Stanley, Id -93-loop?

[rs7trout]

Thinking about doing a self contained loop from Stanley, Id to Challis and then down 93 -Mackay-Arco and then to Silver Creek and back up through Ketchum-SunValley to Stanley.

My question is it looks like 93 from Challis down to Arco has 0 shoulder--just wondered if anyone that has done it has any thoughts?

Also--thinking about doing it in early June--taking my time because I plan on fly-fishing the Salmon--the Wood river--Silver Creek--anyone that might be interested--drop me a line.

Thanks
Ron

[John Nelson]

According to the Idaho bicycle map, about 40% of the highway between Challis and Arco has shoulders 4 feet or greater. Another 20% has shoulders 2-4 feet, and the other 40% has shoulders less than 2 feet. The average annual daily traffic for that road in 2011 was only 552 cars. That's even fewer than highway 12 along the Lochsa River used the the TransAm which has an AADT of 569 and has no shoulders at all--that road seemed almost deserted and completely safe when I rode it. I think you'll be fine.

You can call the Idaho bicycle coordinator at 208-334-8272 for more information.

[bogiesan]

Yeah, that's my backyard. Where you from?
We did that stretch and circuit with Ride Idaho a couple years ago. Lovely ride although it can be wicked hot. It's a wide canyon, mostly exposed.
You might try to contact the route director at Ride Idaho (rideidaho.org) to see if they have any suggestions or comments for you.

Idaho's towns are strung together by two-lane highways that have been built over a seventy-year span. The maintenance is done by committed but terribly underfunded state departments. As cyclist, you will deal with debris, potholes and the simple fact that everything moves on the same roads you are pedalling. But if you've never been to Idaho, please take a few extra days to either layover on your route, go rafting or hiking, or stay a few days at either end of the trip. Idaho is a delightful place.
If you're staying in Boise coming or going, drop me a note. We'll get a beer or sushi or ribs or chinook.

Idaho is crosscut by fabulous mountains. These mountain ranges are separated by long valleys. Most of the valleys have beautiful rivers in them but the roads along the rivers are NOT flat. You can climb straight up and over the mountains or you can ride your bike around them along the rivers. While the mountains are spectacular from the river valleys, you only see the foothills from the highways. You must hike or mountain bike or horse pack a day or two to really see Idaho's mountains.

I run American and POW/MIA flags on my recumbent when I'm touring my home state of Iderho—pre-emptive political positioning.

You're going to enjoy your trip tremendously.

[rs7trout]

Thanks John and Bogiesan,

I have spent a good bit of time in and around Emmett-as well as mtn biking in the White clouds-Fisher Creek-- and backpacking in the Sawtooths.

Which is one reason I ask about the shoulders---most of the highways that I've cycled on up that way have really narrow to no shoulders--

Always thought about doing the loop around from Stanley and hitting Craters of the Moon--Flyfishing Silver Creek, and camping along the Salmon River--so am excited thinking about it--and I'd probably do it in early June--I think at that time I would avoid the heat and the inevitable smoke from forest fires later in the summer.

Also thinking about going from Ketchum to Stanley via fireroads--just for something different--I'm sure Galena summit would be a challenge offroad but--doable I think.

Thanks Again for the replies--and I might take you up on the beer--heading up to Emmett first (my daughter and her husband are going up to pick up a vehicle--I volunteered to drive them up and then I'm free)

ron

[raybo]

I rode from Challis down to Arco (and beyond) in 2009.  I wrote a journal of the trip and here is the day I started south from Challis.  I got to MacKay and the next day went to Arco and beyond.

The journal entry has many photos of the entire route, several of which show the road, which didn't have any shoulder most of the time.  It also didn't have much traffic and I don't recall any problem (except wind and storm) riding it.

While this isn't the most exciting part of Idaho, it wasn't the worst, either.

[bogiesan]

"Exciting" is relative, of course.
Challis, Arco, Mackay, Craters... wind and sun and desert are  interesting features when I'm riding.

See Ride Idaho's pphoto gallery site for our 2011 route:
http://rideidaho.org/past-2011.asp

[bogiesan]

Ron, so you're riding a mountain bike on this trip? I don't mtn bike any longer; pretty sure the many ooff-road route options between Ketchum/Sun Valley and Stanley are thoroughly documented.

[rs7trout]

Business took me away for a bit---but thanks Raybo and Bogiesan for your posts. Funny--after seeing some of the pics from Raybo--I'm thinking about maybe just heading up to McCall and do some riding\camping from there--or if I have someone going with me--there was a pretty cool article in Adventure Cycling mag. about a route that went through the Magruder\Frank Church wilderness area.

Not that your pics were bad Raybo--they just gave me a better idea of what the are would be like!

And maybe I'd just ride from Stanley down to Silver Creek and back--the rivers along the way would be great for flyfishing which is part of the reason fro picking the route.

Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated and again thanks for your posts!

Ron