- Started: Stanley, Idaho
- Finished: Hamilton, MT
- Miles Driven: ~215.0
- Drive Time: ~4 Hours
Summary:
Woke up to refreshingly cool temps in the Sawtooth Mountains, like high 30’s/low 40’s temps!!!! Kind of nice after experiencing some 100+ temps in Utah last week. Left my camp and headed for a view point of some of the Sawtooth’s for sunrise, things are currently a bit hazy with wildfire smoke. A friend of mine was passing through on her way to McCall, ID and we met and caught up on things for a few minutes, after she left it was time for me to pack up and hit the road.
For most of the day I followed the Salmon River on a beautiful winding road that mimicked the turns in the river. At one point I saw a small herd of female Big Horn sheep grazing along the rivers edge. Lots of rafters, kayakers, and fly fishers out today. I refueled in Salmon, Idaho and then it was up and over Lost Trail Pass and past the Lost Trail Ski area into Montana. This Pass, the Bitterroot Valley, and Darby, a town on the Montana side of the pass, all bring back memories of the Continental Divide Trail for me!
Arriving in Darby, MT revealed that this part of Montana is way smokier than what I experienced in Idaho. The smoke is currently thick here and the smell of it is strong in the air.
Tip of the Day:
Masks, Bandana’s, and Buff’s aren’t just good for staying Covid safe, they can also help when you’re in a place that has lots of wildfire smoke.
