Day 29 Lost Trail Hot Springs to Wisdom 58km

We are well prepared for today's 2500ft climb over lost trail and chief Joseph passes, with hot springs, a good sleep and a live episode of the national geographic episode on ground squirrels over breakfast we head out in good spirits. The 7 mile climb to the top of lost trail pass is, not easy, but easier than they have been, and our routine of ride one mile, stop, drink, breathe, photo, works a treat. This relatively easy ascent is cause for a celebration of our bike fitness, and the universe provides! We are greeted at the top of the pass by a pair of artists from WA, holding cold drinks, watermelon and bananas like we are a team from the tour de France. More proof that the people here are the highlight of this trip, another fantastic and unexpected pleasure. One more uphill mile takes us to Chief Joseph Pass approx 2200m in height, where amazingly we cross the Continental Divide. Brief geography lesson, the Rocky Mountains form a spine north/south through the US, rain, snow, hail etc... falling on the western side (where we have been so far) will eventually flow to the Pacific ocean. Once you cross the continental divide to the eastern side, all water flows, eventually, to the Atlantic ocean, how amazing is that?! The Rockies essentially cut the country in two. Once the ritual of top of the pass photos are taken we glide on downhill to a recommended stop at Big Hole National Monument, site of a 1877 battle between the US army and the Nez Perce tribe. The five blokes that have been trailing us on their bikes this morning catch up and overtake us here, as we stay for a guided trail walk through the site of the battle. Just in time for the walk, the environment sets the perfect atmosphere for the remembering of the oppression and grief of the native people for their land, their loss of life and culture. The sky from horizon to horizon is filled with fast moving grey rainy clouds which blot out the sun, and the wind whistles through the pines, I am glad to be off the bike. Well educated yet again by the National Parks Service, and with the wind lessening we head back to our bikes. Bad news travels fast even out here surrounded by the vast emptiness of the plains, and we are told there has been a bike accident on the road ahead and the cyclist taken to hospital, we fear for the riders we met earlier. The tiny town of Wisdom seems a safe haven from the spooky feel of the vast plains and huge but distant bowl of mountains we sit in and we decide not to push on to Jackson but to rest, recuperate and process the days events from the comfort of a hotel room. We go to sleep with the promise of the excellent breakfast blueberry pancakes to be had at the local Bar and Grill, vital information passed on to us from some cyclists met early in the day, we really feel a part of this cycling community.


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