We got up at 4:15 am and packed up camp in the dark. We had chocolate muffins for breakfast, which sat like lead in Lorraine’s stomach and slowed her down. We started biking at 6 am, knowing that most of the day would be uphill. About 22 miles in, the climb became much steeper as we approached Lost Trail Pass. We climbed for 9 miles, at about a 5-6% grade. After reaching the summit (6,990 feet), we came dangerously close to going back into Idaho, but turned just in the nick of time. We climbed one more mile to the top of Chief Joseph Pass (7,241 feet). We had lunch at the summit and enjoyed a short, fast downhill. It was still 27 miles to our final destination of Wisdom.
We rode over rolling hills, and saw a couple live elk galloping through the sagebrush. We were planning on camping, but the bloodthirsty mosquitoes were keeping up with our bikes at 12 mph, and we were afraid we’d be sucked dry by morning. Of the 2 motels in town, we picked the one with no phone, no clock, sulfur-scented water, and unhealthy-looking caged coyotes and foxes in the backyard. We had burgers and huckleberry ice cream at Fetty’s Restaurant. One of the waiters, who called himself “El Greco,” kept cracking jokes and chatting with us. We were asleep in the motel by 8:30 pm.
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