Ride the Wall 2018

ENAVILLE – The 21st annual Ride the Wall bike ride was this past Thursday as more than 40 bicycle enthusiasts took to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene’s on the first day of summer to enjoy the 13 mile round trip.

Riders took off at 6 p.m. from the Enaville trailhead and once they returned they were treated to a barbecue dinner, courtesy of the Snake Pit.

This most recent edition of the ride was very well attended considering all of the obstacles the event faced this year.

“Considering the road conditions with poor detour signs on how to get through the Kingston exit and the threat of a major thunderstorm, I think it went well,” event organizer Judy Blalack said. “We had 42 participants who found The Snake Pit, and the rain held off until almost everyone had left after the barbecue.”

Blalack and her husband Verne run the Silver Valley Fuller Center for Housing and use the event to generate publicity for their cause as well as fundraising.

The event has taken on many forms over the years, but community support has never wavered, which is something that Blalack is very thankful for, especially the added help and support she got in putting the event on.

“I appreciate all who helped make it a safe ride: the sheriff’s department, Shoshone Medical Center's EMTs, Rose Lake QRU, and John Wilson who scouted the route beforehand,” Blalack said. “The many volunteers including those belonging to the Fuller Center and the Americorp from the Shoshone Mountain Retreat kept registration going smoothly.”

The original Ride the Wall event was the brainchild of the late Silver Valley icon Joe Peak and was held at the Cataldo Mission before the bike trail was completed.

Riders would go from the Mission, across the river on the dirt road, and back down, and upon the end of bike ride the bikes would have to be transported back to Mission where all the cars were parked.

The event was moved to the Snake Pit once the trail was completed, but after Peak’s passing, the event moved back to the Mission before the Snake Pit was reopened in 2015.

This was also Blalack’s final time organizing the event, she will now be handing over the reins to another dedicated volunteer to carry on the tradition.

“I am delighted to pass the torch for this event on to John Wilson who stepped up several years ago to help,” Blalack said. “I am happy that my last year as coordinator ended in a successful event where many made the effort to thank us for providing the enjoyable experience again this year.”