Two Lanes, Top Down, Green Dots: Day 4 Kooskia, ID to Bigfork, MT

Day 4

Miles 261 (1,327)
Two lanes 261 (1,076)
Top down 136 (1,022)

When we awoke the rains had finally stopped. We dressed and went into to the main house for breakfast. Ruth greeted us and then prepared a fine breakfast of fresh fruit, raisin bread toast, and an omelette with artichoke hearts, havarti and spinach. The Reflections Inn was the rual equivalent to the Inn at Blackberry Creek. Life is good.

We then drove up the Clearwater, following the path of Lewis and Clark. The river was flowing fast (at least 10 mph and was at least 100 feet across. Shortly the trail of Lewis and Clark branched off to the north wihere it followed the old native tfails, now called the Lolo Trail or Nez Perce Trail. The river splits up the canyon and both canyons were too difficult for trails, so the native trails followed the ridge lines. The north fork at the split is called the Lachsa. The south fork the Selway. Both are “Wild and Scenic Rivers”. No roads follow the Selway. It is the third largest wilderness area in the 50 stats, and the largest in the lower 48.

We followed US 12 along the Lachsa. Rushing through several rapids at near high water, the sign said that 3 days ago it was measured at 14,700 cubic ft per second. That was the 80thile for historical flow.

Then we saw the rafters. Six rafts bouncing down the Class III and IV rapids of the Lachsa. I jumped out, splapped on the telephoto and snapped away. Our thrill was vicarious.

Continuing up the Lachsa we passed a Ranger Station that has been supporting this area since 1928, 24 years before the first road.

Then to Lolo Pass and into Montana and Mountain Time. We stopped 7 miles down from the pass at Lolo Hot Springs. Linda and Kristin has stopped here in 2000 when Kristin was considering mountain colleges. The water was 102 degrees. And the beer was at 35 degrees. I asked the waitress what was good to eat and she said, “The steak sandwich.” Never argue with that quick and definitive of a recommendation. It was excellent. Medium rare with a hint of horseradish in the sauce, it melted in our mouths.

We continued down the Bitteroot Valley into Missoula, the home of the University of Montana Grizzlies, then onto Bigfork at the northeast corner of Flathead Lake. We stayed at a B&B where we could use the kitchen and BBQ.

Tomorrow: Glacier National Park.

Morning at the Reflections Inn