Category: Blog Posts

So we are camped up at West Pine Creek and I was considering a ride. A brilliant ride over to Dry Creek and then up and over to West Pine.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LmDVNw9uC6hudfjbA

I will agree that maybe it was not the most competent plan. After 2 weeks of pushing snow, we would have had to turn around. OK, whatever.

A friend once said just because it is impossible doesn’t mean I cant try. Or something like that.

And … it WAS raining. And … I was in no way going to influence snuggles to do all of this. Darn it.

“Let’s just take a walk.”

“Are you kidding me? Who hikes these days. So dull.”

“Well, I am going to go up that way so do anything you want.”

I put on my rain gear and agreed to just take a little walk until it started to rain. Then I would turn back. And it was acknowledged that I couldn’t bitch about anything anymore. Just be nice.

Whatever.

And of course, wouldn’t you know it … well, can you guess? The freaking thing turned out to be a 6-hour hike. We found so many cool things.

I really hate it when my fantasies don’t come true.

I just wanted to see how someone was doing. A genuine effort. What I got was hatred and painful statements from those that I know. f’ it. But first …

Snuggles and I went for a ride. Stillness befell us as we rode through the most immeasurable display of wildflowers I have ever observed.

Once back I cracked a beer and so did she. I assembled my thoughts and now it is time to make a statement.

If someone finds themselves saying/writing that they don’t have a bias then something is suspect. I smell a salesperson. Being a good human that believes all beings are equal is not something you can just SAY. It is something that you dispense every day in your actions. If you don’t want to talk and learn from another then you are a bad human. The good news is that every day you have a chance to open up and stop being combative and tribal.

That paragraph is a litmus test. If it offends you or you find yourself getting a little bothered then do me a favor and let me know. If we can not talk through it and learn then please unfriend me.  

It is so frustrating to open up a platform to see how someone is doing and see comments from others that I know and managed to respect just to find them close-minded and just being a sore on the planet’s ass. 

A chance to learn at https://shauntfitness.com/episode-224-why-black-lives-matter/

I need another ride …o/o

https://photos.app.goo.gl/897BQNeD1MV1KjW1A

Spring is here with flooding, flowers, and finally getting out to see everyone else enjoying the season.

Much much going on and to think about so there is much walking and escaping to enduro rides. Had to call in sick today for a family medical in Billings so it’s off to that joint.

Mo was in the loft and I just kind of tooling around in the garage https://photos.app.goo.gl/xi75cEsy7oNhD6TUA (Buttons).

“hmmm, it looks like we can connect Big Creek with Rock Creek”

“No way”

That is habitually how it goes when we find a new piece of planet to ride on.

About a year later as we camped at Carabella I brought it back up.

“Let’s go for that section you spotted in the recreation map last year”

“Totally”

We parked at the snowmobile parking lot because the Donahue Trail 183 South trailhead was closed with a closed gate. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/49934770 (our route)

Biking down the forest road the enthusiasm was growing. New trails are our pleasure drug. At the trailhead, the biking yearlong symbol affixed to the excitement.

Initially, the trail drops to Rock creek apparently skirting some private land but don’t get me started on people that believe it’s their land.

As my buddy likes in a blog post… Then it happened, lol. The pitch went skyward and we climbed for what seemed like a week. I climbed but Mo decided it too ridiculous and started hike-a-biking.

At the top of the ridge, the trail turns into some big ass evergreens and it is there we stopped for a pic-a-nic, as Yogi puts it.

After a discussion of how the Sage Brush seemed to be working to kill us on the last climb and a planned tuna sandwich, we headed into the pines.

We weaved into forests and connected on private roads which seemed to be hand-holding us to the next “Public” section. But it is there that it was undesirable to proceed.

Everything underwater and looking across a big snowfield I gave up the ghost.

Maybe another day. I caught back up to Mo who turned around ages ago and we departed back the way we came. Even failed endeavors are great. There is more excitement to connect the dots and still new trails to ride.

Can’t wait.

I love Livingston, but I also get bored with current surroundings pretty easily.

So I go to Town and Country our local store. I grab a bunch of supplies and I meet snuggles at Carabella. The first thing we do is go for a ride and head up towards the Sphynx Trail.

You know, kind of the usual stuff. We get back, hang out wet gear, put burgers on the grill, and crack some beers. Then afterward go for a little walk to take some flower pictures and sew up the evening by hanging out in the van reading or watching Seinfeld ore even checking out the sunset. Yeah, the usual escapades, I guess.

Livingston Montana … in our apartment. Working remotely in our new world. Wishing I could hug someone that needs support.

Trying to struggle free from the grasps of winter. Seeing signs that we are almost there.

Still, changes need to be made and loved ones are not around. People dying alone. People dying needlessly. I need to go for a walk.

Someone passes me in their car and I see a flag patch on an otherwise blank button-up shirt. Who is that and why do I feel like running. I stand strong and keep eye contact.

But I know I am safe. I have the privilege.

The warm days are starting to make us believe that spring is near. I am always so shocked to realize how much I like the pleasant weather. Why?

I mean during the winter I bitch and bitch. And then when we get our week of summer I am even more surprised at how I would rather it be this way all the time.

I think we need to stop taxing mother nature and just leave it out there to make the right decisions. Make Montana great again. Confused? Awesome, so am I.

BLM abandon and overrun by COVIDteers is the trails out at Copper City. Where bullets wiz over your head if you poke yer nose in the wrong coolie.

But ride to the backside and avoid the people. There you will find peace and solitude.

The war began with a middle-of-the-night mouse sighting which prompted troops to be pulled into the area including mouse traps and peppermint oil.

“Double Kill”, was announced pre-sunrise. The war seemed to be turning in our direction. Then the enemy brought in the heavy hitters. It started with a bombardment of devil dust.

By noon the surrender flag was raised and we packed up our regalia and retreated to warmer regions.

We are now re-grouping and getting ready for another resurgence. I can’t say when since the enemy has moles in our organization. I will say soon.

It seems that with recent events everybody and their brother and their sister and their dogs and their birds are all going camping and using public lands. Every public area that we approach is overrun. The thing is. The Bureau of Land Management has abandoned these places. When they are being used the most. You will see signs on the bathrooms that they are no longer maintained. Maybe just shut down the area? Just a thought.

Usually. Somebody, Mo usually, will clean up a bathroom. So that they can still be used … but still. The next day they start to go south.

Our public lands are in far worse disrepair than one would think. People go out of their way to poop and around pee on the walls of restrooms. Even dump their garbage into them. We don’t even attempt to approach some. Often we find ourselves in that far corner away from everybody digging our holes.

And that’s what the BLM is doing, digging themselves a hole.

I’m on my walk. Talking to ducks and chatting with the geese. Stopping to look at the Yellowstone River at times but keeping my pace high so I can get back to work. Clouds are rolling over the Absoroka Range. Today, I’m in Livingston.

Yesterday was at a jump line in the sun two counties over. Day before? The same. Three days before? A blinding snowstorm and evacuating the Tom Minor region. The weeks before that? Vacationing in Gardiner hitting up some sweet gravel. Before that? Miller Creek drainage bitching about the hordes of Bozeman, folk. Before that? Having pizza in the apartment … together.

That’s like a whole month of being in a different place.

Wow! I just walked past some goslings. The last time I was here they were so small. Now, they’re huge. Stopping to take video, this will come in handy for a post later.

Mr. Bear and I sipped our coffees while the sun came up. And there it was. The sun. With its energy and warm comfort.

That was all I needed and mounted my stead. Moki and I rode off into the sun.

Around the corner and climb, climb. Another corner and town is disappearing. Trailhead found. Bike symbol located.

I walked and walked. Jumped the creek 5 times. Watched for the Wilderness boundary sign.

Time was running out and darkness would come soon. Giving up on the boundary. Turning around. I’ll be back.

Good times on the Gardiner Bench

Stop and breath and suck up the positive ions. Try and ground, try and ground. Then come back to reality.

Halfway between Livingston and Gardiner, there is a place. A place we escape. I have even been known to drive the extra 30 minutes for an after-work ride. Why do we like this place? It’s discrete and out of the way. But most of all it is often void of humans.

Now I don’t mind humans. But there is one type. A type that comes over the pass and pushes their tension and privileged stress into others. People that walk all over the backs of others. I have politely stopped one of THEM to say, “We don’t drive that way in Livingston, please slow down and enjoy yourself”. Which usually is returned by a big fat middle finger in my face.

I do realize I am sounding a little nationalistic. I do try and see it the way the original people did. But look how that turned out. The bottom line is that I believe no one owns the land and the only entity I obey is mother nature. Mother earth. Whatever you call it … the freaking planet we live a short life on. But we don’t own SHIT. Fuck you landowners that think otherwise and kudos to those that are just stewards and realized that they are just guests.

And I do realize that the most annoying thing for a resident of a place is those that move in and try to change the place to what they are used to. But I think I align nicely with all Livingston and Gardiner residents. But whatever. This post isn’t about all of that.

Over the weekend we drove to the place we go to energize and get away from others. As we drove up the 15 or so miles of forest service road it slowly sunk in. We were not all alone. Around every corner … 6-ers as we call them. Every dispersed camping area completely packed with 20+ campers. Finally, we just found a flat piece of ground that wouldn’t mind a van to park on and made our place to spend the night.

Keep the bullshit on your side of the pass.

Has anyone noticed flowers? With it NOT being spring in these parts the flowers are coming as a shock. Don’t we have like 3 more months of winter?

So I set out on an expedition. To ride out to the bench to take some wind samples. The curlews are out so that is a good sign. But then as I approached Livingston Peak Trailhead the Monster appeared.

“You will not pass”

“Screw you”

And then as descended through Suce Creek the hail beat down on me to punish me for ignoring the Monster. But I did notice some wildflowers on the southern slopes.

As I time-trialed back into town on the Old Yellowstone Trail I analyzed my samples. Maybe spring IS near. There are flowers out and I survived the Livingston Loop. I am only shivering and drenched. Not frozen and stuck in the snow. There is a change, I will finally admit.

Now to prepare for the June snowstorms.

There’s something different about this town. There are no tourists. Yellowstone National Park is closed. It’s just the normal townspeople. And I will tell you that there are some real characters here. And all these empty condos are weird as well.

So I am on my morning walk around town. I have seen nobody. I did see about three elk hanging out at the Gardner high school.

“Good morning”, my greeting was met with a quick look over by one of the elk. The others seemed to be more concerned with flying things. I walked on getting a little belittled as the seemingly smirky look was like, “barefoot. Haha. What the hell do you think you are?”

Screw you dude. Wow, not long before I picked my first fight in the new town.

We’ve been up there before. Spinks Creek. It’s a trail. And a trailhead. Mostly we’ve been on our fat bikes and once even made it to the private land turn-around.

It’s pretty fun but it’s rocky. And today we decided to take this on before heading to Gardiner. One day off is what it seems like. We made the most of it … but … It just didn’t seem like a weekend. Sure, we were in our van and camping. That part was good.

But I couldn’t get over the fact that things have changed. Going from just one person working to two people working makes life complex. Instead of taking off Thursday or Friday and not coming home till Monday or Tuesday, we are now going to work on Monday and then having to be back to work on Sunday. Well because of the starts at 6 now.

That just leaves us with Saturday, the only full day that both of us have off together. I am contemplating just going off on my own. Just having my weekends and adventures alone. And then once in a while, if we both manage a time we can do something together. We can be together again.

I took one last ride in Livingston before we packed the van and headed out.

And then it happened. The typical phrase right? We stopped over for a night in Carabella. I was eager to finish the day’s workout since I set a mileage goal for the day. This is not when it happened. Wait for it …

The sun was out and it was warm. I was walking around barefoot as Mo drove in. I waved her down. I could barely keep my joy from exploding into a full-on sundance. But that is not when “it” happened.

We both sat down with the van door fully open and started to relax. And it was at this moment it happened.

“Why don’t we just crack a beer and hang out”?