Northwest Road Trip

May - June 2023

A 21-day adventure by Mark Read more

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- May 31, 2023, 12:44pm
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 1,036 m
- United States Idaho Idaho County Grangeville 45.926667, -116.12166745°55’36” N 116°7’18” W
Day 1
Grangeville
May 31, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
We stopped at the Grangeville Library so Tory could work for a couple hours and fund our trip. Mark and the kids played at the library and ran some errands, including a drive over to Cottonwood to fill a growler at Wolftrack Brewery.Read more
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- May 31, 2023, 8:43pm
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 638 m
- United States Idaho Idaho County Boulder Flat 46.337919, -115.31921846°20’17” N 115°19’9” W
Day 1
Wilderness Gateway
May 31, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Our first night of camping. When we arrived Henry said he didn't want to be in the woods because of bears, but he got over it quickly.

It rained all day and most of the evening, but we still enjoyed the outdoors as much as we could. Ada found over 40 snails and made a "house" for them out of leaves. Henry splashed in puddles and pretended to be a bear.Read more
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- Jun 1, 2023, 7:40pm
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 874 m
- United States Montana Lake County Rollins Flathead Lake State Park - West Shore Unit 47.95, -114.18333347°57’0” N 114°10’60” W
Day 2
Flathead Lake
June 1, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We stopped at Flathead Lake for a night while on our way up to Glacier. We had some technical difficulties with the pop up so we had to stop in Missoula on the way, and ended up getting in just in time for dinner.

It was a beautiful evening, especially after the rain the day before. Tory has a cousin who lives nearby so after dinner she came to visit with her family. We all played at the lake and had s'mores, and the kids all got along great. It was a late night but worth staying up for

The next morning Tory had to work, so Ada, Henry and Mark went back down to the lake. It was a little cold for swimming (though that didn't stop Mark from taking a dip) so they changed and hiked up a nearby hill.

When Tory was done we packed up the camper and headed north. On the way out we had way too much lunch at Tamarack Brewing. Henry finally took a nap in the car.Read more
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- Jun 2, 2023, 6:59pm
- 🌩️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 974 m
- United States Montana Flathead County Apgar Apgar Creek 48.525, -113.98548°31’30” N 113°59’6” W
Day 3
Glacier National Park
June 2, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌩️ 20 °C
We spent 2 nights at Apgar Campground at Glacier National Park. On the first night we enjoyed a family bike ride on the Apgar Bike Trail. We went all the way to Oxbow Overlook on the Flathead River and we're lucky enough to see a beaver swimming across the water.

We slept in a bit the next morning. After breakfast we headed up Going-to-the-Sun Road. It was still closed to vehicles from snow, but we were able to ride our bikes. We made it 12 miles round trip (Ada's longest ride) and the scenery was spectacular the whole way. We stopped every couple miles to rest and explore. Many people we passed commented on Ada doing so well on her bike. It was maybe the best bike ride we've ever done.

After the bike ride, Tory hung out with the kids while Mark worked. They walked to the visitor center, and played around camp. They even found a hummingbird nest with two eggs in it. After dinner we all told another ride through town and to Lake Macdonald to play a bit. When we got back it was bedtime and the kids fell asleep fast.

On the last morning we got up early and drove out to a remote section of the park in the hopes of glimpsing some wildlife. We didn't see anything exciting but it was nice to see some new scenery.Read more
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- Jun 4, 2023, 1:39pm
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 940 m
- United States Montana Flathead County Lakeside Bierney Creek 48.0186, -114.236348°1’7” N 114°14’11” W
Day 5
Family in Lakeside
June 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Our journey south from Glacier to Missoula took us back through Lakeside. We enjoyed seeing family so much that we decided to visit again, this time at their house for lunch.

The kids all had fun playing in the backyard, and the adults had a little more time to catch up and get to know each other. Unfortunately we were having so much fun that Mark forgot to take any pictures! After a couple hours and lots of hugs goodbye from Ada and Henry, we set off again for Missoula.Read more
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- Jun 4, 2023, 6:11pm
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 974 m
- United States Montana Missoula County Hollywood Trailer Court West Side Park 46.878, -114.006346°52’41” N 114°0’23” W
Day 5
Missoula: Day 0
June 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
We got in a little late to Missoula only to find that most of our food had gone bad from the fridge not being powered enough. So we went out for dinner.

We chose Draught Works Brewing because they had some live music. When we arrived the kids immediately set to dancing, and even put on a performance for the patrons. There was a long wait for food so we went to a nearby park to pass the time. Ada especially loved the splash pad and water play area.

By the time we got home it was past everyone's bedtime. We all got to bed exhausted but glad to be staying out for a few days.Read more
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- Jun 5, 2023, 12:12pm
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 957 m
- United States Montana Missoula Caras Park 46.87, -113.99833346°52’12” N 113°59’54” W
Day 6
Missoula: Day 1
June 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Our first day in Missoula saw Tory off to her training and Mark and the kids exploring town. They started with breakfast at the house then rode the bikes downtown to visit Dragon Hollow playground. The playground is huge and castle themed and the kids had a blast exploring and playing there despite some rain. Ada even made a couple friends. We rode the Carousel before we left.

It rained during the ride and Ada said that was okay because we are "the tough Joneses", a phrase that stuck throughout the trip.

Henry finally got a nap in the afternoon and we had a nice dinner in the sunroom to cap off a pleasant first day.Read more
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- Jun 6, 2023, 11:24am
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 1,787 m
- United States Montana Granite County Garnet 46.825, -113.33833346°49’30” N 113°20’18” W
Day 7
Missoula day 2: Garnet Ghost Town
June 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
On our 2nd day in Missoula, Mark took the kids to Garnet Ghost Town to explore and learn a little history. The town was remarkably well preserved. The hotel, a few shops, a dozen or so cabins, and the school house were all intact. Ada had lots of questions, but the kids were just as interested in the rocks and bugs around town.

After the tour we found a nice spot for lunch at an overlook. We stopped briefly at Kettlehouse Brewery on the way home for a growler fill, then relaxed the rest of the afternoon.Read more
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- Jun 10, 2023, 12:56pm
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 1,169 m
- United States Idaho Shoshone County Adair Manhattan Creek 47.341667, -115.60666747°20’30” N 115°36’24” W
Day 11
Route of the Hiawatha
June 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
One of the highlights of our trip was the Route of the Hiawatha bike trail. We have wanted to ride this trail for years and it did not disappoint.

The trail starts with a 1.66 mile long Taft Tunnel under the spine of the mountains and border of Idaho and Montana. After that it never slows down with 9 tunnels and 7 trestle bridges, the highest soaring 280 feet above the valley.

The Taft Tunnel was incredible; dark, wet, and cold, feeling like something out of a Tolkien novel. The kids loved looking for stalactites and waterfalls and playing with flashlights. Ada did wonderfully with the 14.4 mile downhill ride, only really slowing down in the last couple miles. We had a nice picnic lunch on the Kelly Creek Trestle, the highest on the trail.

At the bottom there is a shuttle bus that takes you back to the top for one last encore ride though the Taft Tunnel.

Unfortunately, our day ended with a camper tire blowout on the way back to our campsite. Some good samaritans helped us replace the tire and we made it back. When we reached camp we found out the blowout had blown a hole in the wheel well and broke our cabinets and plumbing inside the camper. But that would just be the beginning of our camper troubles.Read more
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- Jun 11, 2023, 3:12pm
- 🌧 21 °C
- Altitude: 847 m
- United States Idaho Shoshone County Wallace Ninemile Creek 47.471667, -115.92333347°28’18” N 115°55’24” W
Day 12
Wallace
June 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Sunday morning we packed up and headed back to Idaho. This time cutting across the panhandle, our first stop was in historic Wallace. Mark & Tory had wanted to see Wallace since reading The Big Burn years ago. It was a well preserved historic town with lots of interesting trinket shops. Mark worked for a bit at Wallace Brewery, home to one of his favorite beers. Meanwhile, Tory and the kids took a tour of a silver mine.Read more
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