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Kristin Winet

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January 22, 2019 By Kristin Leave a Comment

Down the Bitterroot Mountains

Featured in Dirt Rag Magazine – January 2019

In this piece, I write about getting over my fear of biking by taking a bike ride down an old railroad trail on the Idaho/Montana border.

The front entrance to the welcome center is not entirely legible, because years of snow and harsh Idaho winters have rubbed the black paint into a faint gray. The tip-off that we’ve made it here is the parking lot, which is full of cars and trucks and tourists, many—but not all—of whom already have their bikes and helmets but who simply need to get a day permit. We can also slightly make out the name on the front of the building: Lookout Pass Ski Resort, which means it’s official: we have made it across the panhandle, have made it to Exit 0, the exit that straddles, much like the ride we’re about to do, the Idaho-Montana state line.

Looking like I know what I’m doing, with a beautiful backdrop behind me 🙂

Even though it’s hardly a minute past 8 a.m., the welcome center is already busy, full of families and kids trying on helmets with headlamps and adjusting their rental bikes to fit their diverse body types. There’s an electric buzz to the room, a kind of hurriedness, as if no one actually wants to go through this extra step—everyone just wants to kick up their kickstands and hit the trail. After all, it’s a sunny July day, and what better way to spend the day than hauling the whole extended family along on a fifteen-mile-long mountain bike trail that winds through the Bitterroot Mountains of northern Idaho and western Montana along an old 19th-century railroad? Who wouldn’t want to hit the trailhead as quickly as possible?

Read the full story in Dirt Rag Magazine.

Filed Under: CNF, Photography, Travel Writing Tagged With: bike, biking, family travel, Idaho, magazine, West, women

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Meet Kristin

I'm a writer, teacher, traveler, and a new mom living in the sunny Sonoran Desert! I write to share stories about our complex, beautiful world, and I teach to help others think more deeply about their words and their stories. Read More…

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kristinwinet

Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of things. It changes your daily rhythm, your space to think, your ability to throw stuff in a backpack and just go somewhere, the solitude of a writing life. I’ve been working on figuring out who I am in this new life, so I decided to take a baby step this weekend and hop back - slowly! - into my travel writing self 🙌 So tonight, I’m out exploring Cat Mountain Lodge, a super-cute boutique hotel right at the foot of the Tucson mountains 🏔 This pic is from the entrance ☀️ Ryan and Riley came for dinner and toured the property with me - and they’ll be back in the morning for a sunrise breakfast ☕️ Everything still feels weird and unknown, but it also feels messy and new. I’m glad for baby steps...I’m glad to be here❤️ Gladly taking advice from mamas who are also travelers!
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#whyilovewhereilive #tucson #mountains #catmountainstation #travelwriter #travelmom #visitarizona #catmountainlodge #arizona #southernaz @catmountainstation5520 @visittucson
I know that babywearing has been a custom around t I know that babywearing has been a custom around the world for centuries (probably millenia?). Today, I see why ❤️ I finally figured out how to put on the Moby wrap and snuggle little Riley into it! When we’re feeling a little more brave, I might even take him out of the house and walk with him around the neighborhood 🥰 What a wild ride...so far, we’ve made it six weeks together!
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#babywinet #mobywrap #babywearing #travelmom #newmom #newmomlife
My morning view, a little different than what I’ My morning view, a little different than what I’m used to! ❤️ Our little Riley James, seeing the world for what always feels like the first time 🥰
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#momtraveler #babywinet #newmom
Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom’s been a little busy lately, but she’s back (and promises not to post a million baby photos). **Happy one month birthday to our newest adventure!**
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#babywinet #newbaby #baby #newmom
A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 An A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 And, omg, his fresh ceviche!!! *swoon* @abedhabush @viasabra
Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 year old tile in the ancient ruins of Caesarea....I have to say, it's looking pretty good! 🤣😍 @viasabra
I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of it here in the states...we always want to cover up every ding, dent, peel, or crack. I like this. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv 😍
Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄 Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄
On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelma On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelmarket with our first guide, Anat from @viasabra! Tel Aviv seriously has some of the best street markets you could ever imagine 😍 I'll try not to inundate you with food pics 😉
One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummu One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummus is the **best** hummus? If it's from #Abuhasan, then it's chunky and topped with fava beans. Ryan adored it...me...? Well, it did have beans on top, and they kind of looked like Mexican refried beans. I think I'll keep looking for my favorite hummus 🤣@viasabra
One of my FAVORITE things ever came at the end of One of my FAVORITE things ever came at the end of Day 1, and guess what? It starts with a pita!! 😂 This is an Iraqi Jewish food called #sabich. It's fabulous. And I love the chef who makes it - he told us he was an architect because everything is layered precisely inside the pita (namely fried eggplant and hard boiled eggs, among other things) 🥙🥙🥙
Yes, this is a carbonated water with plants in it. Yes, this is a carbonated water with plants in it. And we got to drink it (eat it?) while sitting in an old pickup truck in Levinsky Market (They have no seating in the market, so the owner drives his truck around and keeps parking it in different spots!) @visit_israel #levinskymarket
Starting our first morning off right - with a food Starting our first morning off right - with a food tour of Carmel Market, which is one of the best street food #markets I've ever been to. Here, we got to taste this thing called #burika, which is a Lebanese street food. Basically, it's a fresh #pita stuffed with mashed potatoes and fried egg and smothered in this spicy harissa red sauce. Never have I ever had something like this!! @viasabra @deliciousisrael @visit_israel
I didn't mention this in my first pic, but we are I didn't mention this in my first pic, but we are here with @rollinscollege as part of an #RIG grant to explore a question: Is there such a thing as an Israeli cuisine? 🌿🌱 We are working with @viasabra on our journey!

So, naturally, we start by exploring hummus. And when the famous #Abuhasan hummus spot in Jaffa is packed to the brim for lunch, you get the hummus as takeout and sit in the street 😉😉
Welcome to our Tel Aviv food tour!! I don't always Welcome to our Tel Aviv food tour!! I don't always post #food pics, but this trip kind of necessitates it 😄 Here we are, Tel Aviv, and first up? Falafel, of course 😁
Before we head off on our newest adventure, I need Before we head off on our newest adventure, I need to wrap up my #Mardigras series!! This pic is from the Dragons Ball, which we were invited to after interviewing the King! #alabamaroadtrip #kwalabama #alabama
Never a place without beads during Mardi Gras 👍 Never a place without beads during Mardi Gras 👍 @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mobile #joecainday #mardigras #mardigras2018
Mardi Gras wouldn't be complete without a visit to Mardi Gras wouldn't be complete without a visit to Church St Graveyard. Joe Cain, the man responsible for reviving carnival after the civil war, is buried here.  Plus? It's full of cherry blossoms! 🌱🌿 @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mardigras #mardigras2018 #mobile #kwalabama
If it can be fried, it will be fried. The mantra a If it can be fried, it will be fried. The mantra around here 🤣 @paninipetes @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mardigras #mardigras2018
Peanuts are a very big thing here 😍👌 @tweeth Peanuts are a very big thing here 😍👌 @tweethomeal @inbirmingham @city_of_mobile @visitalbeaches #alabamaroadtrip #mobile #alabama #sweethomealabama #kwalabama #mardigras2018 #mardigras #mobilemardigras #deepsouth #alabamatourism
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More about Kristin

I'm a writer, teacher, traveler, and a new mom living in the sunny Sonoran Desert! I write to share stories about our complex, beautiful world, and I teach to help others think more deeply about their words and their stories. Read More…

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kristinwinet

Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of Here’s the scoop: having a baby changes a lot of things. It changes your daily rhythm, your space to think, your ability to throw stuff in a backpack and just go somewhere, the solitude of a writing life. I’ve been working on figuring out who I am in this new life, so I decided to take a baby step this weekend and hop back - slowly! - into my travel writing self 🙌 So tonight, I’m out exploring Cat Mountain Lodge, a super-cute boutique hotel right at the foot of the Tucson mountains 🏔 This pic is from the entrance ☀️ Ryan and Riley came for dinner and toured the property with me - and they’ll be back in the morning for a sunrise breakfast ☕️ Everything still feels weird and unknown, but it also feels messy and new. I’m glad for baby steps...I’m glad to be here❤️ Gladly taking advice from mamas who are also travelers!
.
.
.
#whyilovewhereilive #tucson #mountains #catmountainstation #travelwriter #travelmom #visitarizona #catmountainlodge #arizona #southernaz @catmountainstation5520 @visittucson
I know that babywearing has been a custom around t I know that babywearing has been a custom around the world for centuries (probably millenia?). Today, I see why ❤️ I finally figured out how to put on the Moby wrap and snuggle little Riley into it! When we’re feeling a little more brave, I might even take him out of the house and walk with him around the neighborhood 🥰 What a wild ride...so far, we’ve made it six weeks together!
.
.
.
#babywinet #mobywrap #babywearing #travelmom #newmom #newmomlife
My morning view, a little different than what I’ My morning view, a little different than what I’m used to! ❤️ Our little Riley James, seeing the world for what always feels like the first time 🥰
.
.
.
#momtraveler #babywinet #newmom
Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom Hi world, I’m Riley! Nice to meet you 🙂 My mom’s been a little busy lately, but she’s back (and promises not to post a million baby photos). **Happy one month birthday to our newest adventure!**
.
.
.
#babywinet #newbaby #baby #newmom
A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 An A man, his fish, and four hungry travelers 😂 And, omg, his fresh ceviche!!! *swoon* @abedhabush @viasabra
Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 Our next day started off with a stroll down 2,000 year old tile in the ancient ruins of Caesarea....I have to say, it's looking pretty good! 🤣😍 @viasabra
I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of I love texture 😉😀😁 We don't get enough of it here in the states...we always want to cover up every ding, dent, peel, or crack. I like this. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv 😍
Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄 Yummy vegetables! 🥑🍆🥔🥕🍄
On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelma On our #foodtour through the illustrious #Carmelmarket with our first guide, Anat from @viasabra! Tel Aviv seriously has some of the best street markets you could ever imagine 😍 I'll try not to inundate you with food pics 😉
One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummu One of Israel's biggest controversies: whose hummus is the **best** hummus? If it's from #Abuhasan, then it's chunky and topped with fava beans. Ryan adored it...me...? Well, it did have beans on top, and they kind of looked like Mexican refried beans. I think I'll keep looking for my favorite hummus 🤣@viasabra
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