North Fork

Yesterday I drove up the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene river to ride the river trail. Way out of cell phone coverage as it is because it is all about trees, mountains, clear water and fish, and no people. The road stays almost right on the banks of the river as it did the early excavation work for the road bed.  At one of the sloughs I spied a large black object. Moose. Yes it was, ma and kid. Ma fed on the underwater aquatic plants while the youngster stayed out of the water and browsed dry land brush.

I saw another solitary one further upstream knee deep head under water but kept on driving.

The TH is right along the road b4 the last river crossing. All by myself. trail is open to heart propelled activity and thus receives little tlc. Until the scree slope slide alder crowded out the edges of the trail. Once passed the scree it was weed whacked. I like this trail. I rode to Jordan camp then turned around.

I made my knees bend and my heart kept beating. 13 miles was enough of a test. Saw 2 fly fishermen in the river.

Plan then was to find a camp spot in the river valley. Great having Nat Geo USGS maps in my computer as I researched a spot. Lots of primitive camping right along the river in addition to USFS camp sites. I wanted to be in the sun but above the river. I found a spot above the Shoshone work center at a helispot.

Before sun up this AM I heard raindrops on the roof. Last known forecast called for possible rain on Mon so I did not cover the bikes. I rousted myself and covered the bikes. Just a few drops. I heard several bouts of thunder but no quantity of rain. My plan was to ride Lost Creek today but I let the weather cancel my ride. Well, the clouds blew away making for what would have been a windy dry ride. Dirt bikes have been banned from the single track. This ride is like a 13 mile 2500′ logging road ride to start of 8 mile ST, the last 5 drop steeply back to van.

Instead I drove further down river to Babins Junction to a trailer park for a shower. I drove the back way to Wallace on a road I had never been on before. Tight and twisty up, over, and down into Wallace.

I am parked on a gravel parking lot right against I-90 outside of Wallace which is squashed in a bowl rimmed w/ mountains. Easy to see why Wallace was in harms way during the Big Blowup in 1910. On my Thurs visit i noticed ATVs parked on city streets, mostly in front of bars. Today in the parking lot there are rigs pulling ATV trailers which are perhaps parked in front of bars.

Plan is to hang here resting, perhaps a birthday dinner should I feel like eating. Then camp @ 4th of July pass again. Monday AM I have my knee exam.

Forecast is for hot and blowing wind. Precip has skipped this country also.

Today is my 63rd Birthday.