Happy Trails (of the Hiawatha)

The Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail is considered the "Crown Jewel of America's Rails to Trails," and it's easy to see why. Rich in historical significance and loaded with ten tunnels and seven high steel trestles, this 15-mile route is a popular Mecca among mountain bikers.



Together with the Millers, Clarks, Hipplers, and Teri Wilson, Tom and I drove over Lookout Pass and just across the Montana border to begin the stretch from the East Portal.



After donning helmets, headlamps and light wraps, we started our adventure right off the bat with the 1.7-mile long St. Paul Pass ("Taft") Tunnel.



It's a bit daunting entering into the unknown of this long, dark hole - completely black, except for occasional reflectors and slight rays from headlamps. The Montana-Idaho tunnel is cold, wet, and muddy but a complete hoot! Without question, the experience renews one's appreciation for the phrase "There's light at the end of the tunnel."



We easily pedaled down the gentle railroad grade and enjoyed spectacular vistas and interpretive signs which encouraged multiple stops along the way.



Riding through the rest of tunnels is a piece of cake compared to the Taft Tunnel, and safety barriers on the sky-high trestles give some measure of comfort to anyone with acrophobia.

























Tom enjoyed his scenic ride until his rear tire literally exploded.



With Bill Miller's help, a creative but very temporary fix using a one dollar bill got Tom a little farther down the Trail. However, the buck finally stopped here!








Tom was forced to walk his crippled bike until triathlete Martin from Vancouver, B.C. generously surrendered his bike to Tom and continued his training on foot. So for nearly five miles, Tom gave new meaning to tandem bicycling as he steered Martin's bike with one hand and hauled his bike with the other.














The rest of us rode to the end of the Trail without incident, continuing to savor the views and the panoramic, mountain-high beauty of Montana and especially Idaho (of course).


After loading our bikes on the shuttle bus, we took the easy way back up the Trail for one more trip through the Taft Tunnel and beyond to where our cars were parked.








An encounter with a stubborn moose in the middle of the road briefly delayed our westbound trip toward home.



Beer and a very late lunch at the Wallace's Historic Saloon and Grill "The 1313 Club" was a great and seemingly appropriate way to end our day.