Labour Day Ride : Alberta, Montana Idaho

[jscgdunn]

Hi Everyone,
We are planning a Labour day ride.  Meeting point would be Travelodge in Kalispel Saturday September 3 morning(9:00 departure).  Ride to Orofino via highway 12 Saturday....overnight in Orofino, back to Kalispel Sunday.  The 12 is a gem!

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/75/185/Idaho/The-Lolo-Pass.html#sthash.4TwC7x7r.dpbs


https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Calgary,+AB/Orofino,+ID+83544,+USA/@48.7792828,-121.7813245,7z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m15!1m1!1s0x537170039f843fd5:0x266d3bb1b652b63a!2m2!1d-114.0708459!2d51.0486151!3m4!1m2!1d-113.4338456!2d48.9181618!3s0x5368cb3462365507:0x2cfd57b39d88929a!3m4!1m2!1d-114.1992649!2d47.9778845!3s0x5367a964cf5d0439:0xcd1c6f8f1c6cdf70!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a074f9724360ff:0xf9651a8d594091b2!2m2!1d-116.2551395!2d46.479347!3e0

See you there!

Jeff

[fjbiker84]

Sounds like a neat ride!  In the small world category, I'll be in that area the week prior playing in a 5 day golf tournament organized by a Boeing group out of Seattle.  I've been a part of this group several times before - always amazed at how beautiful this region is.  Maybe someday on the FJ?   

[jscgdunn]

If I were you.......ride the 20  and the 2 through Washington over to Spokane, then there are few ways to get to Lewiston....and you found the 12.... all the way to Missoula.  That would be epic!

[jscgdunn]

Awesome weekend ride.   Here is the route we took:

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Bragg+Creek,+AB/Riggins,+ID,+USA/@49.4535309,-114.3933369,9z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m35!1m1!1s0x53711abc8422bf2f:0x165262d28689994d!2m2!1d-114.5692339!2d50.95174!3m4!1m2!1d-114.1487126!2d49.8014484!3s0x536fc76e7bf8f2ad:0x4b6689cbdcf92294!3m4!1m2!1d-113.8525065!2d49.1420921!3s0x536f419212a74347:0xdbea10ce36b7020!3m4!1m2!1d-113.3197783!2d48.651094!3s0x5368bf73851d15bb:0x8d89ab706aff28a1!3m4!1m2!1d-114.2472951!2d48.3075013!3s0x53664462ac8f5c4f:0x944b7c6b3de35275!3m4!1m2!1d-114.3122086!2d48.194378!3s0x536650c1c38e65e7:0xe6c2b04778dc5ad0!3m4!1m2!1d-114.1902547!2d47.9656014!3s0x5367a90c4becaa95:0xc208b0e8abfa7b84!1m5!1m1!1s0x54a6c55ddc7fd9d5:0x835ef2ac6cb8432e!2m2!1d-116.315411!2d45.4221105!3e0

Hiway 22 The Cowboy Trail
This road runs through the heart of Alberta's big ranch country and is truly spectacular this year given the rainy summer we had.  Some nice big sweepers generally straight.  Able to travel pretty fast (130-140 KPH) if the west wind is not up to high. It can be very windy.



Credit for this pic goes to someone else:



A short hop on 3 to Pincher Creek then down the 6 to Chief Mountain border crossing.  Very scenic, of course and some really nice curvy stretches.





Once you cross the border the fin begins...17 to Babb then 89 down to the turkey track 49 and across to East Glacier



If you have not been through before you would choose Going to the Sun Road but it is pretty slow with all the traffic...but not to be missed.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2013/03/22/get-your-heart-racing/JxK8PZtrvEDcysQSnMoPRO/story.html?pic=13

We end the first day at the Travelodge in Kalispel....right across from the Moose Saloon.  Be careful here....it can mess up your trip!



Day two head south on the 2 past the magnificent Flathead Lake.  Goof place for a break is at Poulson.





Then on to Lolo.  If possible avoid Missoula....many traffic lights and on Sunday was very slow going.

Once you get to Lolo...buckle up. 



Note the sheepskin butt saver...really works!

My friend Jeff and his Victory.  He is actually 5 foot 9....very experienced rider.....he generally out runs all of us on the white whale.






Ride all the way....average about 90-100 KPH....very little traffic

Here is a movie on the eastern segment:
https://vimeo.com/26326672

We saw only two trucks both ways.

We went as far as Kooskia and then turned south to Grangeville....this stretch is very curvy and slower ......arrived about 3:00 PM.   

Great spot to spend the night.....We got our rooms and then road down to Riggins for a cold one.



The White Bird pass is fantastic....there is the new road.....big sweepers descending an average 7% grade down to the Salmon River.....then there is the old road:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQyiGGisjpE

We rode the old road back to Grangeville. Sorry no good pics....

Next day....did it all over again back home.  Fj ran great all the way...time for a new rear tire.

[jscgdunn]

White bird new road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvT4fThNRcs