In July 2003 Linda and I joined Bicycle Idaho 2003, a supported bicycle camping tour traveling a loop through Southern Idaho. We enjoyed the previous Bicycle Idaho 2001 and Bicycle Idaho 2002 tours and eagerly returned for third tour. This year’s route is a loop in Southern Idaho with one day’s ride overlapping the Bicycle Idaho 2001 tour, but in reverse direction.

The tour was organized by Bicycle Rides Northwest, a bicycle touring company based in Bend, Oregon.

Itinerary

Day	Start	Stop	Mileage	Elevation Gain
July 13	Jerome, Idaho	Carey	60	1270
July 14	Carey	Arco	43+	1300+
July 15	Arco	Challis	85	4280
July 16	Challis	Stanley	64	1300
July 17	Layover in Stanley
July 18	Stanley	Hailey	75	2560
July 19	Hailey	Jerome	64	980
Totals			391+	11690+

 

Diary

12 July 2003 (Saturday)

We drive to Jerome, Idaho, from our home in Bend. We take US 20 across Oregon and at a snack stop in Burns we hear we have missed a morning accident near Juntura to the east that closed the road for a couple of hours. When we pass through the same area later we see that a more recent accident has just occurred. For some reason, this is a dangerous highway today.

The rest of the drive is uneventful. Linda makes good time driving on I-84 in Southern Idaho. We arrive at the Bicycle Idaho campsite at the Jerome High School and pick up our ride packets. Here we meet friends from previous rides and other riders we have known for years. We find some shade for our tent between the sidewalks and are joined by Doug and Jackie. At night we are awoken by someone repeatedly driving at high speed near our camp.

13 July (Sunday)

We leave Jerome and bicycle north along back roads, then follow Highway 93 across the Snake River Plain to Shoshone. After turning northeast towards Richfield we enjoy a strong tailwind. The easy route continues to Carey where we find the Bicycle Idaho campsite at the Blaine County Fairgrounds.

It is hot and we guess how the sun will set to select how best to use the yet unclaimed shade. Not having taken a compass I rely on the layout of the streets and misjudge, leaving the tent in the hot sun until sunset. We take a short walk in town. I hear more noisy driving up and down the street near camp during the night.

14 July (Monday)

We ride east out of Carey on Highway 20 in the cool morning through desert and lava flows. The lava flows increase in size until we reach the Craters of the Moon National Monument where lava and cinder cones dominate the scenery.

After a stop at the Visitors’ Center we decide to enter the monument and ride the paved loop road. Along the route we stop at the Devil’s Orchard, Inferno Cone, and the Splatter Cones. On the backside of the loop we enjoy a roller-coaster ride down a 10% drop.

We return to Highway 20 and descend towards Arco, visible in the distance. Don passes us as we ride and I get inspired to try to catch him. After miles of hard riding I finally catch him as we enter Arco.

I find a nice shaded tent spot at the Bicycle Idaho campsite in the City Park. We visit downtown Arco for a milkshake and visit with the friendly local people. Linda attends the talent show at the adjoining school after dinner. In the middle of the night many of us are awaken by someone shouting obscenities at the camp. I hope for better sleeping when we enter the mountains tomorrow.

15 July (Tuesday)

Today is a long, hot ride that begins with a strong headwind that lasts from Arco to Mackay. Linda and I find a pleasant café just off the main street in Mackay and enjoy our first lattes of the ride.

We leave Mackay and begin climbing. The wind is calmer, but it is getting hot. I try to guess which peak is Borah Peak and photograph every candidate. Eventually, I find an information board and other clues that allow me to pick out the correct peak. Borah Peak is the high point of Idaho and I hope to climb it some day.

The highway continues north and climbs to a summit and a water stop with lots of welcome fruit and drink. It is quite hot now. We descend through Grandview Canyon and it gets hotter as we approach Challis. We eventually cross the Salmon River, but then need to climb one more hill before entering Challis and finding the Bicycle Idaho campsite at the City Park.

16 July (Wednesday)

Today’s bike ride is a scenic one along the Salmon River, but the ride begins with a strong headwind. This lasts for several miles as we ride through canyons west of Challis. Eventually the headwind diminishes and the riding gets easier. A mining operation, several ranches, and the river offer many interesting views.

In the afternoon the rocky Sawtooth Range comes into view ahead of us as we approach Lower Stanley. The Sawtooth peaks rise above our campsite at Stanley Park.

17 July (Thursday)

Today is a layover day in Stanley. An optional out and back bike ride is available, but we sleep in. Our plan is to join a whitewater trip on the Salmon River to the east of Stanley.

The trip is provided by The River Company. Linda and I and a few other riders signed up last night for the inflatable kayaks. We don our wet suits and enjoy the whitewater on the kayaks while others ride the paddle boats. The inflatable kayaks seem quite stable and maneuverable through the rapids and are a lot of fun. Linda relinquishes her kayak for a while to another who wants to try it but eventually gets it back for the finish.

18 July (Friday)

We get a cold and early morning start after breakfast to begin our gradual climb up the valley on Highway 75 towards Ketchum. After 27 miles we begin the steeper ascent to Galena Pass.

The ascent is constant but scenic and we enjoy an excellent view of the Sawtooth Range from Galena Overlook.

Shortly higher we top out at Galena Summit. This is the highest elevation point of our tour.

The descent towards Ketchum on the other side is fun. There is a headwind as we drop lower but we feel strong and set a fast pace to Ketchum. We take a break there and enjoy a big smoothie in downtown Ketchum. From Ketchum we follow an excellent bike trail to Hailey. We find our campsite at a shadeless small park in the hot afternoon.

19 July (Saturday)

We leave Hailey and enjoy a fantastic tailwind southward. There are some rolling hills south of our crossing of US 20 on our way to Shoshone and we ride in a pace line for a few miles. I ride fast the last few miles to Jerome for a strong finish.

Linda and I plan to drive the same route home, but a few miles west of Vale we find a line of vehicles waiting at another serious accident. Rather than wait indefinitely we decide to return home by way of Highway 26 and John Day. It is a pretty route, part of which we will bicycle over on a self-supported bicycle trip later in the summer.