Enjoyed dinner and an evening w/ Marty & Trish along w/ a shower b4 bed.
Thurs AM after bfast Marty lead me on a ride of Payette Rim from his house. Statistic made up on the typing: 67% of riders naming their favorite trail is one that they can ride from their house. Marty’s was no exception. We climbed up part of the trail I rode down the day b4. Trails here are so dusty as there is no organic material to absorb the h2o which binds the dirt and keeps the dust down, certainly no wet side conditions here. We caught the Rim trail which is a bit more technical and leisurely dropped its elevation for a longer time ride. Lower parts of the trail have been logged off on state land. I learned that Idaho does not recognize recreation as a user group to restore the trails after logging.
Back @ Marty’s house we continued our discussion on trails, guides, and how to share info. After another shower I headed into town to take care of things. Crutchfield customer service is accepting the XM receiver back as it was not required, the issue w/ the tuner was a simple update of the software. Pharmacies can transfer prescription refills between different pharmacies thus negating driving to a Walgreens in Boise. Smokejumper Chris told me about Salmon River brewing that needed to be sampled for my verification. Enjoyed a pint of their Porter while talking to co-owner Matt, a former smoke jumper. He told me it was his Great Grandfather that started Rainier Brewery back in Seattle towards the early part of the last century.
Next up was the CIMBA / IMBA meeting @ Hotel McCall. Steve and Morgan of the Trail Care Crew presented IMBA’s program on making a club successful. Lots of cats attending kept the discussion unfocused or action item identification just like herding cats. Ah, the joys and tribulations of a small organization sorting things out. Meeting adjourned to dinner upstairs for more conversation. I learned from the IMBA info that would have been helpful for me when I created Fat Tire Trail Riders’ Club back in Spokane. I was able to share ideas and examples from my learning experiences gathered around the country.
Drove back out to Bear Meadows for the night.
Today was another IMBA presentation on the economic impact of mtn biking. Unfortunately no mover and shakers of McCall attended. People buying mtn bikes are an economic engine that spawns an accelerator affect that generates more revenue downstream. There are many riding areas in Idaho some aligned along RT 95 the main north south route thru the state. I shared an article from MBA about riding the 7 trails along interstate 20 in Louisiana and suggested that the same could be created in ID that would benefit the entire state along w/ McCall as a riding place along that route.
Steve and Morgan liked the Bear Basin trails that I might ride this afternoon lead by Marty.
Tomorrow is the trail education and work project @ Jug Mtn ranch which is a large chunk of private land that is open to public mtn biking. Trails on private land lack the checks and time required of building on US land. Greater freedom yet coupled w/ ethic of building sustainable trails.
I UPSd back the XM tuner and refilled my prescription @ Rite Aid as they were able to transfer the script info from Walgreens.
I was out across the road from the airport and the jumper base. Matt at the brewery said I might get a tour of the base. I hesitated then drove over and walked up to the base bldg. As i approached a car approached and the driver waved. It was one of yesterday’s jumpers. I asked for a tour even thought eh front office sign said no tours. I was allowed to attended the crew briefing b4 7 headed out for a proficiency jump. Chris ran the briefing, when he saw me he called me by name. I watched the jumpers gear up and the preparation process that takes place that assures that each jumper is safely rigged. Just so cool. I learned they pack about 90lbs of jump equipment that they must pack out. Kyle was the jumper from yesterday and my tour guide today He showed me how parachutes are processed from the time they are unpacked from a jump to when they are rigged and stored for the next jump. Mistake proofing. Kyle showed the fire equipment boxes that are sent out to support the jumpers to fight the fire and to live. Once they are on the ground the were just ground pounders like I was. I bought a smoke jumper stickie that I put on my van. I fought fires back in 1970 longer than most of those jumpers are old today. Old fart.
Marty and I played phone tag to set up a ride @ Bear Basin trails that CIMBA created. I drove to the TH while Marty pedaled from his house. I was apprehensive about the trails, if they were like the Manson, WA trails the ride would be a bust. WRONG: the trails were hand built well crafted and fun to ride. These trails are purpose built mtn bike trails w/ lots of wiggles and waggles and a bumpy tread, twitch between trees, lift over a few tech features on the tread. The tread surface was untrammeled by horses. The trails are all about the ride. Worth riding when visiting.
There are at least 3 more days of riding I could get in b4 leaving. A killer ride plan would be to leave Spokane and ride Mt Coeur d’Alene on day 1. Day 2 ride Moscow mtn. then a bunch of days in McCall. You can drive back to Spokane in 1 day. McCall is a potential landing spot.
Drove back to the other Bear Basin TH wher i have been staying for the night. Hot in the 80s during the day while dropping into 40s at night. Camped @ 5400′. Some mornings I run the heater for a short time b4 the sun warms things up.
Tomorrow is trail school.
Plan is to leave here on Monday and drive back woods roads to Stanley to ride Fisher Creek on Tues and Sun valley on Wed.