We spent about an hour in this small area and with some deliberate wandering, Jeff and I were able to hit each waypoint. Success! It is my understanding that we were the only team to pull this off. Other teams were penalized for an off-route infraction but not Team Hillbilly!

We were riding along the border more than once on Day 6

The rest of the afternoon was not pleasant. The trails were tough, the exposure was significant, we both submerged the lower half of our bodies in select stream crossings and the skies opened up and rained on us! To add insult to injury, a nice little hail storm pelted us for about 20 minutes. Ouch!

I was so glad to make it down to the pavement on US93! We needed a break for sure. Once again, I made it back to North Fork with the low fuel light glaring at me. We topped off the bikes and the extra Giant Loop gas bag so I’d have extra for the next day.

Unfortunately, the store was already closed, we didn’t have the code for the laundry room, and our gear was soaked. On the up side, we did have dinner and breakfast waiting in our rooms along with a panini press for heating up the burritos. We staged our gear on chairs on top of a table in front of the AC in our rooms. That helped to dry things out for the next day. We got to bed late once again and the alarm was set for 3:30am. Sigh. Exhausted.

Day 7 – Traversing the Wilderness

Typically, this day is considered a “transfer” day . . . that is, it’s supposed to consist of Forest Service Roads and quad trails between North Fork and Lowell. It was dark as we rode out of North Fork down the Salmon River road to the first turn onto the route. Lightning lit up the sky ahead of us so we crossed our fingers and hoped for no rain.

About 45 minutes into our ride, it started to rain. Jeff and I stopped and suited up in our rain shells and kept moving forward. The trails that morning were overgrown, included lots of water crossings, and it was all difficult to navigate in the dark. Things were slick, we were uncomfortable, and the lack of sleep was beginning to become an issue. I knew that easier travels were ahead if we could just make it a bit further into the day.

Wet and Cold on the morning of Day 7

Eventually, we got past all the technical stuff and the route dumped us out onto to some Forest Service Roads. The reprieve was needed. Snow was piled up along side of the road as we approached the Nez-Perce Pass where the Magruder Corridor begins. This is the only route through the Frank Church Wilderness, the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states.

The Nez Perce Pass – Montana/Idaho State Line

The landscape around the Magruder Corridor conveys remoteness. For many miles, burn areas dominate the view in all directions. Small trees are starting to return and only fireweed other such flowers provide some color in such dull surroundings. Multiple lookout towers serve as challenge points along the way and groups of Side-by-Sides were prominent at times.

Jeff ascending the stairs at Burnt Knob Lookout

We learned the evening before that we’d have to miss a challenge point today due to a fire. This meant we’d have to make that up by doing an additional challenge or bonus section on Day 8, 9, or 10. The re-route around the fire closure area was fairly easy and it dumped us onto the main road leading into Elk City mid-afternoon. The folks at Elk City Station fixed us a nice lunch, we got some items for breakfast and headed out weaving our way through the maze of roads leading down to the Selway River.

It was very dark and we were exhausted when the sign for Three River Resort appeared at the confluence of the Lochsa, Selway and Clearwater Rivers. Thankfully, the light was still on in the store and new owners were very friendly and accommodating. They let us get some food for breakfast, gave us a fan to help dry things out, and generally went out of there way to take care of our needs. The cabin we stayed in had a gas powered heater that allowed us to fully dry our clothes. Nice. In bed late once again with an alarm set for 3:30am for Day 8.

Day 8 – A Truly Challenging Section

Back in 2018, what is now Day 8 was Day 7 and it didn’t turn out well for us at all. We both pulled out on this day due to bad weather and a rain-soaked ignition switch on Jeff’s DR. Redemption is what we both needed this time around.

I really like this area of Idaho as it reminds me of the temperate rain forests of the Pacific Northwest. Shoulder high ferns, western cedar, hemlock, some deciduous trees, and a mighty dose of rocks thrown in for good measure. Kim and I spent a few days of our 2019 vacation in this area and hope to go back some day. Lochsa Lodge is such a cool place and there is a lot to see and do within a days drive.

We pulled out of the parking lot in the dark, crossed the bridge and stopped in front of the Wilderness Inn Cafe to grab a photo on the way up the road to the trails. Initially, we traversed some Forest Service roads and ended up at Walde Lookout Tower for our first challenge point of the day. According to the route book, we were to climb up the tower but a chain was strung across the stairway and a note said it was closed due to COVID. Fine with me. I didn’t want to expend the energy and wasn’t really excited about going up there anyhow.

Several more miles of dirt roads led us to Fish Butte trail. Martin was right, there are places where if your bike fell off, you’d never get it back. Not for the faint of heart. There were some sketchy areas with significant exposure but the granite provides excellent traction. A little patience coupled with some riding skills is necessary on this particular trail.

Fish Butte Lookout

We rounded a corner into a more wooded area and Jeff said there was a mountain lion standing on the trail just ahead. I eased up just a bit and there he was. Turning around was impossible. The only choice was to roll forward and see what happened. Luckily the lion walked down the trail a bit and then dropped off the side to the right downhill into the trees. Jeff eased on past him and when I got there the lion was only about 10 feet off the trail to my right walking in the other direction. Jeff was filming with his Sena at the time and captured the whole ordeal.

A view from Fish Butte Trail

The last part of Fish Butte trail wasn’t as challenging but we were planning to take advantage of the upcoming Sherman Creek trail as one of our required challenge sections. It would not disappoint. There is about a 100 yard portion of that trail where large boulders dominate the ground and exposure to the left is nothing to sneeze at.

The Sherman Creek trail was really overgrown and unfortunately, several trees were down meaning we had to drag our bikes under them or find a way around. I believe the trail is only 8 miles long but I suspect it took us an hour and half to clear. Teamwork was required to get our loaded-down bikes through the boulders and it became very apparent why this trail was off limits for solo riders. Maybe Toni Beau could make it look easy on a featherweight trials bike, but not on our rice burning beasts.

Scurvy Mountain Lookout Challenge Point

The remainder of the day was Ok, but we did have some navigation issues and a road closure made us scratch our heads a bit. About an hour and half from the end of the day I noticed that my fuel was getting low. Geez. Not again. I coasted every chance I had and eventually the orange low fuel light came on and 40 minutes later my bike coughed to a stop. Jeff had about 2 gallons left so we drained some from his bike and got me back on track.

Thankfully, it was still daylight when we arrived at Lochsa Lodge. Jeff and I needed a good meal and the lodge has some awesome options on the menu. We stocked up for breakfast, ate a great dinner and settled into our cabins for a good night’s sleep.

Day 9 – Just Maybe

We’d both heard of the State Line Trail on Day 9 and were told that once that was behind us, we essentially had it in the bag. Honestly, much of this day was a blur to me. I do remember lots of Forest Service Roads in the morning with lots of weekend traffic.

The early morning departure from Lochsa began with backtracking several miles to the Rock Garden trailhead. Sure, it is rocky, but nothing like the Hat Creek area from Day 5. Its name just doesn’t fit the bill. The first stop of the day was at the Rock Garden Challenge Point location. It was situated on a ridge that led to what looked like a very steep climb just ahead.

Jeff and I found a place to put down our kickstands and grab a photo, snapped the required selfie, and then got ready to move forward. All of sudden we heard howling. The howl wasn’t from coyotes, but rather wolves, distinctively wolves. The sound emanated directly from the crest of the ridgeline where we were headed. Over to the left, on down the ridge, another pack of wolves was responding. I got my phone and started recording the sound.

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Wolves howling on the Rock Garden Trail

As I recorded, a black object appeared to be moving up the switchbacks just below the wolves. It had to be a black bear. It too was headed straight up to where the wolves were staged. Hmmmm . . . that is where we needed to go. Cautiously, we held back for a bit and then made our way to the base of the climb.

With our wildlife encounter behind us, the ride quickly turned to a struggle. There were tight, worn out, rutted switchbacks with lots of exposure leading to the “wolf ridge” just ahead. Clearing the worst of the switchbacks took teamwork. We probably could have done it solo, but the energy we would have expended would not have been worth it, especially so early in the day. Watch the video below for some perspective on this real struggle.

Teamwork on the Rock Garden Trail

I came around a corner on a fire road to find that Jeff had come to a screeching halt with a skid mark in the gravel. His chain guide had come off, ran up around the rear sprocket and wedged against the frame. Instant rear brakes. The sprocket was fine, the chain appeared to be Ok, and everything seemed to be lined up in terms of the drive train. Jeff removed the chain guide, strapped it his rear fender bag and we moved on down the road. Whew! Close call for sure.

State Line Trail is on the Idaho-Montana border. It weaves back and forth on the ridge of a drainage basin and at times, has stupendous views in all directions. It is beautiful, but the single track trail is not forgiving. It’s quite the beater in places however it’s right in the middle of an awesome landscape! My wrist was not handling the abuse very well so I was looking forward to getting this behind me. It’s all a breeze from there! Not true.

Jeff on the State Line Trail

The Stevens Peak area nearly did me in. I just wasn’t prepared for that trail at the end of Day 9. That ill-defined, grassy, sidehill trail was challenging and seemed to never end. The rocky trails that followed were a struggle for me too. The geology in that area is really cool. Lots of folds on the ragged ridge tops that dominated the high-country.

Eventually, we popped out on a quad trail and started the descent into Wallace, the resting place for Day 9. The last portion of the quad trail down to the main road was never ending. For the second time on the Tour, I lost my front brake. Argh. Had to stop and put some water on the caliper. The rear was hot too. My low-fuel light came on once again and I coasted into Wallace and parked the bike alongside Jeff’s on the main drag in this little city nestled in the mountains. We’d made it.

Jeff and I retrieved the bags and other items off our bikes and made our way to the door of the Ryan Hotel. As we neared, the door magically opened and a gentlemen said that Donna was waiting for us upstairs. The stairs before us climbed what looked like two stories. Up we went loaded down with our backpacks and other gear. Donna was at the top to greet us.

Yes! We made it to the Ryan Hotel in Wallace, Idaho!

We were asked to sign a small poster on the wall and get our photo taken with Donna as a required Challenge Point. Menus from the best places in town were laid out for us on the counter and we were led to our old-style rooms in a building that was constructed in 1904. Like Jimmy Lewis said, “If these walls could talk.” Just another example of the hospitality we enjoyed along the way. It was greatly appreciated.

Day 10 – Getting to Sundance

We slept in about an hour later than usual and it was well-deserved. Our helmet lights weren’t necessary as we headed north out of town. In about 4 miles, the pavement turned to dirt and what would be many, many endless miles of Forest Service roads throughout the region.

It was cold that morning and we had all the necessary gear deployed. Eventually, we came to some singletrack. It was 100% downhill all the way to the bottom. I’d say it was 9 miles down to the end. The trail was generally smooth, well-maintained, but heavily used by horses. The descent was relentless through the lush forest with a high canopy of conifers. Down we went to a road in a river valley.

Spyglass Peak Challenge Point on Day 10

Within 30 minutes we were on the final Challenge Section of the Tour, Independence Creek Trail. We needed to do this one to ensure we had enough points for a true finish. As noted in Martin’s route description, the trail was certainly well used. Braking and acceleration bumps abounded. There was some sidehill exposure here and there but nothing like what we’d seen in previous days on the trail.

The whooped out trails were relentless and abusive. We felt like it would never end but finally we started to climb. And kept climbing. In the end, I suspect we went up, up, up for almost 3 miles. The trail was a bit smoother but roots and ruts kept you alert. Thankfully, we came out onto a Forest Service Road and had all of the tougher terrain behind us. Only dirt roads and some pavement stood between us and the finish at Sundance Mountain.

Team Hillbilly at Sundance Mountain

Twenty minutes later, Jeff and I were riding down a four-lane state highway in a wide, flat valley between the mountains. We topped off our tanks one more time and set our sites on Sundance Mountain. The pavement turned to a chip and seal surface, then gravel, and finally dirt once again. Folks were out on their horses, jeeps, and other means of conveyance on this busy Sunday afternoon. Only 20 miles more and we’d be done!

The final climb up to the lookout was really dusty. I held back from Jeff as usual to let it settle before I moved forward. About a half a mile from the summit, our proximity alerts came on and Jeff slowed down to let me catch up. He wanted to film us making our way to the final Tour of Idaho Challenge Point. We’d made it! At that moment, it was hard to process what Team Hillbilly had accomplished over the past 10 days of riding. Even today, as I put these words down for everyone to read, it still hasn’t fully sunk in what we accomplished.

Jeff was awarded finisher number 77 and I earned number 78. According to Martin, several hundred people have “officially” attempted the Tour over the past 15 years and thousands have tried it “unofficially” during the same timeframe. It’s not just a long motorcycle ride, the Tour is an adventure that requires the use of a motorcycle to complete. Redemption for our failed attempt in 2018 was achieved.

Thanks!

Many thanks to Kim for putting up with me and my desire to be a “Tour Finisher” and all that has entailed. In many ways, its a full-time endeavor that consumes a person during all phases of planning and execution. She’s the best and I’m fortunate to have her in my life.

Hats off to Jeff as well for dealing with me during the Tour attempt. I’m not the easiest person to get along with and my attitude and emotions can swing widely during any given 24 hour period. The mental stress associated with doing the Tour is monumental and anyone who thinks it is not a big deal probably can’t make it to the finish line. The mental exhaustion is real and is compounded by the day-in-day-out physical pounding that is exerted upon your body. Jeff’s patience and encouragement were the motivations I needed to keep moving forward. Thank you!

Every day, without fail, Randy Block (#45) sent us an encouraging message. We’d arrive at the day’s destination, and if service was available, a notification would pop up on our screens. He’s a finisher and has attempted it twice so he understands what it takes. We are grateful for his encouragement, and the many friends that showed support on Facebook and Instagram throughout our adventure.

Oh, and make sure to solicit advice from those that you know are better at dealing with the outdoors than you are. Steven Puckett is an avid elk hunter and knows how to hunt (survive) for 10 days at time with no outside support. His recommendations on everything from KUIU socks, to leukotape, and packing lightly have been invaluable during both of our attempts. Great advice!

And in closing, I must say thanks to Martin and everyone involved in the Tour and making sure it is an experience for anyone that gives it a go. Special thanks to Martin for putting up with the ragged Hillbillies from the Bluegrass State during our stay in Idaho. You went above and beyond!

I’ll do another blog post on my gear, my bike, and other aspects of our attempt in a few days. I need to walk away from this for a while and continue my recuperation.

Jeff’s 2020 Tour of Idaho Video Collection

See you on the trail!

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