Thurs night is Chip’s shop ride. Jason hatched a ride up Bear creek on a trail then down Milligan creek w/o a trail. Meet @ the shop @ 5 and go from there.
Found a haircut establishment where I left trimmings.
Met @ the shop. Drove up to east Fork road then way back up East Fork of Wood River and thru an old mining community, Triumph, to an intersection. Left the river going up a tributary then to lesser used trail up Bear Creek. Trail climbed up drainage where we stopped on a ridge line short of where the trail tops out. I struggled on the climb. I saw where the trail continued across an alpine area and I shuddered wondering if there was enough daylight left for me to summit. Fortunately our plan was to ride down Milligan creek from our hi point. Lots of snow capped mountains.
rode out the ridge line weaving between sage brush clumps looking for an non mapped trail desceding travers to upper Milligan creek.
Several riders stayed hi and stumbled onto the faint trail. The rest of us dropped 600′ vert bulldogging our bikes down the steep slope just getting scratched by the sage brush. If ever there was a Bloody Shins ride this was it, albeit not on a trail.
Arrived @ creek for a faint to nonexistent trail down creek and more sage dodging then boggy pieces for the added mud mix. What an adventure. Made it back to rigs after 9 but before sun down and hung drinking cold beer in steadily dropping temps and lengthening shadows. Packed up for ride home. Made Hailey after 10:00PM to no dinner and muddy body. I drove out to Democrat gulch camp spot. I heated h2o on the stove then put 1 foot @ a time in a bucket I rinsed off the blood and mud from my shins. 4 cuts seeped blood requiring bandaids to protect my sheets.
Fri. AM I drove down to van service @ 8:00. Scott examined my engine and identified 2 hoses between the fuel filter and the fuel pump that were leaking which was the source of diesel odor. Could also explain the stuttering I felt that caused me to take it to the garage in Farmington where the computer did not detect a fuel leak. Scot ordered the hoses to be here early Mon morn for install.
Learned that mark from NC is race organizer for Soldier mtn race, one of the ID state championship race series and a qualifier for the National championship that will be in Ketchum in July. I canceled my epic ride on Sat after I learned of some local history. I joined Chip’s posse.
I drove to Soldier Mtn out of Woods River valley, east on rt 20, then up another drainage to Soldier mtn ski area, the race site. Race on Sat, I helped mark the course on Fri w/ Mark. Spent the evening visiting.
Sat AM racers started arriving. Real small scale local race & riders. Well organized. I was assigned a course junction to direct racers this was one time then another later and the beginners the same way. Just wave, smile and say something to distract the racers as they went by. The little kids racers were something as several were real chargers and the rest were working. Quite something to see young kids pushing thru the hurt.
Rain threatened but held off until awards were over. Hangers on and several volunteers hung around drinking beer in the drizzle. I said phooey and opened up my van awning and invited all to seek cover. The awning shielded us from a now steady rain. Later the wind picked up after everyone left that blew the awning around causing me to close it up.
Spent the night again @ the race venue. This AM bid adieu to Mark and India.
Today is my dad’s 86th b-day and Father’s Day which started in Spokane. I called him and wished him well. He still “works” @ his foundry 3 days a week. He is the Man which makes work for him different than me working for the Man.
Back in Woods river valley. I have a scheduled ride later this afternoon. Summer is late in arriving here subjecting us to chilly temps and wet. Further north in the ID panhandle several counties have declared an agricultural disaster caused by cold and wet.
Off to go ride.
Drove up canyon to Adams gulch TH to meet Karl for our ride. He rode from his house and there he was. He is a pro photographer w/ time on his hands, and legs. He lead me on the Adams Gulch loop. We climbed up the creek then went downhill in the steeper open sage. Great way to do it when it is much hotter out. Worked for me. Exertion effort warmed the chilly air. Spring wild flowers blooming. Snow still up high:
fast decent. Still enjoying the seat dropper and willing to pedal the penalty. Short ride. Decided good was enough and headed back to Hailey and Democrat gulch camp spot.
Haven’t really decided when to leave, depends upon the van parts getting installed. I could leave tomorrow for Boise and ride for a couple days then head for OR, maybe the NUT b4 Oakridge. Or, I could stay here for several more days then drive to Boise then straight to Oakridge. Decisions.
Mosquitoes are out in numbers here @ camp. There are several beaver dams on Lamb’s gulch just above my camp spot. Too much running h2o for mosquitoes to hatch on surface? Her bite causes me no discomfort. A mosquito or 2 will be trapped inside my van. While the temp is warm enough for her to fly I will hear buzzing. Might kill her b4 she bites or I fall asleep and she bites me anyway then clings for life as the temp drops. Sometimes I can prevent the next generation from becoming by squishing her blood gorged body.
Today was Happy Father’s day which was started in Spokane.
Wow Craig, not much of a trail on the ridge above Bear Creek. Looking at the photo it looks like you guys were making trail. Looks soft, which probably added to the effort.
We’re going to be in Hood River for he week July 1 through 9. Don’t know if you’re going to be anywhere nearby, but would be fun to see you, do some rides, and drink a few beers. Let us know. Les