Many days following the Salmon River then climbing up to Lost Trail Pass that stumped Lewis and Clark, hence its name, then down and over to Butte today. Changes. For the previous 20 days I have slept at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 7,900. My goal is altitude acclamation. I still feel the suck of riding @ these elevations, perhaps less each ride as my body makes the necessary changes. Right now I am parked in a small dirt parking area just off I90 exit. Great internet speed settled this spot.
Recollect:
Monday I left Ketchum heading towards Fisher Creek TH near Stanley. My fork was serviced @ Elephants Perch in Ketchum. Just changed the oil bath. I visited Galena Lodge and proprietor Don from old Hugh Ass race team from Harrisonburg, VA. I walked a newly completed hand built & machine built trail then hiked out and back on a work in progress built by a mini-x. Trails are almost formula built designed to shed water which is great and required for sustainability, they started to seem the same. Michaux State Forest has character and sustainability, rock gardens are the tread. Sedona trails have character. I picked a sleep spot way back up the creek in a small meadow that will receive morning sun warmth as the forecast calls for 20s. Dead quiet. The heater sputters on and off little spittules was the only sound. The sun finally crested the east ridge @ 7:54AM, temp was 25 degrees.
Next day, Tues, I will meet Steve and a friend of his, Pierre @ Williams creek TH. Beautiful day. I stopped @ an overlook @ Galena Summit over the headwaters of the Salmon River and the Sawtooths.
We geared up and pedaled away. Steve’s and my Sprinters were the only vehicles in the TH. The ride started w/ 2 miles of pavement paralleling the Sawtooths just out of reach of my right arm. We turned left heading up a gravel road, Fisher Creek. We stopped for a break to remove uneeded layers.
The road climbs steeply towards the dead end, loose rock also. Steve nailed it, I struggled doing more than dabbing. Much of what we are to ride was burned maybe ’06. Steve is a good trail steward, like a trail angel. He asked about a small saw to carry in his pack to cut downed blocking trees. I showed him my Sven saw. He stopped on the way home and bought one. Today he carried it and jumped @ the opportunity:
Tread is decomposed granite well packed. Once at the top the trail drops 1977′ on a really buff tread. Drop the seat, assume the attack position, head up, eyes way up and out, then play. I coast and pump the rollers. Very popular ride which is why we did it the day after labor day.
I bid Steve adieu and headed down river. I drove to a isolated hot spring I learned previously.
I timed my 102 degree soak to 15 mins then got out. I remembered another one down river just along side the highway. Great addition as a tub has been added that is clean and a pipe can be moved to dump way too hot water to stay in. Cool.
The soaking sucked muscle tightness from me. I stopped @ Cottonwood BLM XG right on the river for the night. Senior pass: $5 fee. Warm night w/ door opened, last night hunkered down w/ heater on full.
Wed I completed my drive to Lost Trail Pass. Several nights ago I researched rides on MTBProject and put together a ride @ the pass. The phone was allowed access but my jetpack was not. I pulled into the ski area deserted parking lot. I geared up and grunted up a freshly graded FS road. The ride data said big climb. Elevation. I skied here several times. One time I hit a firm object hidden in the snow on my lowered left leg in Telemark position. Laid me out. Very bad bruise that kept me inactive for several weeks. When enough mobility was gained I was back skiing. I dropped into my Telemark w/ left leg back I felt muscle tear, I went lower and felt more. Not good. I tore apart a muscle. To this day a gap is present on my left thigh and the knee is very unstable. I rode underneath where I hit my leg. Just a grunt. I came to a fork and the road grooming quit. I took the right turn as what visible traffic sign there was said right. Instead it topped out @ top of the ski lift. I coasted back to the fork and went left.
Hardly a tire track on the single track road. I could have driven to this fork. I continued on the road looking for Coulter Creek on my left climbing out. A side double track dropped down the left. I followed it to the hidden TH. I walked a little of it seeing no sign of use. I made a command decision and turned around. I am way the hell and gone on an unfamiliar trail by myself. I bailed and road back down to van. Some solace was camping out past the fork for a killer view.
I ran the heater just as the sun was fading. Another below freezing night.
Breakfast today then a drive to Butte. I followed the Big Hole river downstream to I15 north to Butte. I Googled laundromats and bike shops. Laundry first which was also a tanning salon and espresso stand. Why the door had to be pulled to exit w/ an arm load of clean clothes was beyond me. Bike shop, Outdoorsman, was next. Rob, the owner and sole employee, spent time telling me his side of the Forest Service lack of love and also about rides. Turns out that the Bike mag article about the authors riding a tourist bus to the religious statue way up high is not available to us mortals. I chose to drive up to Homestake lake exit and ride the CDT north as an out and back. Decomposed granite, loose. Tread is eroded by water carved gulleys. Mid afternoon ride under deep blue skies. Lodgepole pine, lots of weathered rock outcroppings. 5.21 miles took 58 mins and climbed 1500′. Altitude.
Took 37 mins on return coasting, pumping, and pedaling the uphills.
I had cell reception towards the interstate. I Googled KOA that returned a Butte location. I called but the phone rang and rang w/ not even voice mail, how rude. Back @ the TH I called again to inquire about a shower, $5 and be here by 7:30. Alright. Clean sheets and a clean body tonight under the warm down blanket. I have the heater running now as it is 43 outside.
So that is catchup.
Tomorrow I am heading to Helena and more varied trails.