First Jedediah Smith Trail 1822 — 1824

Day 31: September 15th, 2009 Idaho Falls — Dillon

Map Idaho Falls to Dillon

Today I am already awake at seven in the morning. I get myself ready, fill up the engine oil (it was still good above minimum) and check out. Then I drive down the hill for breakfast. My server still remembers me and immediately gets me a coffee. Around ten I pay and can depart immediately. All in all, I already gassed up yesterday evening.

Interstate 15/Veterans Memorial Hwy, Idaho Falls, ID

First, I take the Interstate to the north out of Idaho Falls.

Interstate 15/Veterans Memorial Hwy, ID

Highway 33/E 1500 N, ID

From the Interstate I turn onto Highway 33 in western direction.

Highway 33/E 1500 N, Mud Lake, ID

Highway 28/N Salmon Hwy, ID

Highway 28, ID

Like yesterday on my way back, I turn onto Highway 28 at Mud Lake.

Highway 28, ID

Then I drive back on Highway 28 into the Lemhi Valley.

FR296/Spring Mountain Rd, ID

FR296/Spring Mountain Rd, Hahn, ID

Backroad, ID

On FR296/Spring Mountain Rd I reach the end point of my yesterday’s trip. Just before noon I arrive there.

Backroad, ID

88 S10 Blazer, Backroad, ID

Backroad, ID

The trip continues on forest roads like yesterday. When the road slightly turns toward the mountains, my new software suddenly don’t show a road anymore where my old software showed one. This amazes me. First, the forest road started just normal. Then the “road” turns to be more and more grown over and getting extremely steep. As usual, my truck starts to run hot and I must use the heating again. Finally I arrive at a spot where I say to myself that it doesn’t make sense to continue further. It’s almost impossible to see the road. So it seems that my new software was right.

Backroad, ID

Therefore I turn around and drive back. Nevertheless, I am still able to get some nice views of the Lemhi Valley.

Backroad, ID

Then I continue on regular forest roads up to Gilmore.

Gilmore Rd, Gilmore, ID

Backroad, ID

This village mainly consists of decayed timber houses and some sale signs. But there are also some newer buildings to spot.

NF212, ID

Prairie Falcon, NF212, ID

NF212, ID

Backroad, ID

Pronghorn, Backroad, ID

Backroad, ID

Then I continue again on forest roads.

Nez Perce Creek Rd, ID

At some points I must open and close gates again. But they are not as nicely build with a lever like in Wyoming. Here you really must use your muscle force to straighten the barbed wire on the poles that you are able to get the retention wire on the pole. But with my gloves and the practice I already have, this works out pretty well.

Nez Perce Creek Rd, ID

But suddenly I arrive at an entrance where I am blocked once again by a “No Trespassing” sign. Great, and this is now when a bad weather front is showing up behind me. I was glad, that I was able to stay ahead of the rain and I only caught some drops up to now. But now I am forced to drive directly back into this bad weather. And this on the backroad! Hopefully, this will work out fine!

It takes me almost an hour until I am back at the main highway. Lucky me, the main rain is up on the mountains and not down in the valley where I am driving. There the soil is just a bit wet but not soaked through. Otherwise it could have turned out to be a little bit unpleasant.

Dunkin Ln, ID

Highway 28, ID

NF212/Texas Creek Rd, ID

On the highway I continue for a couple of miles before I am back on gravel again. The bad weather seems to stay behind me. Therefore I give the backroad a try.

Backroad, ID

Adams Rd, ID

Here I am passing countless cattle guards. But you are allowed to drive here — at least there are all signs removed. Just before Timber Creek I run into someone from the area. He tells me, that I am able to drive this road. The road takes me through a gate at the river and I will arrive in Leodore. This is exactly the way I have planned to drive.

When I arrive at Timber Creek I see the gate. But it seems that this is the long road through the mountains. A little bit labyrinthine the road runs which I want to drive but is no longer in my new software. Just past this intersection, I must cross water again. But it doesn’t look too deep and also the soil looks good. Therefore I give it a try.

Again, I continue through some gates. But also here are no “No Trespassing” signs. Therefore I continue my journey. Then I arrive at open gates and finally I arrive at the courtyard of a ranch. After crossing this spot I am back on a regular gravel road. This just happens in time because the bad weather has really grown now while I haven’t been watching it. Back there it must really rain from the bucket!

It’s a great feeling to have now more solid gravel under the wheels. I am really wondering how this will be up the pass.

Galena St, Leadore, ID

Highway 28/S Railroad St, Leadore, ID

Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, Leadore, ID

At Leodore I turn onto Old Hwy 28, which is paved at the beginning, but turns to be gravel later.

Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, ID

Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, Lemhi River, ID

Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, ID

Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, Lemhi River, ID

The beginning is pretty much a washboard road. But it is still okay. Then it is getting better. I am passing some farms, always having the approaching bad weather in view in my rear view mirrors. This is not a really relaxing drive, because I don’t know, how the road conditions are around here.

Highway 28, ID

Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, Lemhi River, ID

Horse, Old Hwy 28/Lemhi Rd, ID

Lewis and Clark Hwy, ID

Finally, I reach the intersection to Lemhi Pass, which is called the Lewis & Clark Highway in the meantime.

Lewis and Clark Hwy, ID

88 S10 Blazer, Lewis and Clark Hwy, ID

Lewis and Clark Hwy, ID

The road takes me through light rain, which changes to drizzling rain and rain again. But it is still okay. The beginning is also starting with a small incline. Just on the last two miles up to the pass the incline gets higher — and my truck starts to run hot as usual. Therefore I put in 4LO again and slowly climb up — and additionally I must turn on the heating as always. But because it is only around 60 degrees, it is not too bad this time.

Lewis and Clark Hwy, Lemhi Pass, State Line ID and MT

88 S10 Blazer, Lemhi Pass, State Line ID and MT

Lemhi Pass, State Line ID and MT

Finally, I arrive at Lemhi Pass — and almost don’t recognize it again. The pass sign is gone. Just later I encounter that they have put a big stone there, which has all the data written on. Also, there is now a real parking lot with signs about the Lewis & Clark Trail.

Lemhi Pass Rd, Sacajawea Memorial Area, MT

Lemhi Pass, State Line ID and MT

What was just a small hidden forest road in the past down to a camp site and the Sacajawea Site, is now a well maintained gravel road which also has a parking lot, rest rooms and an Interpretative Trail. Because the time is almost approaching half past six in the evening, I skip the visit of this trail. I drive back to the pass and continue downhill.

Lemhi Pass Rd, MT

Highway 324, MT

88 S10 Blazer 148000 Miles, Highway 324, MT

Highway 324, MT

Also the downhill drive has been made easier. In the past, the where tight switchbacks up to the pass. Now there is a long stretched incline, which runs extensively over the hill slopes. The original road is almost not visible anymore. So, here has been really changed a lot.

Kindly, the weather has opened up on this side of the mountains. The bad weather seems to be stuck in the Lemhi Valley. This way, I am able to get some nice shots of the pass and the clouds in the mountains. Then I start my downhill drive. Eventually, I am able to turn off the heating. Outside it cools down noticeable. My thermometer shows only 50 degrees outside. But down in the valley it is getting warmer. Slowly the temperature climbs up to 65 degrees.

When I arrive on Highway 324 at the Clark Canyon Reservoir, it is almost the beginning of the night, whereas I still hoped to arrive there to catch a nice sunset. And I am also not able to find the spot, where I had stopped back then. Additionally, I have again someone sticking to my tailpipe. Instead of just passing me, they like to climb into my exhaust. Sometimes you could really kill one with another…

So, I am not able to abruptly stop when I see a gravel road exit. And then I am already arriving at the dam. Thereby, this is now also done. Anyways, I am hitting the Interstate at this point.

I–15, MT

It’s getting tight with the gas again. But I should be fine anyways, even when I have been driving a lot in 4LO today. Around half past eight in the evening I arrive in Dillon. Now I plan to drive to the Motel 6. But at the location where I see the sign, I have the impression, I am not at the correct spot. But when I continue on the main road, I realize that this would have been the correct location. But I am not in the mood to turn around. Therefore I just drive over to the Super 8.

They have a room available, whereas it is on second floor. But that is also okay for me. Then I have no one tramping on top of my head. I also ask for a nice dinner restaurant and they recommend the All American Bar, Grill & Bowling. This restaurant is even in walking distance. So I just throw my stuff into the room and start walking.

The restaurant is really just one minute away. First, I accidentally try to enter the restaurant by the backdoor before I realize where the main entrance is. The restaurant is split in two parts, one for drinking and dinner and one for bowling. A little bit skeptical, I order a Sirloin — and will be surprised absolutely positively!

The meat is way better than the one at the Outback Steakhouse! This is almost a filet as nice as it looks. This is something I would have never expected in an ordinary restaurant like this. It even looks to me more like an insider meeting point. I am really amazed how many people are here for bowling. And they even have a billiard table where two guys are playing with their own cues.

I pay a real moderate price (okay, there was no salad included), then I walk back to my motel. There I try first if I have full Internet access. Then I write my emails and download all pending updates on my laptop. Next I must write my diary. I skip the video tape checking now completely. Hopefully, I will be able to get them in order later.

Then I download my pictures and do a backup. Also today it is already midnight and the trip tomorrow will also be extremely long. Let’s see, if I am able to manage everything…

Maybe I will try to sleep tonight without my ear plugs to not wake up too late tomorrow. But around one in the morning I give up on this plan. All in all, I need some sleep and somewhere a power unit runs permanent and makes noise…

The next day is in preparation…

Sights
Lemhi Pass (Free)

General
Breakfast: Brady’s Family Restaurant, Idaho Falls
Dinner: American Bar, Grill & Bowling, Dillon
Motel: Super 8, Dillon
Distance: 239 miles

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