Section 2 Polaris, MT to South Pass City WY - D11

06/20 Day 11, Montana/Idaho  Lima, Lakeview, Big Springs, Island Park  (87 Miles)

The topography for the day was mostly flat but dry and fairly fast.  We were in the enormous Centennial Valley where the drainage of the surrounding mountains (Centennial Mountains to the west and the Tetons to the east) created a vast wetland.  All the lakes we passed were at capacity.  There was water everywhere and of course mosquitoes. 

Red Rock River

Lima Reservoir

Centennial Mountains

In Lakeview at the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, We took refuge inside the headquarters building to eat our lunch away from the swarms.  A real bathroom and a sink with soap did not hurt either. 

After leaving Lakeview, we continued west out of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, over Red Rock Pass (7120ft), the CD, into Caribou-Targhee NF and most importantly, into Idaho.  They say if you make it out of Montana you will finish the Tour Divide. 

We’d entered Montana on June 12^th.  It had been a hard, adventuresome 8 days.  The importance of the milestone was not lost on us.

The riding through this area can seem somewhat monotonous as the roads stretch off into the distance for ever.  But I thought the views were glorious and was happy to not be socked in by trees.  Must be a Texas thing.

We eventually arrived at the small vacation community of Island Park.  A Chevron Station served as the check-in desk for lodging.  We secured a “rustic” cabin got some groceries for the next day then had a fantastic meal at the restaurant next door.  We were joined by Nick Kennedy also from Texas and a racer named Paul who I believe was living in Germany but was not German.  At any rate, he had scratched (dropped out) that day because of a knee injury.  We felt terrible for him and at the same time grateful it was not one of us. 

Notes – Centennial Valley, Centennial Mountains and CD to the south, Henrys Lake and Henrys Mountains east. CDX 7 Red Rock Pass 7120ft