Forest fires, fly rods, shotguns and chairlifts - heading to a family reunion

[1Arm]

One family member's plan to visit my sister in Idaho quickly turned into a family reunion, and an opening in the summer's vacation schedule gave me a chance to visit with cousins and their spouses that I have not seen in nearly twenty years.  Fortune smiled and left me with plenty of time to take a circuitous route and make a showing just as everyone else arrived in Victor, Idaho.

                                                                                                                                                                                   
Lovely weather for an auspicious beginning along the Blue Mountain scenic route.




Another beautiful day, perfect temps for a little mountain riding on the Banks to Lowman road.




Well poo, a 2 hour road closure while firefighters beat back the flames right up to the shoulder of the road.  Good job ladies and gents, traffic still able to pass through some pretty dicey conditions.




Very nice corners and wonderful scenery along the Salmon river.




A quick break near Challis as geese take flight from a hay meadow.  The delay at the fire put me on the road later than I prefer due to the seemingly endless numbers of deer grazing near the road.

[1Arm]

Hmm guess I could throw in a map or two for those that aren't familiar with every hick town in the west

Day 1  Portland to Baker City OR


Day 2  Baker to Salmon Id


Day 3  Salmon to Victor Id via SW Mont



Welcome the warming rays of the sun on Lost Trail Pass, temps in the 30s leaving Salmon.


Picked up a mascot, we'll see how long he sticks.


Land of 10,000 haystacks.  I do believe one of these peaks in the Bitterroots is where Hank Williams jr rearranged his face


Cayuses gather around a salt lick in the Grasshopper Valley


Virginia City MT


Mo' mountains, Mo' mountains... the Gravelly range near Ennis


Ahhh sweet shade and a cool breeze for outdoor dining as temps climb near 90


Madison river


The Idaho side of the Tetons, just  a few miles from the gathering.

[UFO]

I've been on many of those roads.  Riding through SW MT is a great place to open it up.  I hardly ever saw a car on those backroads.

Can't say droning down I-84 on the OR side and their stupidly restrictive and archaic 65 mph limit on a road capable of handing 120 mph has ever been fun tho...even in a car.

Great pics.

[1Arm]

Can't say droning down I-84 on the OR side and their stupidly restrictive and archaic 65 mph limit on a road capable of handing 120 mph has ever been fun tho...even in a car.

Probably foolish in retrospect but I got pretty comfortable at running at "you in a heap o' trouble boy" speeds this entire trip, with the exception of extreme deer paranoia approaching Salmon, Id.  The number of fresh deer carcasses on the road the next morning confirmed that was a legit concern.

[1Arm]

Riding over the mountains to the Wyoming side, view from Teton Pass.


The less travelled entrance into Teton National Park takes you past Teton Village ski area.




Jackson Lake


Another shot of Mt. Moran and the skillet glacier


Back in Idaho, you can ride the chairlift to the summit of Grand Targhee ski hill.  Family members enyoy the views.


Trout pond right out the back of my sister's house.


Bro-in-law gives a fly fishing clinic.


Small wonder this is the prefered location for get-togethers.


A spot of wine while cracking a few clays.


Rainbow and a pink hue to the Tetons to ensure not a single moment of the day wasn't a scenic extravaganza.

[1Arm]

Visitating complete, time to get headed for home and a return to the salt mines.

Temps in the 40s and a 60% chance of rain, that blue sky is making me feel lucky.  Taking the Arco, Craters of the moon route.


Time to depart the freeway and stick to the 2 lane for the remainder of the trip, DeadMan Pass exit.


Hitchhiker is suffering from dehydration but an impressively robust design overall.


Overlooking Pendleton


Entering the Columbia gorge from Hwy 14.


If one could channel all the hot air from the windbags on this forum there would be no energy crisis

[birdrunner]

We spent a night in Drigg's last year on the way back from Nat'l.   Nice area,  much better than Jackson,  much CHEAPER too.   Good time to buy .

[veefer800canuck]

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

[Andrew]

Love the pics

Wish I had time to get back up there again

[veefer800canuck]

Can't say droning down I-84 on the OR side and their stupidly restrictive and archaic 65 mph limit on a road capable of handing 120 mph has ever been fun tho...even in a car.

Scenic hwy 30, south of I-84 =  

[Skee]

The Idaho side of the Tetons, just  a few miles from the gathering.

Someone once told me that you can't see the Tetons from Idaho.  Guess they never been there.  I almost wonder if the view isn't better?  I've driven down that road about as far as you can go trying to get as close to the Tetons as I could.  Always wondered who lived out there.  Now, I guess I know, at least someone.  

Good ride, great photos, nice bike.  Thanks for sharing.

[birdrunner]

Someone once told me that you can't see the Tetons from Idaho.  Guess they never been there.  I almost wonder if the view isn't better?  I've driven down that road about as far as you can go trying to get as close to the Tetons as I could.  Always wondered who lived out there.  Now, I guess I know, at least someone.  

Good ride, great photos, nice bike.  Thanks for sharing.

Very nice people out there,   however there's a very strong LDS/Mormon influence,   I always felt like I was in an episode of the "Twilight Zone", or the Stepford Wives.

[1Arm]

Thanks for the comments

There is definitely a Mormon influence around most of Idaho, the one night we went out for dinner in Victor we were told that certainly we could bring our own beer/wine, but please be discreet.  Contentedly swilling beer out of my opaque paper cup, all was well until I stood up and kicked over the bottles at my feet, only slightly less racket than a recycling truck dumping glass No one seemed bothered by the beer guzzling lout in the corner, though.

As far as viewing the Tetons, they first came into view on Raynolds Pass in Montana, but it was an exceptionally clear day, and continued to appear at random intervals on ID Hwys 32 and 33.

[dannyz]

Thanks for sharing. Great report, great photography, nice roads, beautiful scenary. And, I like your bike. I believe 2007 anniversary viffer will one day be a collectors item.

[eye.surgeon]

Great ride report, that is some beautiful country! I'm a Mormon and you are correct that there are a lot of Mormons in Idaho. All the western states really, including here in California.

That bike makes me drool, my first street bike as a 16 year old was a shiny new '87 Honda Interceptor in those same colors. Can't believe I didn't kill myself on it  

[doublen675]

My stomping grounds.  Welcome to Idaho  

[notarian]

Good pics, best VFR I've seen, top ride and classy story.

Nice one!  

[chornbe]

Probably foolish in retrospect but I got pretty comfortable at running at "you in a heap o' trouble boy" speeds this entire trip, with the exception of extreme deer paranoia approaching Salmon, Id.  The number of fresh deer carcasses on the road the next morning confirmed that was a legit concern.

Impossible. The VFR is underpowered and totally incapable of passing a semi once "wrung out". You must be new to ST.N.  

Absolutely the most beautiful VFR scheme ever. And a great trip with lots of great pics!  

[Skee]

Very nice people out there,   however there's a very strong LDS/Mormon influence,   I always felt like I was in an episode of the "Twilight Zone", or the Stepford Wives.

I wasn't commenting on Mormons in particular; they're great folks.  It's the remoteness on the Idaho side that just awed me.  It was one wheat field or potato farm after another for miles and miles and miles.  You get this clear view of the Tetons from a long way off, but no matter how long you drive, they always just seem to be little further down the road…kinda like a Twilight Zone setting.

My wife & I recall chatting with these 2 teenagers at a stop somewhere, and my wife, who teaches kids about their age, was asking them about school & stuff.  So she asks them how they stay in touch with one another, particularly in the middle of winter, when I guess you can be snowbound for a few days.  It's not like you can just walk over to the neighbor's house for a visit.  And the one says they e-mail & chat on line.  So my wife tells them they're fortunate to have internet access at home (because many people still don't) and the one quips, "Well, what do you think we are out here? Backwards!"  LOL  RLOL  We still laugh about that.  

& I agree, the 2007 RWB Viffer will become a classic, just a matter of time.

[chornbe]

.... and my wife, who teaches kids about their age...

Where was she when I needed to learn about my age?  

& I agree, the 2007 RWB Viffer will become a classic, just a matter of time.

Frankly, I think the VFR in general is "meh..." in the looks department, but that scheme really wakes it up. And no, not because it's reminiscent of the 80s version... which I think looked like a cartoon about a kids' toy. I think that '07 is awesome completely on its own.