Thurs night into Fri morning rain fell. Chilly. Mike and Cheryl headed for drier climes. Wet was forecast for the other side of the pass with Sunday drying. I headed east stopping at Fitzgeralds in Victor to chat with Matt.
Then the climb up and over Teton Pass. A long time ago 3 ski buds from wet side of Washington paid a ski vaca at Jackson. One backcountry trip was drive up to the pass then skin way out to a descent back down on the west side of the pass. We were told that hitchhiking is de norm. The rental was in my name so I was the one to hitchhike. I was wearing a pretty flashy pair of lycra tights as back then my motto was something like flash and clash, a visual eyesore. My buds were freaked out by what my ride would be like so they hid in the trees while I stuck out my thumb. 2nd car stopped, a fellow skier. Confirmed that protocol was cool and my tights must have worked. I drove past where we came out. Climb up was in the rain. At the pass I pulled over and tested my brakes by pushing the pedal down hard to engage the ABS. SHIT, brakes wouldn’t lock the wheels and wouldn’t bring me to a complete stop. Massive downhill below. Same brake problem I experienced way back driving out to CA coast. Something ain’t happy. I slapped the gears down to 3 and eased downhill keeping big distance behind in front. I stopped at bike shop in Wilson right at the bottom of the pass. I visited. Mike told me of Monger mtn about 12 miles up Fall Creek. The bike shop said go up Mosquito Creek which is about 4 miles out then drive up the creek to a ridge which is where the best camp spots are. I found the creek road and started up. I a very short distance the road became rutted and rocky nasty. Too narrow to turn around. I crossed into FS land shortly coming to a carved out flat spot requiring a potential slither on soft dirt. I studied the lay of the land and height clearance under the willow tree. I made it up and the ground kept my tires on top. Later I walked up the road a ways, just beyond where I bailed the road would have been too much for my van. I scored a good spot. No the wait for possible overnight snow and the ground being softer potential stuck. I started out going down hill. I pushed on the brake pedal to ABS engagement to feel the brakes the same way as yesterday’s pass descent. Last night I googled brake repair in town and picked Big O. I called, guy said no wrench on Sat. I called back later another guy answered. I asked for help and said that no wrench would be on duty. Humph he said saying he was the wrench. Be here at 7:45 AM as it is first come first served. I was apprehensive about getting downstream. I made it at 7:45. I explained my problem, Service guy said that what’s up is beyond their ability.He gave me a shop referral. I googled them then drove to the address to no business sign. I called the number: disconnected. By now the check brake light lit up. I found that if I stayed in the non panic pressure the brakes worked. Good enough for me. I drove down to Green River, WY. Sunny and windy. Brake problem on a weekend.
Drove out to Green River trails outside of namesake town. Previous visit I parked overnight at a lower trailhead which is inside city limits unknownst to me. I was snug as a bug in bed when a knock and the knocker identifying himself as police. I answered, he told me the city don’t allow no dirt baggers to sleep on city property. He checked me out seeing that I was of no impact so he let me stay. He did say next time go up the road a little bit to get out of the city. His flashlight beam lit up the city limit sign. Last night I headed his advise and drove up the road which is clay mixed rock surface rough. A nasty frame dragging wash out decided me to turn around and find a spot between here and there. I found one. The city limit sign is gone. After dark before bed time a pick up pulled up beside me. He told me I was on private property. Shit. He asked several questions then said I could stay. Don’t know of his roll but he wasn’t acting in an official capacity. The amount of off road 4X4 and dirt bikes and the dumping on private property didn’t speak well of the owner.
Forecast was for a frost warning. I turned the furnace on low causing it to run all night. This AM it was 31 and frost. I got up and made my scratch blueberry pancakes. Ymm. A cup of cold brewed coffee, real maple syrup. Cleaned up then drove back down to lower TH. Forecast high was 68. It was 45 as I was gearing up. I wore a wool long underwear top and a full sleeve orange jersey with knee socks. I sort of planned a ride using MTBP which receives GPS signal to show my location. I did well until I started my descent. The trails I rode showed some places no tracks.
3 hours of rain fell Thurs night I learned. A rider approached me. He said I have seen your van around but never met you. He is Brent of a namesake trail and president of local bike club. we chatted long enough to cool off. I made it back to my van. 12.96 miles climbing 1427 at 6,000′ elevation.
Next was a drive into town for an anytime shower and groceries. Plan is to drive out towards Rock Springs onto BLM land as I was able to find an emap showing public holdings. I drove back Little Bitter Creek looking for a pull out, I found one with a cautious exit off the road onto the social pullout. Rough. I heard a crash, something fell inside. Upon stopping I learned it was this computer. Kerblam. Still works. I didn’t sense that the move would be that jarring.
I found a mercedes repair shop in Steamboat. Tomorrow I will call to seek service as I will travel there tomorrow.
Several years ago Freehub mag asked me to write an article about camping which I did and it was published. Basically I seek a legal level spot to park over night. Aesthetics are not overly important as is this place, the turn out is above a wash that is used for a trash dump. No smell, little traffic on the road. I am inside not reveling in the outdoor splendor to observe man’s bad behavior.
9:18PM with the side door open, Now chill has set in to close the door. 52 degrees.
At Driggs Cheryl showed me CO fall colors which showed lots of red. I don’t know the trees. research came up with no answer.
Tomorrow starts my Colorado tour.