I’m heading into some serious mountain driving, including two passes out of Idaho on I-90, the 4th of July and the Lookout. Based on my research and the weather forecast, I did not feel comfortable doing this stretch with the rig.

So, today being a very icky overcast day not conducive to doing much but sitting at home reading or driving around, I decided to take the toad into Montana!

It felt a bit silly to do so since I-90 is an interstate, but whatever mojo I refound after the Sea to Sky incident was lost after the Icefields Parkway mess. Better for everyone that I face these passes knowing what lies ahead than to have me whiteknuckling my way around every turn!

The end result is that I now feel confident about taking Miranda through these passes with the current forecast. I may wait till Wednesday, however, when the temperature will be a little warmer.

The plan will be to pull out of Worley around 11AM to reach the first summit at mid-day and to reach the rest area mid-way down the second when I’ll be glad to break for an hour or so for lunch. It’ll then be a short drive to my overnight spot at the 50,000 Silver Dollar Casino.

Tonight’s project is to see if the Coeur d’Alene Casino has internet that I could check with my iPod Touch. I’m not driving 70km round trip tomorrow just to check the weather forecast on the passes!

I have some photographs of Coeur d’Alene and my first glimpse of Montana (LOTS of snow!), but I forgot to bring the camera transfer cord, so pictures will have to wait. 🙂