september 12th - the route of the hiawatha

Monday morning Sep. 10th we're getting our instructions before heading out on the Hiawatha trail. The trail winds through 10 tunnels and over 7 high trestles. Formerly the Milwaukee Railroad, the trail is located in the Bitterroot Mountains at the border between Idaho and Montana. The last train passed through in 1980. The train was called the Hiawatha, hence the name of the trail.

The trail starts right at the Taft Tunnel. The tunnel is almost 3 kms long. (1.7 miles)

Laurel and Ralph stopping before entering the tunnel to make sure their lights are working. The tunnel is very dark. (because you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.) And it's also very cool inside.

Happy we made it through the Taft Tunnel without running into the rock walls. In the middle of the tunnel you can hear a lot of water roaring down off the rocks. It's a little unnerving because you can't see what is happening. If you take your light off the trail, you're travelling blind. 

Laurel on a trestle.

Ralph leading the way.

Another tunnel in the background.

A very short tunnel.

This is our lunch stop.

A scenic lunch.

A trestle to be crossed in the distance.

More trestles. It's cool to be able to see where your going.

Back in Osburn, Idaho at Ralph and Lenore's campsite, cooling down and chilling out. Our work is done for the day.