Panhandle Ramble-Day 5-Working Hard for the Beauty

We all decided today was the hardest day, but the most beautiful. Even though we didn’t climb quite as much as yesterday, or go quite as far. 

We got a bit later of a start at 8:15. We immediately had a 6 mile climb. It was quite punchy at the start, then leveled out some, but what made it hard was the road surface. It was very rocky. Had it been any steeper (and later it was), I would have walked. 

This was a good part. 

With not much left of the first climb, we met these motorcycle guys from Boise. They were going the opposite direction. 

We finished that climb, only to start another one not much further. I ended up watching chunks of this one, but the views were spectacular. 

See all those rocks?

Views for miles. 

And a view of Ginny. 




Finally got to the top of the second climb at the Grandmother Wilderness Study Area. There were picnic tables, and even a vault toilet. 

Jana and Steph up on the rocks. 

Views from the rocks. 

A terrace of flowers. 

The down was just as technical as the climb. Very slow going. Then there was a not so bad spot. 

Going back up yet again. Jana riding what I had to walk. 

Nice view looking back. 

This was nice, except…see that climb up the hillside? Garmin did not tell us about that one! Both Ginny and I walked that one. 

We had another technical descent. We were running out of water. There were two disbursed sites with “Spring” in their name. Neither had water. We came down a long good gravel road. We hit pavement, and another climb before getting to Clarkia. 

We made a beeline for the restaurant. While waiting for our BLTs, we made a plan to not go to the campground we were planning (which was 4 miles off route), but instead, go 5 more miles to Emerald Spring CG. Of course, we had another 1.5 mile climb before dropping into the valley where the campground was. We were so happy to get to the campground, until we found out there was no water. Why do they include Spring in the name if there’s no spring? We went searching for water, and found a creek with easy enough access about 1/4 mile down the road. 

We filled everything, and everyone was relieved. 

Clarkia restaurant. 

Jana going through the fence to find the creek (Steph and Ginny found the better access. 

On one of the descents, one of Billy’s kickstand bolts fell out. We used a Voile strap to secure it to the frame. Tonight I was able to jury rig a fix. We’ll see if it holds. 

Early start planned for tomorrow, so going to sleep now.