Boneshakerbike

Author: Bill

  • New Wheel $70

    Calling Nashbar was like phoning the Bermuda Triangle – my order vanished without a trace, again. Second time’s the charm for lost packages, right? Not in Nashbarland. So, I decided to channel my inner bike whisperer and embark on a shop tour, the kind that leaves your legs quivering and wallet trembling.

    Big Sky Bikes was first. $200 for an XT wheel? Nah, I could practically hear my bank account sobbing. “Nope, gotta piecemeal this bad boy together,” I muttered, channeling my inner McGyver. Sportsman’s Surplus was next, but their wheels were as dusty as a forgotten attic.

    By the time I reached Bicycle Hanger, my new Frankenstein-bike was practically a done deal. But then, like a beacon of hope in a sea of spokes, Open Road emerged. There, nestled in a corner, sat a beauty: an old Rolof hub laced to a brand new rim. This wasn’t just any wheel, it was a unicorn – rare, majestic, and probably priced like a small dragon.

    I braced myself for the inevitable $300 price tag, but the owner, a wiry dude with a handlebar mustache, just chuckled. “Hmm, this ol’ fella needs a good home,” he mused, clearly itching to get rid of it. After a quick chat (and maybe a sob story about my missing Nashbar order), he hit me with a price that made my jaw drop: seventy bucks.

    Seventy. Dollars. I swear, I saw angels singing and unicorns frolicking in the background. Before you could say “spoke wrench,” that wheel was mine. Sold!

    This bike may be a Frankensteinian patchwork of parts, but thanks to a stroke of luck (and maybe a touch of desperation), it’s got a heart (or should I say, hub?) of gold. And who knows, maybe this adventure will be the first chapter in a beautiful, albeit slightly wobbly, cycling journey.

  • Job Acting

    Good morning. I awoke to find mom on the web and chatting with her as I speak. My plans to act like I have a job are falling through. I get up whenever and now I am playing on the web. I planned to get out for a hike early and get some stuff done. Mainly call Bike Nashbar as they lost my order again. Fuck, I hate Nashbar and Performance. I will never use their service again. Well I will start now by signing off and getting on the ball!

  • Wednesday Cyclocross Series

    The Missoula Cyclocross Series, proudly sponsored by Big Sky Brewing, officially dubbed the Big Sky Brewing Wednesday Cyclocross Series, will take place at the brewery on Missoula’s west edge. Races kick off on September 15 and will run for 5 weeks, starting at 5:45 PM. The tap room wraps up at 6:30 PM, just in time for spectators to catch the race’s climax. Big Sky promises beer at the finish line after each race, alongside the usual array of goodies—bagels, brownies, and cookies. Open Road and Missoula Bicycle Works are also contributing to the series. Challenging 100-foot run-ups are expected to test even the fastest, like Jamul. Entry fees are set at $5 per race or $20 for the whole series, with Shaun Fulmer leading as this year’s series czar. The finale will feature a Big Sky BBQ celebration.

    Series scoring is as follows:

    • 1st place gets 20 points, plus an additional point for each competitor beaten within their class.
    • 2nd place earns 12 points, plus a bonus point per competitor beaten.
    • 3rd place receives 8 points, plus a point for each beat.
    • 4th place is awarded 5 points, plus a point per competitor outpaced.
    • 5th place secures 2 points, plus a bonus point for each beat.
    • All other finishers gain a point for each competitor they surpass, while DNFs score zero but count towards others’ scores.

    Series classes include:

    • Men A
    • Men B
    • Men 45+
    • Women A
    • Women B
    • Women 45+

    The Schedule:

    • Sept 15: Big Sky
    • Sept 22: Big Sky #2
    • Sept 29: Big Sky #3
    • Oct 6: Big Sky #4
    • Oct 13: Big Sky #5

    Submitted by Bill

  • New Wheels

    Good morning. I have a headache but it is slight and I will try and get a handle early. I ordered a wheel last night and it was $150.00 (my rear wheel on my mountain bike is toast). I cant afford it and maybe I will not be able to fix my car's turn lens right away. I cant believe it is already a junker.

    Today is laundry and clean day and hopefully I can jump on that and then get online later at the Liquid or the Library. Mostly the Library so I can get more audio books. I have to get a handle on my hike logs and pictures in the picture gallery.

    No one has visited my site to see the new theme yet and that bugs me. I cant expect everyone to though and must get over it. Well I have to run for now … I am thinking of changing my blogger theme as well. All this customization … I must be on the edge of depression.

  • Trip To Billings For Wedding

    3:20 AM: The reception was great and the food … well was great too. Why do I hesitate? I ate too much and almost ruined my ability to go drinking the rest of the night. After the reception a faction of us went to the Wild Wild West dancing. Very cool place and it was packed. It was a good time.

    11:20 AM: This morning I went to breakfast with Pat and Mandy (cousins of mine). We had some good food at Applebes and discussed the way grandma manipulates everyone. we love our grandma but she has this ability to make you dread visiting with her. She has to be in control and is ridged to a point where nothing else is excepted but her own view. I want to go home.

    7:30 PM: Yea, I am home. Marcy and I are going to go hike Mount Sentinel. Cheri o!

    11:26 PM: I got back today from a wedding in Billings Montana. I am wiped out so details are hard to come by. I did make it home and am glad to be here. I went hiking up Sentinel Ridge to the top tonight with Marcy. On the way down I fell and bruised my hand. The visit in Billings was great except for the job and eating lectures I got from grandma. Well I must get to bed or make a story about this whole ordeal. Good Night all!

  • At Grandma's House

    Grandma stands in front of the cafe she started in my childhood

    August 28, 2004, might just go down in history as the day of the unplanned adventure—courtesy of Grandma’s well-meaning but slightly overreaching hospitality. She had promised a friend we’d escort her to Billings, setting the stage for a day filled with unexpected turns and, let’s say, memorable moments.

    There’s an unwritten rule in the book of life: one should volunteer for duties, not be volunteered. But there I was, learning a vital lesson in patience and the art of being volunteered by Grandma. It made me think, half-jokingly, that living with Grandma might be the perfect prep for married life, with its myriad of shared decisions and surprises.

    The journey to Billings was an event in itself. Our new acquaintance began to cough so fiercely that Aunt Paula and I exchanged worried glances, half-expecting a medical emergency right there in the car. The word “arrgh” barely covers the mix of concern and disbelief that filled the vehicle.

    Arriving at the Sheridan in Billings, our expectations hit a new low. The promise of adjoining rooms vanished into thin air, much like our hopes for a smooth stay. The room we were eventually given seemed to have been hastily abandoned by its previous occupant—unmade bed, lingering cigarette smoke, and all. The bathroom was a saga of its own: no ventilation, questionable cleanliness, and then, as fate would have it, the loss of power to our wall outlets. The irony of trying to iron my shirt in the bathroom, only to drop it into the toilet, was not lost on me. If anything, it added a comedic twist to the series of unfortunate events.

    Despite the chaos, there’s a strange charm to these unplanned adventures. They’re the stories that stick, the ones that get passed down through generations. Yes, even the part about the toilet-bound shirt finds its place in the narrative. Because in the end, it’s these shared experiences, these unexpected detours, that weave the fabric of our family stories.

    So, from a dive in Billings to a lesson in the unpredictable nature of life, this day at Grandma’s house turned into an adventure I never asked for but somehow needed. It’s a reminder that life, much like family, is full of surprises. And sometimes, just sometimes, the journey is all the richer for it.

  • Carnage

    Thompson Pass Road Ride
    I am heading to my grandmas house in Roundup Montana. I am going on the high line through Helena Montana. I expect to do this in 5 hours … I am hoping even less.

    UPDATE: I just hit my second animal. The first was just over the pass from Helena. I hit an owl and now my front right turn signal has been broken. bummer, this will cost some big money. The second was a deer that just had been hit by the car in front of me. I tried to go over it and it hit the bottom of the car pretty hard. I am hoping for no damage. I can not believe the amount of deer that seem to need to stand right on the highway.

  • Raining in the Rattlesnake

    Rain, rain, go away ….

    I’m packing up and hitting the road, pronto. The rain’s been non-stop, and now, to top it off, it’s started snowing. Seems like the universe’s way of telling me it’s high time to skedaddle back to the car. Spent the entire day, from sunup to sundown, with my ears glued to an audiobook on MP3 — a silver lining to this relentless downpour. Not gonna lie, it was a pretty sweet setup. The tent? Oh, it was the MVP, standing strong through 16 hours of relentless rain at a lofty 7,900 feet. Not a single leak or whimper from the wind. It’s like it shrugged off Mother Nature’s temper tantrum with a yawn.

  • Triangle Peak

    I have just set up camp. The hike was ok but not very exciting. Nothing to see because of the weather. The views are so . I actually don't know what I was thinking but I just kept going until I finally ended up on the submit of Triangle Peak. It is flat up here and I decided after an hour of trudging through wet terrain to set up camp in the middle of the submit which was protected by its flat top nature (and lots of trees). I am soaked to the bone. It started to rain as I attempted to find a place to put the tent. I was previously soaked because of bush whacking through wet terrain. The only reward is beautiful lake to the North of this long ridge.

  • West Fork Gold Creek

    West Fork Gold Creek

    Hey, explorers! Buckled up for a drizzle-dashed adventure at West Fork Gold Creek trailhead. Planned to conquer the peak, but rain had other plans.

    Geared up, heavens opened, downpour began. Took shelter in my ride, waited for rain to ease. It did, and I started my descent, not ascent.

    West Fork Gold Creek trailhead? More like an off-road obstacle course. But challenges make adventures exciting, right?

    Not summiting today, but still soaking in the day. Fresh air, rain pattering on leaves, mud squelching under tires – all part of the experience. Who knows, might find hidden waterfalls or squirrel stashes of trail mix.

    Stay tuned! I’ll keep you posted on my West Fork Gold Creek escapade, rain or shine. Remember, the best adventures don’t always go as planned. Now, excuse me, I have a date with a muddy trail and a sense of adventure! ️

  • Butte Trip

    Butte Trip

    Yesterday, I had a blast in Butte with my friends Carla, Corey, and Julie. We hit the drive-in and spent the night in a swanky spot. Hey Paul, I discovered a really cool food store in Butte – I’ve got to show it to you.

    Today, I’m catching up on things, and tomorrow, I’m off for a three-day adventure in the Rattlesnake Wilderness. Hope everyone has a great few days. Sending peace and kindness to all my friends!

  • Save Our Forest

    Forest

    Yo! Stumbled upon this killer website – the National Forest Preserve Alliance (NFPA, see what I did there?) – and let me tell you, it got me fired up faster than a squirrel hopped up on Red Bull. Since movin’ to Missoula, I’ve realized our forests are in serious trouble, thanks in part to the Bush administration’s “let’s-clear-cut-everything” agenda. Screw that noise! Here, the forest ain’t just scenery, it’s our backyard, our lungs, our whole dang ecosystem. So corporations and whoever else wants to grab a piece, take a hike!

    This NFPA crew, they’re the real deal. Their whole “Endangered Forests, Endangered Freedoms” thing? Basically, they’re using lawsuits, rallies, and even some good old-fashioned elbow grease to keep the Forest Service from turning our national treasures into sawdust. Did you know 95% of our original forests are gone already? The rest? Mostly public land, getting logged with our tax dollars, no less! Missoula’s seen its fair share of deforestation, and polluted water’s next on the menu if we don’t do something. Think about it: when do we stop, before every critter native to these woods is just a memory?

    Time to ditch the chainsaw and get to restorin’, I say! Check out these links: Endangered Forests, Endangered Freedoms Project (sounds epic, right?), Protect & Restore (duh!), and even their About Us page – they’re a real grassroots movement, powered by people like you and me. And hey, if you’re feelin’ spicy, there’s a link to “Stop the Bush Administration’s Pro-logging Agenda.” Go nuts!

    Remember, folks, a healthy forest means a healthy planet, a healthy Missoula, and maybe even a squirrel with slightly less jitters. Let’s get fightin’ for what’s right, one click at a time!

  • Crazy Mountains Aventure

    Crazy Mountains Aventure

    I have been back now for almost a week and finally have decided to take a look back to one of the best back packing trips I have ever taken. Paul and I embarked on a trip to the Crazy Mountain Range last Tuesday and I don”t think I could of guessed that the adventure would be this interesting. The idea was to spend 3 days and three nights in the Crazies and try to climb one peak. I think collectively we mentally decided on Crazy Peak since it was the tallest peak at over 11 thousand feet. Here are my accounts:

    Tuesday the 10th – Travel Day: I awoke Tuesday morning to Paul”s phone call and he said that he thought we could leave before noon so I started to pack. I originally wanted to do a mountain bike ride but if we could actually get to the trail head before dark I was excited.

    I was packed in about an hour and a half and the plan was to leave by 11 AM. 11 came and went and I packed the car. 11:30 I became upset, I could of done a ride and been back and ready before now. I fell asleep in my car waiting.

    Paul awoke me and we crawled out of town at an unbearable pace. Then once on the road we had to stop for gas and that took quite awhile because of a road closure due to construction. i was furious. Hell we wouldn’t even get to grandma”s to drop off one car and my dog until dark. Pissed off or not I continued and finally we reached grandma”s house. I wanted to stay at grandma”s house because it was already getting dark. Paul wanted to go and camp at our original planned spot in the Half Moon Campground. I decided to go with Paul”s idea … otherwise I would of missed the family reunion later on due to being a day behind.

    We arrived at the campground real late, paid the fee, and fell asleep. I awoke to a mountain staring down at me. Wow, what a sight, I thought to myself. I wanted to get going but realized that I was hiking with someone. I would try to do things as slow as possible so as to not seem to be waiting all the time. Slow down and smell the roses … and watch them grow. And grow … then die. ok, that”s what it seems like waiting for me.

    Wednesday the 11th – Backpacking Day: We hiked up the hiking/pack trail that heads West up Big Timber Creek. Along the way we noted several great waterfalls. At about tree miles we found the cut off to hike up to Blue Lake. We climbed the switchbacks that were the best ones I have hiked to date. It was made for pack horses so that is why.

    We arrived at some lakes. Our original goal was Blue Lake and we sought it out. Paul found quite a few spots to camp and settled on one with a great view. I had a gut instinct about a certain place and I didn’t want to camp. We mulled around and found absolutely beautiful spots. After a camping spot expedition up a drainage we found our spot. It was near a Zen garden and high enough to have great views. We hike down to our packs and returned to set up camp.

    The spot was great. We decided to camp at a semi level spot below the Zen garden and use it for a dinning and relaxation spot. Little did we know the tent spot was a horror to sleep upon but the dinning area was awesome. It was a great place to wake up in the morning and a great place to contemplate in the evening.

    Earlier we talked to two young hikers who suggested to take a certain drainage above our camp to get up and onto the ridge. We decided to take that route as it appeared that the two hikers were not geared up for a serious climb and seemed casual like it was easy. We must have ms-understood what they were talking about because the drainage we thought they were talking about would prove to be pretty extreme.

    Sleep that night was horrible. The ground under the tent was lumpy and had huge pits. We had checked before but I think it was a wet area and a lot settled while sleeping upon it. There were no other options at this site. It was the most level. On night two I added filler to the pits and smoothed out the lumps.

    The nights were cold and I was glad because I had a new bag and I wanted to see if the temperature rating was accurate. I would say it is. It is an awesome bag rated at 20. It is made by Slumber jack and I will get my cold bag under the same brand name.

    Thursday the 12th – Summit Day: It wasn’t before noon that we set out for the summit. In the back of my mind it wouldn’t take too long. I needed some rest from not sleeping all night. I slept in the meadow overlooking the lakes and mountains and it felt good. I had taken some Excedrin because of a headache and wasn’t feeling all too stable but off to the summit we went.

    At the bottom the route looked very un do-able. I got a little concerned. we agreed that we would just start up and if it seemed bad we would turn around and try another route. Before we knew it we were walking up the scree towards the chute. Right away we realized that the rock was unstable and that we would not have good strong holds. Figuring that it would get better we climbed on.

    Things got harder and harder and it became apparent that we could not climb at the same time or a rock would come lose and cream one of us. We saw a canyon with snow in it. Getting to the canyon would be lose and difficult but once we got there, we figured. Once we got there it would get better.

    Just getting to the canyon seemed difficult. Things that looked solid would fall away and tumble to the scree below. It was difficult enough to get to the canyon for us to agree it was time to turn around. Paul finally reached it and I took twice as much time to reach it. I had to take chances to just skirt over to where he was. We did not turn and go back down because once up the canyon it would get better.

    It did not get better. the canyon walls were not secure and the snow was slippery and made going slow. Most of all … it was getting steeper as we went. We did not realize it though. At one point Paul upset some rocks that whizzed by me. The situation was bad but … we figured it must get better.

    We were crazed lunatics and I don”t know why. It would get better is the theme and we just kept going up. The pitch got steeper. I knocked a rock loose and it did not bounce a little ways and it did not slide down … IT FELL, then hit the walls of the canyon smashing violently before slamming to the valley below. We suddenly realized that there was no turning back now. Things got quiet.

    I stopped looking for solid holds and took chances. I had to as I could not just spend any more time in this situation. It was terrifying. When I felt I couldn”t go fast I built steps in the loose rock strewn mess to get my mind off the situation and to feel like I was making progress. I knew it wasn”t going to get better. It was going to get worse and I prayed for some hope. A sign that we were doing this for a reason and not to just die. Suddenly we saw a end to the situation and scrambled to the top of the ridge line.

    This was not the hope I was asking for. This was on the ridge true enough but the way we came was not as bad as some of the other options. On the other side was Crazy Lake and the barren landscape that surrounded it. That option would require a decent down the same stuff as we came up but not as long or steep … except for the cliffs at the bottom.

    Paul scaled the rock wall to the left immediately and shouted that it was easy from this point on. I ignored him as he always puts a spin on things. To the left was another rock climb but what was beyond could not be seen. I imagined it a steep rock ridge with sheer cliffs on both sides. I sat down and started to panic. Paul was getting impatient at my inability to climb to his perch but screw him I thought. The world doesn”t spin for him … for me everyday I deal with some slight sense of vertigo and today was a bad one probably because of too much sleep.

    Paul was going to go towards the summit and had me convinced after a while that it was too bad. I stammered around an edge and climbed to where he was perched. By this time he was rock hopping up the ridge showing me “How Easy” it was. Once again putting a spin on it all. I looked at the ridge line and could tell that it got worse and the climb would be difficult. I did not want to continue and just wanted to get back to the spot at where I just rested. As I climbed down I told him to go on without me.

    Paul was having a problem with my decision but by then I could care less, I wasn”t going any further. He finally took off for the ridge. I settled down in my cubby hole and started to freak out more. Things got worse and I realized that there was no way I was willing to go in any direction. I ate and drank fluids while at the same time the sun beat down and burned the hell out of me. I put on more sunscreen.

    I realized that this situation was beyond what I wanted to be in at the moment and we needed to work on getting down. I figured Paul could come and climb this one with some one else and that he needed to bad his idea of going higher. I shouted up the ridge for 15 minutes but knew he couldn’t hear me because of my position. I began to think, what if he didn’t come back. Believe me this ridge looked dangerous and I really didn’t believe his chances where perfect. “Ok”, I told myself “your on your own”.

    I tried the ridge down and chickened out. “Ok Ill wait for him” … “No I have to work on something” I decided to practice going around to the downward side of the ridge. I made an attempt and then came back a few times. I made myself sit for 15 minutes straight because all my activity and thoughts were driving me nuts. I just wanted to sit and relax. And I did.

    I don”t know what happened. Maybe it was the food and drink that finally caught up to me. Maybe things seemed a little more balanced. When I got up and climbed around the little riser it seemed like second nature … “wow” I thought. Things seemed stable and I looked around. I saw a Karen and finally realized that I had just been given that hope I was wanting. A Karen is a pile of rocks to symbolize a route. This was the route up. Everything seemed fine from that moment on. I went back and made an arrow for Paul to see when he got back. To me this trip down was not up for debate because I was going down the sane way.

    I started to go to the Karen and noticed how suddenly I was enjoying the view and finally a route. I almost could see that after years of using this route it seemed as though I could see a trail through the rocks. I took in the view and built some Karens of my own to help others that freak out like me. To the West was a sheer cliff and to the East was a crumbling pitch that went down to Crazy Lake.

    At one vista point I saw Paul descending my way and snapped a picture. I was glad to see him and hoped he would see my arrow. In any case I would see him at camp. I walked the ridge and reached the low point of the ridge between Crazy Peak and another mountain to the South West. I felt positive that my instincts to follow the ridge would be the way down. I could still see signs of a route. I heard a voice and it was Paul.

    I turned around and he was pointing down towards camp. “Aren”t we going down the ridge”, he asked. He wanted to go down where he figured was a way down. I answered that I am going my way and that he could go any way he wanted. No way was I going to get talked into another route. I knew the way down. He seemed upset but for once I really didn’t care how anybody felt. I was finally having a good time and I was going my way and I am glad that I did.

    So instead of climbing down a technical scary ridge I enjoy a longer walk up and then around to another ridge which came down more steeply but easily manageable. Paul followed although I don”t think he wanted to. I enjoyed the views and spotted a Marmot (could of been a rock chuck but at that elevation who knows). Now that I think back it could of been a Wolverine as this place was supposed to have the largest population.

    Paul boot skated down the rest of the way and I made my way down to the green alpine tundra. I had made it down and I was thinking my higher power to be there. At that point was a snow field and a lake which ran from the bottom of it. The sights was great and we took it in and rested a while.

    Friday the 13th – coming Down: The trip back to camp took us over two ridges and drainage which were all spectacular. Once back at camp we sat ate and reflected. The night overcame us and we settled in for our last nights high in the Crazies.

    In the morning we broke camp and headed down. Before heading down all the way we took a detour at Blue Lake. We saw some huge waterfalls on the way in and decided to go in search of them.

    We hike around then down a valley for some pretty spectacular views of the Thunder Falls. I lost two pieces of my camera on the way climbing down the rocks and we only was able to retrieve one. We got thirsty because we left our water behind. we only planned a little excursion but instead it became a pretty long one. we decided to head back to Blue lake.

    Once at the lake we sat and enjoyed the views. I filtered some drinking water and relaxed. Finally it was time to depart and we found this old trail that was the original one into the lakes. It took a short cut over to the switchbacks. Once there we retreated the way we came. Just before we got back to the car we decide to take a look at Big Timber Falls.

    The falls were in this huge gorge and the sight was awesome. These falls are beautiful and I decided to visit them one fine rainy day for some real photography. Back at the car we packed up and went back to my grandmas but not before running into a bear and a snake on the road.

    The bear was on the edge of the plains where the run into the mountains and the snake we saw on the road about 5 miles from the highway. The rattlesnake was eating a bull snake which had been ran over. When a rude woman driver ran them both aver the rattler freaked out which was quite a sight.

    I have been back now for almost a week and finally have decided to take a look back to one of the best back packing trips I have ever taken. Paul and I embarked on a trip to the Crazy Mountain Range last Tuesday and I don”t think I could of guessed that the adventure would be this interesting.

    Zen Garden
    Lunch
    Paul down hikes
    Mountain Scene
    Color trickle
    Falls
    Ridges
    Crazy Mountain
    Falls
    Craigs
    Zen
    Lunch
    Paul hikes out
    Statue
    Solid to liquid
    Rock Walls
    Lower lakes
    I think both snakes were victims of a run over
    High Camp
    Coming out
    Lake
    Hanging
    Cascade
    Panorama
    Residual Snow
    Runoff
    Boot Ski
    Panorama
    Falls
    Rock Wall

  • Crazy Mountain Adventure

    Well I am just about off to an adventure in the Crazy Mountain Range. We plan to go to my Grandma's in Roundup first to drop off Marcy and park Paul's car. We will leave here around 11 AM. We should leave Grandma's house by 5 PM. We will reach the trail head and camp at the campground at around 8 PM.

    Wednesday We will be in the Crazies as well as Thursday too. Friday we will come out and go back the Grandma's to clean up. Saturday is the family reunion. That's pretty much the plans. I had better get to packing. I was just online to post some freaky dreams I have had and to post some pictures of the Warren Peak Climb.

  • Planning Crazy Mountains

    The Crazy Mountain Range is reported to rise dramatically some 7,000 feet above the Yellowstone River Valley and the surrounding plains 15 miles northwest of Big Timber. They cover an area of 136,547 acres in which my friend Paul and I plan to explore a small chunk of it. It is a road-less area and we will be accessing it from Big Timber Canyon Road from the East. The Crazy Mountain Range is reported to rise dramatically some 7,000 feet above the Yellowstone River Valley and the surrounding plains 15 miles northwest of Big Timber. They cover an area of 136,547 acres in which my friend Paul and I plan to explore a small chunk of it. It is a road-less area and we will be accessing it from Big Timber Canyon Road from the East.

    These formations stimulate the desire to reach a higher place but also geologists who say there is an abundance of trapped gas. I think Ill climb around a little before technology is used to ruin this remote wilderness wonder. In the past nineteenth century railroad land grants, now mostly passed on to other parties, make coherent resource management difficult. Efforts to preserve this place as a wilderness have failed in the past, but conservationists have once again proposed wilderness designation for the Crazies. I am in support of such efforts but for the moment, however, the Crazy Mountains remain the most spectacular alpine range in Montana without wilderness protection.

  • Friend Packs to Leave

    Well Sunday is here and Paul is packing to go home. I am sitting in Liquid Planet posting my dream and some pictures hopefully. I will probably only resource the up coming trip to the Crazy Mountains. That is planned for Tuesday through Friday. Tonight we are hiking Sentinel and doing nachos afterward with a movie. As usual tomorrow is my get things done day so Laundry, house clean, car clear, and grocery shop is on the agenda.

  • Riding and Staying Up late

    Riding and Staying Up late

    I awoke this morning trying to remember what I did that made me sleep in. I made coffee and completed notes and a map of last nights ride.

    After last nights ride at Woods Gulch Paul and I stopped in on our friend Chuck in the Lincoln Hills Area where we parked. We were there till late and after we stopped in at Hardies for a mushroom burger. It was real late as I crawled into bed and listened to another installment of a book on CD I have been working on.

    Today I hope to ride Blue Point a new loop I have thought of. Check it out in my forum if there is such a thing any more. Remember blogs live longer than web pages or sites.

  • Ho Hum, Another Summer Day

    Ho Hum, Another Summer Day

    Well this morning I feel like a major disappointment. I wanted to see Lucy and Niko off at the airport but things went wrong and I missed them. The thing that makes it worse is that I promised to be there. I feel so terrible.

    Today I am taking a day off from extreme activity. I will work on getting some things done that I want to do. I want to figure out how to hang all my maps at home and also get a compression bag and a fly for my tent. Another thing I would like to do is hag at the Liquid and play on the Internet … update my hikes.

    Tonight Paul is coming to the Thursday Night Bike Club and I hope he has fun. I always do and until last week found a great new place to ride. Tonight is in the Lincoln Hills Area and I don’t know what else we can do there.

    Tomorrow is Friday and I will probably go riding and plan the weekend more. I want to do Sheep Mountain and hike Triangle Peak. Paul and I have to plan our trip to the Crazies also.