WOWWS 2014: Day 15--Let it rain!

Got up for another early start. From Darby we had a long, slow uphill along a creek in the Bitterroot Valley. Saw mule deer crossing the road, miles of burn damage, and low bluffs on both sides of the road. Then we had a beautiful 9-mile climb on a winding road through steep bluffs covered with pine trees, to Lost Trail Pass. Two miles from the summit it started to rain, so we put on our rain jackets and continued on to the top. There we found a rest area run by a delightful couple who took our jackets to dry them off, invited us to warm up by their stove, and gave us water. The building there is half in Montana and half in Idaho. Once our toes had thawed, we rode on up another mile and a half to Chief Joseph pass, which is at the continental divide. WOO HOO!
It started raining again as we rode down the other side. We stopped at the historic Big Hole National Battlefield visitor center, which was quite interesting and informative, told almost exclusively from the viewpoint of the Nez Perce Indians.
When the rain let up, we rode on to Wisdom. There we camped in a park just outside of town. It had an amazing 360-degree view-- lots of wide open space with mountains in the distance.
During dinner, Lonna realized she had broken a tooth. She and Steve drove into town and asked at the grocery store if they could recommend a dentist. They were given the name of a dentist in Anaconda, 50 miles away, who said he could see her first thing in the morning.
The park had a small shelter building, so we decided to sleep in there rather than pitch the tent. It had one solid wall and three walls with screen above and wood below. Later that evening a tremendous rain storm blew in, and we were getting wet even inside the shelter. Eventually we pulled the tarp over ourselves to keep dry. When the rain stopped, the coyotes started howling. Quite the outdoor atmosphere!