Day 9 Ride from Wallace, ID to Ponderay, ID

We’ve been following the ADV Rider Idaho BDR website for updated info on the route, so we knew the Lightning Creek Pass was closed to vehicles due to several washouts of the road and bridges. We also knew that some brave souls had passed through.

So, to buy time, we decided to take a little more pavement and attempt Lightning Creek. Woof. This was bar none the biggest challenge of the trip. I’m sure my bike would agree after being dropped a few times. Luckily no real damage to the bike and none for me. 

None of these shots will show the difficulty, nonetheless, take a look. 

Washout 1

Washout 2

Washout 3

All in all, take your time, have some luck and you’d make it. The final washout, which we had seen pictures of, lived up to the difficulty we read about and some other riders told us. It was much larger, rockier, deeper and had a sketchy climb out onto the bridge someone had made with lumber from the original bridge. Here’s what it looked like after we got Marks bike across. That’s a couple foot drop where Mark is standing. 

And both bikes across looking back.  Note all of our gear and bags are sitting on the bridge. We took them off to reduce weight and make them more maneuverable. And save our bags from damage. 
It took everything the two of us had to get it done. We were both drenched in sweat. Paddling, stalling, lifting, pushing, holding the other rider up on the bike, moving rocks, taking some flying stone to the legs. 

You can see Mark laid some rubber spinning up the wooden ramp that slid and was about a 1/4″ from collapsing when he got on the bridge (we didn’t notice this until after he made it). I went on the center board.

We didn’t have video running so we wouldn’t break cameras and this wasn’t one where the other person could film. BUT, here’s a shoddy video walk through of what we did.​

​After this we had some high 5s and dumped bone chilling water from the creek on our heads to cool down. The rest of the ride was cake with some spectacular views. 

Mark walking up to Lunch Peak Lookout. 
Our plan worked and we ended the day earlier than normal with no real damage and no one hurt. Although Mark’s shoulder is hurting. Luckily only I dropped my bike today. Bike drop score thus far this trip: Bob 4, Mark 3. 

One more day of the official Idaho BDR left. Port Hill, ID and Canada tomorrow and then we turn and head for Park City, UT via Missoula, Butte and Idaho Falls.