I was able to ride a short piece of bangtail divide before the weather changed.

I found this spot to sleep before the rain set in. I returned after the rain sopped the ground and was greeted by this:

Sloppy loose mess. Bad guys destroy the property of all of ours. I kept my wheels close to the all weather road hoping for short distance to firm traction. During the night more rain fell. In the morning I was concerned about getting out. I slid around a bit witht he differential lock engaged thus allowing me to escape.

Sunday I sought med attention at an Urgent Care for my ailing digestive system. Another stool culture was ordered. Monday I dropped it off.

Ground is too wet for me to ride on as I can pick better riding days. Sunday it rained. Monday not as much. I checked out Battle Ridge FS XG uphill from the Bangtail TH. Free. Sites all had some grade to them, I selected the levelest and used blocks to level. Monday the breweries were closed. What’s up with that?

Tuesday I hiked up to Ross Pass. I started from Bangtail TH hiking up past where I had stayed. I didn’t want to drive the road for fear of ending up some place where I would have to back down. I wanted to hike to see how I handled walking and to wear my hiking boots. Turns out that the road continued past where I had stayed and dead ended at a TH for where I was going to hike. I hiked 1.7 miles extra each way for the lesson. Once on the trail which down low was overgrown with water laden plants that I brushed sending the water onto my wool knickers and down into my boot socks. The tread was cupped which caused my feet to twist outward. Nasty walking. Up high the trail became a nasty double track. I saw bear prints in that mud. I turned a corner in time to see the rear quarter of a black bear leaving the trail. I needed an additional 12 feet on my hiking pole and I could have poked it. I told the bear to keep on moving as I hiked thru.

I made the pass where strong winds cause me to seek shelter just down from the pass.

I looked east to Bangtail Divide trail across the valley

I retraced my steps missing the bear and wetness. The boot uppers bruised my ankles from like sidehill hiking. I limped a bit. I checked out the TH passing and decided that it was good enough for a sleep spot last night. I hung at bangtail TH chatting w/ whomever. A solo woman pulled in. She is from Tonasket, WA and we shared some of the same places.

I drove back up to the TH. I planned on riding Bangtail today but more rain fell last night. Darn, no dryness. I ahve been running the heater at night, Temp hit 40 outside.

Today I drove back to town.

The med clinic left a message. I called today. results were completely clean, nothing living inside me. A colonoscopy would not find whatever is causing my loose stool. Suggestion is to take Nexeum to retard stomach acids. I am 3 days into the doses and my stomach is happier although stool is still loose.

Later today I am riding w/ Will from Beartooth.

I still plan on checking out Big Sky and a backpack trip.

I have been staying out past Bridger Bowl ski area where there is not even text connection. It’s Sat afternoon and I’m sitting in the public library parking lot using my card for connection as the public is unsecured, me share this info? Just between me and you.

So Monday PM after a shower at the Y I drove out past York to Beartrap Gulch for a camp spot for the next day’s ride up Trout Creek, climb some resource extraction roads then drop down Bear Trap gulch.A faint recall told me about this trail, and an idle brain is a terrible thing to waste.

Tuesday AM I headed out. Trail is spectacular as it climbs up following the flowing then sinking then flowing Trout Creek which cut down thru the limestone creating a narrow defile for a tread.

About 3 miles of this opened up to a logging road for a climb out. The trail had the appearance of having had a road thru it but prolly frequent flooding caused it to cease functioning as a road. The climb out on the resource extraction road was gentle till the turn onto a lesser traveled road. Cow damage. Meadows destroyed. Quit y’all eating so much beef.

Finally the single track down the Gulch dropping 2113′ in 4 miles. Mountain mountain biking is sometimes a big climb for just a few miles of gravity pull speed. My cockpit setup gives me confidence, here is what it looks like:

Back at the van I put up the bike and changed clothes then drove back into Helena for a shower. Clean I drove to Bozeman, Dinner at Ale House then drove out of town past Bridger Bowl ski area to the N end of the Bangtail Divide trail. I discovered a short gravel road dead ending at a locked gate down by a flowing stream for my camp spot.

Wed I rode from my spot to the N end of the Bangtail trail. Ride today was a hump up to the ridge high point, a hike over to a sight line visible line back to Bozeman for cell service, then turn around and enjoy gravity. Smoke from far away forest fires cloud the sky

Rocky tread. I climbed 4 miles gaining 1558′ in 51 mins of actual pedaling, I took several time outs to catch my breath. Trail climbed up to 7500. Turn back time was 23 mins non stop. I have been going faster taking advantage of the bike. I am still concerned about not really beating my carbon rims.

I took a solar shower and settled in for the evening. Still warm enough for no heat.

Thursday was a town day and wash. I remember using this particular laundromat in past visits. Found it. Clean clothes. While there I noticed a couple about my age sitting together outside the door. Past experience said that a couple sitting at a laundromat meant they were on the road. Sure enough. Dirt bagging like me but not bikers. We shared some stories and tips. Fun.

I drove into town then went for a walking tour. I scored a copy of Trudeau’s “Yuge” his collection of 30 years of cartoons featuring trump. Bookstore said they were on their second reorder. I did carry it in a plain brown wrapper. I visited with Will of Beartooth publishing who makes maps. We rode together in Sedona several times. My pic is still on the cover piece of the Sedona map.

Friday I drove from my spot over to the North end of the bangtail trail as my plan was to ride the paved road down to Olson road then climb up to join the trail. I believe I am hosting bad things in my gut which lessened my desire and ability to ride the entire trail. At the TH Julie was getting ready to go, She is riding for the first time a rental current tech suspension bike but no dropper post. We chatted as I am wont to do. She headed south on the trail and I headed s on the road. I climbed up Olson road to the trail junction for 7 miles of trail which included the 4 miles downhill. I encountered Julie, we chatted again. She was flabbergasted on the ride quality. My ride was 15.9 miles climbing 2290 in pedal time of 2 hours. I demand more of my respiratory system than it can support. I need to pedal slower. What gets me are the short punchy climbs during a coasting downhill. Steve, I will still be riding your wheel on the climbs.

Back at the TH I hung out. Julie is riding this bike for the first time which might have beaten her up and she still had the 5 mile climb before the 2 mile downhill back to the TH. I had time on my hands and goodness in my heart. I drove down to meet her and drive her back up. I told a hiker at the southern TH that I was waiting for a single woman. Julie rolled into the TH w/ a big smile on her face as the hiker shared my info. She knew that she didn’t have to pedal the road back. At the TH 2 guys rolled in. I chatted with them. Todd is a mag publisher knows Brandon of Freehub. Julie drank a Moose Drool as I drove her back.

Afterwards I drove to my camp spot to find that a truck w/ Texas plates in “my” place. Too small to share. I drove out then took the next gravel road that climbed up a bit. I found a nice flat open area for my spot. It turns out it must be pretty popular as several rigs pulled in then turned around. I need to leave quickly as it is after 4 to score the same spot. This AM in the dark thirty several rigs climbed past me for archery hunting.

I am planning on a backpacking trip up Spanish Creek next week and spend several days at Big Sky then return to Bozeman.

Mike Van Able ex director of IMBA is resigning. What changes lie in store?

Rain forecast for the next several days.

Off to no electronic stimulation.

Tonight I am again camped up at McDonald Pass on the continental divide just off the CDT above Helena,MT.

Helena tourism runs a trail shuttle up Grizzly Gulch and today up to the said pass. Today I made the 9:30 shuttle up to the pass. The ride went about 3 miles S on the CDT, the tread was a mix of hike a bike rock gardens to not so tough but still rocky. trials riding skill, the bike prolly could have made it thru or over the rocks but the sense of self preservation kept the engine from attempting perceived I lack the ability to make this move. Sometimes the challenge was not the  single problem but linked rock patches. I should wear body armor for these rides.

Today was last day for the shuttle. Just a group of 3 riders joined me on the shuttle. I rdoe out first and never saw them again. Lodgepole forest, doghair stands lots of dead mixed in. Fuel loaded from years of stopping natural burning, today and into the future this stuff is rocket fuel.

The trail exited the woods to a meadow and the start of Switchback trail that would drop some 2,000′ down to the Rimini road and a road pedal back to the start.

Upper part of downhill was an overgrown rough double track mostly fall line yielding to old single track sustainable built. Pay attention. Keep heels down and eyes up. Extremely short stem speeds up the steering while lessening the amount of body travel to make the turn, the bike is a bit twitchy at low speed but once up to speed the bike carves. Also making tuning corners much easier. Zipped down to the road then rode back to van. Parking was packed from the 10:30 crowd. I had the trails all by myself.

Drove down towards Helena stopping at a hots spring resort for a soak and a shower. Then into town for groceries and beers at Blackfoot brewery right in Grizzly Gulch where the MT Helena ridge trails dump into, if you ride this way off the ridge. Brew pub, 4 beers are max for the day. I have patronized this brewery over the years and still enjoy it.

McDonald Pass is 16 miles west of town and about 2,000′ higher. paved US 12 makes for at least a smooth climb.

Back to Hamilton:

I slept in Shane’s driveway for 3 nights.

The valley was downwind from ID fires making for hazy days. I hung out a little at The Red Barn bike shop. Chad and another rider told stories of trails locally they have ridden, some have been closed to bikes as land is a wilderness study area, a pre curser to wilderness. Method is to kick out bikes before land becomes wilderness.

Wed I drove up valley to ride around Cooney Lake. Once there I recognized I had been here previously, once randy and I camped in the XG and years before I found a flat spot somewhere above the lake for the night.

The trail on the south side of the lake uses the actual horse pack trail from early 1800’s. My first exposure to MT rock gardens from the chewed up tread from horses. What appears to happen is the steel horse shoes pick away at the rock and pound away any dirt. Again walking some rocks. However, the north side trail is hiker only where the same rock stuff is still covered by dirt. Lake is filled in the spring then rationed out in the late summer to the ranchers and hay growers. Amazing, the water is owned by us all but it benefits people using it to make money. Decreased water flow impacts life dependent upon cool plentiful flow.

Thursday AM I drove into Hamilton to do my wash. Clean clothes and some groceries loaded on board I headed towards Helena over Skalkaho Pass. I found a ride that went north from the pass on the Rock Creek Drainage, a national scenic trail. Nasty hike a bike up a bunch of switchbacks to get on top of the ridge.

Traveled thru several old burns

Tread was loose rock. My ride was an out and back. I reached a point where the trail became very loose and steep. I made that my turn around point. Trail is on ridge line, well above water sources.

I spent the night at the pass.

Friday I drove to Helena. My plan was to get a camp spot at FS XG closest into town at Moose Creek. The GPS route was going over McDonald pass and not go into town. Campground was filled, I drove along ways to a filled XG w/ no sign stating it was full. I turned around driving back out. I noticed other camper units driving in. Next choice was driving up towards Priest Pass on the n side of US 12. Climbing all weather gravel road. I grabbed the first flat spot which was just off the road. I don’t like to drive many miles on rough roads as the vibrations just shake up my van contents. Sunny day. I took off shirtless and waterless to walk up to the pass where the CDT crosses. Casual map reading said short road hike. Took me 57 mins of trucking to reach the pass. I passed several water flows but they had been fouled by cows.I needed water. I made it back before I became carrion.

Sat I drove down to Helena to catch the early shuttle ride up to Helena ridge above town. Shuttle saves about 8 miles uphill.  My desire on this ride was to descend Show me the Horse trail, otherwise known as Show me the Love. Great descent back down to Grizzly Gulch. trail has suffered from it popularity as seen by lots of brake bump sections. I rode a piece of the road then turned up Wakina Sky trail to come down Stairway to heaven. Area has had a severe beetle kill. Trail tread is rocky that I was able to roll over. Bike just skips over the nasty. Beer at Blackfoot again then drove up to McDonald pass.

Getting late.

Tomorrow is another Helena ride then drive up to Trout Creek and bear gulch. Spend the night there then head to Bozeman.

Fall is coming, biting insects are nil. Ground cover plants are showing their colors. Next weekend is Labor Day marking the end of the summer vacations meaning fewer people to share our wilds with. Whoopee.