Steve proposed this ride up Red Warrior then over to come down Mars Ridge rejoining Red Warrior. This Mars would be new to me. We met out on Warm Springs road, 2 Sprinters home converted. Today we pedaled up Red Warrior where years before I rode down it on a Chips shop ride. Today the sky was the goal. Big hump. The trail crossed Red Warrior creek many times as the trail stayed in the creek bottom. Right @ the start we waded the almost knee deep creek setting up the cooling effect for our feet. Red Warrior joined Lodgepole dropping down to a gap in the ridge and then a punch in the gut climb out the other side thru the burn.
Mars Ridge is apparently named such for the red rock similar to the color on planet Mars. Lot of hike a bike because of the steepness and/ or rubble on the tread. Alpine view of what the eyes could see. Several places elk hang out as seen by the scat and hoof marks. Dirt bikes ride this trail which is a legacy trail design and in many places not sustainable, biggest issue was the erosion gulley down the trail and the loosened rock rubble. Just b4 rejoining Red Warrior the trail turned nasty. I lost concentration and kind of slid rode it. I waited @ the intersection for Steve. As he approached me I noticed dirt on his jersey and streaks of blood oozing from cuts and scrapes. Same section caught him: he went one way and his bike went the other. He finished the ride as the blood clotted.
I pulled a move that brought a smile and chuckle. The trail on Red Warrior had dirt bike whoops, rollers to pump. Several of these whoops preceded a smooth bottom creek crossing that was too wide to clear. I knew it b4 hand. I pumped the rollers using the last one to set me up for a vault across the creek. I got air that landed me both wheels level in the creek throwing up a big spray and with enough speed to ride thru. Excellent. Only I know what I did.
Back @ TH we decided to take a soak in a hot spring just down the road. Just what the body needed: more heat. I didn’t time my soak. I staggered out of the rock impoundment hot pool to the creek for a chill off. The water felt almost warm that it wasn’t. I cooked myself that took the rest of the evening to recover from.
My plan was to camp out on warm Springs road; however, I mismanaged my propane supply. the gauge read I will be soon out, perhaps any minute. I need the propane to run the fridge and the stove. I bailed on the camp spot and drove back down to Hailey to a gas station that would be open and sells propane. he pumped in 4.8 gallons, full is 5.6. I could have made it thru the night. I did run out of propane on a previous stay on Warm Springs when I needed the heater.
Fri night out @ my camp Cameron stopped by. He proposed a ride for Tuesday out Stanley way. I decided to join him. More new trail for me: Little Casino. Looks like I will leave here on Wed.
Steve told me he and his wife, Mia, are going to Victor to here J Wiley Hubbard. Victor is on the way to West Yellowstone. I will make my way there.
Chip spoke highly of Lionhead outside of West Yellowstone. It is in grizzly terrain and it is advisable to ride w/ others. Will of Beartooth maps gave me 2 contacts, I met both of them last year. I called Greg, he said he would help find a group for me to join. May I join a group.
So, travel plans are Victor, West Yellowstone, then Bozeman.
Trails here are mostly legacy where the tread is broken sharp edge sized like a paperback book and smaller: Rubble. The sharp edges limit rock movement which is way better than round river rock. trails go up and down, not much for flat. Dry and dusty from lack of rain and organic material to retain moisture. The views are literally on top of the world. Great place to ride. One of my “home towns”.