Mountains: they go up against gravity. Gravity pulls down. What goes down has to be climbed first. For the most part riding here is either up (work) or later down (smiles).

I have been staying outside Hailey up Democrat gulch at entrance to Lambs gulch. I have ridden Croy trails 2X from this spot, first was loop of Lambs Gulch over to Two Dog, second eliminated Lambs.

Trails are rideable climbing, however, A Real man is his own motor has been losing power for years with this visit meaning walking more. I can push bike but not so much pedaling. I heard from an endurance racer at Fruita tell of hard heart effort can damage the heart suggesting lower heart rate which I suppose I have taken to heart (literally) as I baCK OFF FROM NEEDED HARD PUSH TO MAKE THE GRADE ( no sig of caps, didn’t chose to correct). Rides here exceed 100’/mile. What went up somewhere turns down for coasting which drops my heart rate. My rides are of shorter distance and time, however the shortness takes perceived many minutes to pass.

Yesterday I rode Cow Creek loop, one of Steve’s favorites. From  Greenhorn Gulch TH the trail climbs up the namesake creek on a short piece of newly reconstructed machine built trail which provides vista point to riparian area reconstruct by beavers.

Trail then climbs up Mahoney creek with mix of tree cover of aspen and Doug fir, no Ponderosa here. Then sort of climbing and traversing over to descend not in the creek itself.

Just big open country. Excellent day to be outside. My stopping more frequently for blows and walking more allows me to savor the scenery. These trails are legacy condition. Descent of Cow creek and others are legitimate single track as sage brush and tall thick grasses constrain widening. Brush cover hides trail side pedal grabbers which frighten me for fear of hitting a foot.  This ride is the 3rd year in a row almost to same day, albeit without Steve who is recovering from some nasty bug. All by myself. 7.71 miles climbing 1152′ pedal time of 1 hr 12 mins, enough for me.

Down at TH the FS district trails person was there after completing evaluation of Imperial Gulch reroute which will make trail sustainable. Previously I heard a local rider say the FS was hanging at a non motorized trail system to cite M-bike riders, local guy said LEO saw no motorized bikes. Today, this FS guy concurred that FS will be after scofflaws. He also said the FS has hired a non leo person to hike the trails as a steward that having no authority to write citations, they will tell the rider they must turn around.  Here in the valley there are many miles of trails open to motorized and others heart propelled. If M-bikes are permitted on a trail that is the law. I prefer to ride on only heart propelled trails.

Cleaned clothes are back in the van. I wore 1 shirt and pants all week long. Fresh undershorts every day as are my bike short liners. Dryer costs 25 cents for 3 mins but washer is $3,50. Revenue comes at the wet end.

 

 

 

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.

Yesterday afternoon I arrived in Wood River Valley from yon. I left Fruita on Tuesday driving to Price, UT arriving in time for a ride on Luke’s system, spent the night, Wed I drove thru Salt Lake City stopping for a ride then drove to Kimberly for Indian Springs ride night then ride the next day. Thurs I rode there then drove to Wood River Valley. Many miles covered and rides.

Fruita: the Kokopeli trails cover lots of territory and miles with very few others to share space with. On Sunday I rode Troy Built, an out there all by myself trail. Previous years I had ridden this route, however, in my angst of acceptance of my declining ability and confidence, I was apprehensive for my safe ride. I passed.

I rode down Hawkeye which has climbing also. Tough enjoyable trail I avoid climbing. Later I hiked part way up as recovery and causing my body’s reflexes to navigate irregular terrain and also to watch riders. One rider stopped on his climb to visit. He told me he wrote the guide to mountain biking in Pennsylvania years ago. We chatted about rides in the state. He also knows Herm who creates Purple Lizard PA trail maps whom I know. Cool connections.

Monday I hiked a bit out at McGinnis area. I saw the parking lot was plugged so I chose another spot to park and hike.

This spring has been very windy. Where I park N of Loma is exposed and is buffeted by cross winds as parked. Rock a baby.

Tuesday continued the wind velocity as I drove to Price, Cross and head winds kept both hands on the steering wheel for proper lane travel. In Price I visited the bike shop on its open day. Short visit. Bought replacement sticker: Crappy bikes make Baby Jesus Cry. Bumpy drive  climb up to TH. Windy and warm. Prolly last of cactus till return from north. I have been stopping to ride here on my way either N or S bound.

Wed up and at it early for drive thru SLC traffic, do a ride, then drive to Kimberly, ID for Indian Springs. 4 lanes of interstate highway keeping my wits about myself.

I researched a ride  on the way. I chose Wild Rose near N SLC. The TF elevation profile appeared doable. The drive climbed away from the interstate thru new residential neighborhoods. TH is at edge of  FS land, ride is on same.

The trails went thru oak thickets for tree cover. Such greenery.

My goal was to ride a piece of newly constructed trail up a ways as up and down ride. The trails access down low was old school steep and loose non sharp edged stones. I was not enjoying myself even on the new tread. TF showed a connector trail down to lower loop trail I wanted for return. That trail went straight down the steep fall line that was challenging to bulldog me and my bike down. Way too steep. I made it safely to the lower system for my ride finish. I reaffirmed my bad ride choice as trails on east side of interstate climb.

Back on interstate: 20mph constant velocity with 30+ gusts. Van speed was hindered. Head wind as road continued N then became cross wind as direction changed to west. Arrived at Indian Springs TH at dinner time. Winds were still too strong to open the roof fan cover. WINDY.

Thurs would be a busy day as I wanted to be in Ketchum at dinner time for a Wood River trails gathering. First was breakfast then waiting for temp to climb into 50s before starting. Today I climbed up Lower Sugarloaf instead of the creek trail which has heavy cow damage and traffic. Cows were everywhere.

Sage ground cover, full on sun exposure.

I spotted salsify weed as I climbed. The plant might not be labeled invasive but is obnoxious as nothing eats it, spreads many seeds for new growth, and competes with native plants. I would pedal a bit working up need for a blow and spot a plant then stop to pull up. I learned pulling them up before seeding eliminated next year’s population as I saw on Troy Built trail at Fruita where last year I pulled plants.

The trails here are old school hand built, some like rake and ride primitive. Up high I entered an area that was just filled with salsify, almost all had not grown to flowering stalk. I pulled and pulled but did not eradicate all of them.

Finished short ride then started drive to Wood River Valley. Still monster wind from west. At start it was cross wind until heading west on I84 which buffeted me, then became cross wind as I drove N. Today was laundry day, I chose laundromat in Hailey that I have used in past. Clean clothes then drove up valley to Ketchum. Traffic was light heading my way, however, huge traffic back up heading the other way. Evening return traffic, avoid that time. Made the trail social. I attempted socializing but I seemed to just be mingling by myself. I did see a woman who appeared to be like me: solitary. I struck up a conversation with her. Gathering reached its end before nightfall. Main drag thru Ketchum is under construction causing reroute thru town. I drove back down river sharing the highway with scarcely another driver. I drove out Croy canyon I checked out Democrat Gulch spot where I stayed years ago. Empty, spent the night. Years ago this are was severely burned and closed to public. Presently area is open and regrowth has returned to green. A small stream flows nearby that was populated by beavers which have not returned post burn. Surprised to receive strong internet signal which is why I am writing this now, Today is a non ride day, I might hike some of the trail going up valley.

Read a news article about prescribe burn smoke haze at Bend causing poor air quality. Darn, Bend is my next stop thinking next week.