Wisdom?

Day 13

The day started in Wisdom, MT; total population 100.  The route goes south through the Big Hole Valley, the surface activity is all ranching.  The Valley is made up of sedimentary and alluvial deposits up to 14,000 feet thick. 

Here's the view across the  valley to the Beaverhead Mountains, that make up the continental Divide.  Soon you come to Jackson, home of hot springs.  The water temp is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit.  When first discovered, the explorers used the hot water to cook their food.   The first pass is Big Hole Pass,  

After a fast downhill,(less air resistance at 6000 ft), you cross another valley.  There's a turnoff to the right to Bannack State Park,  which is a ghost town of the town of Bannack where gold was first discovered in Montana.  (It was several miles down an unpaved road, so I just went by.)   The second pass was Badger Pass that topped out at 6760 ft.

The grade averaged 5 to 7%.  Then downhill all the way to the town of Dillon.  Dillon sits along I15 in its course north from Salt Lake to Butte Montana.

The land here is largely alluvial outwash from glaciers in the Pioneer Mountains to the west that you cross at Badger Pass.   Apparently its a real good aquifer for the valley.   We are in cowboy country.

Tomorrow:  Rest day.

  

New  top speed for the trip 49.4 mph, coming off Big Hole Pass.

Morning Ride

• Distance

  67.33 mi
• Elev Gain

  2,146 ft
• Time

  4h 26m

Try this route