Jim's Slideshhow

Jim's "Going to the Sun" ride didn't pan out but he did join the Mountaineers for a substitute ride on the Trail of the Couer d'Alenes. Here's his story. Oh, and Jim, Hiwatha Trail is pea gravel. You'll need your biggest thickest touring tires for that section.

For Crusty: I got an invitation to join a ride on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes with the Spokane Mountaineers on Saturday. The original ride was the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier Park but the park service opened the road to cars sooner than anticipated so this was a plan B type ride. Since I hadn't had the opportunity to ride on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes yet, I was excited to get a chance to try it out.

There was a small group of six riders at the Cataldo trailhead at 10am and this was going to be a 52 mile ride, out to Harrison and back. For two members of the group, this would be their longest ride ever. The pace was leisurely and I had plenty of time to enjoy talking with the members of the group and to take some pictures with my new camera that my kids got me for father's day.

We had lunch in Harrison, which is a cool little town that was celebrating "Pig out at the Park" day with a BBQ. After a good lunch and a huge ice cream cone we headed back for the 26 mile return trip. I know the club has done this trail before starting out in Plummer. I'd like to ride the whole thing sometime and maybe camp at Heyburn State Park and add on the Hiawatha Trail to get in at least a little bit of a hill along the way!

Jim