GDT Day 10 - Red Rock Refuge to Big Springs CG

Mon July 24th, 2016

Start - 6650'
High pt  7120'
Lo pt 6400'
End Elv 6400'
Climbing maybe 1000'

Miles 34.3
Total time 5:45
Ride time 4:30
Day with BOB 9

Finished my first state today as I rode out of Montana and into Idaho.

Highlights are the Centennial Mtns and the Island Park caldera

Eek gads, what is this, US HWY 20! Motor homes, ATVs, RVs, passing lanes, ATVs,semis, ATVs,  road construction - it is bit of a shock to the system after the better part of a week in remote backcountry, briefly touching a few lonely state roads along the way. However we do avail ourselves to some fresh food for our camp dinner, a pleasant side of the modern world.

The Centennial Mtns just get better and better as I ride the 13 miles to Red Rock pass and another Continental Divide crossing.  I pass a number of abandoned homesteads, with many structures imperceptably wilting forlornly in the wind as I push to the low pass at 7120'.
I am facing south in the pass picture below. Oddly enough, Idaho is to the east, and Montana to the west. Also, unusual is that the west side of the pass drains to the Atlantic and the east side to the Pacific. Such are the peculiar wandering of the divide  (and my tour) as it separates our continent from north to south.

We are now back in the Greater Yellowstone Area ecosystem, and the grizzled bear warnings are back as well. No bear sightings as of yet, though I remain aware of my path in front, and keep my singing voice active in places, accompanied by my bike bell.

The descent off the pass is fun, passing the large Henry's Lake, and entering into the Island Park caldera. It is a bit older than Yellowstones', but is caused by the same hot magma bubble below as the North American mantle slides over it.

To show not all of the route is gravel roads, I added a shot of a primitive, seldom used forest route I was on for a few miles today. I rather enjoyed that more than some of the loose gravel roads as it seems they purposely pick a size of rock that is particularly unhelpful when travelling under peddle power.

Once down in the caldera, it is forested and pretty flat jaunt over to Big Springs and the pleasant campground (shady, no mosquitos, and friendly host) next door.
The springs themselves is a cool place, with 100's millions of gallons released every day. Poised just above Big Springs is the amazing hand built cabin of Johnnie Sacks. His unique style incorporates both heart wood and cambrium of the bark into his home and furniture.