Yesterday afternoon I did break away for a ride. Forecast was for 70 % precip and gusts to 26 mph. Sitting in Hailey that wasn’t happening. I wanted to ride, I rolled over in my mind scenarios for a ride at Greenhorn. I could just ride out and back on Greenhorn as it is protected, I could head out on Imperial which the upper part is very exposed, if conditions went to shit I could turn around and return on Greenhorn, or, I could put the bit in my teeth and ride the entire route accruing stories to tell about how I over came what nature threw at me. Arrived at quite crowded Greenhorn TH. Chilly, overcast and windy, but just light weight wool jersey chilly. I did pack my rain jacket in addition to wind shell. I pedaled away riding deserted trails. I turned onto Greenhorn trail which goes up its namesake crossing the running creek which happened since my dry crossing just 11 days prior and no precip. I pushed myself wanting to possibly beat precip. I worked too hard to climb 2 of the steep creek crossing climbs. Rested at junction of Greenhorn and Imperial listening to the wind in the fire killed snags. A very strong gust freaked me almost enough to beat pedals out of there but I watched nearby snags respond to wind: Stoic, rigid, but no falling of either the trunk or branches. It was just a gust. I pedaled up into the exposure. At places the trail was protected by a hill but several places the trail broke into the open. At times I was pedaling uphill against strong headwind. At one place I was blown off the trail, I recovered, stood still, and waited the wind to abate. I reached the turning point of the trail such that the wind was behind me. Still gusts buffeted me which affected my line choices heading downhill.
Pictures can’t capture the wind.
Imperial has some speedy downhills brakes off. All by myself. Today was opening day of rifle deer season. earlier down low a “successful” hunter was wheeling out his gutted kill. Down a ways on Imperial I came upon another hunter’s sign of success and contempt for others:
I did receive a few sprinkles enough to wet the sidewalls of my wheel rims, a threat and that was it, my rain jacket remained packed. Fast descent down final drop on Imperial then back to almost empty parking lot. Screamer day. 10.3 miles climbing 1621′ needing 1 hr 32 mins of pedaling. I worked real hard today for same time on previous ride which was more enjoyable. Punishment for effort was not reduced time. I do not compete for better time than previous rides. I find it amazing how the same ride takes the same time.
Windy. I drove further down valley to past Bellevue to Steve’s. Wind rocked my van before rain fell enough to hear the pounding on my roof. Ran the furnace most of night while snuggled underneath doubled over summer weight down blanket. Rain did not fall long into the night. This morning clear brilliant blue skies greeted my eyes once th sun rose, more appropriately earth rotated. AQI was in single digits. Steve was up doing chores to me indicating that his adverse reaction to shingles vaccine had worn off. Planned a ride out at Croy to ride Hidden valley where I have never ridden.
Drove out to Croy TH for this purpose built system of trails. Windy and chilly enough for knee warmers, knee socks, and a undershirt under the light weight wool jersey. Topped off with windshell. Just Steve and me. He was leading me to Hidden Valley where in all the rides here this will be the first time. Croy also has trails for dirt bikes of which today there were more than mtn bikers. We pedaled up Bullion connector crossing Bullion basin road connecting with Hidden which is a loop.
Last night’s rain firmed up the tread w/ nary a puff of dust wheeled up. First rain in months. We counted maybe 15 other riders spread out. Steve, as a local and rider of this trail, has his ride which is an out and back to a way point way out there. From that high point the trails drops down climbing turns for a long ways before the big grunt climbing a long climbing traverse. Riding an out and back means that whatever went down going out will be a pedal back out. We were able to ride it all except for a short nasty piece near the top of the connector.
The trail wound around ridge snouts sometimes exposing us to the chilly breeze but then would duck behind a ridge blocking the wind which increased our body temperature tempting us to remove wind shells, However, a short distance we were back in the wind. We rested at the turn around point. Several riders zoomed by, those youngsters. One rider stopped and called me by name as I did him. Years ago I was doing my wash at laundromat in Bellevue when he found me. He lead me on a Deer Creek ride. Seems we run into each other every visit.
Just a beautiful fall day. AQI was less than 10, not even smoke haze. Our ride was 11.4 miles climbing 1289′ pedaling for 1 hr 33 mins. Trails here are a lot easier to ride than the likes of Driveway. Elevation gain is there but on purpose built trails it is mellowed out. Still it was 113′ climbing per mile. Greenhorn Imperial is 157’/ mile. Driveway was 175′.
Back at Steve’s driveway. Chilly with door and windows shut and the furnace burning. 43 degrees. Tomorrow is PT for my hip. I checked UPS tracking for my shock that was sent last Monday with scheduled delivery of that Wed. Tracking shows it is to be delivered this Tues which means it won’t be returned to me until I prolly leave here. Friday I have a fridge service down at Kimberly afterwards I planned on continuing east and south. After 3 rides on the air can I have come to realize that the PUSH shock makes my ride plusher, I want it back on.