Month: September 2010

It is hump day and I have made plans with some friends to go hike Borah Peak. And to make the weekend more fun to go see more friends in Pokafello. Another weekend with friends is at hand. So now I transition from recovery from last weekend to ramping up for another. But first … a ride into Pattee Canyon tonight.

As I floated up the hills like a butterfly and hammered down them like a bus I couldn’t help but think ahead to next weekend. A big road bike ride into Idaho that is like 60 miles. A gravel road climb to the backside of the Bitterroots which could add another 15 or so miles. I am guessing at the mileage here folks. Then to top it off a 25 mile run through the Roots coming out at Blodgett Canyon. Yea! its MAD.

Then it happened. I realized how fun mountain biking is. Missoula in the fall is beautiful.

It seemed as though I was doing something against the grain. I was headed to Caras Park alone for the Missoula Brew Fest. Why against the grain? Because it seemed like all my friends were out of town and I was going alone. For some reason alone out in public is too scary for me.

I wondered through the crowd with my empty mug in hopes of running into someone I know. I know that I SHOULD be going through the crowd looking for NEW friends all the time. But I like the friends I have … thank you very much. I am an introvert I think.

As I strolled through the crowd a woman took my hat and ran off. I chased her down and introduced myself. She got my mug filled. I got my hat back. Her boyfriend looked pissed. As I looked at her I realized that I am an introvert and this was just to scary. I ran off.

Then I ran into Jim York and hung with him a little bit telling of my hat snatching story. Then Pat Scharfe Came strolling by and gave me a sweet I Bike MSLA tee shirt. Thanks Pat!

The rest of the evening the beer kicked in and I became a socialite. I had a nifty tee shirt and even got Pat some referrals.

“I just have to have one of those shirts.”

“They are $15 and you can get them from that guy over there.”

Thursday I was gearing up for a trip to Seattle to visit someone when it was pointed out that I would be traveling much more then I thought, somewhere in the neighborhood of 8ish hours.

It would go like this … drive my ass off followed by a brief day of hanging out to a evening camp out. The next day I would watch a triathlon and jump in the car for a return trip home and arriving mucho late. At the time it didn’t seem like a good idea and I bailed.

On Friday the more I thought about it the more I realized I should of made the trip. I was feeling pretty low and knew I should fill up the week as much as I could so as to not think about “things”.

Enter Friends Fest a new category of ultra endurance activity. 48 hours of endurance activity and challenging tests of strength. All done with friends or in adventure racing terms a “team”.

Stage 1, hour 1: The event starts at Brew Fest in Missoula where I must enter a crowd of drunken people and seek out team members, get extremely drunk with them, and then jam to a funk band late into the night. Bob Skogley and his family teamed up with me and together we finished out stage one in the main peloton.

Stage 2, hour 4: This stage is to go to the Union Club in Missoula where one team member would play the drums while I was to dance with at least three other tem-mates. The stage was scored by style points, endurance dancing time, and presence.

I scored highly on all three counts. I quickly learned some dancing moves that wowed the crowd. Team-mate Ed Stalling was on the drums and my main dace partner was Laurie Stalling with supporting roles by their friends. I put in a decent amount of dancing time. My presence was scored highly due to the “hotties” I was dancing with. I pulled ahead on this stage because I shut the place down.

After this stage was a bike ride to the camping facilities where after only 3 hours of sleep I had to rise and take on Stage 3.

Stage 3, hour 13: Climb Squaw Peak. I teamed up with Joshua Phillips and friends. This stage started out rough as fatigue settled in and had to endure a extreme hangover. I was a tad late to the first check point and I fell behind a bit. As the day wore on I caught back up and we topped out on the peak to some great views. On the way back to my car I decided to pick up the pace and soloed back trail running. I was getting a second wind.

Stage 4, hour 17: A quick transition drive to Missoula to check point Stalling. I arrived in the nick of time to be stuffed into the back of a Subaru and hustled off to Snow Bowl. This test would be the hardest. The stage comprised of first overcoming vertigo, second was to run to the top of Point Six, and third another vertigo challenge that was even more extreme then the first.

The first part was a chair lift to the top of Snow Bowl and I handled it quite nicely due to being distracted by a bear sighting and casual talk with team mate Ed. On top we took in nutrition and headed out for the run up Point Six. This is where I came face to face with Kelsey a two time marathon runner who was half my age. At first we were neck in neck but I was to fake her out by a sudden surge to the halfway point of the climb.

The final dash up the “Skin Trail” and I was becoming the super star of the day. There were fans lining the trail up and they were quite inspired. At the top I was surrounded by mountains in every direction and the Mission Range to the north.

I faltered on the third part as we rode the chairs down the mountain. I felt like there was this force pulling me forward and out of the chair. I was to fall to my death and knew my moment had come. I don’t know how I made it through.

My team mates Ed, Laurie, and friends greeting me at the conclusion of the stage and reported that I was as white as a ghost.

Stage 5, hour 21: This stage was in direct contrast to the endurance activities of the morning. I was to put down around 8000 calories in 1.5 hours interspersed with a acting session where I was to pretend to be a family dog .

Again I teamed up with Ed and family and we decided upon Old Post for massive food overload. This is where the “team” element paid off. I was able to catch a cat nap in the trunk of their Subby as they drove me back into town.

After consuming about 7000 calories I used my surroundings, a trunk of the Subaru, for my acting section. I barked like a family dog at passing pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. I really did quite well.

On to my final test of strength and we pulled up to the Big Dipper for a session eating Cardamom ice cream. While deep into this test I ran into day 2’s team mate Sommer and her friend Jenny. We briefly discussed the next day’s stage options and then I turned to my team to finish up the caloric event.

Does Cardamom ice cream taste like fruit loops?  Back to the story …

Stage 6, hour 34: Sunday’s first stage was a TBA ride. It was a test of negotiation and compromise. Sommer was the first to call and I agreed immediately. We would do the Sheep Mountain Trail Loop.

Our team of 4 was well balanced and ready to rock at the trail heading out at around 10 AM. The group included Ed and Laurie Stalling, Sommer, and Jenny. Laurie was the first casualty who had started the ride feeling sick and left the group about a thousand feet up.

We arrived at Blue Point about 3 hours later feeling our oats. We all climbed strong while I cleared the headwall in the woods and was on a roll to set a personal PR for “dabbs”. Then we reached Wishard Ridge and finally Sheep Mountain. 4 hours into the ride we set forth on the long and demanding decent. Through the rain forest and BC ravine. We rolled back into town around 6.5 hours later.

Sommer, Ed, and I hit up The Bridge Pizza to recover enough for the last stage of the “fest”.

Stage 7, hour 44: This was the final stage and I was already in the lead and virtual tour winner. All I need to do was finish the stage. The stage included and impromptu judging of a fashion show followed up by more caloric intake. This stage was really a “wind down stage” kind of like the last one in the Tour Dah French.

The event ended at the Hip Strip Block Party here in Missoula.  7 stages, 46 hours, 11.4 miles on foot, 28.7 miles mtb, and 9,000 vert feet. I spent the weekend with quality people … good friends. I am thankful.

Hey, who wants to go riding?

The day after the 8 Hours of Labor we went into Butte to enjoy a rather large breakfast. When we got back I discovered all our stuff was on the way out of the lodge. Chris and Mandy were busy preparing the lodge for some new clients. I had to dig my food out of the garbage which was quite amusing to Chris. I explained that a half a loaf of Udi bread and some turkey cold cuts were all I had for the week.

On the docket for the day was a ride on some routes we had not taken before out at Homestake lodge. Eric, Julie, Sten, Christy, and myself headed out as it started to rain.

We hit up some cool dirt roads and manage to almost get lost.

We made our way around to the Butte 100 course and just for kicks decided to go up the Power Line Climb.

Just as we finished up the sun came out and we headed down the road for some afternoon fun (Tomorrow’s blog).

Its that time of year when it is dark going to work and soon after I get off of work. Also the Missoula Wednesday Night Cyclocross Races start tonight. I really don’t want to do it but when I think of doing it on my mountain bike I get a little excited. So I will go on down to Fort Missoula after work to tossel in the fields with other bikers. I hope to see some friends. And of course tomorrow is the Thursday Night Ride. Not to many of those left

After work I got my CarboRocket on and headed to the Treasure Trail with Ed “Mr. SCymbols” Stalling. We climbed Sentinel in around 40 minutes and bombed back into town. What a great after work jaunt.

Upon landing at home base I quickly downed a TRP Recoverite and headed to the Kettlehouse. We gathered, shared, got all caught up on everyone’s summer, and learned we would not be seeing “Mr. SCymbols” do a set. Bummed out but not discouraged we all hoped upon our trusty steeds and headed to the Depot for some grub.

More stories and careful planning of the next two days and I put a great night in the books. We planned a Bitterroot ride today and then tomorrow we will be doing the Sheep Mountain Trail 10 AM from the Rattlesnake Parking Lot. Be there, all is welcome as is all abilities. This ride should not be missed.

Got to run, Larry is picking me up in 20 minutes

The Missoula Thursday Night Ride once again lived up to its potential. There was single track, beer, and Ice Cream. Doesn’t that cover all the bases?

Our route started at the Rattlesnake Rec Area Trailhead and we hit the Spring Gulch trails up to the top of Turkey Run. Mostly climbing I found myself pumping out frustrations of the currents events with my car and cancellation of Stone Temple 8. Once on top though I was basking the the sunset with friends planning our post ride activities.

We bombed down to the trail head and quickly gathered into small groups, some in cars, some riding. We headed to Rattlesnake Gardens where we put down some Double Hauls, Cold Smokes, and other assorted tall cans of beer.

Then it was of to Big Dipper to test out the latest Cold Smoke Ice Cream. I was overcome with the desire for a double scoop and opted for a Ginger scoop and a Double Haul scoop. I actually ended up taking the last bit of Ginger so my TNR mates were a little angered at me. I shared and ate most of it. Ginger is real strong but good none the less. The Cold Smoke was awesome. Not too  strong like I thought but almost like a vanilla flavor with a overtone of hops

Hello from a cold Missoula morning. I just left my car at Four Season Motors the official Missoula Volkswagen dealer. This morning I tried my battery pack one last time and of course it failed. Luckily a friend dropped off a battery (deep cycle, whatever that means) for me to jump start off of. At first it did not do anything but I let it sit with the new battery hooked up and that gave me a couple cranks and the piece of shit finally started. I quickly ran it down to Four Seasons and abandon it.

Last night I tried my jump start idea three times … fail, fail, fail. I tried to push start it and that provided me with a dashboard light show and clicking sound that made me fear that I started a fire in the instrument panel.

I called my friend Sten to provide a excuse in case I was to bail on this weekends race plans in Laramie. He suggest to pull some fuses so I went to pulling until I had at least cut the throat to all the power sucking elements that I could see. This actually seems to help as I went to bed I gave the jump one more try and got three cranks out of it.

So now I sit at work and the race this weekend looks real bleak. I will await the phone call from the mechanic. I cant wait … should be, “um Mr Martin, your car … um …. better off dead”.

• http://4seasonsmotors.com/
• http://www.cars-that-suck.com/

It is hard to tell what exactly wrong with my car. I do know the electrical system is messed up because I get locked out all the time and I need to make sure all the enterior lights are disconnected because they will not shut off. That is why I don’t just go get a new battery. I have to find the root cause or short in the electrical system or risk ruining another battery.

So I picked up this baby and I don’t know why I didn’t have one in the car already since they are way more inexpensive then I thought. I got this for $30 bucks at OReillys Auto. So now I am hopeful to make the Laramie trip this Thursday.

After that big acusition I was still left with grocery shopping to do and I couldn’t use the new contraption untill it charges up for 20 hours. So instead of taking a 3 hour mountin bike ride I went grocery biking. I had to do 1 load per store and did Good Food Store, Orange Street Market, and Patte Creek Market. All in all a 25 mile ride for 2 hours of ride time (including the OReillys trip).

That left me with a hour to work out so I decided to hit Orange Street Trail with my friend Ross who just happened to bump into me at the last market.

Today it is laundry day but first I try the new contraption. Cross your fingers

Yesterday I packed the car and was headed to Hamilton for a mountain bike ride. When I went to start it … Nothing.

The electrical elements of my car have been going out since last winter when I was stranded in Billings (broke down of course). Since then my car locks me out, all electrical gadgets stop working, and I have had to disconnect all interior lights.

So now the car’s battery is ruined and I am afraid to put a new one (like I can afford that) in it.

I went looking for a garage but the VW place is closed on Saturdays. I went looking for someone to help but all were gone or working/busy. So I went home and plopped down on the couch and have been there ever since.

Now the big project is figuring out bow to get groceries. Backpacking them home is what comes to mind first. As far a future races. All gone. Stranded.

Just stumbled upon a collection of images that whisk you away on a visual journey, each snapshot capturing a unique story, frozen in time. First up, a breathtaking view of Missoula, the landscape bathed in the soft light of dusk (or dawn), showcasing the tranquil beauty of this place we call home. It’s like the city’s saying, “Take a moment, breathe in, and let the worries of the day drift away.”

Then, there’s this charming photo of Julie and Laurie, caught in a moment of laughter or conversation, a testament to the joy of friendship and the stories shared between them. It’s those unplanned, candid captures that really tell the heartwarming tales of connection and camaraderie.

Moving on, we’ve got the squad, triumphantly perched atop a peak or maybe the end of a challenging hike, a symbol of collective achievement and the exhilarating rush of conquering goals together. There’s a sense of accomplishment, of reaching heights both literal and metaphorical, that comes through in this image.

And who could overlook the whimsical capture of a Dairy Queen visit? A sweet reminder of the simple pleasures, of sunny days spent indulging in icy treats and making memories over shared smiles and sticky fingers. It’s a universal snapshot of happiness, of finding delight in the little things that, in retrospect, feel pretty big.

Each image, from scenic vistas to intimate gatherings, from triumphant group shots to delightful dairy detours, weaves a narrative of adventure, friendship, and the simple joys of life. They’re a reminder to pause, to cherish the moments big and small, and to always keep an eye out for the beauty that surrounds us, waiting to be captured and remembered.

Saturday I procrastinated (not really, dealing with a dead car battery all day) my way into a bad situation that luckily worked itself out. I should have learned my lesson from last year when I walked out in the middle of the night sometimes on my hands and knees. Saturday I decided at around 5 PM that I would see how fast I could ride Sheep Mountain. So I set out to do it backwards at 5:37 PM.

After about an hour I had completed the prolog (ride to trailhead) and got up the Rattlesnake Corridor to the start of the climb.

As I approached the summit the sun was just hitting the horizon and I knew that I could bomb the decent to make it out before it got dark. Then my Kenda rear tire busted its liquid latex out all over the trail. I had cut a sidewall. So there I was at 8 PM on top of Sheep with a torn sidewall. I used a Velcro strap and a Otwalla Bar wrapper to boot the tire and pumped like a madman to get the tire up so I could try and descend as much as I could while I had final daylight now disappearing fast. Deja vu!

I had to ride gingerly and the going was slow. I found myself dreading the few climbs that remained on the ridge. Soon it was so dark I was trying to use my cell phone as a light. One wonders at this time why after all the times I have been out there I didn’t bring a headlamp. Somewhere on Wisherd Ridge I ran into some horsepersons camping. One of them loaned me his light so I could descend and get home. This made all the difference.

So around 9:25 I was descending Wood Gulch and left the light in their truck.  I finished the official loop in 4 hours and 16 minutes a long way from the fast time I had in mind (sub 3 hrs). At 9:53 I was on Rattlesnake Drive heading home. I arrived in the comfort of modern living around 10:20 PM and fell fast asleep after a beer and the final moments of the Griz game.