A TRC Weekend with Flat Iron Road

When Carol and Sean invited me up to Lewiston for the Flat Iron Ride, I decided to make it a full TRC weekend beginning with the Thursday night Time Trial where I hoped to see my old Time Trial buddies: Marilyn, Mike, Mark, Chris, Bob, Lance, and others but has time has taken a toll on my old buddies?  When 6:00 pm rolled around only Bob Uptagraff, Tamara, and two women  I hadn't met before were there.  

Thursday Time Trial           Distance 10.0 miles                      Riding time 34:14

Since I had spent most of the day in the car and hadn't done a time trial since moving to Boise in 2005, I declared my time at 36 minutes which should have made me the first to depart.  The women, all training for a tri-athlon,  decided to make a slower paced 10 mile warm up before the real time trial, so they departed first followed by me and then Bob.  The wind was out of the west just as I remembered.  As I peddled into the wind remembering that I needed an average speed of 20 MPH to have a mediocre time of 30:00 (always my goal, never my time), the highest speed I saw on my speedometer was 17.  My rear view mirror showed Bob was slowly gaining on me which kept me motivated despite my discomfort.  I turned around at the 2nd 200m mark just Bob had told me - which may have been a bit early- and enjoyed finally seeing the speedometer read 20 MPH as my direction finally matched the wind's direction.  Bob was no longer gaining on me, but with the tail wind I was generally doing 20 MPH telling myself I didn't want Bob sneaking up on me!  Although I did a lot of Time Trials from 97-04, I never really figured out why a non-racer like me would do them - other than the good company they provided!  It dawned on me that night.  With just 13 miles for the day which I'd spent most of sitting in the car, I felt really good.  My lungs had been expanded and my heart had raced releasing a bit of endorphins with so little time devoted to riding.  Riding a time trial is more like running! You accomplish a lot in a little time.  Thanks, Bob, for the competition! 

Bob Uptagraff finishes the Time Trial in what may be my first successful "panned shot" - where I move the camera to match his movement leaving the subject focused but the background blurry

Saturday's single track ride on the Craig Mountains was cancelled due to rain, but Sean, Carol, and I sneaked in a 10 mile ride to Carcass Corner which overlooks Lapwai.

Sunday's Flat Iron Road Mountain Bike Ride    Distance 47.0 Riding Time 5:02   Elevation Gain 5,019
Most of us left from the Ellis' house near the top of Cougar Ridge Road, but the rest of the group joined us at Mann's Lake, a more convenient meeting spot for most Orchard's residents.  We rode down Webb Canal Rd and then along Sweetwater Creek and up Webb Ridge Rd to  Flat Iron Road which are mostly gravel roads.  Nicki drove sag and took the group photos.

The 12 riders: Lee, Christy, Stephanie, Tracie, Mike, Sean, Bill, Steve, Jennifer, Guy, Roger, and Doug with the Lewiston Valley in the background

We continued up until we saw this canyon which had be be crossed- meaning most of our elevation gain would be lost and then regained!.

4 of the cyclists enjoying the rapid descent before climbing the facing hill

Tracie arrives at a small flat spot before resuming the climb.

We regroup and enjoy a break at the highest point on the ride

quick snacks and drinks as we regroup and our sag driver heads home

After reaching the high spot of the ride, we dropped into a draw and climbed up to the paved Waha Road for a quick descent by the Waha Store and on to Stephanie's house where we had great snacks- home-make cobbler, pie, and lemon bars- thanks Stephanie!  Bill wanted to be able to say he'd climbed more than the rest of us, so he continued on beyond Stephanie's to the end of the pavement, and then climbed back up to rejoin the group a little later, but his plan still left hims short of 50 miles for the day!  Carol joined the riders here, and we then continued down Waha Rd as Sean, who's quite capable of it, sped home from here to start the grill.

Instead of climbing McIntosh Grade we returned to the gravel of McCann Road and Reservation Line Rd back to the Ellis' for BBQ steaks (provided by the Ellis' and Stephanie) and many other goodies.

Thanks Sean, Carol, & TRC for a great weekend!

Happy Cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation!


Steve

Bicycling the Boise Front

Since we met our training goal last week by cycling up  Shaw Mountain,  we declared ourselves ready for the ride across the Boise Front, a tough ride I hadn't done since 2012.  Neither one of us wanted to make the ride more difficult, but we both prefer trails to roads, so we diverted to the trails for the bottom section- avoiding Shaw Mountain Road until Rocky Canyon.
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Chris at the beginning near the Cottonwood Creek Trailhead

We were saving our energy for later, so we headed up Toll Rd Trail instead of climbing  Eagle Ridge and falling back to the creek as we usually would.  Then it was up Central Ridge and Shane's trail which dumped us about 1/3 the way up Rocky Canyon Rd.  It's a bit of a drudge climbing the steep dirt road (not gravel; it's mostly decomposed granite and sand) to Aldape Summit, where the jeep trail turns off the decomposed granite road. Here we met 2 hikers who'd climbed up from the Idaho City side and volunteered to take a couple of photos.

the turn off at Aldape Summit- where it gets steep!

Chris and Steve begin the steep section

and back down to retrieve the camera

Chris reaches the first only moderately steep spot after Aldape Summit

Chis as the vista begins to broaden

After this year's dry spring we found the wash outs in the road only inches deep which made for easier riding than in 2012 when Will and I found the wash outs feet deep making the route a little easier this year than 2012 when 2 ft wash outs were common.

Steve nears the top of this long steep section with the twisty road they've climbed in the background

I thought this might be my new Facebook cover photo, but their profile photo superimposes itself over my head.  Another photo taken at this spot will suffice.

Just as we reached the section with the best vista, who should arrive but a lost hiker who volunteered to photograph us.  Unfortunately, she didn't understand the concept of "get the winding road in the background". Anyway, when am I so lucky as to meet friendly strangers twice in the same day at just the spot we'd like a group photo?

Chis and Steve mostly blocking the view of the road they've just climbed.  We intended a view of the road we'd climbed more like the photo just above this one

Our new acquaintance, the hiker, was distressed to hear she was roughly 4 miles from her car, but glad to learn where she was and how to get back down to her car.  We offered to share a snack and even a little of our precious water, but she said she was fine.  So, we parted company as she descended and we continued ascending.

Chris reaches the crest, and we temporarily cross to the North side of the ridge

It sounds like the climbing would be over as we reach the crest, but the road crosses the ridge several times and begins rising and falling.  We always enjoy riding through the deep forest, but its lighting is difficult for my photographic capabilities, which I failed even to try here.  We climbed a couple times up to the ridge and then would descend into a basin where Hard Guy trail ends and where we had lunch and where we met two groups of mountain bikers as they finished climbing it.  Both groups added to our pleasant lunch stop and were impressed with our ride, but some of those riders were really impressive.  Although we enjoy descending Hard Guy neither one of us as ever ridden up it.  The 2nd group was comprised of about 6 riders.  The first one up the hill (by at least 5 minutes) was on a fixie (a one speed bike, and his was without a shock).  I looked at the drive train and would swear from the dry dirt caked on it (in almost sedimentary layers) that it had never been lubed or wiped off.  I don't believe I ever saw such a neglected chain among my boyhood friends in Winchester where none of the fathers (mill workers or farmers) would have allowed their sons to so abuse a machine!  That one gear he had appeared to be a fairly high gear too (making climbing more difficult).  That rider assured us he was that far ahead only because the single gear wouldn't allow a slower speed!  Will and I (on our 27 speed bikes) were once passed by a fixie as we struggled up an extremely steep section of trail.  I suppose meeting such fellows from time to time helps keep us humble. Since we knew we were pushing our training level on this ride, we took a fairly lengthy lunch break.  My legs left that break feeling a little weaker for the afternoon section of the climb, and climbing out of that basin is roughly 1,000 feet of climbing.

Chris with a view of the top of Deer Point and Bogus Basin in the background

By the time we reached the top of Deer Point, I was tired of pushing myself hard in Granny-1 but left  the decision of riding to the top of Bogus up to Chris.  We'd ridden the Boise Front with the extra climb to Deer Point, and that was enough, so we skipped the side trip up to Bogus, the highest point on the front.  Although Chris said he was tired and didn't even look forward to the descent down Bogus Basin Road, his assessment was bad.  At the bottom he confessed he had forgotten how much fun that paved descent is.  As we parted, I saw no signs of fatigue in him, unlike on last week's ascent of Shaw Mountain, so last week's final training ride up Shaw Mountain was successful. Well done, Chris.  We can now tackle any ride!

53.0 miles      6:37 riding time

Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation!

Steve

Homestead Trail to the Top of Shaw Mountain - Preparing for the Boise Front

41.5 miles riding time 4:51

Chris, a co-worker of Will's, has been riding with us for the last year and is steadily increasing his distances.  Chris is a natural athlete, a gymnast from his schooldays and a BMX rider in his youth, so when I'm too slow or the trail's not challenging enough, he'll be finding the most difficult route through any obstacle. To prepare for next week's ride across the Boise Front on 10 May, we decided to make the tough ride up the Homestead Trail and then climb the road to the top of Shaw Mountain.  I'd assured Chris that Homestead was steep, and that the road was just as steep, which turns out not to be a good description.  Wash outs make the old road far more challenging than the trail where we weren't tempted to push!

Chris on the section just above the old "homestead" which gives the trail its name

Steve and Chris where the trail meets "the road"- with the east end of the Boise Valley in the background

Will and I haven't ridden this route in several years, so when we got to the junction of the trail with the old road, we were surprised to see it badly washed out with no obvious care in the last few years.  The hikers who took the above photo told us the county (or BLM- or anyone) no longer maintains the road which used to form a big circle up one side of the mountain and down the other. 

Chris climbing a section of the "road"

Between the accumulated loose sand and rocks and the wash outs, we had to push up a couple of the steepest sections. Since the route is consistently steep, Chris' bike not shifting into or  out of Granny (without a manual assist while stopped) wasn't too much of an issue as there was no need to leave Granny and rarely a need to leave Granny-1.  Hitting Granny 3 seemed like a vacation!  None-the-less Chris began to show signs of fatigue as we neared the top.  With one turn we went from steep uphill in the desert to downhill in fir forests!  Chris seemed entirely reenergized dropping me to enjoy the downhill before we resumed climbing. 

Chris, with some encouragement, has remounted his stead and is climbing this section near the top - which is steeper than it looks.  At this elevation the brush has not yet  leafed out.

Chris near the top with the hazy Boise Valley in the background

We climbed to the very top and enjoyed the view through the windy haze (an odd combination) of the Boise Valley.  We descended a bit on the north slope to enjoy a real break in the timber.  Chris seemed revitalized by the break and some fresh pineapple which he shared with me, and we took off down the hill.  On this side of the mountain the road is still somewhat maintained, and while it offered a few small wash outs and sand traps, it's not comparable to the abandoned road we'd climbed.

I rounded a corner and was surprised to see Chris' bike upside down in the  road.  A pinch flat on the rim side (no spoke issues; I wish my rim liner look so good) was the cause.  Although the tube was slimmed, the holes were large flatting the tube within moments of inflating it.  Chris decided to replace the tube.  Soon the new tube was installed, and we were off
 

Chris fixing his flat

I rounded another corner and there was Chris off his bike.  The cause, this angry 3' serpent which Chis had incensed by riding too close!

Just as I got the camera out, the rattler gave up his strike position and started a slow retreat with his fangs still pointed toward us just in case we made the wrong move

Around the next corner, the same thing.  This 2nd snake was the same size and color and in the same strike pose which was soon abandoned for the retreat, so I didn't bother photographing it. Chris said there was a 3rd rattler he didn't stop for, and I didn't notice it. That's bad news for me, because where these rattlers were is a few hundred yards from where my most frequent solo ride meets this route- where in many year's of riding I've only seen only one rattler but many bull snakes.

This route dumps us on hwy 21 for a fun descent on pavement to the base of Lucky Peak Dam.  When I passed a rather uncharacteristic slow moving Chris, I asked what the problem was.  It seems his bike didn't want to shift into the "high" chain ring either.  It wouldn't respond to our manual efforts to put it in the large ring either.  So, this demanding ride was done on a bike with easy access only to the mid chain-ring!   I had a speedy fun descent followed by my uncharacteristically slow friend!

Any tiredness I had felt at the top was relieved  by the break at the top and the fun of the descents.  The descent didn't seem to have that effect on Chris.  He was moving pretty slowly when another flat stuck him on the Green Belt about 3 miles from his home.  From a quick observation before taking the tire off, it appeared to be from a puncture weed.   A cell phone call to his girl friend was too tempting, so he called for a recuse!

Chris' rescue arrives!

Chris and his bike are transported home

This is a challenging climb that's more challenging than it was when Will and I last climbed it back when the road was still somewhat maintained. We'd recommend anyone riding this route should ride it clockwise as we did; I can't imagine riding down the steep loose sand and rock sections of this abandoned road.  I think Chris and I are both ready for the Boise Front next weekend with its greater distance and elevation gain- but it's not so consistently steep and its climbing is not all on the southern slope. Chris, bring lots or water and food!  We'd be glad to have additional riders!

My apologies for the overexposed photos.  I've switched from a Canon A540 to Canon A590 which captures greater detail, but seems to over expose a lot of sunny shots when set on "auto"; something my A540 never did.

Thanks, Chris, for the adventure, and Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation!


Steve

Bicycling to Danskin Peak

 22.1 miles         3:29 Riding Time 

Will's always up for something different, and as spring turns to summer he suggested we climb the 3,446 ft to the top of 6,892 ft Danskin Peak. Danskin lies between Boise and Mountain Home (north of the freeway), and the LT often flies over it with the National Guard..  Experience has taught me to be cautious of his aerial reconnaissance, so I brought my lights in addition to lunch despite his prediction that this would be a 3 hour trip (including commute time!).  The forecast was calling for a windy day with gusts as high as 40 MPH in Boise, so I was hoping for a ride up a draw through the timber somewhat like the infamous Cottonwood Creek ride but without the brush.  This would not be the case.  Danskin is mostly high desert offering no protection from the wind except for a band of timber just before the top. We were in luck in that this primitive road was recently graded.

The LT was concerned that the 16 the mile ride he had planned wouldn't be enough riding, so he suggested we park the car about 3 miles early on the back roads.  I'd dressed warmly for the drive, but the cold wind  blowing off the nearby snowcapped mountains made me leave on my regular winter riding gear as we worked to go downhill thru the wind for 3 miles to the parking lot where the LT had originally planned to start the ride. There we turned 90 degrees and were no longer in a draw that channeled the wind into us- making the wind much less significant.  The unusually wet spring has made the high desert beautiful. 

The LT on the way up

The LT higher up the mountain

The LT in the burnt out section of timber just before the top overlooking Boise River

Steve on a reverse shot on the way up - on the descent  he was well bundled in several layers

Near the top of the mountain is a sign "Jeep Trail 3/4 mile". My odometer showed the top was 1.1 miles, and that section was very steep requiring my 17.5" (granny 1) gear all the way.. The LT hasn't been on his bike a lot this year, and seemed worn out when he reached the top. We met a hiker, Paul Turner who talked to us for a few minutes before heading off as we started our nearly one hour lunch break.

The LT reaches the top

Steve, the spot on the road,  nears the top- photo by Paul Turner

Steve reaches the top- photo by Paul Turner

Steve & Will enjoy lunch (see the bright yellow spot)- photo by Paul Turner

The LT toward the bottom

After that 90 degree turn at the parking lot, the climb had seemed warm even as we reached the top, but the long lunch break and first part of the descent required our winter clothes. Just after we reached the parking lot where we had planned to park, Paul arrived having hiked down a much more direct trail. The LT's energy was gone, but the car was still 3 miles uphill from there. I was glad Paul didn't offer him a ride over those 3 remaining miles!  Would he have succumbed to temptation?  The wind had died down considerably since the start when we had to work to go down that hill, but it still provided some assistance on those last 3 miles up which the LT would describe as steep and tiring!  I wouldn't disagree with the steep part of that description!

Good ride, LT.  I look forward to more summer adventures, and I'll have my lights changed and ready for the next adventure!


Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation,


Steve.

An Oct Weekend with TRC

Wednesday Night Ride:  Lewiston Loop 28.5 Miles 2:41 Riding Time

Doug met me right at 6:00 to begin the night ride, but I wanted to meet Bill Arnold, so I lost my keys in my car's bike rack delaying the start by 10 minutes.  Bill Arnold rode by just as we were leaving and accompanied us to Hell's Gate where we met Sean, and Bill headed for home.  Sean and Doug both like climbing Volmer Rd, and I had the 29er, which makes me not object to gravel, so we climbed it.  Lights weren't really needed until we got to the top, but it was warm enough to be in shorts and T shirt.  Sean invited us by his house.  Doug headed home on the shortest route, and I joined him and Carol.  From there I decided finishing the Lewiston Loop was my preferred option.  Sliding down Lindsay Creek Rd with a 1200 and a 650 lumen light with no traffic is a lot of fun.  I miss the warm nights of Lewiston and the night riding it offers!

Mission Creek 32.5 Miles 3,839 ft of gain  4:49 Riding Time

Bill had suggested one of his favorite rides,  Mission Creek for Friday.  It's one of my favorite mountain bike rides too, so I was glad for the suggestion.  Sean and Doug both advised there were some wash outs just after the 2nd creek crossing  that may change my opinion.  They weren't sure how much distance the wash outs covered, so I was looking to determine what had happened to one of my favorite rides.  The morning was cool and fog caught in places, but it wasn't long until I was in shorts and T shirt though Bill kept his tights and arm warmers throughout the day.   We left from Jacque's Spur which meant a couple miles of smooth blacktop and some gravel, before the mountain bike section begins at the the quarry.  It's a fairly easy jeep trail through the timber until the first creek crossing, which is easy in the fall.  Ask Mike Riddle about it in the spring where he found it's deep enough to submerge a prone rider who falls over demonstrating "how it's done".  No, Mike, I'll never forget that one or tire of telling people the story!

The 2nd creek crossing is usually hopping from boulder to boulder while carrying your bike in an area that keeps 4 wheelers from crossing, but in the low water of Oct, we found a place where we could step from rock to rock pushing our bikes through the creek and where 4 wheelers or even jeeps could cross this time of year.  It's here that the ride becomes steep, and it's here that Doug and Sean had forewarned us of the wash out.  With their warning, I measured this section at 0.3 miles.  It's steep enough and with enough rocks to be challenging before the wash out happened.  I would have thought riders with their strength and technical skills could still ride it.  I rode maybe a 25% of it.  The gullies are hard to avoid when one is grasping for breath, but I think avoiding them would be easy if one weren't gasping for air as I was.

Bill reaching the top of the 0.3 mile section.  Is that determination on the face, a sign of exertion, or both?  

The wash out shown above is typical of this section- not so deep but a bit difficult to navigate given the steepness of the trail.

Bill above the steep section- a typical view of the Mission Creek Trail

Bill started losing tire pressure but thought pumping it up might work.  In Winchester he got a free full fill up at the Gateway, and we had lunch in the cafe and decided to return via Crystal Creek- a steep rather technical trail that is the only significant contributory to Mission Creek flowing in North of Winchester.  Although the day was beautiful and warm by this time, everything was soaking wet especially in Crystal Creek canyon where the sun doesn't shine this time of year. 

Bill pumping his tire just before Crystal Creek become steep

That made the decomposed granite, where several TRC members have crashed in the past, sticky and easier to ride than I've ever seen it.  There are two apparent turn offs to the left.  We take the 2nd one, but I forgot that, so we made a small diversion to check out other mountain trails.  Back on Crystal Creek, we found some real erosion- the trail suddenly loses 5 to 6 ft of itself creating a hole that Bill discovered and warned me. 

Looking at Bill in the big wash out- it's deeper than it looks here

Steve starting to descend into the hole- it's still deeper & steeper than it looks

This washed out section is only 20 to 30 feet long- but be warned of it on your next ride.  Bill changed his tube at the junction of Crystal and Mission Creeks.  I'd thought about bringing my lights just in case of problems, and after the upper Crystal Creek exploration and the pump ups knew I'd erred in not bring one..  A half hour isn't much time until you're out half an hour on a dark trail.  However, the canyon depth had convinced us we were losing light faster than was actually happening!  We sped up, and of course Bill is willing to take the downhill faster than I.  Riding down the Mission Creek wash out section was no problem. We were back at the pickup just as the sun was setting.  A great ride.  Thanks, Bill, for the adventure!

Tekoa Re-Loop 60 miles 4:36 riding time
 Bill had just reminded me that being mountain bike "in shape" is not quite the same as being road bike "in shape" . I'd also given some thought to my not being on the road bike since July, and it's been much longer than that since I've subjected myself to the discipline of ridding in a pack of road riders- not that speed is ever my thing.  Then as we took of from Palouse my speedometer stopped which stopped me a couple of times.  Sean fell back with me and attempted to help, but I think it's internal wires rather than the usual misalignment of magnet and reader.  That put me in the tail, a position I held for the day. One of the other 7 riders would usually fall back and talk to me, so I was never alone or dropped.  We took a break in Farminginton- in the shade- unusual for the Palouse in Oct.  On to Tekoa for lunch, and back to Steptoe where we had members of a motorcyle gang photo us. Carol did a post church ride- meeting us in Garfield and riding back to Palouse with the group, but she missed being in the group photos.

Linda, Denise, Marilyn, Sean, Corrie, Doug, Jen, & Steve in Steptoe- where nothing is ever opened on a Sunday

Members of the motorcycle gang wanted to join us for the next photo!

It was good to be back with old friends for the long weekend we retireds may enjoy.  Thanks TRC for a great weekend!

Happy Cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation


Steve

Bicycling Around the Tetons

When Scott, Jen, and Doug suggested a mountain bike ride circling the Tetons covering Adventure Cycling's Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) through Idaho, parts of Wyoming, turning West back into Idaho, and then turning North to complete the circle around the Tetons, I jumped at the chance. Since retiring about 9 months ago, I've been thinking a lot about riding the GDMBR, but frankly, I'm afraid of multiple days away from resupplies as well as the lack of water from the Great Basin south. I feel more qualified for road bike touring with daily stops for groceries or even cafes.  This would let me sample the GDMBR with good company and the excellent food these guys always come up with.

Day 1-  27 Jul 13
Island Park, Idaho to Polebridge Campground, Idaho  
43.7 miles 4:40 riding time
About noon we left Curt and Diane's who are Scott & Doug's friends who live about 2 miles from the MT/ID divide.We sped down SR 20 and hopped on the route about 10-15 miles into its Idaho section riding quiet backroads in the the timber, and by Big Springs, where the North Fork of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River suddenly springs forth from old rhyolite lava flows.   I found the springs fascinating, but the others have been here before, and the area was crowded with tourists, making us rush off to the undeveloped Polebridge Campground (old fashioned out houses only), but with the not so warm Warm River to take a dip in.

Day 2-  28 Jul 13  
Polebridge Campground Idaho to undeveloped campground, Wyoming 
 45.8 miles  5:56 riding time
 I think there's some beautiful scenery here, but I'm too busy negotiating the loose trail to notice

We discussed at length whether to take AC's main route down the old railbed to near Ashton or take the alternate route over another mountain.  AC's map advises that the railbed is extremely soft.  What they don't say is this rail-to-trail is open to motorized vehicles, and ATV's have torn up the bed making for a 4 to 6" layer of small gravel mixed with sand that was difficult to descend and which would be nearly impossible to ride up.

At the side of the "rail trail" Scott changes his brake pads unloading only the rear panniers - assisted by Doug

We struggled with the dug up gravel/dirt.  Just after Scott said, "I think there's some beautiful scenery here, but I'm too busy navigating the loose trail to notice", we left the trail for nearby roads.  ATV's are everywhere here, on the "rail-trail", on the many ATV trails which frequently parallel the rail-trail, and on the nearby roads. When the road did a big "S" shaped blind corner, we heard ATV's.  Doug didn't like the something in the sound, and suggested we leave the road bed.  Just in time as two riders paralleling each other came round the corner taking the entire road bed and parts of the shoulders.   Narrow escape, and the rider taking his half out of the left side of the road slowed slightly and temporarily.  By the time they reached the next part of the "S" turn, they were completely parallel to each other again taking the entire road and parts of the shoulders as they nearly took out Scott and Jen.  You'd think this irresponsible driver a teen with an undeveloped sense of self-preservation who was lost in the joi de vivre, but you'd be wrong.  He was  at least 30 without a smile or upraised countenance. I can only hope if these guys hit a big pickup, the pickup driver isn't injured.

The trail enters a canyon, and about half way down it, the dug up nature of the trail moderates, making it enjoyable- just in time for the best scenery of this "rail trail" - if "trails" opened to motorized vehicles qualify for that term.  Both Scott and I had wanted to ride this short tunnel which had been built to avoid the falling rock of the earlier route.  The tunnel is now closed and riders are diverted to the earlier railbed which is still subject to "falling rock".

Doug just before we reach the tunnel

Jen at the mouth of the closed tunnel

Scott on the tunnel diversion

The Warm River looking down from just outside the tunnel

Just after the tunnel the route is finally closed to ATV's. It becomes pleasant for the mile or so down to Warm Springs Campground. There, we inadvertently left AC's trail to climb an extra mountain, but we were soon back on route. The road narrowed and got rough as we reached the Wyoming border.  Here we met our first GDMBR rider- carrying only a tent in the front, a sleeping bag in the rear, and a backpack on his back!  Talking to this guy, I fell behind the group, and as I tried to catch them occasionally wondered if they'd found a campsite I couldn't see.  Finally I caught them waiting for me at the top of a steep grade, and we soon reached our beautiful, undeveloped, but only mosquito infested campground of the trip.  Mosquitoes had us all in bed by 2000 hours.

Scott builds a fire in our "undeveloped" campsite- note the benches someone has built- photo by Doug

Day 3-  29 Jul 13  
Polebridge Campground to Lake Jenny Hiker Biker Campground  
46.1 miles 4:21 riding time  Our Wilderness Experience is over

Most of the campsites posted on AC's map in this area are being shut down by the USFS making our last night's camp decision a very good one.  It was a pleasant downhill to where our quiet backroad met the main highway between Yellowstone and Teton Parks.  We were in a nearly 2 acre parking lot of tourist complex when 6 large Harley's drove up- one playing Lay Down Sally loud enough to "entertain" the entire complex (at least the speaker quality was excellent-   the best I've ever heard on a motorcycle or car/pickup- so loud with no distortion), and Doug competing with the music announced, "Our wilderness experience is over".

the crew: Doug, Scott, Jen, & Steve in front of Jackson Lake

From there shoulders were wide and traffic fairly heavy to Jenny Lake.  On this section we met Chris and Heather bicycling from their home in central B.C. to SLC.  Our combined group almost immediately ran into construction with us bicyclists told to immediately follow the pilot car which would probably go a little slower than we'd like.  I thought we were in a sprint going 15-20 MPH on loaded touring bikes- mountain bikes at that. I determined the group wasn't going to drop me.  We dropped Chris and Heather.   The pilot car finally pulled over and told us to ride ahead, and she'd follow us- relief.  We arrived at Jenny Lake Campground to find all signs read  "Full".  We decided to see if the site contained a hiker biker section, which it did with only one cyclist, Roberta, (her blog was never finished, so it's more an introduction than a blog) camped in the section.  As soon as we had camp set up, a heavy 15 minute thundershower arrived.  Chris & Heather arrived, and we caught up on the day's activity, and Doug and I went for a quick swim in Jenny Lake.  Dinner was started, and a heavy 45 minute rain arrived turning our tent pads into wading pools.  Scott carries a very nice tarp that protected our dinner table!  Roberta finally showed up- she was taking a rest day- alternating naps with trips to the nearby convenience store for snacks.  Cycle touring can do that to a person!  She's inspiring- 59 years old, all of 110 pounds, a roadie racer who decided to buy a mountain bike this year, and then took off on the GDMBR solo!

camp in Jenny Lake Hiker Biker Section

Doug takes advantage of the rain- polishing off any dirt the rain missed

Roberta, Steve, Chris, & Heather in front of one of the Tetons- meeting & getting to know fellow tourists is a highlight on tour

Day 4- 30 Jul 13:  

Jenny Lake to Wilson, WY 

27.9 miles 2:31 riding time

The morning greeted us with views like this:

morning view of the Tetons across Jenny Lake- from our campsite

We rode a bikepath out of the park and caught a twisty little road into Wilson with views like this most of our short day:

Doug, Scott, & Jen on our way to Wilson, WY

Each of the 4 of us had brought 4 sets of cycling clothes, and Teton Pass awaited us, so we took a half day of riding, enjoyed a great lunch at Nora's, and washed clothes. Dinner didn't work out so well for Doug and me. We went to a "nice" place. Doug and I ordered the waiter's suggestion of portobello something or other, and got a nice appetizer in lieu of dinner. So, we filled up on Scott's pizza as well as dessert! We should have gone back to Nora's for a more of a home cooked dinner suitable for hungry cyclists.

Day 5- 31 Jul 13  

Wilson, WY to Tetonia, ID 

37.7 miles 3:38 riding time
Teton Pass at 8,431 ft starts on the edge of Wilson and provided our challenge for the day.  Fortunately for us, the old highway has been turned into a bike path (no ATV's allowed!).  It's steep, but about 1/3 of the way up we started meeting supported tourist from Bike and Build
and the conversations mostly made me forget about the climb.  Most of these cyclists weren't really cyclists when they started; they each raised $4,500 in pledges for affordable housing and were given a Giant racing bike to ride across the country.  Some in the lead, whom we never met, brought their own bikes.  They stay in churches and community buildings each night.  I believe there were 21 in this group.  Many were pushing up the hill, and doubtless could have used a third chain ring that even a light touring bike would provide.  Maybe a touring bike is the right bike for a cross country ride?  Ask those pushing doubles up Teton Pass!

Steve, Doug, Jen, & Scott at the top of Teton Pass

We had lunch at a nice campground on the WY/ID border and rode into Victor where the high desert started.  With Dandi of "Bike and Build" we rode a great paved bike path from Victor to Driggs where we stopped for groceries and lost our Bike and Build companions who were headed for Ashton's Lutheran church, and on to Missoula for a "build day".

Early in the afternoon we checked into the camping area of the Teton Mountain View Lodge.  The owner is hard working, conscientious, and keeps a clean nice looking place.  However, after we checked in he informed us the sprinklers would go on at 2230 hours promptly, and we should choose a tent site along the fence where little water sprays!  That took the wind out of my sails.  I've never read a cycling blog with middle of the night sprinklers that ended well for the cyclist!  I decided to sleep on a pic-nic table under cover while Scott and Jen took the dry back corner, and Doug squeezed his narrow single person tent along a barbed wire fence on a dry spot on the edge of the property. I've met a couple of cycle tourists who regularly sleep on pic-nic tables to avoid time spent on tent set-up and take-down.  It didn't work so well for me.  The site has a big bon fire area that wasn't used until after bed-time when 4 loud drunks showed up.  They stayed there a while and then moved to the hot tub turning on its flood light- which was in addition to the 100 watt equivalent CLF bulbs that were everywhere.  About 0200 hours the drunks retired, and I finally fell asleep.  I never heard the sprinklers come on, and everyone stayed dry, so the effort to stay dry was likely futile.

Steve's pic-nic table bed- photo by Doug

Day 6- 1 Aug 13

Tetonia to Warm River Campground 

35.0 miles 3:42 riding time
The route was planned on various gravel roads, but we soon spotted a rail trail (a real one- no ATV's allowed).  It's great to have adventurous companions who will take a chance on an interesting trail that goes our general direction but wasn't in the plan.  Old rail beds which are generally built on ridges have much better views than most roads, and this one gave us some great views.

Jen, Scott, & Doug on the Ashton Tetonia Rail to Trail

Scott, Jen, & Doug head into a forested section of the Ashton Tetonia Rail to Trail

Doug on a trestle crossing

With such a short day, I was soon looking for something to do with the afternoon.  Warm River is a very nice campground, and children float the river through the campground throughout the heat of the day.  I had no inner tube, so I found a fishing dock in the deepest part of the river where I could jump in on one side and let the current carry me 15 feet before climbing out.  While I was doing this, Jen was trying to talk Scott or Doug into floating the length of the campground on their sleeping pads.  When I got back to camp, Scott immediately suggested I take his sleeping pad and float the river with Jen to which I quickly agreed.

Jen & Steve floating the Warm River

The sleeping pad survived several brushes with the round river rocks in the shallow river, and the float was fun until we went under the bridge.  Suddenly the back 2/3's of Scott's sleeping pad was flat.  The front section would hold me up, but I decided to check it out.  A 10" cut in the middle of the pad apparently from a sharp rock had ended our fun, so our floating trip and Scott's compfy nights were over.  I offered Scott my 3/4's thermarest, but Scott politely declined.  He and Jen spent most of the afternoon attempting to patch his mattress, and got it to where it would hold air for an hour or so before needing a middle of the night blow-up.

Day 7-   2 Aug 13
Warm Springs Campground to isolated spot near Island Park, ID 
53.9 miles 6:09 riding time
Faced again with the choice of GDMBR's main route up the ATV trail or over an additional mountain, we chose the over the mountain option.  It's amazing how many miles of almost unused paved road are here.  Coming off the mountain we enjoyed a couple of great vistas. Once on the bottom, we met a young couple excited to be in the USA for the first time and on the GDMBT- my guess is they're from the North of England, but their accent threw me.  We failed to get their names or home.  They, like everyone else but us, had heard what shape the former rail to trail was in.  After leaving them Scott took us on 1/4 mile of rail-trail (ATV trail) just to remind us how good it was not to have ridden it today. 

Doug, Steve, and Jen at the final campsite- photo by Scott

Scott and Jen knew this area and took us to a spot the moose had trodden badly this spring making a poor sleeping surface for a guy without a mattress and even a guy with a thermarest.  We'd taken it fairly easy on this trip, and this was the only day I'd call a full day of cycling, but you take the camp spots as you find them.

Day 8  3 Aug 13  
isolated spot near Island Park, Idaho to Curt & Diane's 
25.1 miles 2:37 riding time
I'm sure Scott was glad last night was his last night in the tent without a reliable mattress; I with a thermarest thought the moose prints somewhat uncomfortable!  We were going to finish up back on the GDMBR- at least to just before Red Rock Pass takes its route into Montana.  For a short while the route had us on single track which was a treat.  All too quickly we were back at Curt & Diane's who had stored our cars.  They provided showers, a great burrito, melon salad, and home-made chocolate chip cookies.  Thanks Diane & Curt!  We promised not to list them as "Warm Showers hosts" to passing GDMBR riders!

Doug, Jen, Scott with the celebratory beer, and Steve at Curt & Diane's

Summary:  

315.2 mile riding time 33:34 over 8 days
It was a beautiful ride combining a sample of the GDMBR, the bike path over the Tetons, and the Ashton to Victor rail trail. This was the least demanding mini-tour I've done with these guys, but each day was varied and fun. I've tried to convince them to do the entire GDMBR with me next year, but work gets in the way of their personal lives. For other Pacific Northwesters or those just east of the Divide, this is a good route to give it a preliminary try!

Doug takes great photos always and here's most of his work.


Happy cycling for fun, fitness, and transportation!


Steve