Tuesday night I spent in Steve’s driveway.
Wed we went for a ride up Greenhorn Gulch around and up then down Imperial Gulch back to the TH.
Greenhorn is a gulch. The trail climbed up in the creek bottom. trail was rerouted after forest fire burn 2 years ago. I observed water damage to the trail because of design and execution. The build did not allow water and the sediment it carried to get off the trail quickly which as a result created an erosion gully. Trail left gulch climbing into open meadow mountain sides.
Steve rides a 29nr and is a stronger climber than me. When the trail points downward he lets me go first as I am faster than him. I just sit on my lowered seat surfing the corners and coasting. Our ride was only 10.34 miles but climbed 1872′ in 1 hr 34 mins. We stopped along the way vising. I pointed out trail pluses and minuses. The last piece of downhill back to the TH was on north facing slope where we encountered freeze thaw mud or still frozen. Trail side vegetation blocked site lines around the corners and I was freaked by possibility of slippery mud and a wipe out. This piece of trail was well built w/ outslope and grade dips to spill the water thus eliminating possibility of water ruts.
By the end of our ride the temp had warmed into the 70s and coupled w/ the sunshine it was quite pleasant hanging in the parking lot.
I drove back to Hailey to the library to do internet stuff till closing. Steve fixed a salmon dinner. I slept in the driveway again.
Which brings me to Thursday and I am outside the laundromat in Hailey waiting for my clean clothes to dry. Another picture perfect fall day. More in next posting. A partial idea is to road trip to Gallena lodge trails then over to Fischer creek the next day. Soak in a hot springs somewhere over the summit.