Wild West Adventure

When people in Central Europe think of the Wild West, images of Texas immediately come to mind endless prairies, dusty deserts, blazing sun, and riders moving through shimmering heat. This image is deeply ingrained in our imagination but has more to do with Hollywood than with real history. The American film industry, based in California, preferred to shoot its Westerns nearby in Arizona, Nevada, or iconic locations like Monument Valley. These landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for heroes like John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. Thus, the "Wild West" became synonymous with sun, sand, and shootouts at dusk. However, the reality was much more complex and geographically vast. The true West spanned huge areas between the Mississippi and the Pacific including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho. A different, often harsher part of history unfolded there: gold rush, fur trade, railroad construction, and fierce conflicts between settlers and indigenous peoples mostly in cold, mountainous regions marked by deep forests, snow, and harsh weather. Idaho, in particular, was genuine frontier territory during the Wild West era a frontier in the truest sense. But since Hollywood told its stories in the desert, this northern, alpine West remained largely invisible. So, to this day, we Europeans associate the "Wild West" with scorching heat and gunslingers in the dust although the true West often lay in cold, silence, and untamed wilderness.

We rode exactly where the legendary Red Rock Stage left its mark starting in 1866. It covered the roughly 125 miles from Red Rock, Montana to Salmon, Idaho daily. Eight carriages a day, with a total of 14 Concord coaches and 12 wagons in operation a logistical feat of the 19th century. To keep the route running, about 90 horses were stationed along the way.

A ticket then cost $8, a small fortune for many. There was no guarantee of comfort: dust in summer, snowstorms in winter, muddy paths in spring. Robberies, overturned wagons, or injured horses were part of everyday life. Particularly notorious was the Lemhi Pass, where carriages had to go down "double rough-locked": wheels blocked and additionally chained to prevent them from careening uncontrollably into the valley.

We imagined travelers then, tightly packed in, while the wind howled outside. Today, we thunder over the same pass with our V-Strom 800 DE. 84 horsepower, traction control, and LED lighting a level of comfort unimaginable 150 years ago. But one thing remains the same: the churning in your stomach when you stand at the top of the pass and look down. And the determination to tackle the next stage.

Many of the old ranch houses that once served as horse exchange stations still stand. For us, they are picturesque photo opportunities back then, they were places where travelers quickly drank coffee, exchanged horses, and the mail moved on. Today, we stop to catch our breath, let our gaze wander, and remind ourselves that every long journey consists of many small stops.

One of the most emotional moments of our tour: crossing the Lemhi Pass on the Continental Divide, the central watershed of North America. Here, the direction of river flow is determined. To the east, waters flow into the Missouri, then the Mississippi, and finally the Gulf of Mexico. To the west, they stream into the Columbia River and onward to the Pacific.

For us motorcyclists, it is a fascinating geographical point, but for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805, it was a turning point in history. Their mission was to find a continuous waterway the legendary "Northwest Passage" from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Upon reaching this point, they realized: there is no navigable connection. Instead, the mighty Rocky Mountains stood in their way.

Lewis and Clark had to abandon their boats and acquire horses from the Shoshone to continue. This realization was a shock for the expedition, but also a testament to their perseverance. It became clear here: North America cannot be simply traversed by boat from coast to coast. The dream of an easy passage was over but the adventure continued.

As we rolled over the Continental Divide with our Suzukis, we were aware of how pivotal this location was in history. With every twist of the throttle, with every glance into the valley, we felt like not just motorcyclists but also a small part of storytelling history.

In Salmon, Idaho, we stopped at a place deeply intertwined with the history of the West. Here, around 1788, Sacajawea, a young Shoshone woman, was born. At just 16, she became part of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, along with her husband Toussaint Charbonneau and their young son Jean Baptiste.

Her role was crucial: - Interpreter: She spoke Shoshone and some Hidatsa, helping to avoid misunderstandings during encounters with tribes. - Symbol of Peace: Her presence with a baby signaled to Indigenous peoples that the expedition had no hostile intentions. - Pathfinder: She helped find safe routes over the Rockies and guided the expedition to places that would have been nearly unreachable without her.

At Lemhi Pass, she helped organize horses from the Shoshone without these animals, the expedition might have failed. Today, the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center in Salmon commemorates her legacy. For us, it was more than just a museum visit: it was a moment where we felt that true heroes aren't always those at the forefront. Often, its the quiet, wise, and courageous companions who make the crucial difference.

Sacajawea died young, around 1812. Yet her memory lives on in monuments, schoolbooks, even on a 1-dollar coin. For the people of Idaho, she remains a symbol of courage and guidance. And for us motorcyclists, it was moving to travel through her homeland.

Our Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE proved to be the perfect partner: a smooth 776cc twin-cylinder engine, delivering enough punch for mountain passes and long straights. The suspension: 220 mm travel, 21-inch front ideal for gravel and rough roads. And plenty of comfort: even after long stretches, the bike remains pleasant to ride.

Of course, luxury features like cruise control or heated grips are missing. But that's exactly what fits the journey: exploring the Wild West doesn't require extras, just reliability and the will to keep riding.

Our tour showed us: adventure has never been easy. Whether by horses, boats, or motorcycles it takes courage, endurance, and the willingness to embrace the new. Lewis and Clark had Sacajawea, the stage lines had their horses and drivers and we have our V-Stroms, carrying us safely through the Rockies.

In the end, the realization remains: the stories of the past make our tours today truly special. Every pass, every town, every old trail is more than just scenery it's a piece of history we relive with every mile.

• Motorcycle: Suzuki V-Strom 800DE robust, reliable, adventurous: Info and Prices
• Tires: Dunlop Trailmax Raid perfect balance between road & gravel - Info
• Luggage: SW-Motech PRO Rearbag lightweight & indestructible: Price and Info PLUS Waterproof Tank Bag for camera gear
• Apparel: Vanucci VAJ-4 / VAT-6 / VAG-4 / VAB-10 tested from 1°C to 30°C: Link to Jacket at LOUIS
• Communication: Cardo Packtalk Edge always connected, even in the middle of nowhere: Buy Here
• Helmet: ARAI Tour-X5 premium comfort for long distances: Info and Designs