Canada - Day 10 - Fernie to Lake Koocanusa

 48 miles, 1781’ climbing, deer and elk

Rolling out of Fernie, our trail was blocked for work, so we jumped on the Great Divide route for an easy ride into Elko. It’s the 2nd day in a row where we’ve had a lot of sunshine. 

We met a northbound (NOBO) divide rider who was near the end of his journey from the Mexican border. He looked like he was travelling light.

Stopping for lunch at the Dairy Bar in Elko, we met 2 riders coming from Vancouver who’ve been travelling for two years: the UK, Europe, Turkey, South Asia, SE Asia, Australia, now Canada and the US to New York, next South America. We talked gear a little. Regrettably we didn’t get their names or social media info. Inspiring! They let us know that there’s still snow on Gray’s Pass and we compared alternates. Some bikepackers got thru with a long push in the snow a couple weeks ago, but the snow last week may have closed it. As we were talking, a SOBO divide rider also stopped, cyclists keeping the Dairy Bar busy.

The next segment of our ride took us down a two track filled with small orange and black butterflies that would fly up in a cloud as we passed. Tricky to photograph, but captivating. 

After Lake Baynes and crossing Lake Koocanusa on a bridge, we stopped at the marina store for ice cream and a soda. All the local vacationers seemed to stop in as did a group of road bikers. After leaving, we ran into Roy (Ottawa?) and Stephane (Quebec) riding our route in the opposite direction from us from Victoria, both riding as far as they can get before the snow falls. They started a couple of day apart and seem to be riding together now. We had a good conversation about fun singletrack near Canbrook, Gray’s Pass conditions and bypass, and good breakfasts (the bakery in Seult or Holt, must research).

Soon we continued riding through the woods near the lake, crown land so dispersed camping is allowed. The forest since Elko is much dryer than before Elko, not unlike some Arizona forest. We found a great place to camp with a lake view.