Out & Back… Jackson

Day 3

June 21, 2025

30 miles

After sharing another delicious breakfast…egg McMuffin sandwiches it was decided there would be no traveling caravan. Lunch would be back at camp. Anyone that wanted to ride was on an out & back arrangement. Go as far as you like toward Elkhorn and back. No support vehicles today.

The weather was chilly this morning… low 40’s. Also a little wind to add to the windchill. No rush to leave early so most departed between 10:30-11am. It’s a 10.5 mile ride to the top of Big Hole Pass. It’s rolling hills terrain gradually climbing until a somewhat short steep climb to the top! I’ve done this climb when it has been hellaciously windy but today we had a little tailwind and it was slow but not killer. As cold as it was I had to strip clothing before the steepest section. At the top all those clothes went back on.. it was windy and very cold!

Jim and I decided to head part way down the other side. At first we thought we’d ride to the Grasshopper Creek junction which was maybe 8 miles. Instead we turned around about 5 miles down and began the climb back up to the top. It was beautiful looking up the Grasshopper Creek valley. Climbing up this side was a bit warmer and had some wind breaks from the landscape. It wasn’t as hard going back up as I had expected.

At the top we had to “suit up” for the cold 10 miles back to Jackson. It was not a long ride today but we enjoyed the cold challenge and the scenery was, once again, gorgeous.

Jackson MT

Jackson population says it’s 2000 people but they don’t live in town! There’s good cell service, the hot springs lodge with a restaurant and bar, a Mexican restaurant, a small hostel hotel, a Bible Church, Hat shop, elementary school, Mechanics-Farm shop. No gas station, no convenience or grocery stores. Closest town for gas is Wisdom. The closest town for major services is 48 miles to Dillon. Rural Montana at its best.

The rest of the day was spent at the pool. The weather improved a bit and the sun came out for a few hours. If you were out of the wind it was much more pleasant. Not warm but not bad!

Jim and I took this weather opportunity to load up our bikes in the van. Tomorrow’s weather was expecting 30’ and rain or snow! No packing up in the morning for us.

There was a group dinner with leftovers from all the food for the trip. Jeanne and Maya made a big salad and garlic toast. Nobody was left hungry on this trip!

It’s the first time on this annual route that the weather has interrupted a whole day… in 15+ years. That’s pretty good for June in Montana!

Day 4

Jackson MT to home

Woke up to really cold and wet wet wet. It was trying to snow in Jackson but not sticking to the ground. Once again we gathered for breakfast in Jeanne’s camper. Cooked all the eggs, cheese and bacon that was left.

Since we had the van packed with bikes yesterday we hopped in and headed home via Dillon MT

So that ends another beautiful Friends & Family Spa to Spa Ride! It never disappoints us with the scenery. Making a few new friends along the way. We had several newcomers this year and they were so much fun! Hope they enjoyed it too. Jeanne and Mia shopped all the food for us and it was well received and delicious.

My family

The above photo at the age of 7 was the last time Dominic did this ride until this week.

THE STATS

3 riding days

85 -14 age range. Majority over 60

6 dogs 15 yrs to 2 yrs

1 analog recumbent, 10 human powered bikes, 7 e-bikes, 2 non-riders

0 flats or mechanical issues

1 small pulled back muscle injury. Not serious but no riding

20 people

6 Cinnicrew OG…Suzy and Jim, Curt and Mia, Jeanne and Mark

Harvey and Eileen 5 years

Dominic and Ashley 3 yrs, 1st yr

Scott and Annette 1st yr

Curt, Randy 1st yr

Maya 1st yr

Ashley 1st yr

Misuk, George, 2 kids (Jonah and Olivia) 3rd yr

Accommodations

4 RV campers

1 Van camper

1 truckbed camper

1 tent

3 cabin/motelers

Group food costs for breakfast and lunches: $31/person