As said prior Steve has a list of rides to do. Yesterday was another ride punched on his dance card. Perhaps a once a year ride. We got’er done.

Warm Springs awaited us. Steve figured 3 hours of pedaling to complete the loop. Cold mornings and shortening days boxed us in to a 1:30 pedaling underway from TH at bottom of Red Warrior trail . Stutter bump gravel road way up the creek drive. A common trait Steve and I have is punctuality, we pedal away at the time we planned to start the ride. Today for me a sense of apprehension was way off stage in my brain as this ride was big and possible darkness. I carried my same Wingnut pack in which I carry survivable overnight things like a headlamp, fire starter, and knife. Today my extra food was a small container of peanut butter honey mix and a small baggie of cooked chicken. Whew, the first part of the ride was nonstop pedaling of 7 miles taking just an hour on the stutter bump road into a head wind. Quite a few vehicles passed us each way, some slowing to not dust us and others, mostly kept the pedal down. We stopped for a pee brake. I watched this rig coming at us really fast and stirring up dust. I motioned pushing down my palm to indicate slow down. He was not slowing down so I increased the intensity of my gesture. He did slow down then stopped right at me then yelled at me thru the open window. He dared me to make the gesture again as he was going to beat the shit out of me because it is Idaho. I only ask for curtesy of consideration of your actions adversely affecting another human being: breathing your dust. He had a passenger and 2 full on mtn bikes on back, he is one of us.

At road’s end we turned onto a jeep track after crossing the first of many creek crossings. Several dirt bikers were resting. One shared opinion that we were pedaling and not an ebiker. We wondered if dirt bikers have issues with ebikes. Trail climbed becoming single track right up the shrinking creek. We climbed solid for 2 hours except for blows. Windy, mountainous, way back there, almost all by ourselves.

The vista rest stop at the top of the climb was buffeted by stiff breeze. We coasted a short distance to a calm place not hung over the edge of the trail.

Short break just for a bite and to put on wind shells. Getting towards 5 PM, slanting light rays fall light late afternoon. Back on bikes a short distance later we intersected with Warfield gulch which was our only bailable point. Steve is familiar with the route and insisted we can complete our ride down the next gulch, Red Warrior. A bit of climbing mixed in with downs we arrived at Red Warrior and our descent almost home free.

Years ago Steve lead me on a ride up here and once I pedaled and pushed up what we will be going down. 4.97 miles dropping 1558′ took 32 mins to vans. Backcountry single track crossing and recrossing the creek, each crossing presented challenges and choices: can I pedal across or walk? Decisions were made from track stand. I chose to ride thru each crossing all the while considering that each crossing might have deeper water and is it rideable. My bottom bracket was wetted several times, my front fender caught resulting spray. On and down we went. Arrived at wet foot crossing of Warm Springs creek. We both agreed we were glad the descent was over. The crossing lacked full length crossing stepping stones and the creek was unfavorable to ride cross. Wet feet. All the pedaling really worked my butt cheeks another reason to be glad the ride was finished successfully.

What a ride! We finished 13 mins short of 3 hours, 18.6 miles climbing 1926′. And just after 5PM, sundown 6:50PM.

I drove back to town looking for first open camp spot. Score, first one. Put newspaper inside my shoes then put them in front of the heater duct, now they are on the windshield. Shoes take a long time to dry out. My butt cheeks are being sat on.

I have ridden 9 straight days. The weather and trails here are so desirable and my time here is short, get it while I can.

Today I scored a sleep spot out Trail creek that has internet. No precip in forecast.

This week I will shop for a new refrigerator in Grand Junction, CO. My plan is to set up purchase and install date to pull me there. Maybe 2 weeks.

Monday’s ride on River Run and the return of the camera saga have been covered. Other rides occured during the week worth recounting.

Tues afternoon Steve and I rode the Fox Creek loop which is a short loop of 5.25 miles which includes the hump up lifesaving piece. Steve is slower than me on the climbs but has more umph in the tank for smooth power that he uses to pedal by me while I am gasping for breath. My breathing is my limiter. These trails up here are deep woods and legacy hiking trails that make for fast descents. We really scoot downhill. We let gravity pull us down not expending energy to enhance our speed that only would have to be scrubbed off for a turn. My breathing catches up and heart rate drops. Nice day on drought trails. I drove back down to Steve’s driveway for the night.

Wed we gave another go at the Croy trails riding from Bullion gulch. I switched back to my former camera for pics. Much of this area was burned back in 2013. years ago local Pierre lead my on a spring ride thru full on blooming lupine of its various colors and bouquet. Today, no sign of lupines ever growing there as the fire was severe enough to burn out the roots. These trails are smooth and offer a different ride.

Lots of open sky. 8.68 miles climbing 1043′ is still better than 100′ / mile. Windy.

I spent the night in Bullion gulch where we parked. Creek runs thru it which is favorable for aspen growth. Pretty. My phone rang from the ticket office telling me that my camera had been turned in. Found.

Thurs I drove up to Hailey for laundry. Blaine county has regulation that masks are required and businesses are to post a sign requiring face coverage. Laundromat signs are still missing as were the attendants masks.

Steve had planned a ride up Mahoney creek etc that we started on only to encounter the sheep which their leavings we avoided by riding Cow creek. It is a ride I have not ridden this visit. I drove to Greenhorn TH which was crowded. Again, after a short distance away from the TH I had all the trails to myself. Big hump. I rode this must have been 2012 before the burn, that’s 8 years earlier when I was more spry. Today the climbs left me walking frequently. Way back there. Back using current camera.

Lodgepole pine regrowth is dense.

Big effort ride. I arrived at Imperial and Greenhorn junction a potential exit back to end of ride. I took a break while considering either go big or go home. My ego wanted BIG my body was running on fumes. The trail climbs from the intersection that I attacked too strongly which manifested how little calories I had to burn. Settle down and just keep after it. I wanted to ride the descents on Imperial which is mostly a downhill trail instead of Greenhorn which is a popular climbing trail.

Big effort for short distance of 16.2 miles gaining big of 3012′ needing 2 hrs 27 mins of pedaling. Great ride. Legacy hiking trails open to dirt bikes that have loosened the tread. I drove back down to Steve’s for the night. Afternoon traffic going down river backs up, rush hour traffic in a mountain town.

Friday morning I drove down to Kimberly area to a Norcold service garage to seek remedy of fridge not cooling. Guy blew out dust from outside of the fridge. Dust storm. Might be the needed fix however the temp rose indicating problem is more than accumulation of dust.

Friday afternoon we returned to Croy for a short ride pedaling from Rotorun TH. Access to trails here are heart propelled which spared us the noisy smelly throttle twisters.

Spent the night in Steve’s driveway.

Today will be a ride Steve does once a year out Warm Springs rd. Big day.

My election ballet arrived in my mail forwarding service. I created a shipment to Hailey to arrive early next week which I will stay here to receive. I decided that I would rather get the ballot and vote than having it mailed to where I will be. I want to mark my ballot and be counted.

My PUSH shock arrived after annual service at Steve’s. I put it on for our Friday ride. Let’s say that the coil shock makes sharp edges feel round.

Gotta go experience another big backcountry ride.

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.