Helgate Slaughter Ride

Terrain Distance approx): 18.02 miles
Climbing Distance: 4,235 feet
Highest Altitude: 5,771 feet
Trip Time: 2 hours
Average Grade: 9
Difficulty: Difficult.

This route I made up myself. It was an idea I got after a Thursday Night Group Ride. We had rode up to University Mountain to the beacon then down the ridge to the saddle between Sentinel and University Mountains. I thought that this loop would be more fun because ... well ... it"s a loop. The Hellgate Extreme, because after a long and arduous climb you fall off the mountain on the ridge. After braking hard down this one and your arms will be on fire.

Start out riding down the Kim Williams Nature Trail. When at the end keep going down the railroad tracks. Not far down the tracks you will veer right and pass the tracks high over them on a ridge. Be careful. At the end you will ride out onto a road. Take a right onto this road, it is called Deer Creek Road. Follow the road to gravel and climb a hill. Climb oh about a half a mile and take the logging road entrance to the right on top of the hill. Stay on this logging road.

After climbing and working your way into Pattee canyon you will reach the gate where the Lolo forest and the folf recreation area is. But don"t go that far. Before the gate take a right and climb up staying on the road most traveled. Make your way to the saddle between the radio towers. don"t ride to the right and up to the towers farthest to the East. Keep left and make your way to the next ridge and begin to climb more. Eventually you will climb up to the University Towers and Mountain Summit.

From University Mountain skirt around to the West on a slightly overgrown road and find the ridge trail to the left. This is the fun part now, hang on and have fun all the way to the saddle of Sentinel. Climb Sentinel if you wish but I prefer to just go down the Crazy Canyon Jeep Road a bit (around a mile or so) until you see a trail dropping off to the right. You will know because it is after a rocky slightly steep downhill section and just in the bend of the coolie. Follow this trail down and stay straight coming out on the backside of Sentinel. Follow the trail around and into town on a screaming decent.

I give this ride 4 stars!