For several years Abe has been telling me about his most favorite trail which is outside ST Regis, ID along the Clark Fork. Years ago I rode it, one and done. This year I rolled into Missoula to ride Rattlesnake area trails. Rain threatened and then fell as I pulled into the TH. And the light rain that the forecast said was falling yesterday sure was light, if at all. Trail leading from the parking lot looked unwetted. Didn’t want to ride in the rain nor on dusty loose trails. I pulled back on west bound I-90 heading for Spokane. Rain clouds were still ahead of me. Oh, wait, ST Regis just  might not be raining on. I exited I-90 @ ST Regis to dry roads and nothing falling from the sky. Abe, I drove to the TH. What kind of pull do you have w/ Mother Nature? I geared up and pedaled away up river.

This trail runs above Clark Fork River, way above. Hardly a track on the primitive trail which climbed above several buttresses then dropped down then climbed back up, this went on for the first several miles then flattened out. I rode it to just b4 it dropped down to the river @ almost 8 miles out. I rode it as an out and back. On an O & B is what went down will be up on the Back. I enjoyed some high speed coasting then slow hike a bike back. All by myself. Several places the trail was almost a goat path bravely clinging to the eroding hillside, no bench cut trail.

Abe, that is the TH. The trail was typical of what we have here in the inland Northwest:

OK, it was a fun trail, it rode well and rewarded me w/ cardio and a few tech solutions.

Early evening finish and I needed a place to stay. Ah, a trail head for Patrick Creek was just up the road. Primitive camping what I was seeking. Found a level spot for the night. Below freezing.

Wanting to buy and have installed a Propex heater that runs on propane. Heater blows hot air and is mounted underneath the van. I think a better heat source.

Thank you all for your birthday wishes. Shrimper, always glad to hear from you.

Doing my wash in Post Falls then on to Spokane for dentist and knee DR.

Age, birthday. The wheels have remained attached to the wagon this long. This is 65:

Enjoyed a ride w/ friend Randy from Spokane who happened to be down doing business in the Bitterroot River Valley south of Missoula. Yesterday I drove away from Helena to Missoula. I had thought of driving up river towards Lost Trail Pass where I was a bunch of days ago as I had heard the standard adage: you should ride here we have hundreds of miles of trails. While in Missoula I searched MTBProject for rides on the Bitterroot. I found one ride down low on the shoulder of the peaks. Randy concluded his work tasks and we met @ Lake Como campground. Paid. Randy hasn’t made the transition to dirtbag yet by primitive camping like on some logging landing. Did have electric for the fridge. Randy brought 2 salmon stakes left over from his annual fishing trip to Alaska. I made Yukon gold mashed potatoes and my signature Waldorf salad. Randy drove his Eurovan Westie, we had our separate homes in the same camp spot.

Today we rode the Coyote Coulee trail system which is heavily horsified. Dusty loose dirt w/ years of manure pounded in. Crossed several just wonderfully clear fast flowing creeks. Randy is riding his new Turner Burner, an upgrade from his former TNT 5 Spot. He learned that he can open his suspension up which makes for a plusher ride. He’s happy. Today was a recreation ride as we stopped numerous times and I talked.

Randy lead me to the Red door bike shop where he bought his Turner. In the toolies away from Hamilton, MT. Shop sells a few Turners every year. The owner rides a 5 Spot like me that can only be taken from him by prying his cold stiff fingers off the bar. He shared geometry lessons w/ me regarding wheel sizes. Today if he could chose between a 5 SPot or a Burner, he would take the Burner 27.5 wheel size.

I bid Randy adieu as he headed back to Spokane. I checked on Anytime and found one S of Missoula. The location works for me as I will be having dinner and a few brews @ a pub in Victor then driving up into the forest to sleep.

Tomorrow I plan on riding Rattlesnake outside Missoula then heading west. I have a 1:00 dentist appointment on Thurs, the 11th in Spokane. Keeping my teeth serviced every 6 months which is better than my bike fork gets. Abe, I will honk as I drive by the ST Regis exit for your favorite ride.

Randy told me that the Lost Creek trail is obstructed by “hundreds” of downed trees. The dirt bikers are now banned from riding the trail. Some of them packed a small chain saw and would have cut those trees out because the FS hasn’t cleared the trail. Scratch that ride.

At the grocery store here in Stevensville I bought a piece of German Chocolate cake and a small cup of Haagen Daaz, no candles.

My breathing is really a limiting factor for my effort. I have diagnosed having COPD. I inhale a steroid every AM to help exhale breathe. I wondered what my saturated O2 level was and if it was low which would be indicative of lung issues. I bought a O2 sensor device yesterday and have been checking my O2. During the ride I was 95 to 98% saturated which means that my lungs are absorbing O2 even when I am winded. Good news there.

Rain is falling and forecasted for Missoula tomorrow. Could either be hero dirt or rained out.

Off for beer & dinner.

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.