Pure waters of Idaho - Take a dip in earth’s mineral springs

Read along with our gravel ride. Soak in the Destinations.

Venturing along the fresh waters of mountain creeks, we pedaled deep into our muscle fatigue. We journeyed for hours and miles with a singular daily destination - mineral springs.

Steam clouds, with a likening to a smoldering dragon, mark our destination tonight as the liquid seeping from the ground burns our skin at easily over 106 degrees Fahrenheit. With a deep exhale, we tiptoe into a lower pool where the fiery waters merge with a tepid creek. The continual movement drowns out all other sound of the surrounding flora and fauna, till there is nothing but us and the water.

Each day brought us to another secluded pool of water pumping from earths core filled with minerals extracted from the local substrata. That is...after we found it...using pedaling power.

We detach from our saddle to stride into our nightly ritual of soaking our aching muscles. We lay back and stare down the valley and up over the mountain pass we recently descended ...as we revisit our route. The flowy river-grade track that introduced us to the gravel ride letting the miles flow swiftly by. As we laugh with our cycle compadres in the bubbling spring, our memories dip into the charred black conifers with bright green foliage grasping at the trunk below, emanating the new beginnings of the forest on its way. We reminisce of the valley floor disappearing beneath us as our legs spun, our blood surged, our sweat poured and our breathing raged. The vast remoteness of the extensive mountains claims our visual spectrum delighting the senses with its fresh air, wide-stretching forest, and crackling gravel roads as we approach the road's summit. As I stick my toes out of the water to cool down, that blasted, bumpy descent on our skinny, knobby tires drifts down the river becoming a forever memory.

Before we pedal away for the day, we take a morning dip into the dark pool where our coffee steam is lost amongst the water vapor. The brisk morning air battles against the earth's breathe from its warm core. We emerge warm, invigorated and literally, steaming. Time to ride.

Today is yet another day to ride, and another desolate mining town to set the imagination wandering of days gone by. Once a hub-bub of of activity, it is a wonder how travelers endured the rough conditions motivated by mineral and monetary glory. For every spring that brings us relief, I wonder of the other unknown, secluded pools that dot the rugged landscape bringing other pioneers of this forest the needed respite, relaxation, rejuvenation and exfoliation after a day's long, rough journey. Small village outposts dot our gravel pathway where road damage, blockages and regrading are hot topics. Sporadic visitor stories and family updates are passed by word of mouth while the gold and mining updates are kept hush hush. These light-hearted folk deem the land as their asset and privacy as their publicity.

Following a liquid refreshment at the Beaver Outpost, the only evidence of other human life we have seen in days, we dismount exhausted and seek the refuge of the adjacent river. Nearby, a warm spring is diverted to a shower head offering our bodies' a wash in pure ground water, free of industrialized contaminants.

The nearby river makes for a cool start to the morning, bringing the limited sun rays through the expansive forest to be a hot commodity while packing up camp. The river-grade ride focuses the mind with its ascending trajectory beating our skeletal structure worn from repetitive riding.

Upon our final pedal of today, we hike to a scalding waterfall to aid our wounded joints. The steaming pourover inspires our wonder while its waters surround us. A plunge in the frigid mountain stream livens our pores and prepares our body for another scalding sacrifice. Hillside pebbles protrude, needling our skin and deepening our pain until we can bare the heat no longer. Shuffling to higher ground, a large, comfortably-warm pond with a bubbling floor releases the pent up mineral emissions welcoming a long float.

Were you after a journey or a destination? The hot springs destinations were well-worth the gravel road journey. Gosh, I sure do love the adventure!