Where’s Kman

Boise, Idaho to Caldwell, Idaho
49 miles
13.6 average mph
Hwy 26
The Boise River runs through the middle of the city so Boise is very green even though it is surrounded by desert like mountains with no trees. There is a heavily used, and practical, paved bike that runs along the river for about 20 miles as well as numerous bike lanes so the town appears to be very bike friendly (although I was here on Sunday so I didn’t get a good feel for the weekday traffic situation). The surrounding area is called ‘Treasure Valley’. The Boise, Payette, and lots of creeks all run through the valley to the Snake River which defines the end of the Valley. With an extensive system of irrigation canals, a wide variety of crops can be grown: potatos, beets, onions, beens, lettuce, corn, beans, wheat, and even apples, peaches, and apricots.

Stanley, Idaho to Boise, Idaho
131 miles
16.2 average mph
Hwy 21
Lowman-Banks Rd
Hwy 55
After a chilly start of 34 when I started riding at 10 o’clock it warmed up to about 73 by the end of the day, but that was mainly due to the fact that I descended over 4000 feet from start to finish. There are more trees around the central mountains around Stanley but the rest of the ride was through mostly barren mountains again today, especially in the area around Boise. I saw lots of people out rafting and kayaking on the Payette River (you may be able to see a couple rafts in the photo) and also lots of guys 4 wheeling on dirt trails in the mountains.

Challis, Idaho to Stanley, Idaho
58 miles
14.3 average mph
Hwy 75
Today started out just like yesterday following the Salmon River upstream but, ironically, near the town of Sunbeam it started getting colder and dark clouds moved in and then it started raining. I got to Stanley and it was still raining so I called it a day. There is supposed to be a frost tonight (29 degrees) so I am staying at a motel tonight. Tomorrow will be my last day in the mountains before comming down into the flats around Boise on Sunday. The mountains are beautiful, but I am ready to get back to summer.

Salmon, Idaho to Challis, Idaho
65 miles
14.7 average mph
Hwy 93
Today I saw the most beautiful scenery and had the most enjoyable riding of my trip so far. I rode on the road that follows the swiftly flowing Salmon river as it winds it way through the mostly barren Salmon River Mountains. Sometimes it goes through tight canyons and gorges, other times through small, green, irrigated valleys. Sometimes there are trees. Sometimes all I saw was desert rocks and sage brush. The Salmon River is also known as the River of no return. I heard 2 stories for this name. Take your pick: 1) When Lewis and Clark were exploring the area they askewd the Shoshone Indians ‘where does that river go?’ The Indians replied ‘ No one who goes down that river ever comes back’. 2). The river has such a swift current it is very hard to travel upstream.

Wisdom, Mt to Salmon, Id
73 miles
16.1 average mph
Hwy 43
Hwy 93
August is haying time in the Big Hole Valley. The Valley is big (85 miles long and 35 miles wide), completely surrounded by high mountains, and almost exclusively cattle ranching so hay is extremely important to feed the cattle in the winter. The giant beaver slides (see photo) were at one time used to make hay stacks of 20 tons and 30 feet high. I did not see any being used and I believe these are mostly relics that have been replaced by more modern mechanisms.
The climbs in Montana are great: about 15 miles at 1 or 2 percent and then 5 miles at about 6 or 7 percent.
The Salmon river in Idaho is a great recreational river. I saw lots of people tubing and kayaking today.