fresh snow

I was able to ride a short piece of bangtail divide before the weather changed.

I found this spot to sleep before the rain set in. I returned after the rain sopped the ground and was greeted by this:

Sloppy loose mess. Bad guys destroy the property of all of ours. I kept my wheels close to the all weather road hoping for short distance to firm traction. During the night more rain fell. In the morning I was concerned about getting out. I slid around a bit witht he differential lock engaged thus allowing me to escape.

Sunday I sought med attention at an Urgent Care for my ailing digestive system. Another stool culture was ordered. Monday I dropped it off.

Ground is too wet for me to ride on as I can pick better riding days. Sunday it rained. Monday not as much. I checked out Battle Ridge FS XG uphill from the Bangtail TH. Free. Sites all had some grade to them, I selected the levelest and used blocks to level. Monday the breweries were closed. What’s up with that?

Tuesday I hiked up to Ross Pass. I started from Bangtail TH hiking up past where I had stayed. I didn’t want to drive the road for fear of ending up some place where I would have to back down. I wanted to hike to see how I handled walking and to wear my hiking boots. Turns out that the road continued past where I had stayed and dead ended at a TH for where I was going to hike. I hiked 1.7 miles extra each way for the lesson. Once on the trail which down low was overgrown with water laden plants that I brushed sending the water onto my wool knickers and down into my boot socks. The tread was cupped which caused my feet to twist outward. Nasty walking. Up high the trail became a nasty double track. I saw bear prints in that mud. I turned a corner in time to see the rear quarter of a black bear leaving the trail. I needed an additional 12 feet on my hiking pole and I could have poked it. I told the bear to keep on moving as I hiked thru.

I made the pass where strong winds cause me to seek shelter just down from the pass.

I looked east to Bangtail Divide trail across the valley

I retraced my steps missing the bear and wetness. The boot uppers bruised my ankles from like sidehill hiking. I limped a bit. I checked out the TH passing and decided that it was good enough for a sleep spot last night. I hung at bangtail TH chatting w/ whomever. A solo woman pulled in. She is from Tonasket, WA and we shared some of the same places.

I drove back up to the TH. I planned on riding Bangtail today but more rain fell last night. Darn, no dryness. I ahve been running the heater at night, Temp hit 40 outside.

Today I drove back to town.

The med clinic left a message. I called today. results were completely clean, nothing living inside me. A colonoscopy would not find whatever is causing my loose stool. Suggestion is to take Nexeum to retard stomach acids. I am 3 days into the doses and my stomach is happier although stool is still loose.

Later today I am riding w/ Will from Beartooth.

I still plan on checking out Big Sky and a backpack trip.