Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) - Segment:
Idaho: Macks Inn, Big Springs, Old Rail Trail (Main Route, Briefly),
Fish Creek Road (Alternate Route), Wild Camp (Targhee NF), Cave Falls Road,
Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road, Squirrel Creek Camp Ground,
Idaho-Wyoming State Line Crossing to Flagg Ranch, Wyoming;
June, 2016
Highlights
Day 5:
Most of this day's riding was forest road Mountain Bike cycling.
We saw an unusual amount of sunning Garter Snakes ranging in size from 1 to 4 feet in length (no pictures).
We crossed from Idaho into Wyoming.
Where the dirt road bordered Yellowstone NP, the trail was the toughest for the day.
Day 5 - Idaho to Wyoming:
Squirrel Creek, Idaho, State Line Crossing to Flagg Ranch, Wyoming
Above: We had breakfast in the Squirrel Creek Picnic Pavilion (very few Mosquitoes today).
Above Left: We were on the road and heading east into the sun.
Above Right: The Tetons were visible (5x Tele).
Above Left: We entered the Targhee NF.
Above Right: Some interesting trail names, we're on Flagg Ranch Trail, and the village of Flagg Ranch is 33 miles ahead. We're also in a slight climb.
Above Left: The rough road sign was accurate, it just took a while. We're following NF-261 to Flagg Ranch.
Above Right: True enough.
Above: One of our Squirrel Creek overlooks. See the Tetons?
Above Left: The Grand Tetons (5x).
Above Right: A vehicle went by.
Above Left: Penstemon.
Above Right: Geranium.
Above Left: We had a Ranger stop us while he called his office to verify that we could get through. His office said it was OK. Now that we had made it through, the only worries were a few snow packs on the road (which were melted well enough by the time we got to them) and some road ruts (one big enough to eat a truck wheel but one could steer around it).
Above Right: Here the road was a super highway.
Above Left: NF-261.
Above Right: New Flower to us.
Above: Dennis and Terry Struck and the Bee at the Idaho/Wyoming State Line, Targhee NF, 8 June 2016. WELCOME TO WYOMING!
Above Left: Marsh Marigolds.
Above Right: Still heading east on really good National Forest road.
Above Left: We're going straight, 20 miles to Flagg Ranch.
Above Right: It looks like water BUT that is a field of Blue Penstemons.
Above Left: Marsh Marigolds.
Above Right: High altitude wetlands
Above Left: We were near Loon Lake's wetland feeders and we were in the territory proximity of Yellowstone NP, Targhee NF, and John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway.
BTW, near as I can figure, the John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway was named such (in lieu of National Park, National Forest, National Monument, and National anything) in order to avoid some political control issues. I have no idea the details BUT if this were a National Park, we would not be allowed to ride on this 'Off-Road Trail'. Note that the John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway is managed by the National Park Service (Department of the Interior).
Above Right: Pedaling east and the road is still in great shape.
Above Left: I think this is wild Dill.
Above Right: A field of wild Dill.
Above Left: The Bee took a break and we ate lunch.
Above Right: ... looking west while on lunch break.
Above Left: Mules Ear.
Above Right: Eastbound on NF-261.
Above Left: The road is no longer gravel treated and signs of mud and mud tracks from the last big rain are evident.
Above Right: This deep water drain rut will stop all but 4x4 and 4W drive vehicles from getting through.
Above Left: We're near Yellowstone NP, climbing, and road conditions are deteriorating as we climb.
Above Right: We're now traveling on a clay base road.
Above Left: The road is good and dry but evidence of bad conditions exist.
Above Right: A little waterfall and rock park looks like a great place to wild camp.
Above Left: Interesting and old rock formations.
Above Right: Climbing and heading east. We are still next to the Yellowstone Park Border.
Above Left: Still climbing.
Above Right: Bear Sign!
Above Left: Wartberry Fairybells.
Above Right: We have not crested this climb but we are near crest.
Above Left: The road conditions, while now good, can be very problematic.
Above Right: There is a snow measure device and Terry is standing next to it. This is a place where winter snow is measured in Feet. We have crested the watershed and most of the remaining day's ride will be downhill. I am guessing about 12 miles to go to Flagg Ranch.
Above Left: We are on the leeward side of the watershed and we will see periodic patches of snow.
Above Right: Some more snow patches.
Above Left: Snow in the shadows.
Above Right: White Water, snow melt and run-off is heavy here.
Above Left: The road seems improved here. I suspect that we are in a new Ranger District and that we are now heading toward civilization of some sort.
Above Right: Wartberry Fairybells.
Above Left: A lake in the background.
Above Right: Grassy Lake.
Above: Grassy Lake Reservoir.
Above Left: We had a late afternoon snack here.
Above Right: A Bald Eagle graced us with its presence.
Above: A lucky photograph of a Bald Eagle gliding overhead and extra lucky to also capture a partial moon.
Above Left: The last of today's rocky road just before exiting Targhee NF.
Above Right: A gravel treated road, but in very good condition.
Above Left: Leaving Targhee National Forest.
Above Right: Entering John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway.
Above Left: The Road is still Ashton-Flagg Ranch.
Above Right: We're entering the area of the upper-park and head-waters of the Snake River.
Above Left: Snake River Headwater.
Above Right: Snake River Headwater Meadow Brush.
Above: A field of Buttercups.
Above Left: Dennis Struck and the Bee are just enjoying Nature.
Above Right: FR-261.
Above Left: Remnants of an old Forest Fire and new growth.
Above Right: Beaver Ponds on a fork of the Snake River.
Above Left: Snake River, Wyoming.
Above Right: National Park Service styled fence markers.
Above Left: Paved Road. We knew that we were close to Flagg Ranch.
Above Right: Sign for the FLAGG RANCH Visitor Center!
Above: Dennis and Terry Struck and the Bee in our assigned Flagg Ranch Campground Site.