Friday I drove from Butte to Helena, MT. I arrived early enough to ride up Grizzly Gulch which lead right out of S end of town, right by Blackfoot Tap Room. I parked on the street. I pedaled up gulch to Wakina Sky gulch. Nice hump. Elevation here is less than 5,000′. The gulch ends on a flat, my choice was downhill on Wakina Sky down to Grizzly Gulch. Nice gradient that allows for great coasting speeds. When I go downhill I wonder how the trail would pedal back up. Some are eliminated because of steepness & nasty tread. I wondered about this downhill. Once on the road I coasted downhill to pick up Miniridge to climb up to Helena Ridge. Climbs are getting gruntier. I made the ridge. The ridge trail undulates as it descends. My downhill trail is Show me the Horse, I learned it is referred to as Show me the Love. What a fun downhill. Hard packed dirt, below grade, narrow, tall grasses line both sides of the trail, and steeper than I would attempt. Drop the seat, squat, head up, looking way ahead, and stay off the brakes. Zoom. It drops around 1,000′. Coasted back to my van.
Last year I learned that the local Y is a Silver Sneakers participant, however it was closed last year. This year it is open. I walked in and showed my Silver Sneakers card and was waived thru. I showered here after each ride here.
I drove back to Blackfoot Brew pub and joined a packed Friday after work crowd. Good beer. I couldn’t latch on to anybody for conversation. I left heading to MacDonald Pass to camp. A FS campground is right @ the Pass. Only costs $8.00 full price. What a steal, I helped myself to water then camped outside the XG. Chilly heater night.
I learned a city shuttle runs up Grizzly Gulch to access Helena Ridge on Sat and Sun AM, 3 rides. I planned on catching a ride on Sat. I scored a seat. Saved about 8 miles of hard packed gravel road climbing about 1,000′. Still the climb to the ridge was a grunt. Also on the shuttle were hikers and trail runners in addition to us bikers. The trail runners beat me to the ridge but once the trail leveled or turned down I gapped them. All were courteous. Today I continued passed Show Me trail seeking something I had not ridden. I found a trail that had some nasty exposed rock outcroppings. Some hike a bike. Back into town.
I ate a large piece of gourmet pizza before my second ride. This afternoon I planned a second ride up MT Ascension and I needed to process the pizza. I parked in Dry Gulch. I bought a 34 T chain ring @ a shop in town. I used digestion time to change out the rings. The 34 is lower geared than the present 36. I pedaled up eagle scout trail then to loop trail around MT Ascension which rises right out of town. The view was spacious.
A pine beetle is decimating the Ponderosa Pine trees. The dead trees are being cut down where downlow the smaller pieces are chipped and sprayed on the ground. Here is a tree that fought the good fight by “pitching out” at each entry point.
From the top I viewed Helena Ridge across the 2 gulches
I rode down Entertainment trail then climbed up to Rodney Ridge back to van. A shower, then back to brew pub. Again no conversation mates. Back up @ the Pass. This time I drove to locked gate that gave a clear view to the west. No heater night.
Today I drove back to the Shuttle pick up for another go on the ridge. I wanted to ride the Love trail again. Not as many recreators today. Made the climb to the Ridge, undulated along then dropped down the Love trail. More comfortable that allowed less squeezing of the brakes. Today I am going to experience to Wakina Sky climb. All rideable but I was winded several times. I finished w/ Stairway to Heaven down to Wakina road then coast back to van.
Three days of riding of riding here @ lower elevations and camping @ 6235 Pass.
I am parked outside Blackfoot listening to the Mariners. Going for beer. Tonight back up at the Pass which is on the Continental Divide. Tomorrow over to Missoula.
I have ridden 6 days in a row.