NOAA posts a flood warning until further notice. Water and lots of it. Storm last weekend dumped feet of snow here also up high.
Thursday morning I drove away from open sage country heading north, somewhere up stream the Wood River to Steve’s S of Bellevue. Met him at his house. He assisted his wife’s horse jumping training then we headed further up river to Hailey then out to Croy. riding here is seasonal, it gets winterized last and melts out the first, it is on open sage terrain. Trails are machine built that are aging in, tread is hard pack and sheds water. Wild flowers are blooming dependent upon exposure and elevation. Lupine is coming on teasing with their fragrance come critical mass.
Longer lasting climbs, still our 9.79 miles climbed 1355′, that’s 138’/mile. That’s big. I made Steve my effort governor as I never went anaerobic.
I stopped at Chip’s shop before hand. While there a customer, Chip knows well, entered. I gleaned from their conversation that he worked on ski hill on lifts. Last year I lost my camera near a lift tower and several days later I retrieved it from lost and found. I learned a hiker turned it into a maintenance person who turned it in to lost and found. I complimented the guy for his crew’s integrity. The guy smiled as he remembered my camera.
Did laundry in Hailey then:
Back down to Steve’s driveway and enjoying dog companionship with his Jack Russel terrier. She has taught me her pleasure scratch locations.
Fri I took myself on a ride Greenhorn Imperial loop. parking lot packed, scored a just emptied spot. Ride up Greenhorn, climb a bit of Imperial then drop all that elevation. Greenhorn is a gulch
Lots of effort to cut out. Viewshed is steep hillside both directions. Dirt is firm, no dust and little mud. My body struggled with the climb causing many blow stops. Hit Imperial which climbs some more but is out in open for the most part, the gulch is way below.
10.1 miles climbing 1713′, greeter than 100’/ mile. It’s the long climbs that are taxing plus the fading effects of my chest cold. 2 snow patches on Imperial where steps had already been kicked.
Sat morn at Adams Gulch north of Ketchum was a volunteer trail work day that I signed up for. I drove further up river to Ketchum then turned upstream of Trail Creek and primitive camping. Preferred spots are on the road as internet signal is strong (hence writing this), however all spots were occupied. Plan B then was turning upstream another feeder of Corral Creek for an open designated camp spot but no internet.
I steamed this piece of Copper River salmon
Natural coloring.
Last repair shop told me mice are riding along. Last night I baited 2 spring traps with peanut butter then put on top of the engine. I attached a leash to each in case the trap might drop where I could not get it in case a mouse did loose its life. This morning I opened the hood finding I scored 100 %, 2 for 2. Tonight I set them out again.
Today was trail work on Forbidden Fruit a machine built flow trail. Chilly overcast and infrequent sprinkles. 40 volunteers plus FS. Pedaled up Eve’s then walked up the trail. I missed that everybody was riding bikes to work site while mine was still on my van. I was told where to meet the fellow lopers. In the short amount of time it took me to get on my bike everybody was long gone. Riding my bike in heavy long pants, hiking shoes and a hard hat. I ended up hiking entire trail and never connected with my crew so I return hiked on Eve’s and trimmed out whatever messed with present and future sight lines. Got a hardy hike.
Now back out on Trail creek
Back into long sleeve flannel shirt but still shorts and sandals. Forecast wants more precip. For me quite something to see all this water. Tomorrow’s ride up here dependent upon precip.