During last year’s fall visit I helped at a Wood River Trails Coalition volunteer work event cutting back sage brush bordering a trail, Sage had 2″ wet snow on top. Cutting sage brush needs a saw and not loppers. Nasty work, give me ceanothus. A raffle happened and I won a mountain bike lesson with acceptable conditions. I and the to be instructor, Cameron, scheduled school session for yesterday morning. I invited Steve. Cameron went thru several basic skills then moved on to wheel lifts gained by aggressively compressing the suspension, front or back depending upon which wheel to lift, skilled Cameron showed how each worked. Steve and I struggled to put into effect. He also corrected my body position to put my nose more over the steer tube which weights the front wheel to give traction. We both grabbed onto that change. Then we pedaled out to a slight tech feature to work on. The climb was within my ability but I have fear of stalling and falling downhill. Being spotted didn’t alleviate my fear, I finally got it. Trust the bike and make it work for me.

Today Steve and I met Kirk and his  brother Tony up at Hulen Meadows. Fox Creek and Chocolate Gulch. Pleasant start warm up in creek bottom until the climb out. Steep, Steve continued his streak of pedaling proficiency. Each of us blew up wherever. Steve said he lit a match to describe his blow. Just after that spot a short steep descent that I needed brakes for. I pulled on the levers but the brakes lacked full power. I made it down. My brakes were affected by a free bike clean in Hailey where the cleaner washed the rotors with cleaner. As other braking opportunities arose the brakes restored their grip. Today I made all the switchbacks, one was a previous all time failure. Then the descent screamer. My nose was over the stem which kept that front wheel glued to the dirt and making turns. Sure like this bike’s handling. Finished back at Kirk’s who fed us.

Thursday Steve and I rode a shortened Trade Route, his description. Forecast called for clouds but no rain. Before we started we looked up valley to see rain clouds descending. We added rain coats. The Saddle trail is old forest dirt that I enjoy. Sprinkles caught us up high, raincoats on. I followed Steve down over chunder, I had a loss of confidence moment that caused me to resort to picking my way down. I watched Steve who also rides a Revel but it is the 29″ wheel rascal. He seemed to steer his bike letting it do its suspension work. I took that cue by riding over the rocks. Much faster. 8.43 miles pedaling 1 hr 30 mins climbing 1499′, that’s 178′ / mile, that’s big.

At Steve’s I helped pull up meadow salsify weed on his land.  We picked in the morning leaving no visible yellow flowers. The field across his road is mass salsify:

That evening driving same road the flowers were not visible. Steve found the plant identification, a nickname is “Jack go to bed at noon” because around noon the flowers retract. Crazy. Pull it in the morning as the yellow flowers give it away. After noon they are all green somewhat blending in with other green vegetation.

Aspen is still coming on. This spot on Cow Creek connector is where I shot fall colors

I’m buying shop socks from Revel bike dealers. I added from Idaho Cycles up in Ketchum.

Forecast for tomorrow is rain. My van transmission replacement date is this Tues in Bend. I plan on driving that way tomorrow. Diesel is $5.74 here, Bend is a $100+ bill.

I joined the Wood River Trails Coalition which is the local volunteer group supporting the USFS.

 

Spring is coming on, or maybe it is summer is not here. Last weekend dumped more snow up high that justifies NOAA’s flood warning. Vegetation is green, streams are flowing. 35 degrees this wake up at 5644′. Heater ran all night.

Sat night I spent up at Ketchum where rain fell in the morning that I assumed would be the same down stream. Maybe the weather moved on negating the local weather condition. Down at Hailey the roads were dry, I sat in town and saw several rigs with mountain bikes on them returning from up Croy and their bikes appeared to be clean. I continued with resting. I took on water and groceries then drove out Croy seeing little wet, could have ridden on hero dirt aka brown pow. I spent the night up Bullion Gulch.

I have been harvesting mice living in the protection of the exterior of the van. I set out 2 traps again 2 nights ago, in the morning only 1 trap had an occupant, the other still had slathered peanut butter in tact. Last night I did not set any out. Are the traps catching the riders or are they attracting visitors? Any case, a dead one is a good one.

Yesterday Steve lead me on another Croy ride, this one out Lambs Gulch which is private land but after either change of heart of former owner or a new owner riding is allowed. Several years it was burned leaving black as the only color. This year wild flowers of lupine and arrowhead balsam root plants are back. No sage regrowth.

We descended the gulch at the right edge of the pic.

For the fist part of ride I rode behind Steve and talked because he is slower which keeps me in check. My bpm reflected that. We crossed Democrat gulch road seen above for the start of monster climb, Steve told me to go ahead which I did and my bpm reflected my push. I seem to be recovering from the cold.

Out here the sky and land are open, so great to see green growing vegetation.

Recreating on wet trails damages them regardless of method of travel yet signs are posted instructing mountain bikes to turn around if the trail is wet. I have ridden dry trails with cast in horse hoof prints that were made when the trail was wet. Those tracks pock mark the tread. Bikes leave a rolled tire depressing and not very deep that will roll out over a short amount of time. Hikers will seek to keep their feet dry by walking the edges of the puddle which widens the trail. All users should stay off wet trails and signs should reflect that.

Today Steve will be riding his ebike legally on our ride as I want to see how he rides it. I will continue to huff and puff and earn my turns. He could ride behind me and talk to me.

On the aspects we rode yesterday the lupine was all yellow which is interesting as other aspects at Croy will be purple / blue.

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.