Day 2 and going to be the highlight of the 6 day biking trip. Logan pass but bikers have to be there NLT than 11:00 so it is an early start. Everyone ready to go and excited. First 20 miles from Lake McDonald Lodge in Apgar Village on the shores of Lake McDonald. Beautiful morning with guide made burritos and coffee for the adventure. To make the 11:00 deadline, plan was to leave at 6:45. Glacier Park has become so popular and overcrowded, that cars heading up the mountain are given specific start times and are "sharing" the road with us. We are told/advised that we must ride single file and in groups such that auto's can pass us. First 20 miles is relatively flat, beautifully quiet along the lake and fast. Alpha males and want to be's take off and maintain a 18-22 mph pace and my group is 18-20 mph. Took us about 75 minutes. But since the cars are released in groups, we have periods with the road to ourself followed by strings of cars. Our support van is not allowed on the road so we are on our own for water and food.
First 20 miles screams by and then comes the real uphill for the next 11 miles at 5-6-7% grade. Took us about another 1 hr 45 minutes but the scenary was stunning. With stops for water, pictures etc. took us 3 and a half hour to make the summit of Logan Pass.
Sweet downhill on a wide relatively new pavement road and it took us only an hour to exist the east entrance to the park. Much of the downhill along St. Mary Lake. Tempting for a swim.
Headed north on Highway 97 that goes to Canada but plan was to go to Many Glaciers/Swift Current Lodge. Problem was that the last 12 miles had 7 miles of dirt, rock, gravel and dust before getting back on pavement. They offered us a chance to ride in the van but I foolishly said that "I came to ride a bike and not a van" Foolish statement. It was miserable biking with a 20 minute hold on the gravel road as trucks rolled by. Bad way to end the otherwise wonderful ride.