Twenty miles on the Weiser Bike Trail

On an absolutely beautiful Saturday, May 17, 2014, we left with the Mountain West Outdoor Club for the Wye Trailhead, near Tamarack, Idaho where the bike ride started.  Al came along as Shuttle driver and Dick showed him where the bike ride would end, in Fruitvale, and he would meet us there.

The Weiser Bike Trail is an old Railroad Bed maintained by the Forest Service.  Helen, Dottie and I requested to be dropped off across from a restaurant before Tamarack, to avoid a very gravelly hill at the beginning of the hike.  Unfortunately, Margie got a flat tire before they rest of them even started.  We waited what seemed like an eternity for the rest of the bikers to appear.  When they did, I took off, thinking I would be slower than the others and they would catch up.  After crossing six bridges and waiting at each one for the bikers, I decided to go back and meet them.  They had decided to stop for lunch.









Finally, we were all together and enjoyed visiting as we biked.  The scenery was outstanding, biking slightly downhill beside the Weiser River.  We passed through tall pines with bright flowers along the trail.  Sometimes the fragrance was palatable.

I told Gary the River would be great for "creeking."  We could bike while he paddled the river. There is a campground a few miles from the "put in" that would be a great shorter trip for the children.

Soon after we crossed the highway at the bridge, some of the bikers were not in sight.  We stopped and waited quite awhile for them.  Kay had a flat on her back wheel and it took some time to fix.

 She told me about a volunteer organization that fixes up old bikes for needy children and immigrants that don't have transportation.  They offer 12 weeks of training on fixing bikes before you can volunteer.  I would like to take those classes so I could learn how to take care of my own bike and then volunteer to help fix bikes to give to the needy.

Once we crossed to the other side of the highway, the trail ran through what used to be Fruitvale, where orchards lined both sides of the trail.  The trees are gone, but harvest sheds were still there.   The trees opened up into a beautiful lush, green valley with only one horse to enjoy all that wonderful grass.

The last two miles were slightly uphill.  Not enough to notice, but enough to have to gear down.  The trail got a little pebbley that made the pedaling even harder.  But, we realized the end was near and the trip had been so pleasant, we didn't mind.

As we got closer, I could see Al waiting by the car.  I was so glad to see him.  When we left him, he didn't sound very confident about finding the end of the trail, so I was a little worried.  No need, he found it just like we told him, without even reading the instructions.

Kirkwood Campground in Hells Canyon, Idaho

After four days of preparation and planning, we were excitedly on our way to Hells Canyon.  The Mountain West Outdoor club had scheduled a back-packing trip to Kirkwood Campground on the Snake River on May 1-3, 2014.  Vilate was the leader with 9 others ready to kick off the winter blues and enjoy the warm, sunny weather predicted for the week-end.  We drove to Riggins, Idaho, had lunch and then proceeded on Hwy 95 past Lucile where we turned West onto the road to Pittsburg Landing.  After about an hour on a windy, gravel road, we turned south onto the road to Upper Landing.  We parked and started our Historic Hike.  For future reference, there are 3 parking areas and we should have gone to the last one and saved ourselves 1/2 mile of hiking.  It didn't matter so much at the beginning of the hike, but when we arrived back at the parking lot, we wished we didn't have to hike that last 1/2 mile uphill.

It was 1:45 p.m. Oregon time and 80 degrees when we started our hike.  We started with Vilate, Fred, Dorene, Judy, Kaye, June, Elnora, Mary, Elvina and myself, Jeanne.  About one mile along the trail, Vilate, recovering from a 2 year eye disease, could not make it any further.  So, Fred and Dorene went back to Boise with her.

By the time we started hiking again, we had waited on the side of the mountain in the hot sun for about an hour.  We hurried on, realizing it would be close to dark by the time we reached the campsite.  Like Vilate, I had not carried a pack in two years and was out of shape for hiking uphill in the hot sun with a 22# pack on my back.  There were times I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest, but with the kind encouragement and help of my companions I continued on.  Cold, wet scarfs were placed around my neck and on my head and at a stream, I completed drenched myself in cold water.  My body temperature began to come down.  At another time, when I felt I could go no further, Mary came back and carried my pack for a short distance.  I loved their philosophy, "No one left behind."  (Like the Marines).

After six miles of pretty hard hiking, we arrived at the campsite.  Kirkwood is an amazing back-packing campground.  It has a flush toilet, picnic tables and the hostess will kindly let you get water from their kitchen.  We didn't have to pump water from the river through our water filters.

We quickly put up our tents while there was some daylight left and ate supper.  We were all very tired as we shared the space on the picnic table in preparing our individual meals.  Needless to say, we were in bed before we saw the stars.

After a very uncomfortable night, I realized I need a better back-packing pad.  Mine was purchased at least 40 years ago when we first started back-packing.  But, when the sun arose bright and cheery, I was ready for the next adventure to Suicide Point.  It is 3 mile hike on up the Snake River Trail to a point which overlooks a horseshoe bend in the river.  The view is spectacular and well worth the climb.  We ate lunch and headed back down as a group of young people from a Church Camp arrived.

The story behind the name, Suicide Point;  an Indian maiden and an Indian warrior from two different warring tribes fell in love.  They realized they would never be allowed to marry, so they jumped to their deaths from Suicide Point.  Truth or Legend?  No body knows.

Back in camp we rested a short while and then hiked up to an old homestead of a moon-shiner who lived in the Canyon during the depression.  In its day, the home was called the Mansion because it was so large and elaborate for its time.  Guess there is money to be had in moon-shinning.  :-)
There is so much history in the canyon and the hostess is so willing to share all she knows. There is also a museum at the campground with many pictures and history about the area.

On our return to camp we realized just how hungry we were.  We ate supper and still had some daylight before bedtime.  Most just visited, but I went to bed about 9:00 p.m.  I didn't think I slept, but my companions assured me I did. (snoring is a dead give away).  About midnight, local campers came walking by, talking very loudly.  I was awakened and for the rest of the night, I wished for a better pad.

In order for June, the driver, to be back in Boise by 6:00 p.m. we were up and packing by 6:00 a.m.  We also welcomed hiking in the cool of the morning.  I was on the trail by 7:30 a.m. and got a head start on the others.  It didn't take them very long to catch up, but I thoroughly enjoyed stopping from time to time to just look at the view.  It was spectacular.  I wish I had taken more pictures.

We did make it home in time for June to go to work and enjoyed every minute of our Grand Adventure to Hells Canyon.

Warm Springs Creek Trail to Bull Trout Lake

On Sunday, September 14, 2008, June Heise and I drove to Bull Trout Lake. We paid for Camp Site #32 for two days and pitched our Coleman tent. We then put our bikes inside the tent for safe keeping and drove 15 miles back down Highway 21 to Warm Springs Creek Trail head. We parked our car, pulled out our 25# backpacks and prepared to hike the Warm Springs Creek trail up to Bull Trout Lake. As we were about to leave, we met two elk hunters on motorcycles. When we told them what we were planning to do, they said, "You've got to be kidding. Bull Trout Lake is 20 miles uphill from here." And they proceeded to show us on the map. I thought the trail was 8 miles. But, we were already committed with our bikes already stashed at Bull Trout Lake, so we started the climb. Sure enough, at the one mile junction, the sign said, "Bull Trout Lake 13 miles.

My original plan was to find and enjoy the hot springs at the campsite 2.5 miles from the trail head. We found it okay, but it was across the river and the current was very strong. With the help of hiking poles and June's advice, I made it across. Unfortunately, the Hot Springs was truly hot and I could not divert enough cold water into the pool to make it comfortable.

Since we now had 10 more miles to hike to Bull Trout Lake, we decided to move on. The elk hunters said there was another great camp site just another mile further. We hiked until 7:00 p.m. with no sign of a camp site, so we created one near a stream crossing at 5400' elevation.

Weather conditions were wonderful, the scenery was wonderful and the Fall colors were just beginning the brighten the mountainsides.
The hiking was very pleasant with easy ups and downs alongside the Warm Springs Creek.

About noon we crossed the Creek on a sturdy plank bridge. On the other side we came upon an old hunters camp. We ate lunch and tried to take a nap, but the flies and ants found us right away.

As the trail continued along Warm Springs Creek, smaller streams flowing across our path, gave rise to many huckleberry bushes. We were like goats, browsing our way along. They were very delicious, but after awhile I was full. June just couldn't get enough.

We finally reached the "big grunt" where the trail ascended an incredible 1,000 ft. in 1.5 miles. I began to doubt my sanity in choosing the take the trail following the stream up instead of down. Be that as it may, the only way out of this situation was UP.

We finally reached the top and were grateful to be back in the trees and out of the hot sun. About two miles later, we meandered into our Camp Site #32, arriving 9.5 hours after leaving our camp site that morning.

Tuesday, September 16, we awoke in a very cold tent. After breakfast, we donned our day packs, boarded our bikes and set off for the car. The first part of the trip was two miles on a gravel road, fairly level. The second part was a two mile climb up Banner Summit. We were all decked out for cold weather, but half way up the hill, we shed to our basics. The next 13 miles were basically downhill at a 6% grade. It was a glorious sensation, flying through the trees with no effort except to keep our balance around the curves. Needless to say, I was freezing. Finally, I stopped and put my warm clothes back on. When we arrived at the Warm Springs junction, we were ready to shed again. Another two miles on a gravel road and "Walla" there was the car.

We decided to call our adventure a "Hike and Bike." We are now trying to find more trails that we can hike up and ride our bikes down. It sure makes a one way trip more interesting and easier than hiking back over the same trail. Besides, it was a blast!

We followed our usual tradition of stopping at Kirkham Hot Springs for a warm water massage coming right out of the mountain, an ice cream cone at Horseshoe Bend and a delicious steak dinner that Al had waiting for us. What a guy!

Just for the record, we backpacked 18 miles with a 1500' elevation gain and biked 19 miles with the same amount of elevation lost. Way to go you too old broads!