Frost whitened the fall killed plants in the camp spot. Didn’t drop to forecast 23. Furnace is a pleasure. Fixed bfast etc then drove further up the river to the Fisher Creek TH. Actually it’s named Williams which is the descent but the climb is up Fisher. Clear blue skies with a faint tinge of smoke. Steve arrived as did Chip and Bob. Kirk and brother Tony joined. Chilly as the sun is still behind ridge. I wore a short sleeve long underwear underneath a light weight wool jersey and a wind shirt. I wore knee warmers and knee socks. The ride starts out on the highway and we cleared the ridge for full exposure to sunshine. Took off layers down the way. Route turns onto Fisher creek rode, a FS road. Gravel single track which wends its way up the creek drainage then it raises abruptly for a blow up climb. Steve has defined cleaning as its OK to stop for a gasper and you ride all of it. Walking makes it a dirty make. Age affected. Fair enough. The sought after single track is at the top. A forest fire years before I first rode this trail left darkened standing remnants.
Kitty litter is skittish, it moves underneath.
But the best was ahead as the tread was under trees for firmer woods dirt. The descents down Williams creek are screamers: so fast at at a sharp edge of control. I hit 25mph somewhere. Scary fast, tread is not smooth like Phils. Long downhill sections.
Aspen have turned and leaves are falling.
The 4 of us rode this last year almost to the day and the pedal times were 3 mins difference. I hung at the TH after they left. Amazing again for strength of internet. I drove up and over Galena summit which is up and twisty then down and twisty. I turned up Prairie creek for a sleep spot. The mountains here are mountains.
Today Steve and I rode a piece of what is called the trade route out of Oregon gulch TH.
I am staying in Steve’s driveway S of Bellevue. Visited earlier this evening siting around a fire in a chimera(?). wood smoke from a close up fire smells different from the smoke from the big fires. Bed time.