6/27-The Slow Slog Up Skalkaho Pass

It’s 4:45 and I’m sitting in my tent at 7000 feet. It’s raining. I’m joined by a mosquito, but that won’t be for long (no insects, especially mosquitoes are allowed to live in my tent).

The weather forecast is not great for this weekend. Pretty much rain through Monday. Others may have stayed put, but I couldn’t afford more nights in the Quality Inn. Besides, I always say, sweet as I am, I don’t melt in the rain. Now, would it be better to not be climbing a 7400 foot pass? Maybe, but obviously I survived it. 

I left the hotel in the rain at about 7:00. I got back on the Bitterroot Trail for a short bit, before heading out of town. 

Yep, raining. 

But, still a deer sighting!

It was about 30 miles to the top of Skalkaho Pass. It was gradual to start with, then Garmin let me know I was now going to climb in earnest for the next 17 miles. 

Funny sign…I suppose I would make it weird. 

Skalkaho Creek

I was still climbing on pavement when I came to this sign. 

I thought that meant the road was turning to gravel now. Nope! I rode probably another few miles. 

Still pavement

Now gravel…well kinda sandy mud

There was actually a fair number of vehicles. Skalkaho Falls is a destination. The rain quit for awhile, then started up again, then quit again, then started again…basically off and on the whole day. Even in my tent right now, it’s not raining anymore. 

After about 20 miles of riding, my butt was starting to protest. I was stopping more and more frequently. Finally, I did what I had done days ago. I got off and walked for awhile. It’s a bummer, because I didn’t feel like the climbing was all that hard. At most it was 6%, but usually it was 4-5%. Totally rideable if my butt wasn’t yelling at me! 

With about 5 miles of the climb to go, I came to Skalkaho Falls. It’s 150 foot high waterfall right next to the road. 

Notice I’m wearing my hi-vis vest. Thought it was a good idea considering the weather.

I was counting down the miles left as I alternated riding and walking. Of all the vehicles that passed me, only one guy stopped to ask me if I was okay. I told him I was fine, my butt just needed to be off the saddle for a bit. 

As I continued to climb, I could see snow up in the higher elevations. 

Not going that high!

Finally, I made it to the Pass. Disappointed that there was no Pass sign, just the sign saying Hamilton 29 and Phillipsburg 25. 

The campground I’m staying at (Crystal Creek) is only a mile down from the Pass. I would have liked to go lower, but there are no other campgrounds, and there’s no camping in Phillipsburg (plus, 25 miles away). It’s a very small campground, kinda just two sites (well, two picnic tables). There’s a pit toilet, and I might put my food bags in there for the night. Too bad there’s no bear locker. 

I think it’s going to be chilly tonight. This will be the first night I will zip up the foot box of my quilt. 

It has stopped raining, so I’ll shall exit my tent and finish my nightly chores.