Wednesday AM I drove away just after 9 hoping to run into Dave at the springs. We did not meet.

Plan today was to drive to Driggs / Victor to ride for a couple days. I stopped at a bike shop in Driggs where the shop has been taken over by skis. They made a statement. A trail knowledgeable person shared info. Forecast for tonight and following days was moisture. He said that today was prolly the last of mtn biking in the valley as the weather will be changing. I looked at the forecast which showed the Jackson side of Teton Pass weather would be warmer and less wet. Prolly snow at the pass and I did not want to drive over on snow. I beat feet to Wilson, WY at the east end of the pass. Guy there knows Turner quite well which made for a conversation. I asked about riding and he said no good as last night the temp dropped to 19 and they have had moisture. Rats. Freeze thaw mud and they were forecast to get snow. My next stop would be Lander, WY over another pass, Togwotee Pass at 9544′ separated me. Snow forecast for the pass. I placed my faith in the forecasters and kept driving to less probability of snow. I left and have not researched to learn if snow did fall. What’s done is did.

I passed up going into Yellowstone. I did see the furry ungulates in Teton Park,

And of course a full on shot of The Grand,

Over Tog… Pass there was less FS land as indicated by the shading on the road map. I got down below the raised road closure gate into Dubois. Up ahead was the large Indian Res where I have no knowledge of primitive camping. I picked a road that was signed FS access. I drove and drove on OK gravel road and never got out of the ranches. The FS land was like 16 miles back in and its after dark, I’m tired and hungry. I drove into the first big off the road parking spot and dropped anchor. I was on private land. I didn’t sleep well as I anticipated a knock on the van and a voice hollering get out of here. No such thing occurred. Cold night. I drove away in the dark. Down a ways I passed what appeared to be a public primitive camping spot w/ a CXT toilet. I drove by it in the dark. I left before eating bfast and I was hungry. I drove all the way to Lander, WY, Randy’s home state. I drove down Main st searching for bfast servings. I found one and ate fried eggs that I don’t fix because clean up of the dried yolk.

Next was to pick a bike shop. I chose Bike Mill form their web site, a small shop, and is located in a former feed mill, hence the name. Reo shared lots of trail and advocacy w/ me. I am riding the trails that IMBA and the BLM have partnered with, 20 trails. Johnny Behind the Rocks is one of less than 6 I have not ridden. Today was to change that status.

Johnny Behind the Rocks is a short trail system SE of town into the desert and red rock and juniper. Shared it with left over cows. Broken rock, red sand, juniper, open skies, etc which are all common to the southwest. Get used to it.

I rode the out and backs and back home. A side trail dropped down to Twin Creek falls on a below grade cow path. Falls:

Back up then the ridge ride back down:

All by myself. Shared the parking lot w/ piles of horse left overs.

I drove back to the bike shop to share my feedback on the trails. Done.

Lander has an Anytime Fitness and I scored a shower. I had a brew pub beer and dinner at Cowfish Brewery.

After dinner I drove up Sink Canyon to an FS campground closed for the season. Chilly night. Furnace ran all night.

Today my plan was to ride up out of the canyon climbing a paved road to come down Brewers. The ride is on the west facing slope which was in the shade and cold. While I was waiting a bang was heard on my van. I looked to see Mike, a local, out for a ride. He said he had read about me and seeing my van was a chance meeting. He rides a rigid fat tire bike. After much visiting I finally said it was warm enough for me to pedal off. He went his way and I went mine. I pedaled up lower Brewers until a side trail split over to the paved road and all the switchbacks. Paved was better riding. Just road spinning one switchback at a time with another one still above me. Finally the top at 8600′. Trail drops off the NE side of

Tread here is rocky woods w/ open patches of sage mixed in. Trail idea is to ride a road climb then  a single track descent. Great views fro up high until it dropped into the tree cover, no red rock here.

A bit of undulating climbing then the trail dropped. I heard a noise somewhere on my bike which I could not diagnosis trail side. Intermittent. Concern that it was in my wheels or brakes, both of which were very critical for this nasty descent. Woods riding on hand built single track.

Made it back to my van. I hung my bike from the saddle nose and checked it out. I found that the rear brake pads had worn down to almost the metal clips. Shit: my brake pads were fried which was prolly the source of the noise. I installed a new set of pads and bedded them in. I need to buy a back up pair again which having a spare saved my bacon for a future ride.

I’m in Lander w/ internet access to write this.

My next stop is Green River / Rock Springs S of here. I checked their forecast to see no moisture but very windy w/ forecast gusts of 30mph. Driving there will be challenging, riding might be something else. I might bypass and continue to Utah and a ride north of Vernal, another IMBA / BLM ride.

My van’s engine burns none or very little oil so I hardly check it. Today after my ride out of curiosity I popped the hood. I noticed the top of the engine was wet w/ oil. The dip stick showed none needed. Something ain’t right. My travel will take me to Grand Junction, CO and the repair shop that replaced my drive shaft last year. I called and made an appointment for this Thurs for a physical.

Getting to dinner time. Going to drive back up canyon where I spent last night and fix dinner and skip a Friday evening in town. Or, maybe I’ll change my mind and socialize. decisions.

 

Quiet night for no human visitors; however nature said hello for a short bit w/ winds and not much rain.

I bought a set of new tires at discount Tire in Bend. I requested the tires be inflated 55 front, 80 rear. New tires went on the back and the back @ 80psi were put on the front. The van’s handling took a holiday making hanging on in the corners interesting. Sunday in Stanley I checked the air pressure. The front tires were at 80 which was the source of the handling problem. The rears were only at 70. I inflated the rears and dropped the fronts and handling improved. Today I checked the tire pressures: the rears per the gauge were only at 70. WTF? I drove to a Schwab dealer for a tire check. The rears were at 80 per their gauge. Need better pressure gauge.

I then headed north downstream into the mountains to North Fork and the Wagonhammer ride. David, Bryan was out fishing. I followed the route climbing out of the creek. The route left the closed road on single track. Skinny worn in bench tread w/ exposure down the very steep grass covered hill side.

Sketchy and consequence of a miscalculation.

A very full rack mule buck crossed my path while on the road.

David: at 4.7 mile where the route takes a left turn to ignore the right trail. There is now a beef path heading steeply up the hill and the one that goes straight ahead which is the dead end. The proper trail is a hard left. I missed the hard left and continued contouring the hillside until it arrived at the saddle and the apparent dead end. I believed I was on the correct trail even as I pushed and carried my bike traversing the steep mountainside wondering why this would be the trail. Lots of elk and deer droppings. The game path finally petered out in a meadow. This ain’t right. I retraced my pedal strokes to the 4.7 gate and saw the trail to the hard left.

The weather had snow which added to the excitement of figuring out a new trail.

I remained outside the weather. The trail joined the Lewis and Clark trail and followed it a ways. Route was almost all downhill from here.

Wagonhammer drainage below.

Back at my van I looked back up the drainage to where I was.

I loaded up and headed back thru Salmon with the Bitterroots to my left and the Salmon on my right. Steelhead are running which attracts anglers like flies to horse shit.

then onto st 28 going up the Lemhi river. The BLM guys told me about Sharkey hot springs that they clean. I drove up to it on the Lewis and Clark Backcountry byway. Man made pools. I managed only 16 mins soaking in the 104 degrees pool as my heart rate started pounding. I was too cooked.

I drove further up the road and pulled off on a side road for a sleep spot.

Tomorrow is on to Driggs and Victor. Forecast is calling for snow on Thursday.

That’s what the device read this AM after yesterday’s drubbing at Fisher Creek. I use the methodology of 220bpm – age(66) times 85% to establish the anaerobic threshold. My math says 132bpm, age takes another toll. Fisher Creek is a classic ride using a piece of paved highway then a soul crushing ride up an old resource extraction road to the top of the downhill. 8 miles up and 8 miles down. Ride was 2 hrs 9 mins of which 1 hour 5 mins was above 132bpm. I walked the last steep part before the top as the tread was loose cobble. Friend Steve rides it all on his 29er which might make a difference. I was almost obliterated by a quad flying down that part. Chilly day requiring tights for the first time this season. I wore my orange long sleeved jersey for warmth and notice to hunters. The forest was burned several years ago. The trail was burned over. Riding today is going thru a bleak landscape w/ few signs of new growth.

Fisher creek ride is famous for its smooth downhills. And so it is. Decomposed granite dirt. Trail dropped down to a creek in a meadow then climbed. I was now riding on horse hooves broken tread. At the top of the climb a guy had hitched his 3 pack horses and his riding horse blocking the trail. He told me to go around. I stayed out of range of the business end. From there down the tread was just bike tire wear. Sweet. Dropped seat and surf the turns. Trail breaks out of the burn

tread was firmer because of tree cover preventing / retarding moisture loss, moisture holds the dirt together. A short climb then the last of the flying at coasting speed descent. Woof. I stopped in plenty of time for a couple riding uphill. They told me to violate the rule of uphill riders have the right away, I said and they acknowledged they needed the break. Just fun riding. Heavily ridden trail but the late fall weather chased the crowds away.

Post ride I drove downriver to a hot springs I remembered. Memorable because there was some kind of tub for soaking. Today it was occupied by 3 people drinking wine and not leaving. I picked one of the pools alongside the river and soaked for 20 mins. Adjustment of hot water flow matches the inflow of river water. I heated myself enough o withstand a very brief pushup in the Salmon river, October 25.

I studied a calendar and my ride wish list that would put me in Moab just before T-day. Not many days and plenty of places to ride. I have left Wood River Valley climbing over Galena Summit and going down the Salmon river. I remember BLM primitive campgrounds along the river before Challis. I picked the first one, Deadman Hole. No fee, unoccupied, but just off the shoulder of highway 75. Great sunset color

After dark several violent squalls rocked the van. After sunrise looking in the same direction this is what showed:

Today I finished the drive to Salmon, ID. Recently IMBA posted 20 rides that were developed in partnership w/ BLM, the land manager. Discovery Hills is one of them and is right above town

Land is sage brush cattle grazed rolling hills. Trails are mostly linked cow paths.

I was suffering from yesterday’s ride.

Back at the TH an older rider rolled up riding a Turner Czar. We chatted until a BLM truck pulled in and 2 guys got out. The passenger locked eyes with me and came forward. Shit, I’m legal. He is David, a local, and is one of the authors of a local trail guide. …. And he reads my blog. He gave me a copy of the guide. I told him if he autographed it I would give him my card. We each gave to get. The driver is co owner of the local bike shop. David claims 1000 miles of available trails. Wonderful information sharing and connection. Thanks David. He said that most of the trails are worn cow paths that they linked. I rode the Enduro route marked by orange arrows. There is even cactus here

I drove back down into town and paid for a shower at the local campground. The BLM guys told me the Junkyard Bistro had good food and the brew pub was a good place to watch Monday football. The Bistro was a former bar: long, narrow, and you sat at the bar. My salad was almost chin high. Enjoyed the beer, a brown ale.

I am sleeping at the Discovery Hills TH. Discovery because the Discovery Corps of Lewis and Clark traveled thru here. Sacajawea’s people are from the valley.

Tomorrow I am driving further downstream and climbing into the mountains to ride Wagonhammer. Strange phenomenon of climbing into the mountains while going downstream the Salmon. River flows north. Weather forecast called for winter storm warning for tonight and tomorrow, Right now the moon is shining between cloud breaks.

Bed time.