In the freeze thaw mud and old snow. I drove back highways to Panguitch escorted by a county sheriff for a ways as I oogled @ the scenery. Again, resources stolen to put beef on consumers plates.
Stopped @ FS station and asked about Thunder mtn conditions. Long talker told me trail would be OK except for patches of snow in the shaded areas. The soil drains well. Long talker.
I drove to TH. Beautiful day: blue bird skies supplemented by goldens of rock formations, white snow, and green trees. Temp in low 40s. Geared up. I added an extra long underwear top just in case I might spend the night out. Should have added a dry pair of socks and maybe worn my over booties. I rode the 5 miles up Red Canyon on the paved bike path. Encountered old patches of snow w/ frozen bike tracks. Pavement under the snow. made the gravel road that lead 2 miles to the upper TH. Old vehicle tracks among old bike tracks. Freeze thaw mud on the road. Signal being sent that I ignored as I have some sweat equity invested.
Made the upper TH, the van was trail miles 7.8 miles away. The bikes who preceded me might have had a better ride in the fresh snow. For me I slid across their frozen tracks. Worse was the freeze thaw mud where there was no snow as i either pushed my bike up or slid it down. Beautiful day, great colors, outside burning calories getting fit all on the good side. The 7.5 miles and 763′ climbed to reach the upper TH. The 7.88 miles back took 1 hour 48 mins and climbed 972′. I was glad i started early for all the time the ride took.
I saw fresh bike and shoe prints most of the way down. They had ridden and pushed their bikes up then turned around. I wondered what was going on between their ears as they climbed into worsening conditions. They beat themselves enough and slide their bikes back down. At the TH I saw 2 camper rigs that I checked out. One rig had the 2 muddy bikes but clean riders. Ah, shower in the rig. I spoke w/ them: Europeans on vaca.
My bike was a mess. The pedals were so continually jammed w/ snow and mud, sometimes I couldn’t click in and rode them as flats. However, I couldn’t pedal uphill. What a mess. Down low the trail traversed under a ridge that sloughed off torrential either rain or snow melt that scared the hillside the trail traveled. I like the big 2.4 square profile Ardents for snow traction.
I drove back to the FS and told the info guy about my experience. he still didn’t get it.
Driving in to Panguitch in the AM I saw a campground that was opened and had showers. I paid $5.00 for comfort of mud removal. I stopped @ a service station and scored hot h20 to wash my bike off. 3 gallons, the most ever needed.
Camp spot was to be the local airport. I figured this small of town would not have a control tower which means no traffic and a quiet place. I drove out in the country to the airport. The road was blocked by a locked gate. Darn. No camping here. I drove a bit further into BLM land and found an ATV parking area.
Both my tuner and XM are crapping out. I ordered a new tuner and XM shipped to Hurricane due next week. I listen to XM all the awake time. Strange to have silence.
Tomorrow is Hurricane. License tabs at the USPS.