Eye Of The Tiger - North Loop

Route Details

This is a serious and committing ride.
    Those well versed in backcountry riding will find this to be a great half-day adventure!
    This is also a great route for those looking to get into backcountry riding provided you
    are well-prepared and comfortable without support.

Before you start rolling, we strongly recommend you adopt our pre-ride ritual for this Route series of rides…yes you guessed it; we crank [Survivor's - Eye Of The Tiger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4)!

# Nearby Routes
This Route is part of the **Eye Of The Tiger** series, which include:
* Eye Of The Tiger – North Loop (this Route)
* Eye Of The Tiger – Full Loop
* Eye Of The Tiger – South Loop

# Route Vitals
* Discipline: **MTB**
* Terrain: **Mostly Unpaved**
* Best Time To Ride: **Spring To Fall**
	* Shoulder seasons are more pleasant than the Summer as water management is less of an issue
* Difficulty - Effort:  **⬥**
	* A significant number of short punchy (up to low 20% grades) with a few sustained steep climbs with some on loose ground
* Difficulty - Technical:  **⬥**
	* Bike handling going uphill on sometimes tight and windy singletrack
* Significant Climbs:  **Yes**
    * Too many to count!
    * Roughly 95% ridable but you will have to walk up a few short sections...well unless you are a [Pro Trials Rider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_bike_trials)
* Extraordinary Risks: **None**
* Permits / Passes Required: **None**
	* Sno-Park Pass is required during the Winter, which can be purchased online [here](https://fortress.wa.gov/parks/ecomm/prod/Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx)
* Parking:  **@poi[Frater Lake Parking Lot](1656595)**

# Route Summary
This is without a doubt the best long MTB singletrack ride in POC!  That said, this Route is hard and unforgiving at times but also very rewarding when you lease expect it!  Hard to believe it was constructed in the 1980s and is still in great condition!

Prior to hitting the trail, you will get a great warm-up riding on @slice[Highway 20](d,141.16,7802.73) for a few miles then on a @slice[Dirt Road](d,7831.59,12000.48) that gradually climbs to the start of this Route.  This is important as this trail hits you hard out of the gate with steep and punchy climbing for a few miles.

This Route contains a long section of singletrack that should not be underestimated in riding duration and physical exertion required to complete the ride.  It is possible to bail off the Route in two places, which are shown on the map.

Additional information can be found on the Northeast Washington Trails Website's [Little Pend Oreille ORV Trail #142]( http://newashingtontrails.com/little-pend-oreille-orv/) and on the following USFS 7.5min Topographical Maps:
* [Aladdin Mountain Quadrangle](http://data.fs.usda.gov/geodata/rastergateway/data/48117/fstopo/483711730_Aladdin_Mountain_FSTopo.pdf)
* [Ione Quadrangle](http://data.fs.usda.gov/geodata/rastergateway/data/48117/fstopo/483711722_Ione_FSTopo.pdf)

# On The Route Directions
Starting at the @poi[Frater Lake Parking Lot](1656595), head Southeast and get onto @slice[Highway 20](d,171.55,7771.06) heading Southwest towards @poi[Beaver Lodge](1656597).  Notable guidance past this point:
* Right on @slice[South Fork Mill Creek Road](d,7802.73,8807.97)
* Right on @slice[Thomas Mountain Road](d,8807.97,12030.42)
* Right onto @slice[Little Pend Oreille ORV Trail #142](d,12030.42,33767.88)
* Head roughly straight across the @poi[USFS Road 7005790 Crossing](1656600)
* Head straight across the @poi[USFS Road 7005550 Crossing](1656601)
* Right at @poi[Coyote Rock Loop Junction](1656604)
* Right at @poi[Coot Junction](1656606)

# Safety Issues
**There is no potable water available on the Route or near this area.  Surface water, if present is usually at very low flows and should never be relied upon.  Nearest reliable water is at the [Beaver Lodge Trading Post](http://www.beaverlodgeresort.org) followed by the town of Ione.  The [Tiger Store](http://scenicwa.com/listing/tiger-historical-center-and-museum.html) is open from May to September.**

Once you are on this Bad Boy, you are pretty well committed!
There are two (2) places to bail from this Route back to Highway 20.
* @poi[USFS Road 7005790](1656600)
* @poi[USFS Road 7005550](1656601)
	* This is also the [Thomas Mountain Trail](http://www.mapmet.com/Trails/ThomasMt.pdf)

Make sure you periodically make some noise to let Mother Nature's Beasts know you are in the area!

# Aspects That Make This Route Great!
1. 15+miles of sweet backcountry singletrack in the middle of nowhere with no one around! Priceless!

# How Best To Ride This Route
As with all of our Routes, they are best ridden as laid-out.  This said, it is possible to ride the Route in reverse but from our experience, it is not nearly as enjoyable!

# Notable Route Features
The points of interest here are ordered in how you would encounter them riding this Route.
## Middleport Mine
This mine is on private gated property and inaccessible and includes a private residence.
It was operational in [1929](http://www.mindat.org/loc-28638.html) and from [1937](http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ar1937-38_second_biennial_dmm.pdf) to [1939](http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ic2_dmm_directory_wa_mines_1939.pdf) and produced in order Zinc, Lead, Gold and Silver according to WA Department of Natural Resources [1938 Directory of Washington Mines](http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_ic1_dmm_directory_wa_mines_1938.pdf).

## Thomas Mountain
Named after Charlie Thomas, an earlier settler in the area.  Great photo opportunities here, usually with @photo[Calispell Peak](1377655) visible to the South.

## Off The Beaten Path
* Wicked looking @poi[Mossy Boulder](1656602)

# More Resources
* Colville National Forest related alerts / closures can be found [here](http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/colville/alerts-notices) as well as on the [Frater Lake Trail #150 / Lake Leo Trail #155 webpage](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/colville/recreation/bicycling/recarea/?recid=67982&actid=24).
* Department of Natural Resources - [Little Pend Oreille and Vicinity Trail System](http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/eng_rms_little_pend_01_full.pdf)
	* This is the best online map of the general area
* [Northeast Washington Trails - Frater Lake](http://newashingtontrails.com/frater-lake/)

# Important Reminders
This Route is in a remote area.  Do not rely on passersby for assistance.  Please be prepared and self-sufficient.

# Photograph Credits
All photos were taken the afternoon of 2015-10-23 by [Polka Dot Brother #1](http://ridewithgps.com/users/387656).

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