- Tour Leaders: Holly Evans (604) 983-3945; ollyevans@aol.com) and Ken Levine (505) 884-9204; klevine2@aol.com).
- Tour Dates: July 5th to 13th, 2014.
- Participant No.: Maximum 20; Minimum 15.
- Tour Rating: Intermediate.
- Tour Fee: $750.00.
Registration Opening Date: February 1st, 2014 @ 1700h PST. Registration will take place at http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g .
Tour Description: This 9-day, sag supported tour of almost 300 miles (482 km) covers the basic International Selkirk Loop starting in Salmo, BC and goes counter-clockwise through eastern Washington State’s Pend Oreille Valley and western Idaho’s Panhandle before it ends in Salmo, BC. The Loop is a scenic ride following rivers and lake shore, crossing the border twice (Nelway and Porthill/Rykert) so passports are required, encircling the Selkirk Mountain range, and incorporating the free Kootenay Lake Ferry. The US Federal highway Administration designates this Loop an “All-American Road Natural Scenic Byway.” An excellent interactive website detailing the route, cities, towns, attractions, and elevation profiles is www.selkirkloop.org.
Our single sag vehicle, a 16 foot rental truck, carries personal gear and the CCCTS camp kitchen, shelters, and equipment. A volunteer driver is sought with his/her tour fee waved, but not personal expenses. If a dedicated driver is not available, then tour participants take turns driving. The day’s driver(s) sets up morning coffee break and purchases food requested by the day’s cook team. The Tour Leaders will assign teams of three or four at the initial Tour group meeting.
The Tour Leaders drove the Loop in August, 2013 and stopped at campgrounds mentioned in the literature as “bicycle friendly” and which accommodates 20 riders and approximately 12 tents. They saw the facilities (sites, bathrooms, showers) and amenities (hot tub, laundry, cooking shelters, etc.) and requested the 2013 fees. They also gathered information from Tourist Centers.
Riding Conditions and Logistics: We rate the Tour intermediate because it has moderate hills and less than desirable shoulders. Shoulders are often rough or non-existent. There is major road and bike trail construction in the Sandpoint, ID area so routing for 2014 in that area may change from the pre-trip routing. Leaders will discuss route changes in advance.
Driving time and distance from North Vancouver to Salmo, the start/finish, was about eight hours and 640km (400 miles), respectively. The Tour Leaders will facilitate car-pooling to/from Salmo by requesting those drivers with passenger space and those members needing a ride to E-mail Holly between May 1st and May 15th, 2014. A list of drivers with space and those looking for a ride will be compiled and sent via E-mail back to members. Drivers and passengers will contact each other to work out travel arrangements and expend 8 dinners, and campground fees.se sharing.The Tour Fee includes van rental and ancillary costs (fuel, insurance, USA usage), the Tour Leaders’ reconnaissance cost ($388.00; but please note, Tour Leaders are not charging one tour fee for organizing and leading the Tour), food consisting of 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, an
The Tour Fee does not include travel to and from Salmo BC, some showers ($1), and participants’ personal costs.
Registration and Participant Selection: Registration opens February 1st, 2014 at 1700h, (5:00 p.m.) PST and is accomplished on-line http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g) for $2.00 (non-refundable). Participant selection follows the “CCCTS Tour Participant Selection Policy and Procedures”. Successful applicants are CCCTS members selected on the basis of date-of-receipt of registration; their fitness, health and cycling skills in relation to the Tour’s “intermediate” rating. Within 48 hours of an applicant’s acceptance, a Tour Leader will contact participants by phone and/or E-mail. Successful applicants then have 72 hours to make the first fee deposit ($250.00), on-line http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g). The final payment ($500.00) will be done on-line by April 25th. Those cancelling the Tour will incur costs made or committed on their behalves unless vacancies are filled.
Queries regarding cycling abilities in relation to health and safety should be directed to either of the Tour Leaders. Once the tour is full, applicants may join the wait list at no charge by contacting either Tour Leader. However, if you no longer want to be on the wait list, you must notify the Leaders.
Itinerary:
Day 1 – Saturday, July 5: Riders arrive in Salmo, BC, park vehicles for 9 days free on the street alongside KP Park or on private land. Initial Tour meeting and Happy Hour are at 5 p.m.
Day 2 – Sunday, July 6: From Salmo across the US border to Cedar Park RV and Campground in Ione, WA; 39 miles (63 km).
Day 3 – Monday, July 7: From Ione to Old America Kampground in Newport, WA; 53 miles (86 km).
Day 4 – Tuesday, July 8th: Newport to Springy Point Campground, in Sandpoint, ID; 29 miles (47 km).
Day 5 – Wednesday, July 9: From Sandpoint to Carriage House Inn & RV in Bonners Ferry, ID; 38 miles (62 km).
Day 6 – Thursday, July 10: From Bonners Ferry across the Canadian border to Scotties RV in Creston, BC; 36 miles (58 km).
Day 7 – Friday, July 11: From Creston to Kokanee Chalet and RV Park in Crawford Bay, BC; 49 miles (79 km).
Day 8 – Saturday, July 12: From Crawford Bay, a ferry will take us across Kootenay Lake to Nelson, BC and the Nelson City Campground; 26 miles (42 km).
Day 9 – Sunday, July 13: From Nelson to Salmo, BC and end of tour; 28 miles (45 km). Members may choose to drive home, camp in Salmo, do a 45 km trail tour or join Warner Griswold’s CCCTS Glacier National Park Tour beginning this day in Cranbrook, BC.