STOKR setting new records

By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter

The first day applications for Libby's 13th annual STOKR bike ride became available, Louis Boitano mailed in his.

One day later would have been too late for the 71-year-old from the Tacoma, Wash., area.

Boitano is among a record 400 riders who signed up in a record two days for the Scenic Tour of the Kootenai River. Those riders are expected to raise a record $30,000 for Kootenai Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity, said event organizer Susie Rice.

"I figured they would fill up fast so I went to the post office to mail mine," said Boitano, an Army Corps of Engineers retiree who has never missed STOKR.

Rice and her husband, Greg, annually organize the event, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13, with help from 350 volunteers.

STOKR on the first day will take cyclists on either a 98- or 45-mile ride. Sunday's ride is 37 miles.

Organizers this year made applications available online. They mailed postcards to previous years' riders in January to let them know about the change.

Applications became available on Feb. 15. Between midnight and 4 a.m., the Web site had 211 hits, Susie Rice said. By Feb. 21, 971 applications were downloaded; 609 were received in the mail. The application was removed from the Web site on Feb. 22.

"Every one who had them postmarked on Feb. 15 got in," Rice said. "Those (postmarked) from Feb. 16 filled the ride and are on a waiting list. Riders are coming from Tennessee, Vermont, Alaska and Michigan."

Last year, it took 10 days to sign up 350 riders. The number of riders is determined by the number of motel rooms available in Libby, Rice said.

"Most come from out of the area," she said.

The first day's ride takes bicyclists to the Mormon church on Lake Creek Road outside Troy. Those choosing the 45-mile ride continue on Lake Creek Road to Iron Creek Road and back to Libby. Those taking the 98-mile route head up Highway 2 west up the Yaak Hill, onto Yaak River Road with stops for food and drink at Sylvanite School, The Dirty Shame in Yaak, the summit and Ramlo Cabin.

Pies are served at Ramlo Cabin, which is 13 miles north of Libby on Pipe Creek Road.

"We have 70 pies at this stop," Rice said. "This is a ride where people can ride 100 miles and gain weight in two days."

Cyclists on the second day will ride to the Haul Road to Fisher River and take Fisher River Road to Highway 37. Riders stop at the Libby Dam Visitors Center and return to Libby.

Since 1995, STOKR has raised more than $168,000 to help build six homes locally for Habitat for Humanity. Ground was broken on March 11 for the seventh home at 1307 Idaho Ave. The Bob and Heather VandeSandt family will move into the home.

Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness

Founded in 1976, Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than a million people in more than 3,000 communities with affordable shelter.