Category: Blog Posts

Day 4 I awoke to a horrible sound. At first I thought it was a elk … but a real sick elk. All came clear when I headed out on the bike to find some water. I ran into two hunters just down the trail. I am sure they were trying to sound like a elk. I did find water and after the traditional coffee and sunrise morning with my partner we were off to new unexplored regions of the Gallatin. Well, at lest for us. Over the high point of the trip at 9,200 ft. overlooking the Storm Castle drainage. Then swinging North again to ride back to the Gallatin Valley overlooking the homeland. We definitely need another two days to pull off what we had in mind before heading back north.

Around 8,000 near a huge meadow above the Cottonwood Drainiage

Climbing up out of Big Bear Creek

Mo finishes the Moose Jaw Climb

Mo and I pose for a shot on top of the Moose Jaw

Riding the ridge trail on the north side of Storm Castle

9,200

We have one day left and we need to swing North towards home.

We got all the way back to the Gallatin Valley before the sun started to signal us to stop

The last night gave us the best sunset colors

It froze hard during night 2. I broke the ice off the fly and emerged into brilliant sunlight. The rain storms were over. The morning was relaxing and we spent our time drying everything out and hanging in the hammock. The second half of the day included two huge climbs, great ridge views, epic single-track, and even a forging of a stream. Brilliant days come with a cost. A late surge to find a spot on top of Wheeler and fumbling around to set up camp combating the feeling of exhaustion. Sleep came fast as the calls of Elk on the ridge sang us to sleep.

Heavy frost is melted off with the sun shinning through the trees.

While things were drying out I decided to hang myself out to dry.

My bike awaits travel after a frost night

Where the langhor Climb meets the Window Rock Trail

Past the Langhor climb merging into the Window Rock Trail breaks out to a view over the Cottonwood Drainage.

Mo breaks out into the CottonWood Drainiage

Mo decends toward the Fox Creek Cabin

Mo takes her time to walk down the loose and sketchy Fox Creek Trail decent.

The trail along Cottonwood Creek

Mo rips down the Cottonwood Trail

The Cottonwood Trail

going down the Cottenwood plumbing showing off my backside

Crossing on of many Cottonwood bridges with a loaded bike takes some sort of skill

Scaring Mo with some antics

Mo crosses CottonWood Creek to head up the Wheeler Trail

We woke up to sun … for about 6 minutes. Then it started to cloud up. We had camped on a side road off the trail to Bear Lakes, our original planned camp. After good coffee and a high five we headed to Bear Lakes. We then braved the massive climb to the top of a ridge on our way to Mystic Lake. The single track is outstanding and in contention for my favorite part of the week. Once in the next valley it started to rain. So we opted for the Moser Trail to the Hyalite Valley. The rain poured harder and we pedaled on with abandon. When the sun came out so did the shooters. I had to yell, “don’t shoot” numerous times. Once near Langhor we hid ourselves from the road and dried everything out. Camp 2 of the GVQ we had enough time for a brat and pea soup, something worm after a long day of riding in the rain. We fell asleep to the sound of the wind through the lodge poles.

My bike awaits as I scan the area for anything left.

Stopping for a water break on the way to Bear lakes

Mo rides past a wooded pond on the way to Bear Lakes

Following the signs to Mystic Lake

Mo rides over Bear Lake Pass

Navigating the wonderfull Bear Lake Pass downhill trail

Forgoing the hidden meadow ride and heading down to Mystic lake

Given the rain we decided to go to the Moser Climb and forgo the Wildhorse Trail

2015 Gallatin Vision Quest

2015 Gallatin Vision Quest

2015 Gallatin Vision Quest

2015 Gallatin Vision Quest

2015 Gallatin Vision Quest

On Friday September 4th we embarked on our yearly bike pack. We left after work and made our way from our front door to the Gallatin. We found riding the roads stressful but soon found ourselves alone in the forest. We headed up the Bear Canyon access and camped out before the climb to the Bear Lakes. That night laying in the tent we decided to call our journey the Gallatin Vision Quest. The GVQ!