Monday, June 28, 2021

North Cascades NP - Washington State

 


Today we decided to visit North Cascades NP.  When we left the coach this morning the temperature was 65 degrees.  When we got back at 2 p.m. the temperature was already105 degrees.  Washington State is in a severe heat alert.  We are looking at temperatures reaching 111 degrees.  This has never happened to this region of the country. 


Its late June and the snow is still along the roadway.   This is our first time visiting North Cascades NP.  Due to the extreme temperatures in the region we do not plan to hike any trails.  


Waterfalls are abundant all along the Hwy 20 throughout the park.  


The Skagit River in in northwest Washington is home to some truly beautiful dams. Built between 1921 and 1953 as part of Seattle City Light's quest to provide electricity for City of Seattle, they are in the middle of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area (surrounded by North Cascades National Park),  This is Diablo Dam. it is the smaller of two Dams and the first one we encountered.  


As you enter the park from the East you immediately look upon the snow covered terrain.  


You cab see in this photo where the water is controlled as it moves along the waterway.  There are several of these sections along Ross Lake.


Another waterfall, 


This waterfall is along the roadway. We did see some kids cooling off.  


One of two tunnels within the park.  This is the longest one.  Bike riders need to push a button so that lights flash on the outside to let you know riders are traveling through the tunnel. 


A good photo showing the mountain top along with the moon.  


Ross Lake National Recreation Area is the most accessible part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, and much more during their trip. The national recreation area includes three reservoirs: Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Gorge Lake.


An 80' waterfall at Gorge Lake.  


The open grate is the reason Kathy did not take this photo!


You can see the jagged edges at the top of the mountains.  It means that the mountain continues to grow. 


We stopped at this location for a flagman and a follow me truck.  They were resurfacing the roadway along this section.  Only a slight delay. 


Ross Lake is a large reservoir in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state, United States, and southwestern British Columbia,Canada. The lake runs approximately north-south, is 23 miles long, up to 1.5 miles wide, and the full reservoir elevation is 1,604 feet above sea level.







Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Mackay ID to Missoula, MT overnight trip

We took our longest trike ride yet this trip on 6/21 & 6/22 from Mackay ID straight up US 93 to Missoula, MT. It was approximately 250 one way so we spent the night a motel in Missoula. This is the same route we will be taking when we leave Idaho in the motorhome. We didn't take as many photos because I had my gloves on because it was cold and it is hard to work my phone with gloves on! The Salmon River followed next to the road up past Salmon and then the Bitterroot River a little later on.



We took turns taking each other's photo at the Montana/Idaho border.





This is pretty typical of how green the mountains in Montana were compared to where we have been in Idaho.



A beautiful Veteran's Park in Salmon ID





 

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Mackay to Ketchum over Trail Creek Summit

 We decided to leave the trike home today and take the Ford F-150 4x4 for a drive across Trail Creek Summit.  Trail Creek Road is 40 miles in length and runs from US 93 just north of Mackay, Idaho to ID-75 at Ketchum (near Sun Valley).  The first 17 miles is paved, at 23 miles the road turns rough, at 27 miles you start to climb, at 28 miles it drops to one lane until pavement starts again at mile 31.  This road is closed in the Winter and 4 wheel drive is recommended but not required.  



we saw half a dozen cyclists on our drive over the summit.









June 17, 2021 - Happy Birthday Dave - Challis Hot Springs

 We decided to have an easy day for Dave's Birthday.  We took in a dip in the Challis Hot Springs.  The Hot pool is between 103 and 107 degrees but they cool the larger pool down to about 98 degrees.   Both felt wonderful.  Then we also stopped at the Earthquake Fault line just north of Mackay, Idaho.  



The Earthquake occurred on October 28, 1983 and registered 7.3 on the Richter Scale.  The valley fell 7.5 feet and the mountain range rose about 1 foot.






The Welcoming Committee to the Earthquake Fault exhibit


Happy Birthday Dave!



Pulling up Anchor at Acadia National Park

 I thought it would be nice to add a few facts about Acadia National in each of the photos below. We decided that our last trip here at Acad...