White Bird Hill

We left the Salmon River by way of White Bird Hill, an 11-mile, switch-backy climb up the "old road."Last time, we went up the "new" road, which was a much steeper 7-mile climb with more trucks.

We only passed two cars on our way up and our greatest potential danger was from these two badgers I saw at the top. They were walking on the road and one growled from just the other side of the concrete barrier when I rode by. It didn't seem as friendly as seeing a raccoon, for example, -- more like seeing a tiny, angry bear.

We then went somewhat downhill into Grangeville and then continued down back into another river valley.

As suggested by our bicycle maps and encouraged by the store owner, we're camping free in the small park behind the Stites Grocery in the town of Stites. The store owner sold us a spaghetti supper for $1.50 and dad tool a "bath" in her bathroom. I washed off in the south fork of the Clearwater River.