This fall I found myself riding down the hill to Gardiner. I get off work a little before snuggles so I have some time to kill before we head to Bozeman.
Just above town
I decided to do some exploring. Because, well, that is what I do. Once I rode the Yellowstone River all the way down to Tom Miner. This time, however, I went North towards Jardine.
Casey Lake
I found some great shuttle trails. And I wonder to myself why there are all these cool trails in the middle of nowhere. Maybe in the summer, it is a big horse riding area. Or is it that no matter where one goes, there will be places to ride.
Traveling back and forth between Bozeman and Mammouth takes time. The time you cant get back. Commuting is such a travesty. That is why we have to get out. Even if it is for the last hour of the day. This hike looked like so much more. That little time slice. Much bigger then all the time spent commuting. Maybe we should do more of this.
We did a trail that was my first official Gallatin Valley mountain bike ride back in 2008. I remember the climb up to Garnet Mountain to be one of lore as being hard. I wanted to see if an older me in 2017 could pull off the same feat. I found it to be the same … hard. The latest in mountain bike technology had better traction but maybe it was a little harder. Or maybe I am not a training athlete anymore.
I had already ridden the Corbly Creek Trail but only about halfway up. Always turned around due to the technical terrain. As in not rideable. When your partner suggests that today maybe you could try for the top you just say yes. Go with it. Don’t tell them that you tried and how rough it is. Well … I did tell her that it would be extreme. She thought maybe it was a good time to try a dropped seat and I could finally learn to ride my enduro bike on some terrain in which it was built for. Good enough for me.
The trail was new halway
Creek crossing
Late summer color
Bridger Range Trail
The push
Just marched past a moose
One day we need to investigate the North Cottonwood Trail
Actually had to climb a small cliff
Mountain goats
Mo pushing up a giant wall that looks like a fireplace
An image of our last outing at Yellowstone National Park. And I wonder, not if, but when, the villains in power dismantle it. Yesterday we lost two national monuments. I really do not see any reason to share any more adventure. No reason to share photos. There is just no reason for anything.
RAVAGED! By life. And now there is Labor Day weekend, what to do? It was all so sudden without a plan. Traditionally we bike packed. But this year we haven’t even done one yet. And quite frankly we were worn out; with Mo being in Yellowstone Park and myself working here in Bozeman it was all we could do to just relax on the weekends. So we decided to do something between bike-packing and staying home. What we came up with was a campout weekend. Hebgen Lake and camp out for 4 days.
Geranium Leaf
We got there and enjoyed a campfire the first night. Then the next morning adventure opened up in the form of a trail idea we saw on a map. We decided upon doing that trail possibly getting up to the Coffin Lakes.
Day 1 adventure was a sweet ride to Coffin Lakes
It all started out innocent enough. We were just going to ride up the trail and see how far we could get. And if we got tired of walking or hiking we could just ride back down and go back to Camp. Maybe take a nap in the hammock or something. Recover from life back home. Repair.
If you are not pushing your bike then you are not on an adventure.
We did push our bikes but not before we had a great single-track ride up the valley. The fall colors were already starting to appear and we stopped often to take in the sights. Then after some hike-a-bike, we approached the lake.
Coffin Lakes
It was kind of creepy. First off we ran into a bear. The issue was that the bear didn’t have any way to go but through us because this lake was closed in by canyon walls. We could get RAVAGED! Fortunately, though, it climbed high … hopefully to get out of the canyon. None the less we kept looking over our shoulders.
Loving my new mountain bike
And then there was the abandoned campsite which at first looked as though that bear had eaten the campers and ravaged the camp. But no, it was just a tent someone left up there. After a quick dip, we were outta there. Time to rip the downhill on my new plus bike. Life really isn’t all that bad. Our lives didn’t seem like it had been ravaged all that much now.
Everyone reaches a tipping point. You know, when you hit rock bottom and make some changes. For me, it was after stage 2. I crashed pretty hard coming down the Revenge downhill and went through a tree. I was pretty shaken up at the bottom of the lift and on the ride up with Brian I looked up from my feet and into the sky and said, “enough is enough”. “I’m going to take control of this bike. I need to grab that thing and make it do what I wanted to do. It’s time I ride the bike and not have the bike ride me.
Stage 1
Pushing up to stage 2
Stage 2 start
Shot taken by Mo as she rode around trying to catch a stage
“Sounds good”, Brian said and gave me a confused look. The next three stages I rode what I didn’t think I could ride. And I really started to have some fun. Heels low … centered on the bike.
Top of stage 3
Stage 4 perhaps, just above Jacobs Ladder
Mo takes in the last stage start trek
The last stage of the year
Masters Series Podium
On the last stage, I began slowly squeezing the brakes, but after 3 seconds I let go and rode that damn bike down the hill. I barely made up enough time to win the series overall in the Masters Class. Not too shabby for this experiment and new adventure.
As always, I was so unprepared for what I discovered on practice day. I guess this is a reoccurring theme in my life.
Last stage
Unrealistic expectations or maybe even my window into reality. I am not saying I am delusional … although it is possible I am completely delusional. At the end of the day I learned, I had no skills for this last enduro. Really, I should just go into everything like it is a brand new experience. Be in the moment at the current time. Thank god I ran into the Curry’s who gave me some sage advice.
“Heels down”
“Center your weight”
Maybe this is good advice for life. Stay grounded and keep everything balanced.
Amerika … perhaps from some ancient language meaning gap. Lots of rich and everyone else pretty much being taken advantage of by … well … the rich. Maybe it is no one’s fault. This is happening throughout life. For instance, take my friends who the last time I rode with could ride pretty much what I ride … just a tad slower sometimes.
Mo and Paul on otter slide
So how is it that the latest ride I went down a couple of steep berms and then found myself alone. When they finally walked down it was reported to me that it was unrideable. But I just rode it. A gap perhaps.
Some people are good hosts. I consider myself not a good host. When I learn there are visitors I posture with stress responses. I would rather visit. And go along. Unless I plan something. If I were to actually plan something then I have everything figured out. Paul visited and after the usual negotiation of the expectational itinerary I was comforted to learn we were just going to “hang”. I am cool with that.
Paul and I
Once released from anxiety the possibilities were endless. One such possibility was a ride on Chestnut, a local gem. Mo dropped us off at the trailhead and was there when we popped out. Like a professional vacation for my friend. And without trying. I am going to say that I consider “Just hanging” is more fun than hosting.
Lots of these conversations occurred while shuttling to the Wednesday Night Ride locations around the Gallatin Valley. I remember thinking, “finally, a social network and cool new friends”.
Looking back now that there is snow everywhere is how I really knew that it was all a mirage. After the last two or three rides were canceled the airwaves went silent. Now I wonder if this summer was just a dream. Oh well, getting on the fat bike for lone rides into the darkness.
After practice yesterday I had a handle on what it would take to come from behind and win this thing. Brian, who took that cool photo below, had shown me the correct way to hit some bike park challenges. Jumps with steep lips, drops, doubling, and things like hopping over obstacles. Day 1 was an abysmal attempt at enduro but after the last stage, we hit a couple runs. That evening beer over supper. And now, I was ready. I was so excited I figured I would hike my bike up and do a section just to warm up for the day.
The first jump I did a front wheelie into a faceplant taking out some shrubs. All confidence lost I proceeded on day 2 to fall further back in the standings. I just need more practice. I can do this. Mental fatigue is way different than physical fatigue. I have so much to learn about endurance.
The first two were so much fun. And then I watched so much YouTube enduro while the date loomed. I was excited almost to the point of giddiness. I couldn’t wait for the Grand Enduro. When we arrived and I squeaked out some practice runs I approached camp looking defeated. All I could say is that I feared for my life. Well, maybe not my life … but wrecking would REALLY hurt. If there was a person at the door of this weekend they would have said … “welcome to some real enduro”. Keep in mind also that this was before the Big Sky Enduro. After day one … like second from last. Wow, do I need to get some skills.
I am sitting on a log in front of a blazing fire. I built the fire to entice my partner out of bed to join me. She is a sucker for warmth. I don’t want to go back. Back to Bozeman. Back to work. Back to all the rude people. I like it here. I like setting my own schedule. Laying around camp and going for an adventure on a whim. This place is nice to me.
“Coffee”, a query came from the tent.
Morning camp
Mo contemplates the return to society
One last look before descending to the end of the adventure
Boneshakerbike 