Friday I arrived in Hailey. I visited w/ Chip at Sun Summit South.Reconnecting w/ long time friendship, traded barbs. I filled my water tank at the Hailey travel rest. I drank a beer and ate dinner at the Powerhouse. I sat right behind Sean who years ago greeted me at the laundromat in Bellevue, must have been shortly after the Bike mag article. He invited me on a ride that day that we shared. We made connections on trails we have ridden. Steve and Mia planned to go to the Silver Dollar Saloon in Bellevue to listen to a band. I arrived before the music started. I saw bikers in regalia which activated a radar response. I walked between them unthreatened. All about perception. Well played country rock. I spent the night in their driveway.

Saturday’s ride was Curlys which is N of Ketchum up Baker Creek. Steve chose this location to avoid the heat. I drove up and parked at the Baker creek road.Steve heard that the trail has been cut out, free of downed trees, first weekend. Gotta get it while it is still firm. Ride climbs up to Curly’s single track junction for a smoking descent. Old build w/ some steep pitches. I heard someone say that this is the only trail of its kind in the Valley. I will wave my magic wand and command a sustainable trail be created using the same terrain while still keeping the original trail. Deep forest cover. Steve let me go first as he said by me being ahead he looks further down the trail. There is a steep piece on slightly loose such that I chose to keep gravity under my control which meant some serious brake application. My rear brake did pack up from the friction. I just noticed that the brake lever engaged further away. I always had stellar brake performance. I continue to enjoy how fast this bike is.

8 miles on gravel for 3 mile down. Climbed 1668′ which is steeper than 100’/mile.

Don Shepler from Galena lodge and Hugh Ass race team from Harrisonburg, VA arrived for his ride. We chatted.

Steve and I planned on riding Fisher Creek tomorrow which is on the other side of Galena Pass. I drove into town for groceries then drove over the pass and camped at the Williams Creek TH which is really what Fisher creek ride is about. Steve joined before dark. We park our vans such that our side doors face each other. Tonight my cast a welcomed shade. We visited  sitting outside. Mosquitoes made her presences known.

Ride plan was to leave at 10:30 as Pierre and Kirk would be joining us. Parking lot filled as riders arrived. Never seen so many riders here.

Fisher creek is a big road ride for an almost equal downhill distance. On the FS Fisher creek road it starts out w/ flat then a gentle grade then concludes w/ a kick in the gut steep slightly loose climb. Steve rode then entire hill w/o stopping. Amazing. He’s 62. I rested a couple times and even pushed the steeper spot. Other riders were making their way, mostly all walking. The road climb ends in a TH parking lot. We will now enter an old forest fire burn. The trail is on decomposed granite, bench cut but cupped. Nice descent Steve let me go first.

There is hardly an obstacle on the tread. Decent grade for enjoyment. From where the picture is above the trail wanders thru a creek bottom meadow thru the burn. A short steep climb  sets up the next incredible downhill. Smoking. Steve went first on his 29er. I kept a safe distance behind. This downhill dumps into a meadow then a well constructed climbing turns to exit this meadow. From there it is another screamer downhill on a wide trail banked uphill turns. Drop the post and grin. fast bike. 17 miles 1822′.

I stayed in the parking lot talking to another group of riders. One guy owns a pet food company that makes raw food which is what dogs should be eating.

I drove down to Stanley to buy spring water 1 gallon at a time. I just really prefer to drink water w/o smell and taste of chlorine. It’s just me. Redfish lake is between Fisher and Stanley which is where public $2.00 showers awaited.  I sweated today as the temps are rising.

Steve and I planned to ride a route he created in the Fox creek area north of Ketchum. After my shower I drove back over Galena Summit then down to an FS road just past Galena Lodge, a place Don told me about years ago. So close to nature.

Today I drove down to our ride start at Fox Creek. Steve joined trails for this loop that has a bit of up then a bit of down repeated 3 times. Trail climbed under doug fir tree cover, trails are old CCC prolly constructed. Most are still sustainable. I stayed on Steve’s wheel except for several short steep climbs. These trails and this ride put this wonderful energy on me. This bike is fast. I am learning more about carving turns. Also the bike is capable of rock hopping allowing the option to take a better line using rocks instead of trying to finesse between. A thunderstorm nearby clapped thunder and dropped a few rain splatters. i did stop to put my cell phone is a plastic bag in case rain would fall as I perceived the sound of the storm could give. Just so much fun. The climbs never got in the way of the fun as they climbed for the most part w/in my wind. 12.59 miles climbing 2232′, lots of climb for distance. We saw a woman hiker several times, all by ourselves. Too early for summer crowd and the trails are buff.

I drove back to town for groceries. I visited w/ Jason at Elephants Perch. A guy told me he read about me in Freehub as he has a subscription. The article was written by Ben and they were roommates in the past.

Found out that Curlys was cut out by a guy riding an e assist big fat tire bike pulling a BOB for a chain saw.

Tonight I’m camped out off Trail Creek outside Ketchum. I have a straight on view of the ski hill.

Steve is back at work eliminating a riding partner. I enjoy riding w/ him as we are pretty close to ability and enjoyment. We get to watch each other as we keep close together seeing what we do. I will plan my own rides. Riding behind Steve climbing keeps me from blowing up because I can not go faster than him. By myself I lack the real controlled discipline to control my effort.

Mosquitoes inside the van.

Bed time.

Yesterday morning was just yesterday morning yet it seems a long time gone.

2 nights ago I was up in the canyon in the cold, at get up it was 37 degrees outside that the furnace kept at bay. I fixed breakfast, ate, and was doing the dishes when I looked out the windshield to see a too late for coffee visitor

I took several pics, it stayed around and I returned to my dishes.

I drove to Pocatello to ride Slate mtn Gipson Jack loop that I picked from MTBproject. A new trail head parking lot has been developed which threw off the starting point for the ride. I mastered what the gps was telling me and found the ride start down a dirt bank and across a creek on hop logs. The trail appeared. It climbed in the shade alongside the creek crossing and recrossing as I climbed higher. The tread is below grade and narrow which made for pedal strikes when I rode just a bit sloppy. The trail left the cove of the big trees for open sage and full on yellow blossoms of the arrow balsam root.

The trail cuts across the meadow. I smelled even the mock orange bushes I have smelled as I traveled north. The trail went into the drainages which were dry and tree covered creating deep shade. The trail as a rule is brushy w/ an almost completely bald tread. I kept mtbproject that kept me on the correct trails. The handlebar carrier is very satisfying.

I climbed and descended then climbed again for the final descent. Big long climbs mountain riding. Ride was 14.8 miles climbing 2367′. I pedaled for 2 hrs 10 mins. This ride was out there. The ride seemed bigger than the actual data. I was out there, I saw 2 people. The final descent was almost all downhill in 4 miles on below grade brushy limited sight line single track that me and the bike ate up. Caution on the corners that were too brushy to see around and heads up for uphill travelers. I did encounter a young man wearing a ball cap backwards and an ear bud pushing a bike uphill. A helmet was not visible. It could be ridden uphill but that ain’t no fun. My 1X11 gearing worked for me.

I started driving to a shower slightly out of my travel line. GPS ran me down a street that was blocked at a bridge out and the road lacked that signage. I bailed on the shower. I changed out of my sweaty riding gear then drove to Kimberly on interstate. Mac Daddy got my air conditioning to work that I spoiled myself in chilled comfort driving into the sun at 83 degrees. Very windy, head wind. Van drives like a kleenex box on a roller skate.

A camp ground that offers $5 showers is at the Kimberly exit that I have used in the past. No Silver Sneakers nearby. Clean I drove thru Kimberly south to the Indian Springs BLM TH. The parking lot will be my sleep spot. I stayed down low instead of driving up higher to another spot. I was glad of this location as during the early evening several groups of rigs drove up to that spot.

This morning started a rest day. I parked on the south end of the lot facing east. I woke up to sunlight streaming into my eyes and the sounds of vehicle doors being opened and closed. I looked out to see several serious horse haulers and working cowboys. They left on horses heading uphill moving range cattle.

I drove into Twin to a laundromat that has a google presence. Clean clothes. I grocery shopped at nearby Fred Meyer. I drove over to Spokeandwheel the bike shop I like. I was hoping to visit w/ Mike who used to work there. He has been out and about bike touring. He happened to be visiting which allowed us time to talk about adventuring.

The fraudulent mastercard charges posted to my account costing me $1,878. I filled out and faxed the claim forms in today. Soon the money will be tentatively credited back until the final resolution. Airline tickets I think.

Temp forecast for tomorrow is low 80s. I’m going to ride here early then drive up to Sun Valley and visit w/ Steve.

My van has been vandalized on only the sliding door where there are 2 anti religious stickers. Something was sprayed leaving like speckles.