Evasive and avoidance

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.