Boneshakerbike

Day: June 2, 2023

  • Bitterroot Blooms in Big Sky Country

    The moment you spot the first Bitterroot flower peeking through the Montana soil, you know spring has truly arrived. It’s a special time in Big Sky Country, a brief and beautiful period when the state flower, the Bitterroot, graces us with its presence.

    These unique flowers aren’t just any old bloom. They’re a bit of a local celebrity, so much so that stumbling upon one is like finding a hidden treasure. They’re not rare per se, but their blooming window is so brief and they’re so particular about where they grow, spotting one feels like winning the lottery.

    Imagine walking down a trail, the air crisp with the lingering chill of winter, and suddenly, there it is—a splash of pink amidst the earthy tones of the trailside. It’s a Bitterroot flower, standing proud and solitary. Its very presence is a reminder of nature’s transient beauty, a fleeting moment of splendor.

    One such experience, recorded on June 25, 2020, captures this sentiment perfectly. As one individual was perched above a cactus flower, another excitedly called out, “Bitterroots!” The discovery of a Bitterroot flower near Eagle Creek became the highlight of their day. This isn’t just because the flower is hard to find, but because its blooming period is so short and it only grows in specific areas. The last sighting by this individual was near Missoula, making this new discovery a joyful reunion with a missed natural beauty【8†source】.

    In Montana, these moments are cherished. The Bitterroot isn’t just a flower; it’s a symbol of the state’s wild, untamed spirit. Its resilience and rarity reflect the character of Montana itself—rugged, beautiful, and full of surprises.

    As spring turns into summer, these precious blooms will fade, but the memories of their brief visit linger on, much like the enduring spirit of Montana.

    Resources to Enhance Your Day

    1. Montana’s Natural Wonders: Discover the unique flora and fauna of Montana, including the elusive Bitterroot flower. Explore Montana’s Natural Beauty
    2. Hiking Trails in Montana: Uncover trails where you might catch a glimpse of the Bitterroot in bloom. Find Your Trail
    3. Missoula’s Botanical Gardens: Visit these gardens near Missoula for a chance to see a variety of local plant life. Missoula Botanical Gardens
    4. Montana State Flower Information: Learn more about the Bitterroot, its history, and its significance to Montana. About the Bitterroot Flower
    5. Photography Tips for Wildflowers: Enhance your skills in capturing the beauty of wildflowers like the Bitterroot on camera. Wildflower Photography Guide
  • I Heart Hurricane

    I Heart Hurricane

    DAY: JUNE 2, 2021. OK, so even if the sun comes out. It is still too muddy to ride. So I need me some look back … look back to better times. Like Hurricane Utah times. #LivingstonMTIsAShithole

    Gould Wash
    Some general bike trail above town.
    And then there is the gem trail.
    And Chinatown Wash.
    Discovering new places … by …o/o(bike)
    Speaking of bike …
    Adventure …
  • Gardiner Moments

    Gardiner Moments

  • Militant

    Militant

    Just moments after a bullet seared past our ears, but before the police showed up.
  • Smoking The Bowl

    Smoking The Bowl

    This upcoming Sunday I am thinking about Smoking The Bowl for six hours. I am thinking a 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. effort. If anyone is interested check out the map and give me a holler. Going to need some Carbo Rocket because this bowl smokin will make ya thirsty not to mention the munchies for Kettle Chips “Lightly Salted” 🙂

    My training description is, “Off-road with several long climbs. Ride climbs in heart rate zone 3, flats in heart rate zone 2 and recover on descents focusing on efficient riding. Be smooth, be fast. Keep pace steady and strong through entire ride – no fade today! Start smart and finish strong! Fuel consistently and keep stopping time to a minimum. Only a few 1-2 minutes stops all day – no extended breaks. Eat, drink and change clothes while you are on the move.”

    Thanks to L. Dent and the Thursday Night Ride site for a map of the loop. http://tinyurl.com/l5tmn8 or TNR MAP here. Stats look like 1:27 minute hours thanks Ed loops (8.99 MPH for 13 miles) 2,699ft per lap!

    If that isn’t your cup of mud and want to go hard I am also thinking of a road bike ride called Skankaho Spank Your Crank from Red Barn Bikes in Hamilton on Saturday.  This one is the most tentative. In any case Saturday will be a 3.5 hour Zone 4 effort day.

    Don’t like the sun? Join me for a midnight ride Friday night as I will be doing a test run on the Zepher Trail for 2 hours in the dark

  • Grave Creek Growler

    Grave Creek Growler

    And then some! Today it is raining out and heavy too.  I am planning a 6 hour ride tonight as well as I prepare for some endurance races.  How does one pay bills and do back to back 6 hour rides?

    Yesterday I hammered myself and it took an entire pint of vanilla ice cream and berries to fully recover last night. Do you want to recover from a 6 hour 66 mile off road epic ride?  Sleep 10 hours and eat some ice cream!

    So there I was about to embark on a journey that I had done before (check out the Grave Creek Growler Page) but today I planned on seeing how much further I could go until I hit the six hour mark (my weekly time budget).  I would follow my Vision Quest Epic  that I am planning. This endeavor would set the weekly climbing record previously set at 10,999 feet in February. This week I would accumulate 11,300 vertical feet of climbing and it was this big ride that put me there. And … I got some photos and videos along the way.

    After climbing for an hour and 20 minutes I reached my first check point at mile 12 with almost half of Sunday’s climbing in the bag at 3,225 feet. The next leg took me over the Grave Creek Range which is a ridge that runs all the way to Petty Mountain.  I made it to check point 2 at mile 27.3 (9,8 from CP1) at around 3 hours since I had left home.  All downhill from there to Dry Gulch!

    As I headed down to Dry Gulch I switched from CarboRocket to Cytomax and to my surprise it seemed that Cytomax wasn’t keeping pace and I started to slow down. This was surprising but could be attributed to all the climbing in the Grave Creek Range.  There are three REALLY steep climbs that put me at the 171 beats per minute range.

    From Dry Gulch I pedaled my way across the valley floor to the Point Six Road. I reached the gate/parking area at about 5 hours and felt toasted.  After eating a baggy of potato chips I was ready to rock and roll.  This was the first time I used potato chips and to my surprise they REALLY worked.  I am not kidding.

    I had run out of time before I got too far up the Point Six Road so I turned and left for home base.  Once home I crashed the rest of the evening and ate ice cream.  Ahh the first epic mountain bike ride of the summer and I only ran into two snow banks.

  • Winsted Woods Race

    Winsted Woods Race

    Good morning everyone! It is Sunday and I am about to travel to Winsted for a mountain bike race.

    I am hoping to update my page a little before I go out the door. This morning was not good because I went to Starbucks and they don’t open until 7:30. Bummer. I went to Bruggers Bagels instead.

    They have very weak coffee.

    Ed Smith will be coming to Winstead for the race and I hope to see him there. He called me from his mothers last night. I wish I would of known because I would of liked to visit.

    Last night I bought a shirt and some shorts at wal-mart. I needed shorts real bad as I dont have summer clothes. Well my computer is don synchronizing with my PDA so asta la vist.