Continental Divide Redux

You would think climbing over the Continental Divide once on a bicycle would be enough for one week. But not for us. Our final day we crossed over it in the opposite direction, from the East, in order to return to WEST GLACIER, the village where we had started our climbing five days ago.

Our route took us over Marias Pass, a trail that had been known by the Blackfeet as an excellent route across the mountains, but which they had sucessfully concealled from whites until the late 1800's. The Blackfeet were prescient - as soon as the whites learned the location  of this low and  gentle pass they built a railroad and then a road through the Bleckfeet hunting grounds. True, the discovery of the pass led to the formation of Glacier National Park, but  it pretty much ended the Blackfeet way of life. Now they subsist on their reservation and sell crafts in the park to the tourists.

Our reward for climbing the pass was the most marvelous of final day treats - a twelve mile downhill run! Imagine not pedalling a lick for twelve whole miles!  We wound through forests of Ponderosa Pine, we raced the freight train going down the mountain - and won. We took dramatic S turns until our eyes watered. We  followed the rapids of the Flathead River. It was divine. At the bottom of the downhill, we all stopped for a picture.

The rest of the day was tamer, as we followed the river through rolling terrain with some hills, but overall more down than up. We watched kayakers  on the Flathead River and just plain enjoyed being on a bike in God's country. 

About 3 PM we rolled into the railway station at West Glacier where Curt, Vanna and Benny were awaiting us with libations. We had done it! Over 300 miles of steep riding in six days. Two countries, two Continental divides, one bear and a million precious memories.

Finis! For now......