US95: Idaho Panhandle

Heading north out of Lewiston, ID, US95 is a long, steep climb up from the river valley. Considering the size of the valley, one can only try to imagine how big the rivers must once have been. This is an area of spectacular geologic history, one which makes me wish (again!) that I knew more about it. Eventually, you get up onto the great plateau and are faced with endless vistas of wheat farms.

Considering the relatively small amount of geographic land mass that Idaho has to offer for growing wheat, it is pretty impressive that the state ranks sixth in the nation for production. At nearly 100 million bushels, Idaho ranks between Oklahoma and Colorado.

I must admit that I have always been intrigued by the state of Idaho, especially its western border. The state is so long north/south that it spans both Washington and Oregon. As a consequence, it has an unusually broad diversity related to its wide range of latitude. From desert in the south to woodland in the north, there's a lot to appreciate and enjoy. Hells Canyon is a "must visit" for everyone.

Just north of wheat country, US95 joins another of our old friends, US2, for a lengthy run up into timber country. Like the rest of US95, from its origin at the Mexico border, the road here is a transportation conduit. Due to the geography of nearby mountains, the truck and train routes are very closely located.



Just a few miles from the border, a scenic overlook offers a spectacular vista into Canada.



Is there proper US95 "End" and "Begin" signage at the border? You'll just have to wait and see... Stay tuned!