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Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:29 PM
On Monday, I went back to Lookout Pass MT to try again to bike the old Milwaukee Railroad grade across St. Paul's Pass. The rail trail had been closed due to a rock fall in one of the tunnels. The good news on Monday was that the trail was back open. The bad news was that the shuttle buses that meet you at the bottom of the trail to take you back were shut down for the season. This meant biking 12 miles back uphill after the descent. I hadn't come this far to give up, so I decided to go for it. I've attached a map of the route below. The captions for the photos that follow reference the bridge and tunnel numbers shown on the map.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:33 PM
To begin with, I needed to be kitted out with a mountain bike, helmet, bike rack, lights (for the tunnels) and a day pass to get on the trail. Total for this was around $40 at the rental shop at Lookout Pass.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:35 PM
The beginning of the trail is the St Paul's Pass Tunnel.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:37 PM
No light at the end of this tunnel. It's two miles long on a minor crest profile so that you cannot see one end from the other.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:39 PM
Finally, daylight.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:45 PM
The view just past Tunnel 21. Here you can see the valley that contains the "U" shaped loop that forms the core of the trail going off to the left. In this picture, the tiny diagonal slash of white to the right of center is bridge 230 on the far side of the "U". This convoluted path was strictly a result of the need to gain altitude to climb the pass at a reasonable grade. The "U" allowed sufficient distance for the climb to keep the grade at a constant 2% for around a 2000' change in elevation.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:49 PM
Coming out of tunnel 24 and onto bridge 216
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:56 PM
Abutment detail of bridge 218
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 05:59 PM
Looking downgrade towards bridge 220
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:01 PM
Looking back upgrade towards bridge 218
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:03 PM
From just past Bridge 218, looking back and across the "U" to bridges 228 and 230 which are barely discernable as tiny white diagonal lines near the center left of the photo.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:06 PM
From Bridge 220, a telephoto shot of Bridge 224 across the "U".
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:19 PM
Coming out of Tunnel 25 at the base of the "U"
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:22 PM
Loop Creek around which the "U" traverses.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:24 PM
Crossing Bridge #226. For most of the ride, I was alone since there were few takers with the shuttle bus out of action. However, here I meet a couple of other riders.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:28 PM
Telephoto shot from around Bridge 226, looking across the "U" to Tunnel 23.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:30 PM
Looking across the "U" to Bridge 218.
edgewound
09-20-2005, 06:34 PM
I'm envious of your adventure, Don. Did you happen across anymore Chia-sheep?...lol... how funny was that? What a great trip.


Keep the pics coming:)
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:34 PM
Looking back on Bridge 228, with Bridge 218 visible in the distance on the left.
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:36 PM
Looking back on Bridge 230
Don McRitchie
09-20-2005, 06:40 PM
Bridges 216 and 218 from 230. And that's it for rail trail pics.