Thurs AM I headed down Woods River valley bound for Driggs, ID, ultimately back to Victor for Ray Wylie Hubbard concert and meeting Steve and Mia on Thurs. I stopped @ Chip’s to say good bye and maybe I will see him in the fall.
Then I just drove. The American west: big and few people.
I stopped in Driggs @ Peaked Sports. A guy at the counter sort of looked familiar as I did to him. The memory caches were searched: I remember seeing you b4. I was here back in 2010 after the Bike Mag article hit the streets. Gary, the manager, saw my van in town. One day as I was driving past their store he stood out in the gutter and flagged me down. He had a copy of the mag and asked me to sign it which I did. I drove away. Today he told me they posted the pic in their restroom. Sure enough it is still there. The pic is a centerfold that when torn from the mag was 2 pieces. We chatted, he gave me a ride idea and a place to stay. Later I drove out to his spot, this dominated the skyline to the east:
Thurs AM my stomach was bothering me causing me to bag the ride. I did my wash then found an Anytime Fitness for a shower. I wanted to give the shop an entire pic. Gary showed me a nearby printing shop that printed an uncut pic that I gave to him. He was thrilled.
I drove back down to Victor. I checked out Fitzgeralds bike shop that relocated from Jackson. A woman approached me asking me if I knew Paul as she is facebook friends w/ him. She read his post from yesterday where he posted a pic of my van taken back @ Chip’s shop. I did meet Paul at the shop.
I drove back down to Victor then walked over to the park for the concert. Steve set out his chairs near the sound mixers spot. People filed in as Ray Wylie’s start time drew near. Nice crowd on the grass, the people ahead of us crowded to the stage. We were just back far enough sitting in chairs that they had to stand to see.
After the concert I drove back towards Driggs seeking a FS place to camp. I found Fox Creek location which turned out to be a 3.5 mile dead end gravel road. Once past the last house the road became an obstacle course evading the potholes.
Fri AM I drove back into Victor to learn more about this Philips ridge ride on the Jackson side of Teton Pass. Fitzgeralds knew little about it and they are an ID side of the pass shop. I drove over the pass to Wilson to a bike shop to learn details. I was told by the sales person working that the ride is stellar. I bought a map then drove across the road to the recommended parking spot.
The ride is 19 miles long which includes a hump up the road. I geared up. I was prepared to hump the maybe 2,000′ and 3 miles to the dirt, mentally that is. However, the start is a popular starting point for other rides on the pass. I rode in circles in the parking lot scoping out likely looking shuttle ride. I waited about 15 mins b4 2 guys showed up after their ride and were loading their bikes in the back of a pick up for the drive back up to pick up the other rig. I asked for a ride and was given one. The ride starts out on the Arrow trail, a hand built nicely done single track. The name comes from the 5o0 boy scouts who built it for an order of the arrow service project. Great to ride dirt and over rocks that for the most part were anchored in the ground. I turned onto Snotel trail then turned onto Philips ridge trail proper. More great single track going downhill.
Philips ridge was great. 15 miles, I climbed 961′ but descended 2534′.
Big mountain scenery. Back in the 80s friends and I spent a week skiing here. We boot kicked up the mountain behind the snag. That accessed bowls on the ID side of the pass. We skied down to the hwy. I was the rental van driver making it my role to hitch hike back to the pass then drive the van back to pick my buds up. I was wearing some outlandish lycra tights that the guys thought would spell trouble in this cowboy country. They hid back in the trees not wanting to be associated w/ me in case there was a disagreement w/ my attire. The 2nd car that went by picked me up. We were doing what the locals do. That’s why I felt that I could get a shuttle ride w/ my bike.
Next stop is Bozeman. I had 2 route choices: Back to Driggs then north outside Yellowstone NP, or drive thru the park and camp. My senior access pass gained free entry. A reader board displayed campgrounds and their status. Most were full. My pick was Lewis lake the southern most XG . I found an empty spot. I was near Grant Village that had showers. I drove up to the shower parking lot where there was a waiting line longer than i wanted to wait for. I drove back to Lewis which was filled. Weekend in Yellowstone during the summer is a popular over crowded place to be.
Today after Bfast I continued driving to Bozeman exiting the park @ West Yellowstone. The traffic heading into the park was like an evening commute traffic in a large city. Not many heading my way. Upper Geyser Basin and Firehole river is spectacular.
Friends from Spokane will be in West Yellowstone to ride some of the trails I want to ride. Grizz territory where proper prudence is to ride w/ others and carry bear spray. I bought a new bear spray and my buds will be my group.
I plan on hanging here for a day or so then drive up to Helena to ride and learn how the trails were mapped. I will catch up w/ Will of Beartooth Publishing, a map maker.