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.

Forecast is becoming reality as it is calling for possible snow Sunday, fall temps arriving. This AM I started in shorts and sandals, then stepped outside at Steve’s. It’s OK to fully cover my legs. Now in long pants but still short sleeve shirt but under wool shirt. Resisting acceptance of cold I am still wearing my Bedrock sandals. Today forecast called for gusts to 28 mph and possible showers. I am sitting in Hailey and that part of forecast has not arrived. I could still ride and prepare for forecast.

Yesterday Steve met me at the Greenhorn intersection for a ride known as Driveway Gulch. Earlier he received his shingles shot and was feeling affected. He gave me the description for this ride. I made digital mapping app of backcountrynavigator accept track my route. Trailforks gave some info but when out of gps signal it just shows trails as lines but no background which is lacking. I will be going back to a place I have no knowledge of. No local for guiding. I followed driving directions up the east fork. I pulled into a large turnout maybe on private unsigned property. I geared up in light summer clothing to match the heat. I pedaled up the road to enter FS land and passed suitable parking spots and occupied campsites. I could have driven further lessening pedaling. I wasn’t going back.

At the turn up Cove creek 2 sheriff’s deputies on atvs. 1 stopped to visit, me more than him. They were out checking on campers. I learned that today is opening day for rifle deer which explains the crowds. He said that they respond to misbehavior, he said they make a call whether to cite or talk. I started up the climb on a gated double track, climbing and climbing. I stopped for a navigation check when a rider pedaled past. I asked if he was riding Driveway, he said yes. Good to know. I could not keep up with him. It took me almost an hour to arrive at single track that I assumed would be start of big downhill.

This piece was short lived when it connected to a steeply descending atv trail.

Shit, I was expecting single track. Steep drop down to Indian creek. Encouraging to see mtn bike tracks validating I was following the route. descent stopped arriving at beat up jeep road that climbed up said creek, relentlessly, not steeply but a grunt at above 6,000′. Aspen golden.

Followed road to saddle where I stopped for a navigation break, per the map single track was just ahead but first a very steep fall line atv track hike a bike awaited. Hmm…. no bike tracks. I looked around. There were 2 double tracks leading the other way with an old like fence line separating them. I walked down the left one seeing no tracks. I continued to what appeared to be the dead end. I saw a single track heading off the left side in the direction I needed to go. There were mtn bike tracks. I broadened my search discovering that bikes took the right track. Concern was trail was not per the map nor was it signed. I dropped in on a well worn trail. Please be the correct trail as I dreaded a pedal back out. Single track continued to drop then turned into a slightly used dirt tread till connecting with road back to van. I made it.  11.4 miles needing 1 hr 49 mins, gaining 1998′. Repeating again the rides here are energy demanding effort. Some is elevation, others most everything here is either up or down, little spinning.

Back at the van a big camper trailer was parked complete with newer truck and atv in the bed. I heard and saw a likely ranch truck pull in and park. Guy went over to trailer guy, short story, the visitor was ranch manager and we were on his property. I told the camper he had to leave. We chatted, he said I was fine. He has had his fill with rifle hunters leaving trash etc that he won’t let them stay. I noticed the trailer guy wore a holstered small auto on his hip and the mgr seemed to have similar but hidden by his untucked tshirt. Camper guy was prolly going to hunt, why carry a defensive weapon out here? Afraid of people.

Drove back to Steve’s. Bellevue is located at maybe the mouth of the valley exposing it to lots of wind and velocity. Windy rocking drive down. we sat outside visiting till bedtime.

Thurs was laundry day. ID requires posted sign at doorway requiring face covering. Last wash day those signs were there, today none. I called city hall and reported them. To date signs are not back up.

Thurs was followup appointment with naturopath via zoom. She listened to my progress and complimented me on my progress. I have not eaten sugar, baked treats, gluten, or drunk a beer. I suppose I am feeling better. Certainly eating just good stuff and I still have no body fat. I am to continue this diet for another 3 months and reorder as necessary the herbs. Care is expensive and out of my pocket. Steve and I planned the Driveway gulch ride after the appointment. I needed internet for the call. I parked at east fork road in time to connect to her web site. At the appointed time she was not online. Shit: Oregon is 1 hour behind, I was an hour early. I screwed the pooch for our ride.

So, ever increasing number of houseflies are occupying my van. Bothersome.

Smoke comes and goes here in the valley. Today air is high yellow. Hazy skies.

Put new Formula brake rotor on rear wheel. I backed the 6 bolts out of the hub shell and discovered 2 of the threaded holes were partially broken out. Not good. I crossed my fingers and installed the new rotor and bolts, the 2 damaged holes head tension. I torqued the bolts, all held. New pads and rotor require bedding in which is just a bunch of controlled stops which smears pad material on rotor. Beaded in quickly producing no squeal. Good to go. I maybe getting close to buying a new wheel from I9 with the new Hydra hub which is much improved over the Torch now on. Carbon rims 35.1mm internal width. I researched Maxxis tire site for tire compatibility learning that my 41mm rims are too wide.

Hailey’s covid count is increasing which is causing discussion on further restrictions. So far it deals with group sizes, not a lock down. I wear my mask when ever required.

Gonna try a ride.

This summer and into the fall my right leg has been unhappy. During the summer my right knee was fixed thru physical therapy. At that time my hip was barking. As time went on the barking came from a bigger dog causing me more discomfort. I kept putting off treatment. My first attempt of fixing was a chiro adjustment last week here in Hailey which corrected back alignment that I hoped would have fixed my hip. It did not. Finally this last weekend I reached a tipping point to take action. I drove down to Hailey on Tuesday and sat in internet service and researched PT. I found what appeared to be the more attractive office and I walked to the office. It was closed. Next choice. I called, phone was answered, I explained my need, she asked when I could come in. Soon. She said that today there was a 2 PM opening and next opening would be next week. I booked the appointment. Next was to obtain a DR referral to satisfy medicare.  In town there is an urgent care office. I walked to that office and discovered the PT office was right across the hallway. DR poked my hip finding the piriformis muscle was the source of pain. Received the referral. Received the PT which started my recovery in stretches and exercises. I later made another appointment for next week. I am able to ride while overiding the discomfort. Overuse on old equipment is bound to produce unhappy parts.

On Tues I missed a ride with Steve and the Boys but I drove out to where they rode from on Boullion gulch. Learned of sweet sleep spot in the gulch.

Spent quiet night.

Steve planned a ride on Wed at Croy which is just down the road from this spot. The Croy trails are on BLM land and are mostly purpose built favoring mtn bikes, some were machine built others old school dirt work. We met at 1 PM for blast off. Sunny day and in upper 70s for heat with no shade.

Joy of riding with a local who picks the ride and guides me, I become sloppy in not remembering the trail names, that’s Steve’s role to keep me found. This area is where you ride early or late in the year to not get baked.  Today we rode Lambs Gulch that I haven’t ridden since before the burn in 2013.

Lambs Gulch is off Democrat gulch. There were numerous beaver dams and pools on the creek. The fire seemed to have burned the dams and this year’s drought has dried up the creek and several small springs. Fire was intense enough to kill even the sage plant roots. Regrowth succession is sparse.

Steve pulled me down Lambs gulch at high speed. His actions prepared me for what I would be riding over.

Trails here are smooth with berms making for high speed descents. Quite different than trails further up the Valley in the trees.

On Monday I pulled off my PUSH eleven 6 coils shock then UPS’d it back to them for annual service. I reinstalled the stock Monarch air shock. My first ride was yesterday on air can and I did not know what to expect. Worse case the suspension would have been a handful, best it would not be as plush. The trails maybe didn’t fully test the different shock as I enjoyed my ride. I should have elevensix back on next week.

I made a fridge service appointment to make it run colder for next Friday down at Twin. If my shock is back I will continue my travels heading east and south.

Extreme drought here in Wood river valley. Some days smoke drifts in from distant fires. Air quality falls to unhealthy some days. Today’s forecast calls for periods of smoke, yesterday was just for haze.

Aspen trees turn colors and drop their leaves depending upon their location. Sunday I walked up Corral creek from where I stay on Trail creek. Bare trees.

Drove to laundromat in Hailey today.  Signs requiring masks have been removed in violation of law. Several customers showed their defiance and ignorance by being uncovered.

Today I have a virtual appointment with naturopath concerning my gut health. I have been on a SIBO diet now for a month and taking her prescribed herbs to some success. I still have no body fat but still have energy to ride strongly. Haven’t drunk a beer, eaten ice cream, or baked treats for a month. Eating lots of chicken and fruits.

House flies are my guests in my van. Lots, just tolerate them while waiting for killing cold. I have watched copulation which I break up with a swat. Before my hand reaches the couple they break free. So much procreation I wonder where she lays her eggs.