Steve continues to fil his role as my ride host. Our selection of rides has gone down his list, on Monday it was up and down on River Run at the ski hill.
The trail is a single track bermed fast downhill that we pedaled up to a turn around point, took a rest stop then turned 180 degrees and let gravity repay energy expended on the way up. 3.61 miles taking 41 mins to gain 820′, that’s a whopping 227′ / mile!!!!! We rested at that turn around spot, I took my pack off and set it down, I found a suitable sit down. Break over, I hoisted my back onto my back and cinched various straps down. I carry my camera in the left outside of the pack mesh pocket as I have been doing for literally thousands of miles. Sometimes during the settling of my pack on my back I hunch my shoulders which in turn raises the pack, sometimes the camera falls out and lands at my feet. I pick it up and return it to its pocket. Good to go, I neglected to look around for left objects nor did I check the pocket at the start nor during the descent as I occasionally to during a ride. It took 21 mins to descend. The trail, has maybe 15 steeply bermed corners with the tread having patches of loose sharp edged rocks. Perfect setup for an out of control high speed crash. I favor sensible speed to match my concern for caution. I let Steve lead for my model, he sometimes goes faster that I am willing to do, following him at his speed kept me off my brakes. Big smile and sense of exhilaration from the speed and our ability to remain upright. We sat in the parking lot for a bit. I put my bike on the van and loaded, nothing left behind, stuff inside, and drove away up to Trail Creek which was camped full. Fall back was up Corral creek which is out of internet. My chosen spot had a full view of the Pioneers that I wanted to commit to digits. I reached for my camera from my pack which is on top of the fridge. Nada, empty pocket, no fear, check the right as mix up has occurred. NADA. Camera is AWOL. Once I accepted the fact that it is missing I thought thru events to hopefully put the camera back in my pack. Tues, the next day I arrived at the ski base seeking the lost and found office. They were not open, I called a posted number and a woman answered. I met her at the window and she wrote down my info. I then hiked the trail up to our rest spot scanning the downhill sides of the trail. Shitty way to mess up a good hike. I retraced the trail again peering. Nothing. I called the local newspaper for a free lost and found ad. I reported the loss to the Ketchum police. My phone number is etched on the camera. I had done what I figured to do. Either someone found it or it is lost. Wed evening I receive a phone call from the ticket office telling me my camera is there. Thurs AM after laundry i drive up to Ketchum and retrieve my lost camera. Our rest spot was right near a ski lift base that workers were working on, I learned one of then turned it in. Today, Friday, the local newspaper hits the streets with me lost notice. During the day I receive a phone call from a person at the ski hill telling me my camera is there. I than him and tell him it is back with me. early this evening I receive a phone call from a woman who told me she and her husband hiked by and saw a white sock with a red strap sticking out of it. She picked it up seeing it was a camera then she gave it to the employee who turned it in who caused the person to call me to tell me she had my camera. That’ the saga and reaffirmation that goodness exists. For me it might have been reward for my turning in items to lost and found. I still carry my camera in the same pocket and always check for it after I put my pack on.
There was riding in there also. More another posting. On laundry day I hung 7 liners to dry, 1 for each day, 7 days in a row. Today’s ride made 8, tomorrow will be 9.
Bed time.