Monday eve I drove up to and past Horse Thief XG which was all but empty out to where I stayed with the Hood River boys. This place was dead empty. I found the spot. The wind event on Fri scoured the unattached sand grains erasing signs of previous visitors. I walked out the road which joined another one, social dirt double track, and saw that there are several more camp spots. All by myself. Temp dropped below freezing which means the catalytic heater. The temp during the night remained constant, just right.
Tues I rode from camp thru the XG to pick up Chisholm and crossed the highway to continue on Chisholm this ride I rode the Horse Thief trails. Last time I rode these trails was on the Spot. Nothing against the Spot but I walked a bunch of the step ups. This ride with the RFX and 27.5 wheels and a 170mm fork I was able to ride up everything. I was pleased. Shorter day light hours crunch ride window, usually I start between 10 and 11 before the solar gain has turned on, I usually wear a long sleeved wool top under a long sleeved jersey. In short time my body warms to the exertion and asks to be cooled down. Off goes the long underwear. Can’t ride without the jersey. I enjoyed the trails as if I was riding on private trails as I had them all by myself. As I hit the parking right on the highway other riders were gearing up in short sleeves. Just enjoyable trails with stuff to pay attention to and pedaling.
Weather forecast called for above freezing nights including last night. I ran the furnace on a lower setting. Other than the blower noise the furnace makes for a more comfortable inside space as it doesn’t produce water vapor. Pleasant night and vivid sunrise which per the sea farer states red sky in morning sailors take warning. Nothing has happened. Forecast calls for no moisture.
Today I drove down then out on Willow Springs rd to ride the Klonzo trails for the first time this year. The physical plant is just open dirt on one side of the road but on the other into slick rock with intermittent patches of loose deep sand.
I rode the 2 miles of Willow Springs road each way because I did not want to drive the sand and I wanted a warm up. Trail intersections are marked with trail names and a map showing a smiley face for your location. Well done.
Preferred spot is still occupied by the same party. BLM does not manage the 14 day limit. Willow Springs road crosses state sovereign land then into BLM land. This year these are quite a few portapotties lining the road. Lots of campers out here, not as many today as last week.
Tomorrow is laundry then over to Waba Sabi Thanksgiving feed for my busing shift.
I am thinking leaving here Fri driving down to Panguich and check out Thunder Mountain trail. Might be some freeze thaw mud. Weather just invites being outside.
Dropped post still has issues in that it won’t ride its entire length, it stays up. To raise it all the way I reach between my legs and pull the nose of the saddle up. On the single track the slightly lower position allows for a strong pedal stroke and agility getting off the saddle. On the pedal pieces I have to raise it home.
I am riding Maxxis Minnion DHF 2.5WT tires. The 2.5 is to mean the tire width. Bigger than the 2.4. The larger tire offers better flotation on the sand. The Houdini trail is a mix of rough slick rock following fading paint marks dumping onto a small patch of sand then back up on rock. I do have some control on the sand that comes from the wide tires. Reading research seems to favor this size of tire, not the wider plus which is 2.8 to 3.0 wide.
May your Thanksgiving be full of thanks. I am thankful for helping trail advocacy and volunteering on trail work. And modeling my behavior as a role model. Be kind to everyone, it is the right thing to do.