The Narrator Provides Additional Descriptions of the High Idaho Plateau They Had Traveled Over, Saying =>
….It Looks Almost Like The Prairies Of The Dakotas.

….“Back in the heat again and not far from Grangeville we see that the dry plateau that looked almost like prairie when we were out on it …. ” (Cont. Next)

Southwest of Grangeville, ID. Just west of town, Rt-13 ends and the ZMM Route turns South onto US-95, a major through-highway for all of Western Idaho. It travels, always South (or North), originating way North of Radium Springs in Canada, continuing to I-80N West of Boise, ID, with continuation generally South, practically all the way to Blythe CA, at the Colorado River, near the Mexican border!!
….As you will see, the ZMM Route follows US-95 South for ~90 miles, traveling deep into the Salmon river Canyon, through New Meadows, ID, to Cambridge, ID, where it will turn West onto Rt-71 into Oregon.

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(Photo = 110-1103c ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 280i. Photo at WayPt = 277x 3446ft)

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … After Leaving Grangeville, Idaho, As David Matos & Henry Gurr Followed The ZMM Route, This Historical Marker Was Found.

The ZMM Narrator says =>
… ”Back in the heat again and not far from Grangeville we see that the dry plateau that looked almost like prairie when we were out on it …”

Along US-95, About 6.5 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

Leaving downtown Grangeville, we continue West on Rt-13, which ends at The west side of Grangeville, ID, where the ZMM Route turns South onto US-95, which is a major North-South Highway thru Idaho.
[
… Click Here For More Information & Photos Concerning This Historical Marker. .

File = DSC 0001 Resize1504x1000 ~154KB

July 2024 Added: … Chris Says “WOW”
…A Dramatic Aerial View Of “White Bird Grade”, About Which Idaho Historical Marker 327 Says =>
… “Many tortuous curves and switchbacks -which, if placed together, made 37 complete circles - let the old road climb 2900 feet in 14 miles. Gaining an elevation of 4429 at its summit. [ In 1937 when constructed ], that route represented a significant engineering and construction achievement. This new grade did not replace it until 1975.”

The ZMM Narrator says =>
… “I see our road will go down and down through what must be a hundred hairpin turns into a desert of broken land and crags. I tap Chris’s knee and point and as we round a turn where we see it all I hear him holler, "Wow!"
…At the brink I shift down to third, then close the throttle. The engine drags, backfiring a little, and down we go.
By the time our cycle has reached the bottom of wherever it is we are, we have dropped thousands of feet. I look back over my shoulder and see antlike cars way back at the top.”

**** o0OOO0o ****

PHOTO INFORMATION =>
…Byline: Vintage Postcard
…Caption: Old White Bird Hill Road
…Submitted: June 30, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
…Database Locator Identification Number: p433061
…File Size: 0.051 Megabytes; 600x383 pixels

''*** o0OOO0o ****

On July 20, 1968, During Their 14th Day Of Travel, Robert Pirsig & Chris, “OH WOW” Catch Sight Of White Bird Canyon, Idaho.
…Robert Pirsig and Chris, descended into White Bird Canyon via “The White Bird Grade” and passed through White Bird, ID, all named after the Nez Perce chief White Bird. The canyon was the site of the first battle of the Nez Perce War in 1877 , a decisive defeat for the attacking US cavalry. Pirsig describes the descent into the canyon in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"…

…The /\Above/\ Photo, Headline, & Text, Are From David Matos’s Facebook/ZMMquality Page. You May Read More, And See 10 More Photos. (Scroll To End Of Photos Click Here. Click Here.

File = WhiteBirdspiral PostCard Goog... white bird grade

July 2024 Added: … THIS GOOGLE EARTH VIEW WILLPREPAREYOU FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN PHOTOS THAT FOLLOW.
…In The /\Above/\ GoogleEarth. At Lower Edge You See => “Poe Saddle” Where, Looking Closely =>
…A) You Can See Right, The Newer US-95 Going Along The Mountain Sides, And Turning Gradually To The Left As It goes Into The Distance Toward Photo Top. AND since this Newer US-95 was opened in 1975, Robert Pirsig & Chris had to negotiate the below B) =>
…B) You Can See The Older US-95 Go Up Thru The Word “Poe”, And Zig-Zag for 4 inches up the screen. And then looking somewhat to the right, this road continues to, and along, the faint road lines you see Upper Central Photo => Where this older US-95 does the ZMM Narrator’s => “What Must Be A Hundred Hairpin Turns” Mentioned (Previous Photo).
…C) At Top Center You See The END Of “a little, narrow thread of green” . These are a Tree Lined Valley/Canyon, into which, the Older US-95 Eventually Drops, And Then Leads To The Small Town Of White Bird, ID.
…NOTE: This is seen more clearly, close up, in a 2nd Google Earth View, 13 Photos below.

File = ScrnCapt GoogleEarth ShowOldUS-95 PlaceSee100Hairpins~AnsIsNo01
Click Here To Go To The Online Version Of GoogleEarth, and Starting With A View Same As In Photo /\Above/\. …AFTER this comes up, you can Dynamically Explore on your own, the Roadways of either The Older or The Newer US-95 Highways.
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Saturday, July 20, 2024: … Three Minutes After Previous Photo
…We See A Tight Curve To The Left,
…..With Warnings Of Road Narrowing,
…….And Warning Of A Steep Down Grade.

Along US-95, About 6.9 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

…Google finds this explanation concerning “How steep is the grade of US 95 at White Bird, ID”. =>
… “The grade on the northbound side of White Bird Hill on US 95 in Idaho is over 7% on average, with a drop of 2,700 vertical feet in seven miles. The steepest quarter mile of the climb is 12.7% and the steepest continuous mile is 8.3%.
…”What Is Now Called ‘The White Bird Grade’ is a historic 23 switchback mountain highway, that was once part of US 95. This original road was built in 1921 and paved in 1938. It was considered an engineering feat at the time, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The [mentioned above], newer US 95 bypasses the old road.”

CONCERNING: Both The Older & Newer Roads Down The Steep Mountainside, Near White Bird, ID:
…To understand better the Newer US-95 vs the Old US-95, please again study the SECOND photo previous => GOOGLE EARTH VIEW WHICH WIL PREPARE YOU .

File = DSC 0002 Resize1504x1000 ~154KB

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … 12 Seconds After Previous Photo
…We See The Road Has Straightened,
……And Is In A Very Deep Roadway Cut.
………With Now Warning Of Road Turning To The Right.
...And We See The Road Will Go Over A Slight Hump, Before Starting Down.

Along US-95, About 7 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

File = DSC 0003 Resize1504x1000 ~154KB

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … 16 Seconds After Previous Photo
…We See The Road Is Still Going Up,
……And Is Turning Hard To The Right.:
………As The Very Deep Roadway Cut Continues.

Along US-95, About 7.1 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

File = DSC 0004 Resize1504x1000 ~154KB

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … 4 Seconds After Previous Photo
…We See The Road Is Leveling, And Continues Turning Hard To The Right,
…..And Is Emerging From The Very Deep Roadway Cut,
…….And Soon Will Reveal A Wonderous OH WOW, Vast Panorama Ahead!! .

The ZMM Narrator says the plateau =>
… “…suddenly breaks away into an enormous canyon.”

Along US-95, About 7.1 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

File = DSC 0005 Resize1504x1000 ~154KB

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … Driving The NEWER US-95, We Stop In A Big Rest Area Parking Lot, To Take In The Fantastic View.
…But At That Time, David Matos And Henry Gurr Did NOT Realize The Significance Of The Following =>

July 2024 Added: … The /\Above/\ Google Street View Shows The Turnoff From The NEWER US-95, Into A Big Rest Area Parking Lot, Which Is Shown In The Next Photo Panorama.
…And, Left Of Center, You See Pavement Curling Around To The Right, And Disappearing Into Trees. This Is The Older US-95, Called “White Bird Grade, And Continues Northeast, All The Way Up To The West Side Of Grangeville ID.

Near Waypoint 281, Along The NEWER US-95, About 9.1 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

EXLANATION:
… …A) You Can See, The Turnout Pavement Goes To The Right Between The Two Rows Of Rocks, which in turn leads to the “Big Rest Area Parking Lot”, which Is shown in NEXT Photo Panorama. .
…B) You Can Also See Left Of Center, The Pavement That Goes Between The Roadside Brown Grass, and Then Curves To The Right, Going Along The Base Of The Barely Visible Mountain Side, Seen Just Left Of Center Screen.
…C) In Strip Map Of /\ABOVE/\ GSV Photo, You Can See “Old White Bird Rd”, Which Is Older US-95, and continues to the Northeast, All The Way Up To The West Side Of Grangeville ID. This is the road from Grangeville, and part of the road that Robert Pirsig would have followed in 1968.

File = ScrnCapt GoogStVu US-95PatrWyDnWhBird FstBigParkLot SeeBitOldUS-95+StMapBttr1.jpg

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … Continued From Previous Photo.
… Driving The NEWER US-95, We Stop In A Big Rest Area Parking Lot, Take In The Fantastic View.
…And Looking Up, We Can See The Road Cut Of The OLDER US-95 (With NO Guardrail), Which In The /\Above\ Panorama, Is Above The Toyota Prius.

NOW At Waypoint 281, Along The NEWER US-95, About 9.1 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

File = DSC 0014 (1)PanoUS95TopWhiteBirdFirstTurnOff Resize3277x400

At The Top Of A Dramatic Hill, 5.5 miles before White Bird, ID.
Looking Back Toward Grangeville, We See The Cut To Lower the Road:
…Here The ZMM Narrator Says => “ … The Dry Plateau …. Suddenly Breaks … ” '' …

This /\ Above /\ Photo location is nine miles SW of Grangeville, ID. Due to very low humidity, and relatively high altitude => In the /\ above /\ photo, the sky is very clear and the sun is intensely hot & bright. And the sky at top left is somewhat “blue black“
… As was mentioned by the Narrator at Beartooth Pass, Idaho is also a good place to see his “dark sky & black shadows“. For example => Look how black and sharp edged are the shadows of the big rocks.
…. These rocks, although discolored, are likely of volcanic origin. My upcoming photos, will all show geologic evidence of an ancient and huge volcanic lava flow. To see these ancient volcanic formations, start here to study the exposed rocks in the next photos, especially photos 110-1131 thru 110-1147.
….The rocks you will see are parts of a huge and very ancient lava flows that are rightly famous for their fantastic size. These lava flows started some 17 million years ago, and for the next 10 million years, successively built up successive layers, several miles deep, over a large part of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. These lava flows are known by various names such as: Columbia River Basalt Group, Columbia River Flood Basalts, Columbia Basalts, Columbia Plateau, Great Miocene Lava Flow, Miocene Basalt, Miocene Lava, The Great Miocene Lava Lake, or “Lake Idaho”.
….A 1973 U.S.G.S. report stated: “The geology of the Columbia River Basin (which we have just entered) is a legacy of Miocene lava flows, volcanoes, glacial topography, and colossal [ice dam] floods”.
….For more information, search the web or consult the popular books called “Roadside Geology of Idaho”, “Roadside Geology of Washington”, & “Roadside Geology of Oregon”.
….I believe that the Kooskia, ID “ …. climb to some sort of a dry, meadowy plateau ” is a climb up onto a volcanic “cap”. And indeed, this is where The ZMM Route, entered one of the Eastern lobes of this gigantic lava formation. If you have additional information, please contact me.

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(Photo = 110-1120 + 110-1121sc ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft)

On Idaho’s major North-South Highway, At the Top of White Bird Hill, Looking Down, Down, Down, and South, Towards the Land East of the Salmon River Canyon.

…. [the land suddenly breaks] “ away into an enormous canyon.” (Cont. Next)

At top of Dramatic Hill, 5 miles before White Bird, ID. Nine miles SW of Grangeville, ID. On my 2002 trip here, I was unable to find the ZMM Narrator’s dramatic, old, gravel road with all the ~40 hairpin curves that the Narrator and Chris followed. .

… Along US-o5, Just out of Grangeville ID, A Google Satellite Map shows, will show where to 45 deg turn Southeast, onto this old road, which leaves US-95, going SE, and connects to OLD US-95: This is the dirt & gravel road which Robert Pirsig took in 1968, down-“White Bird Grade”, to along Wite Bird Creek, and through the town of White Bird ID.. >Click Here, And AFTER This Satellite View Comes Up, The Red Pinpoint Marks the Turn-Off To Lower Portion OF the Gravel Road & 40 Hairpin Curves.
…You will see that Grangeville, ID is 9 miles Northeast.

… Alternatively, you may try And AFTER this very useful, many, many, very useful, featured, Internet Map comes up, you should C& P into the Box Top Center these GPS Coordinates => 45.829013, -116.246531 Zoom in till you see that here is a dirt road leaves US-95, going SE, and is OLD US-95: This is the dirt road which Robert Pirsig took in 1968, down-“White Bird Grade”, to town of White Bird ID.

For a Side Project: Click Here, To Learn How To Use Some Of The Many Features of Caltopo Maps. AFTER Page Comes Up, Scroll Down To => CalTopo Is Excellent For

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(Photo = 110-1123+110-1124sc2 ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft)

The Brown Dirt Cut In The Distant Hill, Is An Example of One of Many Gravel Road Hairpin Turns Traveled In 1968 By ZMM Author Robert Pirsig and His Son Chris. .

….[into an enormous canyon.] “ … I see our road will go down and down through what must be a hundred hairpin turns …. ” (Cont. Next)

Top Of Dramatic Hill, 5 miles before White Bird, ID. Nine miles SW of Grangeville, ID.
….As you will see, the highway has clearly been modernized since the Narrator was here in 1968. From the (newer) roadside pull-off at the top of the down grade, we can see in the /\ Above Photo, a segment of the Narrator’s road with one of the first of their hairpin curves.
….Observe the ABSENCE of a Guard Rail on this rough & tough gravel road back in 1968.
*************************
(Photo = 110-1122 + 110-1123sc2 ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft)

At Top Of Dramatic White Bird Hill.
…The Narrator Indeed Describes the Landscape Accurately!

…[.“…. a hundred hairpin turns ”].“ into a desert of broken land and crags.” (Cont. Next)

Starting down, down => The 5 miles to White Bird, ID. Nine miles SW of Grangeville, ID. Just right of center, you can see the roadcut for the Newer Highway.


*************************
(Photo = 111-1124 +1sc ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft)

Wow! Wow! Wow!!!
…..“ Into A Desert Of Broken Land And Crags.”

….“I tap Chris’s knee and point and as we round a turn where we see it all I hear him holler, "Wow!"” (Cont. Next)

Top Of Dramatic Hill, 5 miles before White Bird Hill, ID. Nine miles SW of Grangeville, ID. At right edge, you can see the roadcut for the Newer Highway.

**********************
(Photo = 111-1124 +1sc3 ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft

At Top of Hill, Starting Down, Down, to White Bird, ID.

….“At the brink I shift down to third, then close the throttle. The engine drags, backfiring a little, and down we go.” (Cont. Next)

Top of White Bird Hill, Starting down, down => The 5 miles to White Bird, ID. Nine miles SW of Grangeville, ID.

*************************
(Photo = 111-1125cz2.0 ...... ZMM Page = 259 ...... WayPt = 281x 4164ft)

July 2024 Added: … A Google Satellite View Shows => At Top A Red Pinpoint, Which Marks The “Poe Saddle” (Waypoint 281b, GPS 45.825390, -116.238183.)
…And The Landscape Topology Of The “Poe Saddle”, Made It Relatively Easy To Create A Turn-Off FROM The Newer US-95, ONTO Where You Can Drive Onto The Older US-95.
…And Then, Continue Down (Where, On The /\Above/\ Satellite View, Your See Wprds > “White Bird Grade”.) Where After About 15 Switchbacks, You Will Eventually Reach The Small Town Of White Bird, ID.
********************

Saturday, July 20, 2024: … When David & I, Henry Gurr, Were Here, We Looked Very Closely, AND Entirely Missed, the turn-ooff that would lead to the road of The Narrator’s 1968 “… I see our road will go down and down through what must be a hundred hairpin turns …. “

Poe Saddle, Along The Newer US-95, About 10.2 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.

SINCE IT IS EASY TO MISS =>
…AN INTERLUDE TO EXPLAIN => WHEN TRAVELING DOWN THE NEWER US-95 => WHERE & HOW TO TURN ONTO THE OLDER US-95.
…FIRST:: In the /\Above/\ Satellite View, you see at top the Red Pinpoint at “Poe Saddle, Which Shows EXACTLY Where Along The Newer US-95, You Can Drive Onto A Portion Of The Older US-95, And Continue Down Along “White Bird Grade. After About 15 Switchbacks, you will eventually reach the Small Town of White Bird, ID.
…SECOND:. Click Here To See The Above Satellite View, And Be Able To Zoom In For Closer Look,-. . OR

…THIRD: To see BOTH the Narrator’s old twisty hairpin curved Road and The Newer Highway, US-95, on a Topographic (Topo) Map, Click Here => RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT “NEW TAB” => AFTER Map View Comes Up, You Will See Adverts That Can’t Be Eliminated => YOU BEST SHOULD => ..
….Use Scroll Bar At Far Right => Adjust Green Topo Map Until You See JUST BELOW The Plus&Minus At Upper Left => A ClickOn For “Full Screen”. Click On It. => >
….Then use Plus&Minus To Zoom. You can “Click&Drag” Map In Any Direction, To See More Off Your Screen Edges.
..****************..
…THIRD CONTINUED: Once The Next Above Blue Link Is Up, And Clicked For Full Screen, You Should Be Able To See =>
…A) At Far Left the Blue “Salmon River” along which further South, The ZMM Route, on US-95 will follow.
…B) At center, The Nez Perce National Historical Park, surrounded by a Bold Red-Brown Border.
…C) A bit left of the Bold Red-Brown Border, the Narrow Dark Line is the Newer Highway, US-95..
…D) Just Right of the Upper Part of the Border, you will see Narrow Double Line of the older US-95, which is the Narrator’s road => “… I see our road will go down and down through what must be a hundred hairpin turns …. “
…E) Close study of either end of the Narrow Double Line, should reveal how to find, the “connecting road(s”, needed to actually access & travel the Narrator’s old twisty hairpin curved road.
.****************..
…FOUTRH: Make a paper printed topo map, and with this map in hand, it should be easy for you to find, the needed road(s), to do this.
..****************..
…FIFTH: The Following Photo Of Googe Street View, You Can See At Left Blue Line Which Is Newer US-95, And Below “Poe Saddle”, You See Words “Old Highway 95” Which Is The Older US-95.
.****************..
…SIXTH: …The 2nd next photo will additionally discuss the Narrator’s Road to White Bird Hill using the old twisty hairpin curved road. File = ScrnCaptGoogSat PoeSaddleRedPinPoint45.825390 -116.238183HoToGoOnOldUS95.jpg
.****************..
…SEVENTH: ……For more discussion of how David Matos & Henry Gurr “missed the turn off” at Poe Saddle, please go 7 photos below and read after “A Panorama View Of Approximately Tier 9 Of The 21 Tiers“ ….

File = ScrnCaptGoogSat PoeSaddleRedPinPoint45.825390 -116.238183HoToGoOnOldUS95.jpg

July 2024 Added: … Google Street View Shows The Turnoff To The Older US-95 At Poe Saddle, Called “White Bird Grade, Which Has The ZMM Narrator’s Hairpin Turns.
… Leaving The Above-Mentioned “Big Rest Area Parking Lot”, And 11 Minutes Later, Go Into A Historical Marker Turnout, Where We See The /\Above/\ Shown Turnoff.
…Back At That Time, And Despite Our Watching Closely For The Turn-Off (Shown In /\Above/\ Street View) FROM The Newer US-95, ONTO Where The Older US-95.
…However, David Matos & Henry Gurr Entirely Missed Seeing It, as stated in the previous Photo. Thus, We Failed In Our Original Plan, To Drive Down The Older US-95, That Is Called “White Bird Grade”.

Still At Waypoint 281a, Along The Newer US-95, About 10.4 Miles SouthWest of Grangeville, ID.
********************

File = GoogStVu OnNewerUS-95 SeeTurnOffToOlderUS-95 AtPoeSaddle2ndBetter