Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route - 2014 info thread

[Johnnyb]

I crossed a couple of days after the big slide on 268 and it was easily passable.  Somebody had already started a trail above the washed out road, which by now is probably ridable (more singletrack!).  The other slide area after Atlanta was almost complete a couple of weeks ago, and was easily passable on a bike.  I definitely wouldn't detour off the route because the road closed signs may still be up..............sounds like some people are detouring around the slide on 268 when it is nothing more than a 100 yard, 10 minute hike a bike.

[Mazemusic]

I just finished my write-up of our failed attempt of this ride. Check it out here- http://thethingsrustydoes.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-ill-fated-idaho-hot-springs.html

[nathanfrechen]

Just got back from a modified version of the main route (due to smoke I just hauled ass down 55 from McCall back to Boise).

Amazing trip, people, and scenery. I"ll be back for sure.

One note - I'd highly, highly recommend either the walk around on the hill or the entire re-route for the 268 slide. I definitely would not attempt to cross the river, then re-cross it to get back onto the road. The first crossing is doable without too much trouble. However, there is a LOT of quicksand-ish material near the eastern re-crossing. As in - it looks like a solid surface with a foot of water on top of it, but the first step you take onto it you'll be mid-thigh deep in sand and water to your ribcage. Scary stuff. I just realized on the drive home that had I been carrying my bike with me, it would have gone into the sand as well and I honestly don't know how I would have gotten it out.

So yeah - the walk-around on the hillside can be a pain in the ass from what I hear, but it's easily the safest option. Having both legs buried past the knees is kind of scary.

[evdog]

Seems like a lot of people, possibly most are skipping singletrack options on the route.  As a mountain biker I find this a bit shocking.  I know the singletracks are tough and even harder loaded, but c'mon! 

I did a trip to ID/MT recently and did four days of riding including parts of the singletrack option near Stanley.  TR here --> http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10906.0 so riders can see what they are missing out on!

[sherpaxc]

I don't know...I talked to a buddy who just got back from the whole thing.  He told me the singletrack options were incredibly hard and he is a VERY well respected and strong rider.  If he thinks they are really tough, that would put it over the top for most.  He did say the main loop is fantastic though!

[Gabriel Amadeus]

It's true, the singletrack options are hard, little traveled, quite varied, but very rewarding.

I just posted photos and stories from our White Clouds leg over here: http://www.limberlost.co/lost-idaho-2-4-white-clouds-stanley/

[caseygreene]

Curious - has anyone has been on the route in Oct? Or, planning on being out there in Nov?

[sirtirithon]

Here's an article a local publication did about our trip in July...

http://www.outtheremonthly.com/fat-tires-and-hot-pools-riding-the-idaho-hot-springs-loop/

[jaybo]

Thanks for all of the info and ride reports everyone!  It's all been a great help.

[sherpaxc]

So is June 8th too early for the min route starting in Boise?

[caseygreene]

I would say so, but depends on the year, and how much snow you want to hike through. A couple of folks started that early last year and had to deal with less then ideal conditions.

[cjdunn]

How's the snowpack shaping up this year?  I'm planning to do the whole main route with my family this summer and I'm trying to predict when we might be able to start.  It feels like waiting for Christmas when I was 5.

[caseygreene]

Although it could change, the snowpack is low this year. I still wouldn't plan to get out there before mid to late June.

[caseygreene]

Here is the snowpack map as of April 1 (no joke) http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/data/water/wcs/gis/maps/west_swepctnormal_update.pdf

[cjdunn]

Thanks. I'm hoping the last week of June will work out.  My daughter keeps saying, "Have I mentioned how stoked I am for this Idaho trip?"  Her 17th birthday is June 20 so maybe we will shoot for that.  We did 100 miles of the AZT for her 15th birthday.  Lucky kid.

[gbedard]

Hi there,

Three of us are planing to ride the trail (or half of it) from Oct 4 to 12 and we were wondering what kind of weather should we expect? We live in Quebec so we don't quite know the weather out west at this time of year.

We are also having a bit of trouble choosing our wheelsize for the trip. We all rode fatbikes on the TNGA last year and although it was excruciating in the climbs, we all had a blast charging the descent and not really caring about rough trails. For Idaho we are considering the 29+ on two of our Pugsley and one 29+ Mukluk .... or simply sticking with the fat tires. Decisions decisions .....

Any input would be really appreciated! We all can't wait for this trip!

[harryonaspot]

I would not recomend a fatbike. Maybe for the singletrack. Alot of dirt road riding. I rode a rigid 29er. Worked well.

[Johnnyb]

I did the entire route last summer on my ti Mukluk, set up with 29+.  It worked out great but I was  a bit worried about cutting one of those giant sidewalls the whole time.  I used the 120 tpi Knards and ended up with one small sidewall cut that sealed up with Stans.  I would probably use the same setup again if I wasnt in a hurry:  the long dirt road climbs had me thinking about the weight of those big wheels for sure.

[caseygreene]

You could run a fat bike, but consider that there a quite a number hike-a-bikes on the singletrack sections, and probably more with a fatbike (and even more with a +longbike: https://vimeo.com/102649186). If you are not doing the singletrack, a fatbike becomes more reasonable. If you are just planning to ride the Main Route, know it's been done on everything from a crossbike to a fatbike to everything in between.

Here's my thoughts on fatbikes vs 29+ http://www.adventurecycling.org/default/assets/resources/20150401_PlusSize_Greene.pdf

As far as weather goes, October is a toss up. You could deal with ether extremes: cold snow or lingering fires/smoke. You could also get perfect weather. I'd try to keep your routing strategy as flexible as possible. Have a plan A, B, and C.

[gbedard]

Thansk for the good tips!

We'll definitely be flexible in our options!

One last thing, did anybody had to stash their bike boxes somewhere at the Boise airport so that they can use them when they finish the trip and pack to fly home? Any lead where we could leave ours?