Sat I rode from where I stayed the night before as I would this night.
Ride climbed up gentle grade single track Lamb’s gulch. Back in 2013 the Beaver Creek forest fire burned every plant completely leaving black dirt. Steve and I ride thru here I don’t remember how many years after the fire, I do remember the complete black and no sign of green regrowth. The sage was burnt to ground. Curious if burn was hot enough to kill under the ground. Steve and I rode this trail years later and saw green . Last year we rode it again and saw more green. This year on my ride to me the regrowth was stupendous, among new plants was sage. What remains as history to burn are several snags. Down low the flowering plants were past bloom noticeably the arrowhead balsamroot.
Plants respond to conditions. As I gained elevation, even in the same gulch, the balsamroot was still in bloom. The salsify is a weed that nothing eats yet it consumes resources native plants need. The above area was completely burned. Lupine regrowth and amazing quantity of salsify plants as I saw elsewhere further along on ride.
Trail climbs out of gulch continuing as above to top out for a descent of an unnamed gulch, reward for earlier climb. Trail use short piece of road. I pedaled within prolly 16 inches from rattlesnake that was traveling in same direction. I heard a rattle sound then stopped several feet past. I looked back to see the snake
Passed the snake I turned onto social trail which connected to Two Dog trail to climb out. Years ago on a ride with Steve a rattlesnake rolled onto the trail from above that I stopped to allow it to move out of the way. Not same snake. I wonder if snakes survived the fire. I have been told there is a hibernaculum in the area, which is populated when temps drop, fire was in summer time. Trail topped out for descent ending at uphill climb out then dropped for last descent. Road ride back to van. 9.78 miles climbing 1152′, pedaling for 1 hr 22 mins.
Lack of disciplined breathing continues to adversely affect performance. I stop frequently for blows.
I drove back to town for social evening of dinner at KBs then out to Bullion basin spot.
Sunday I chose Greenhorn Imperial gulches ride. Sunday morning for a very popular place. Sure enough parking was plugged even rigs parking on horse trailer space, albeit no horses. At the start of Greenhorn a new machine built section of trail to reroute out of creek had just been completed. It joined original trail which turns up the gulch climbing. I stopped for many blows. Just last fall I rode all of it except for 1 steep climb.
At start of Imperial more climbing and traversing to top of gulch rewarded by a fast downhill.
Good things don’t last as cost of fun was a climb out of gulch then descent down to Beaverhead. On this last downhill I incorrectly matched body position and front wheel traction on a slight bend over unsettled dirt. Front wheel washed out sending me crashing to ground on my left side. Just a sliding stop. My bike was entwined with my legs. No body parts sending alarm signals, just places I hit the dirt. My lower leg was weeping blood, outpouring ran down into my sock. I spit hydration water over the wound for me to assess need for first aid. Just a flesh wound. I put off treatment as my van and more extensive bandaging was a short descent away. The trail at the bottom crossed the creek where previous bridge had been washed away making crossing a wet feet. I splashed clear creek water over the wound which opened the clotting. Blood continued to flow as I pedaled to van. At van I scrubbed the wound to see what appeared to be ground in dirt. I used a finger brush to debride. The a Neosporin covered large band aid was applied which contained the bleeding. Other scrapes bled enough to clot and not require bandaging. I resupplied my bandaging material at grocery store.
Back out to Democrat gulch for night and into today and for the night. Forecast wanted rain last night and today. I have made today a rest day. It’s 1:35 PM at 5518′ 55 degrees with heater running when controller sends signal.
My left leg is not happy either because of vein gluing procedure or same did not cure existing condition, I experience bouts of short lived intense pain, intermittent throughout day or not at all. Today I called a clinic in Bend that performs same treatment asking to be seen. Next Monday at 1PM appointment. I plan on enjoying Wood River environs till Sat morn when I will head to Bend.
Friend Steve lives here, Belleview. This visit he is fighting a massive cold of some kind such that he might not be well enough to even visit before I leave. He called me this morning, my phone said it was his number but his voice was not recognizable.
Blue sky patches are appearing, yet possible rain clouds remain. Sucker hole for a walk?
Enough for now.
Over.