So, I am now 70 years old plus 1 day. Birthday celebration consisted of a way out there ride on Deer Creek outside Hailey. Drove out there Sunday eve after getting in a ride between rain storms out at Croy.

Wow, many unrecorded days.

Labor Day weekend a mountain bike festival was underway up at Targhee. Lots of riders. I drove up to the event. My plan was to check the venue then ride the cross country trails. Decided too many riders for my liking so my visit was limited to visiting with several vendors. I drove back down to Driggs then headed towards Sun Valley camping way back off Pine Creek pass just off the gravel rd. Very windy, my spot was just down from the ridge, slightly protected.

Tuesday I drove to Ketchum to meet with Steve to do a ride out Oregon Gulch. Drove thru Craters of the Moon monument. Lava flows.

Somehow the drive time google maps calculated and my driving were off causing Steve to wait for my arrival.

Our ride was Oregon Gulch etc.

Old legacy trails with several pieces rerouted to correct sustainability issues. 11 miles climbing 1680′.

Steve worked a shuttle ride for the next day up at galena Lodge trails. I slept out at Corral Pass creek as favorite primitive spots were occupied.

Wed I drove up to galena Lodge to meet Steve and Kirk. The lodge is managed by Don and his wife. Don was an old member of the Hugh Ass racing team back in VA. Steve wanted to check out an avalanche track that crossed a trail. Big hump uphill riding a downhill trail. Riding bermed corners climbing turns differently pedaling against gravity than going downhill. Impressive massive slide went to the worms from the peak way above. Snow is still trapped by the debris and will prolly be buried in this winter’s snow pack. Didn’t take pics. Descent was down a purpose built flow trail with lots of bermed corners and kicker jumps. Not my cup of riding tea so to speak. These trails work my shoulder. Lunch at the lodge then drove back down to Bellevue to sleep in his driveway.

My new shoes and bike computer awaited me. New shoes with full load of sticky means I stay on my pedals better.

Sitting out at Croy TH writing this when legend Roger pedaled up for a visit. he completed his 25th Leadville… etc.

I had been told to change my engine oil at 7,500 miles, not the 10,000 the manual called for. Found a station here in Hailey. Quizzed the guy who said he does many Sprinters. Satisfied he used the proper oil. Took my place in line, did my wash during the wait. I asked the guy to check my air cleaner. van serviced. Engine made a roaring noise, returned to the shop, guy resealed the air cleaner box. Driving down to Steve’s a warning light displayed on the instrument panel: Oil too high. Not good. Got to Steve’s, after setting a bit we checked the oil level: sure enough the level was above the high line. We were going to drain some out of the drain plug the next day. The next day I returned to the shop and the guy admitted too much oil, he drained some from the oil filter which was better than the drain plug.

Sat I drove out to popular Greenhorn gulch to ride up Greenhorn then cross over and descend on Imperial Gulch. Area was burned over in last forest fire. Lots of fire killed trees. Sure liking my new fork tuned by Diaz Suspension Services which custom tuned and installed the RUNT. Bike just floats over the small stutter bumps. Really sweet.

My digestive system is unhappy again. I bailed on Steve’s Fischer Creek ride. I checked into an urgent care. PA said that nothing is going to kill me but had no treatment for malady.

Sunday AM a light rain fell with more called for later. I drove out to Croy in a light rain. I watched the sky hoping for a big sucker hole to get me out on the trails. One opened. I geared up and pedaled away enjoying firm non dusty trails. Finished the ride then returned to Hailey, later in the afternoon the skies really dumped.

Drove out to Deer Creek going way back up into the gulch. Picked the first legal camp spot right off the road. ran the furnace for comfort. Monday my digestive system was angry. Hmm, I had the remnants of a bottle of CBD THC tincture which I emptied into my mouth. A short while later the thc kicked in for a hellish buzz, too strong to even tie my shoes. I waited 2 hours for the peak to pass. Seems my guts were happy. I pedaled away figuring out how to pedal on the gravel road. Turns out I rode almost an extra 4 miles each way to arrive at the N fork trail. Once pass the TH the trail became a trail that I was able to stay on. Several sections had been rerouted for sustainability, purpose build trail.

Trail down Deer creek did not remind me of the Red creek ride over above Victor. Trail did cross creek numerous times necessitating finding dry feet rocks. Ride was 17.6 miles climbing 1404′. Not a big climb day but the top out at 7,5xx’ impacted my breathing apparatus. Cleaned up then returned to Hailey.

Don’t need to pack bear spray here in the Valley.

Scored a DR appointment this afternoon. Nearest cbd oil is 4 hrs away across the OR border.

More rain is forecast for today then clearing and lower temps, will be great for riding.

Today I became one. I rode N Fork Deer creek up then Deer creek down. Wheels still go around and blood pounds in my temples. I ordered 2 new liners counting on still pedaling late into this new personal decade.

Driggs is in the valley. Several trail systems are close by, seems like you can choose what you want to experience on a mountain bike ride. Take this last Friday I rode the way out there the Red creek loop. Drive south to Victor then climb up to Pine Pass, drop down maybe .5 mile to a trail head parking area. This is the wild mountains of the Big Hole. Ride was a lollipop as trail Spooky was the stem, turn right and climb up Corral creek to its divide then drop down a recent reroute for sustainability piece.

The reroute stopped at the Red Creek trail which descends in the creek bottom with several crossings

Trail reminded me much of Deer Creek near Hailey. Trail dead ended into an ATV trail. I was expecting a single track, Trail Forks lacked definition of what the next trail was to be like. Rode the track which was deep talc dust. Single track, heart propelled trail turned left climbing up Corral creek

At a creek crossing this is what I saw peering over the willows:

She and her calf watched me till she had enough then they trotted away up the hill side.

Back country riding experience. I did carry bear spray in an outside pocket. 8.9 miles climbing 1355′ pedaling for 1 1/2 hours.

Spent the night in Pine creek XG.

Sat drove down to Victor to learn about a ride. I had wanted to do something that would have required either highway pedaling or hitch hiking. Shop suggested the Nemo system right at the base of the pass climb. Plan was changed to ride this system. Turns out it is a wonderful pedal trail under deep tree cover except where it crosses a power line. Out and back. The downhills pedal up. The “system” consists of several linked pieces, Rerouting by mix of machine and hand built sections and legacy ridden in pieces. Quite popular, the most riders I have encountered yet. The trails are easy to get to and are good for learning riders, or for sheer enjoyment. 11.9 miles climbing 1325′.

Great sign at far end of trail

Drove back to Driggs. Been hanging at Peaked Sports then over to Royal Wolf for beer and human noise. Spending the nights 10 miles almost straight line from town on Horseshoe creek road on a wide spot right near start of Bovine Bliss. Some road traffic going further up stream to a TH.

Today I rode from camp climbing Bovine Bliss taking the reroute piece I worked on last week. Cleaned up nicely

This is the machine

Today I carried a clip knife that I used to cut down a particular thistle. I stopped many times to cut . May the flowers not mature to throw their offspring.

Pocatello’s forecast called for slightly higher temps that the valley so I stayed , still warm upper 80s.

A mountain bike festival is under way up at Targhee ski area. Tomorrow I will drive up there to check it out and ride the cross country trails there.