Gibson Pass or Lost trail Pass?

[Heerda]

That is my question on my way to Missoula, Montana Transam in the end of June...
Thanks in advance...

[FredHiltz]

Do you mean Gibbons Pass Rd, which runs from Lost Trail Pass to the village of Sula?

Fred

[johnsondasw]

Bring snow gear--got into a crazy blizzard on Lost Trail Pass at the end of June.  It lasted for an hour or so and was a real cold soaker.

[indyfabz]

Supposed to be nice if you don't mind unpaved surface. The folks at The Bicycle Barn in Hamilton said our 37c tires should be good enough. Going west to east, we stopped at the U.S.F.S. ranger station at Sula to inquire about the status. Unfortunately, the employee we spoke with said it was still snowed in so we opted for the road. When we gotten several miles up the road the employee chased us down in a pickup to tell us that she was mistaken and that it was a side road that was still snowed in. She didn't want us giving incorrect info. to anyone coming the other way. We had gotten a late start from Daby that morning and did not want to backtrack so we stayed on the road to Lost Trail and Chief Joseph.

This was at the end of June. Maybe you can call from Wisdom and ask about the status.

[FredHiltz]

It is nice. I rode it down the hill on 32c tires comfortably, 8 or 10 miles with essentially no pedaling, just gliding in and out of pine forests with nice views in the open parts. We saw one vehicle, a parked pickup, the whole way.

Fred

[jamawani]

Speaking of Gibbons - - -
Does the cafe in Gibbonsville, Idaho still make pie to die for?

[Heerda]

Do you mean Gibbons Pass Rd, which runs from Lost Trail Pass to the village of Sula?

Fred

On the map of the Transam Adventure Cycling Association the Gibbons pass is an alternate trail... I wonder which trail is better? The trail on Lost trail Pass is the regular trail...

[indyfabz]

I hope you understand that neither is a trail in the sense of a bike trail. The option over Lost Trail Pass uses paved highways. Gibbons Pass uses unpaved U.S. Forest Service roads and rejoins the paved highway (U.S. 93) just east of the store/campground in Sula.

Which is better depends, in part, on your tolerances and preferences. One is unpaved. One is paved. Gibbons is more isolated since it's through the forest rather than on a main highway. If it has been raining, Gibbons might present mud issues. You probably have a better chance of seeing more wildlife on Gibbons because it's more isolated.

[Heerda]

I hope you understand that neither is a trail in the sense of a bike trail. The option over Lost Trail Pass uses paved highways. Gibbons Pass uses unpaved U.S. Forest Service roads and rejoins the paved highway (U.S. 93) just east of the store/campground in Sula.

Which is better depends, in part, on your tolerances and preferences. One is unpaved. One is paved. Gibbons is more isolated since it's through the forest rather than on a main highway. If it has been raining, Gibbons might present mud issues. You probably have a better chance of seeing more wildlife on Gibbons because it's more isolated.

Thank you very much, had no idea!

[indyfabz]

Thank you very much, had no idea![/quote]

No idea of what?