101 cyclists tour Kookanusa

Cyclists travel from Montana, Canada and beyond for 83-mile trek

On the morning before the second day of the Riverfront Blues Festival, a crowd of 101 bicyclists gathered in front of the Libby Dam for the 6th annual Le Tour de Koocanusa.

Many bicycling enthusiasts will travel throughout the summer for events such as these. At the event, riders came from Missoula, Alberta, British Columbia and Spokane, Wash. The money from their $60 registration fees went to benefit the David Thompson Search and Rescue (DTSAR), a completely trained volunteer-run organization that conducts a variety of search and rescue operations in the South Lincoln County area.

The riders started off on the David Thompson bridge at 8 a.m. and biked the 83-mile course that wraps around Lake Koocanusa. According to Susan Ague, treasurer of the DTSAR Board, 101 went on the tour, an average number for the annual event.

The bicyclists include Julie Gilchrist of Missoula, who bicycled the tour on her and her husband’s 25th wedding anniversary this year; Coal mine planner Martin Dehlke of Sparwood, British Columbia who said his favorite part was the people who put on the event; Brian Demaskos, 55, of Missoula, who bikes once a month during the summer; Karen Prazak, 49, of Missoula, a paralegal for a law firm in Missoula and Derrick Neilson of Bigfork, a sales representative for tourism companies all over the state, who said this is his favorite ride of the summer.

The tour also included the Baddlands Cycling Club bicyclists, who have gathered every year for the tour since it started. The Club includes Dennis Ratcliff, Janet Graham and Sue Lauer.

DTSAR was organized in 1969 after the two girls went missing in the Ross Creek Cedars area. The organization receives money from the county, private donations and grants.

The bicyclists received free jerseys, food and drinks and tickets to the Riverfront Blues Festival.

Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at Reporter@TheWesternNews.com.