Adventure 12: Shadowy St. Joe Return

With our good friends the Ulmens, the Drouins, and the Standishes, we met at mile mark 63.5, which is a boondocking site nicely appointed  along the St. Joe. It has easy access, is reasonably level, can handle three (and more) trailers easily, and hosts a stand of graceful cedars, which provide a nice ring around the rock fire pit. We rode bikes (126 miles), floated the "Joe" in kayaks, and ate well in a stay that lasted from Monday to Friday. The July days were hot (90s), so the shade of the cedars was welcome. But most pleasing was the coolness of the evening that called for sweatshirts and a campfire with s'mores!   Books were read. Naps were taken. We rode in the morning and re-hydrated in the afternoon. One day we rode to Avery and back (34m); the next we did the Hiawatha trail (30m rail trail); the final ride was to the top of Gold Creek pass and back with a small jog toward Red Ives (60). The final ride was so Dave Ulmen could ride his age, which meant I had to add a little jog to Conrad Crossing and back at the turn to Red ives so I could add two miles to make my age of sixty-two. Every time I go to the St. Joe, it's the same, yet different. It's always the same harsh wilderness terrain, but each time there is a different peace attached to the camp spot we choose. All said and done, life is especially good along the St Joe.

Frac nestled between a few cedars.

The water front looking east, up river.

 The view from one of the trestles on the Hiawatha Trail.

  Above: Tim/Judy posing for the paparazzi; below: TW, King of the Joe.

Thumbs up to the good life.

Adventure 11: Conrad Crossing on the St. Joe River

Life in the Idaho Panhandle

The St. Joe river drainage, a world class fly fishing destination, beckons to us as it is just three hours south of Spokane. We try to visit the area often, and this year we decided to go when the weather was guaranteed to be unsettled (rainy). We wanted to experiment with damp conditions to see if the trailer would be comfortable. It was. As a bonus, we were able to ride our tandem each day in the morning before the heat of the day built the clouds and rain. Since it was late June, the weather, though rainy, was warm. In all, it was a good test of how we would feel when we encounter poor weather. Aside from the test, we were able to secure the "best" spot on the Joe. Conrad Crossing campground, a forest service sight with water and pit toilets, is nestled so close to the river that campers can easily dip their toes into the clear mountain water. The site is very popular. In fact, we've never seen the campground empty. We enjoyed the camp site immensely. We rode each day, which is especially nice since we enjoy mountain air, smooth pavement, light traffic, and the rushing sound of a mountain river nearby. Just last year the twelve mile grade on the Idaho side was newly paved. We gladly climbed just so we could cruise down the road on the tandem. Nothing is  quite as enjoyable as coasting down a freshly paved road on a tandem bicycle. In all, another fun adventure for Fric and Frac where life is good, especially today.

Our campsite in full glow.

Trails abound in the Joe. A casual stroll beckons, or for the more adventurous real trail hiking can be found.

Front porch, side view and the sound of rushing water.

 El Papa got to stretch his legs three times. Especially nice right now is the grade east of the Joe into Montana. Freshly paved, the coast down is sweet. Not bad for a little up effort.

 Arguably the most prized organized campsite along the Joe.

 Daily floats organized out of St. Regis. Lunch provided.

 What is an adventure without "thin gruel" and cribbage?

 Trillium plants underfoot. 

We left the St. Joe via Gold Pass, which goes up and over to St Regis, MT. At the top the path becomes gravel on the Montana side for the entire fifteen mile descent.