Was a legendary employee of the USFS back long ago. A namesake trail runs from Gibson Jack over to Cussik creek and City trails. A black rating. I gave it a go yesterday morning. Forecast wanted strong wind. Trail info was limited to looking at its line on Trailforks. Started from Gibson Jack TH, weekday not crowded.

OK ,start in sage, has to climb but sight unseen to where. Trail was built by mtn bikers for same, heart propelled users only. So  nice because primarily the tread is not beat up. Trailforks showed climbs at both ends with mostly flat once up. No idea of what I was going to ride on, thru, and over. High mountain, but  still sage, hung on the steep mountain sides. Along the way it dipped into gullies that provided enough moisture to change the plants to water loving, deep shade from leaved deciduous trees. Like opening the frigerator door and standing in front of it on a hot day. Welcome relief not needed today. The trail worked in and out of ridges and gullies until it went fully exposed.

The trail continued exposed like above. I went around a snout into strong wind, forecast happening. I got off my bike to stay on the trail. I waited for several minutes waiting out what I hoped to be just a gust. It was short lived. I pedaled on soon to be hit by another blast. Again I waited, this time the ahead trail revealed more of the same exposed steep mtn side. I gave long thought to benefit cost factors. I turned around because the wind might blow me off the trail outslope.

Trail angle was shallow enough angle for me to pedal all of it. On the return I seemed to have coasted a lot telling me that going out was lots of climbing. I would like to go back and ride it in its entirety. To me this trail is what mountain biking is. Bikes actually riding on their namesake.

The 2 previous Pocatello rides had screamer downhills on which I modulated my brakes to maintain sanity. The rear brake was becoming spongey indicating a necessary brake bleed. I new what needed to be done but I kept putting it off. The brake never went limp. I decided during the ride that I would support a local bike shop that had a web site claiming it is what a bike shop should be, something like that. I called them from the lookout on Sterling. ” we’re doing major tunes now and are out 3 weeks”. Brake bleed: a week. City shop not a destination shop. My next planned location is Twin Falls. I googled bike shops selecting Epic which is the closest to Indian Springs S of Kimberly. Spoke with Dan in service. Sure bring it by, we close at 6, just don’t bring it in at 4 and expect turn around. Cool, I could be there today early driving from Poc.

The wound on my leg is of concern and so is the edema. I wanted trained medical advice on treating the wound. PA-C concurred with what I had been doing. Also concern is vascular. The wound site hurts.

Early enough to beat sunset I drove west to Kimberly and the Indian Springs main trailhead. I use google maps for navigation, it’s route used the county roads laid out on rectangles taking me thru rich agriculture land, both in tilled crops and scourge of feed lots. First hay cutting was beyond vibrant green. Irrigating canals made up for shortage from air. Moisture. Nasty head and quartering wind on the way. I filled diesel and did the mileage, 26.8mpg. Running gear seems able. Anchored at a open spot off the road. In hte past the parking areas seemed to segregated by users. The first being horses with their leftovers, the next was dirt bikes, and the mail was the heart propelled users. Dirt bike spot was empty so I picked it. Later 2 rigs arrived with dirt bikes but they were well behaved. Chilly night, ran furnace at wake up.

Today I headed into Twin on US rt 30 to arrive before  bike shop opening at 10 AM opening. Made it. Walked the bike in Dan took it and put in a stand then got after bleeding. He needed to work at it to purge trapped air. $15. I invited myself into their work space, Dan and Steve. I used my dormant verbal skills to regale them with tales. Steve gets around so we shared several ride spots. I was allowed in for many hours, they were captive and I felt welcomed. Wonderful to have human interaction. Wonderful visit, we parted with warm strong handshakes. And my brake was bled.

Shop guys concur with what Troy said about maybe next year there will be a big dump of used mountain bikes for sale as some people who bought them during the covid experience then learned that mountain biking was not for them and decided to clean their garage putting that bike up for sale. Steve said that the new bike sales will be slack because of all the almost new bikes on the web. One day you’re up, the next you’re down as the cycle repeats itself just with different music. He also said that trail courtesy has deteriorated, it’s newbies regardless of age.

Dirt biker rig just pulled in beside me.

Change. Change from a previous solution. Today I needed propane and water. I drove into Kimberly to fill up from an outside spigot at a gas station. Shit, it is going thru reconstructive construction eliminating that spigot. Next was gas station where I bought propane previously. parked next to tank then walked in and asked for fill. We no longer fill, see station at the corner. I drove to the corner and was filled. Add this location for future. I scored water at the bike shop. I finally found Happy Camper bread in Hailie and Ketchum. Change for the good. Rear brake will have more bite.

 

Returned to Indian Springs

Where it is pretty much either or. Up or down. Mountain range right outside of town. Ride up a drainage, cross ove down cross over back maybe. Or start at the bottom and make a big loop to finish on screamer downhill. I rode here several years ago as current images called from memory same thing. On Sat I drove from Vernal to said city arriving late afternoon. Caribou NF manages those mtns. I researched camp spots in the forest. Scant. I drove up Mink Creek into the forest. Paved road is right in the creek bottom, no camping. Several trailheads right on the rd but did not display no camping signs. I drove further up turning abruptly on rd 006 that was decent condition gravel. Climbed up out of bottom. Memory recall to the fore that I stayed here on that visit. Found same spot as first 1. No internet. Arrobalsamroot flowers are going off.

I did receive Trailforks to plan my rides. I am here as a solo touron, Sunday no bike shops open. Rides always seem doable on the screen. And then actually riding the selected trail. Give me a smart phone with reception and should I put on my readers I can remain found.

So, Sunday drove down across the bottom then back up Gipson Jack drainage. Plan was to ride up Slate Mtn then ride connecting trails to go down Gipson Jack. I rode maybe this same route last trip, at least that’s how I started. Trail reviews remarked about pedal strikes because of narrow below grade tread. At first the trail was wide for a side by side, old comment? I came to a trail sign for Slate Mtn, the trail I was to take. I was following mountain bike track, he lead me. I stayed on what turned out to be a motorized trail, not built for mountain bikers. loose rock rubble. Steep. I pushed quite a lot as my engine lacks the power to propel me sufficiently. Along the way I did stop and put on my glasses and learned what I did which made my ride shorter, quicker to the return downhill. Dirt bikers descending, me pushing up. Encountered first patch of snow, sure enough still a mountain bike track. All clear. I stopped at a high spot and climbed up onto the ridge line. I am at the top of the climb finally. One last snow patch to kick steps in and drag my bike up.

Short steep climbing turns downhill ended at jeep road. Map check: turn right pedal in meadow short distance

to start of Gipson Jack downhill. Then breathing became less frequent as gravity became my engine. Trail is below grade, is heart propelled only. Riding on woods dirt under tree canopy beside a clear flowing stream. 3.59 miles down dropping 1129′, needed 17 mins to end. Seat dropped, attack position, bell jingling with bumps, and looking. Just 2 hikers entire ride down.

garmin needs some minimum movement value to record. I pushed a lot and stopped for gaspers which garmin won’t acknowledge. I also mapped using backcountry navigator which doesn’t care if I take a nap. garmin said 7.73 miles in 1 hr 3 mins climbing 623′. BCN said 9 miles climbing 1803′ moving time of 1 hr 32 mins. Average heart rate was only 112. I was worked, elevation topped out at 6951′.

Road 006  is seasonally gated, I arrived the day to be open. Woods are getting along with covering up the previous snowpack. Green leaves. I am temporarily out of the desert after 6 months.

Yesterday an intense short lived thunderstorm battered the van up at anchor spot.

Last night again studying Trailforks I came up with a ride starting down the canyon Then climb up, down, up, across, down ride.

Drove down to the other end of Slate mtn trail, my only choice and it was up right after crossing Mink Creek. Not badly beat up by dirtbikes. Loose sharp edged rocks maybe softball size and below. I pedaled from gasp to gasp mixing in hik a biking of steeper sections. My engine is affected by age and wear. Dirt bike coming my way was company. He was packing a small chainsaw. Trail is below grade, pedal strikes, and scraped by encroaching sage brush. Trail is not brushed back. Turned left on Slate downhill that dropped down a small drainage. Smooth dirt tread with squiggles, trail open to heart propelled which made for enjoyable trail condition. Intersected with Birthday creek trail that was also opened to us. Nice single track but surprisingly worn to below grade. Deep forest cover. Over time the brush had been cut back, we hearts can do it, the engine powered people just wear armor I guess. More hiking just because I blow up. Trail ended onto 4X4 road pedaling over to start of Corral creek descent. A dirt biker preceded me putting up engine exhaust and dust until he went faster than me. Screamer downhill, most bends had a berm of sorts. Fast. Pop out of forest then coast down the road to 2nd TH for Valve House short piece then dirt parallel to hard road trail to van.

Garmin said 9.78 miles pedaling for 1 hr 26 mins climbing 879′ and descending 1913, BPM was 116. BCN said 10.7 in 1 hr 39 mins climbing 2027. Again pushing. Definitely rode hard. Elevation is more than 1,000 higher so far this spring.

Today I needed drinking water for rest of the day and start tomorrow, I drink filtered water from water machines which at least lessen the chlorine taste. And internet for this. Long drive to Albertson’s store with an outdoor Glacier vending machine and internet access.

Tomorrow will be another either or ride, spend the night, then on Wed drive to Indian Springs S of Kimberley. Steve said he will drive down to ride with me.

Did ride Friday at McCoy trying to repeat previous ride. festicle is my kind of trail: purpose built by hand using topography for sustainability and enjoyment. Weather moved in with a violent front so strong I was forced to shelter behind a juniper; too strong to remain upright.  Spent the night same spot.

Sat I drove up to Red Fleet trails outside the state park. As I drove up canyon I  spied to my right numerous downhill lines worn into hard red dirt. There is a loop around that I had ridden two previous visits. Today, blew it off as scene was bike parkish. Spectacular mountain scenery and highways. Flaming Gorge.

 

Zing and yang. Take Gorilla Glue, a hybrid maybe 23% THC, vape it at 356 degrees for maybe 20 hits then finish the bowl off at 398 degrees to wring out every last bit of THC settling into the dreaded couch lock where time and energy seem to slow to molasses in March. My body is crushed into the driver’s seat, my legs are resting on a small stool, upon occasion when I can break free of the lock I step to the stove and reheat water to make hot wash cloth compress on my shin cut (?). Skin is reforming, I hope.

So, during yesterday’s conversation with Troy he spoke highly of big grins on a trail named Raceway. Today I took him up on his recommendation after making clean clothes. Trailhead is about 17 miles N of town. Trailforks linked to Maps and me asking for the software to navigate, then me skippering the van I arrived at the TH. Flatout bleak open dry desert. Manifest cattle grazing damage. Full exposure, temp in upper 70s, scattered clouds, little breeze. Racetrack is directional, climb to high point then mostly let gravity and trail braking assist me  back to start. Several short climbs harshed to coast buzz. Downhill was like a ski slalom course having almost in line short bends with slight berm to. Carve and angulate. Drop the seat. Swoop. Cows. I did enjoy speed that I was not working for.

Finished at van where another trail, Corkscrew, took off. It was there and I had energy and desire to ride it. A short stem out and back piece lead to a Y, decision time, Robert frost Poem time location shifted to desert, which path to take. A rock arrow pointed left, clock wise. First time here, I rode the pointed direction which was single track

through open sage over grazed desert. Complete exposure. Five miles of climbing to high point then learn namesake. It dropped down a drainage shoulder twisting as needed to build a sustainable tread. G outs, fork compressions. Finished riding 15.8 miles climbing 1270′, pedaled for 1 hr 52 mins w/ average bpm of 122.

On Corkscrew all but a small distance is on BLM land that is grazed. The climb route up a ways was lined by sawed down and left to decay junipers. Cut and left. Learned it was BLM effort to improve rangeland for grazing.

All by myself. Finished ride then drove back to town. Stopped at bike shop, asked if still allowing writing on the restroom wall, yes, I asked for a marker which was found, and I added 2021 to my writing. One wrench grew up in Price where another shop owned by same owner is located. We shared local knowledge.

I drove back to corral. Before I got there I came upon a camper van and a pickup with the tailgate down, 2 guys were sitting on tailgate each consuming beer from a can. I was waved over. It was troy and a buddy. I stopped in the road while we conversed. I learned that all the bike trails were built and not cow trails. we talked about the lack of trail etiquette, he said it is the newbies, I asked if was by age and he said it is the new riders regardless of age, they expect to come and ride and let other people make the trails happen. Because they are new they have no connection to past.

Where I wanted to stay at the corral was populated with 3 vans, I drove past then took the first off shoot parking on grazed over land. Crowded.

Figure I will stay here tomorrow and ride another day, perhaps repeat Festicle then stay the night. Sat leave for red Fleet N of town for a ride. Soon I will be in trees and water.