Category: Blog Posts

I have been dreaming of riding around the Bridgers but two things are keeping me from doing that this year. One is that we are moving and these next two weeks are wrought will the hells of moving. The other is that I am not sure what is publicly available to ride on. Luckily this weekend I was able to explore and find my way through.

I snuck out Sunday and had 6 hours to do my best to get a handle on the North part of this range. I started out at the North Cottonwood trailhead because riding up there would of taken me over an hour. I only had so much time before I had to go back to packing so I cheated a little.

Plan one was a long shot. To cut across the north on the Blacktail Road. But that hope was diminished by a gate. Which means private I am guessing. There were no signs so maybe I will ask around to see if it is allowed to ride one’s mountain bike on it. So then I headed down the Breamer Creek Road to Maudlow.

Maudlow is a creepy little village with signs that would lead you to believe that you will die if you don’t turn around. I remember them from last year but this year I grew a couple and continued along the 16 Mile Creek Road.

My second hope of going around the bridgers without leaving the range was dashed by another gate. This one even skimpier and without signs. I am sure that I can call someone and get access. I did not chance screwing up future access and stayed on the 16 Mile Creek Road until it was time to turn around and return to my packing duties.

Everything on this trip suggest abandonment and desolation. But to me it was paradise. All alone in empty expanses without anyone in sight. My cup of tea. Maybe this place is a little to far away from Walmart.

Approaching my parked car I could’t help but wish I could ride to town. But I had to get back to packing. It’s move week.

I am sitting in my car waiting for the rain to stop. I can see the edge of the storm rolling over the ridge. There will be sunshine soon. And the conditions at Lewis and Clark Cavern are good after the rain. Sandy and peppily.  And this is a good time to ride, before it opens for the season.

I know. I know! Kind of behind the curve. Last one in line so to speak. In my defense I have been riding a fat bike until now. But some bike parts arrived in the mail and got me all excited for my 29er again.

So I got a OneUp 42t cassette cog and a North Shore Billet direct mount chain ring. And a wider bar.  And I have to say the system rocks. Some thoughts.

• Got a 28 tooth to maintain the low gear I had previously. So it climbs the same. But on the high end I spin out at 21. But when I do that I am heading downhill and when I tuck to coast I accelerate.  Good trade off … I think.
• I am wondering if a 26 NSB in the front and a 40t in the back would of produced the same … ah yes but the high end would suffer.
• I am going to do this to my fat bike but with a different combo, perhaps lower gears.
• Might as well get all NSB sizes and change according to terrain. But dosen’t that defeat the purpose, simplicity?
• The wider bars speak for themselves. I made way more switchbacks on this ride this time around. It seems to be a direct correlation.

Are you feeling like your forest administration, in which you have named Department of Special interests, is corrupt? Does really really rich people live around your forest blocking you from accessing it? Is there bullets whizzing over your head all the time and every sign full of holes? Are the rentable cabins in your forest ravaged by motor-heads? Is there multiple confusing layers of politics and advocacy making the usage of your forest way to complex? Don’t worry … there are alternatives to the  Gallatin.  Be thankful … I am.

35 miles away

The Helena forest is only 35 miles to the north.  Located in west-central Montana, the Helena National Forest surrounds Montana’s Capital City and offers close to one million acres of distinctive landscapes.

45 miles away

My favorite is the Beaverhead-Deerlodge. The Tobacco Roots are 45 miles away. This largest of the national forests in Montana covers 3.35 million acres, and lies in eight Southwest Montana counties (Granite, Powell, Jefferson, Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Madison, Gallatin and Beaverhead).

47 miles away

Lewis & Clark is only 47 miles to the North East. Located in central and north central Montana, the Lewis and Clark National Forest is one of ten forests in the Northern Region. The Forest spreads across thirteen counties, seven mountain ranges, and administers an interpretive center in Great Falls. The Forest is characterized by coniferous forests, woody valley bottoms, high mountain peaks and broad grassy meadows. The Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wildernesses cover almost half of our forest land.

50 miles away

Custer is less then 50 miles away. I feel the most beautiful terrain is here. Spanning across southeastern Montana, the Custer National Forest is abundant with opportunity, known best as one of the most ecologically diverse forests in the Northern Region. The Forest encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres.

129 miles away

Lolo is a long way at 129 miles but for me is like home. The Lolo National Forest is located in west central Montana and encompasses two million acres.

135 miles away

Bitterroot is 135 miles from here. I feel at home here! You will find this spectacular 1.6 million acre forest in southwest Montana and Idaho to be a priceless national heritage. Half of the forest is dedicated to the largest expanse of continuous pristine wilderness in the lower 48 states.

145 miles away

The Flathead is 145 miles away but if you truly want to feel like a explorer this is your place. In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, west of the continental divide and just south of the Canadian border, lies the 2.4 million acre Flathead National Forest. Home to lynx, grizzly bear, and bull trout; with numerous lakes, streams, and rivers to enjoy, the forest is the premiere destination for visitors looking to experience natural landscapes of the American West.

Happy trails …o/o

“Darn!”

“What?”

“I forgot my helmet.”

“Well … be safe”

We pulled up to a old weathered building and I whipped out my camera. The adventure must roll on.Today’s plan was to explore the dirt roads on the West side of the Tobacco Roots. Expanding upon what we already discovered last year. I was still nervous about not having a helmet. I was only going to be on old dirt roads. I mean … if I got hit by a speeding farm truck would a helmet really save me anyway? I think not.

Photo by Mo Mislivets

Soon I found myself way out front on a sunny day heading towards snow capped peaks. I totally forgot I was not wearing a helmet and my anxiety dissipated. At one point I decided to wait up for my partner and was caught napping.

Awakened I bolted to my bike and up the climb I went. Didn’t even think about that helmet the rest of the day. In all I put in 30+ miles on my fat bike. And eventually had to turn around because of the snow. Yea, even though I was on a fat bike.

Photo by Mo Mislivets

Photo by Mo Mislivets

Numerous times I climbed and re-climbed the hills to point the fatty downhill and let it fly. The fat bike makes it all so comfy and safe feeling. And boy does it scream down a hill. I was “told” that maybe I should be careful. Because I was not wearing a helmet. Oops!

Just goes to show that it is good to not worry the small details in life as long as you don’t forget your sometimes creaming down a hill at 45 without a helmet.

Hump-day, As we are all aware of means we made it through half the week. Now that is a accomplishment. So far the usual … kind of behind and trying to get caught up. Thankfully we are half way there.

Today I become a bachelor as my partner is on the road outta Montana. Going to spend time in the desert looking for faces and what not. We spent the better part of the last couple days spending time with each other. I call it “last supper”. For me, now, it is laying on the couch getting caught up with all the You Tube / Red Bull TV mountain biking videos. Laying here wishing I was out there. Realizing I could be out there. But too lazy to do it. I know I will set a mileage goal.

Starting tomorrow I will commit to riding a certain amount of miles. I need the motivation. I am one day closer to death and I better get in the miles before I cant. Plus now I have all the alone time in the world. Bike pouting season as you will.

After a day of frolicking up Hyalite it was time to vacate the cabin and head back down to the “normals”. Society waiting for us to come and pay the dues. To work and pay our masters. So that we can return on another day. We vowed to make it soon.

The snow started to warm as we got back to the cabin. It seems like it was a mad rush to get out of there before we would be forced to push out. It would be much easier to ride the crust.

Funny thing, ice. When frozen we can skate on it, play hockey on it, and even ice fish. When it melts I fall into water. Eeek … Freaking horrible. I hate water. So I guess in a way I have a fragile relationship with winter. And as spring hits its a mad scramble to get off the ice.

All packed up we started to to “bomb down the hill”, a 10 mile journey of mostly downhill. But the first 3 miles would be snow, the first 1/4 on a compacted 4 feet of snow. I mean, pushing a quarter mile is not that bad. But after a morning of riding crust we wanted to milk that feeling.

That feeling of gliding effortlessly along. The feeling one gets on a super flowie single-track in the summer. Ah yes summer. Lets ride down to summer.

Leaving winter, leaving Hyalite.

Coming soon to a theater near you. Their legendary story about adventure and triumph. Against a lynch mob of blogger bounty hunters the two adventurers found and survived in a hideout located among the towering cliffs of Hyalite Canyon. Everyday was a new adventure. The new flick is about a day in the life. And what a day it was.

Bill Martin and his partner are a couple steeped in eccentricity and irregularity but are very much into adventure. So when they both are finally awake on a cold and frosty morning they seem to be taking it in stride.

Mo is enjoying her coffee, Bill is already practicing skill that he believes a good adventurer should have, and they both riding fat bikes, Abba and Ruby, so that their prospective day can have possibilities.

However, things are shaken up when Bill and Mo go outside at Window Rock, as snow conditions reveal a surprising piece of news.

The snow has crusted and could support the fat biking couple, scuppering Bill and Mo’s plans to hang out in the cabin all day.

Because Mo lost her outside motivation when they had to “walk in” due to warmer soft conditions, she finds this news very exciting, and so the resilient couple quickly find a way to turn it in to a day.

It becomes obvious that this is what the pair needed, as they embarked on a search for the right place for them to ride, which became the trail to Hyalite Lake.

They go to every place they can think of, meeting open meadows and creek-banks along the way, with laughter and abandon, this is a ride the couple will never forget.

I recently got a headlamp that has a red light so as to not bother others at night. It actually helps me sleep as well because it is void of the blue light that is harmful for sleep. This morning I had it on so as to not wake my partner. I was gathering supplies to make coffee. As a side job I was trying to get the fire going in the stove. I went outside to gather more wood.

On the way back to the cabin I accidentally stepped out of the little snow trail we had to the firewood shed. And I almost twisted my ankle. My god, the top layer of snow was hard as cement. Then a light went on and I dropped the wood and ran to the cabin.

I scrambled around and got my riding gear together and headed out the door. I jumped on my fat bike and tested the nearest un trampled section of snow. Which, I might add, is like 3 to 6 feet deep in places. Spring has not arrived up here just yet.

It held firm and I was gliding across the surface as if it were sandstone. I rode a couple laps around the cabin and stopped to pick up the firewood. I went inside and stocked the fire and left. My partner still asleep. I was on a mission.

The first step in the mission was to see where I could ride. Turns out everywhere except next to trees. The trees must keep the ten feet around them a little more warmer. My existence out here was dependent on the temperature. I looked at my GPS … 23 degrees. Perfect.

Next I wanted to see where I could ride. At first I was tentative but found myself testing new things like riding down near the stream. To see how close I could get to the edge. As close as I wanted. Such cool terrain. I even just crossed the creek. And tried new snow bridges across the creek.

Another mission was to see what I could climb. Turns out everything. I was climbing up a slope and doing turns down it like a skier. Excited I bolted back to the cabin. I had to wake my partner. She had to experience this.

We have been to Window Rock Cabin twice now. The first time was last year when we biked up with our mountain bikes. And the second with my friend Paul. This time we left a month early and took our fat bikes. And it was a good thing because we encountered what we had hoped for … snow.

Push

After a fabulous ride to the familiar cabin I leaned my bike against the porch rail and went inside. I immediately smelled smoke and thought, “good, someone was just here and there are coals in the stove.” I couldn’t of been more wrong. And later I would realize that the previous “evacuation” was the reason for the strong smoke smell. But that never dawned on my right away and I started a fire.

Smoke billowed out of the wood door and I closed it and opened the ash tray. Usually this works with the signature sound of a blow torch as the oxygen fuels the fire above. No sounds and the smoke continued to billow out of the door around the seems. I held the door in to no avail. Finally we bailed and took the burning wood outside then went back in to access the problem.

My partner discovered that the horizontal portion of the stove pipe was full of ash so we dis-assembled it and emptied it outside into a pail. Excited that we solved the problem I started a new “test” fire. Still the stove smoked and it seemed as though there was no air flow to the outside. Investigating why I discovered that someone had broken the flu in the stove top. I quickly repaired it and tried again. Nothing, the stove smoked excessively. So then we figured there was a air leak and discovered that the fiberglass rope that is usually cemented into place on the door was gone.

After re-using a piece from the oven door we were able to seal the door and the fire started again and that seemed to help. But after returning to the cabin from chopping wood my partner was inside busily trying to put out the fire. Smoke billowed out of the cabin. I went in and opened the windows and almost succumb to smoke inhalation.

It seemed like a good time to just give up and do what the previous cabin renters have done and bolted for home. But I wanted to see one last time what could be wrong. I used my hand and ran it up near where the smoke was supposed to go and felt no draft. Then I went and did the same thing above where the pipe exited the stove and felt a significant breeze. That is when I noticed a second flu that controlled the amount of air flow between the stove and the main wood compartment. Someone, when discovering the main flu being broke, tried to burn a fire in the stove and had switched it over to that side. I switched it to the main log compartment and the breeze returned. We started a new fire and wholla … it worked.

Playing crosswords at Window Rock Cabin

Later while we were doing crosswords reaping the benefits of our new heat source I felt very good that we stuck it out and figured a way to make the stove work. Sure, it was broken due to neglect and the Forest Service needs to go up there and fix it. But we stuck it out and devised a fix. My partner with the resourcefulness to go out and harvest tree sap and stick in the make shift seals and my curiosity to find all the tiny things that in the end added up to a very smoky situation. It is going to be a good weekend.

Yea, OK! It is Friday and I have to get to work to finish off the work week. This weeks journey has been interesting. We have been trying to confirm that we will not get screwed by our old rental company and can move one. Why is it so hard to deal with rental companies these days?  But it is Friday and I am thankful for that.

by Mo Mislivets

by Mo Mislivets

by Mo Mislivets

I just realized that I work from home today so yea for me. Gives me a bit more time to blog.  But nothing to blog about really. Monday the journey started and now it ends. Along the way I encountered some great stuff like all the great bikes after work. I also encountered some weather like the performance reviews at work. Another great ride. See you down the trail.

A friend just sent me some photos from back in 1999. It brought back some memories. Some memories that I can jot down and release myself from my self imposed pressure to put out a blog post every morning.

by Paul Bardis

If I can recall correctly, I probably can’t, it was a weekend that my friend and I planned. Let me clarify that indeed I can not remember so I will go off of what information I received in the email and make stuff up.

It was the best of times and the worst. I learning new technologies and in school and my friend Paul hooked to a beeper. If it went off he had to go. We brought Marcy and that kind of meant we had to do dog friendly stuff. What better to start the adventure off with a kayak near a place called Floodwood Pond.

We proceeded to paddle around the lakes with Marcy at the helm. That is until we got close enough to shore that she decided to jump for it. Problem was there was no footing like she had thought. She panicked and from that moment on would never be pressured to go near water again. She probably thought she was a goner.

by Paul Bardis

Then on day 2 we hiked to a waterfall called Mossy Cascade. It was beautiful and so green. We were messing around trying to get a closer look at it when Marcy bolted up the rocky ledge. She loved to climb things and probably thought we were headed up the cliff.

When I saw her bolt I knew it was a mistake but surprisingly she almost made it. That is until she fell backwards tumbling down to the creek below. I knew instantly she was a goner.

by Paul Bardis

Paul was probably wishing his beeper would go off. It must of been hard to be around when a friend losses his faithful companion. But Marcy did not die. She made it through. She was a little banged up and had a cut lip. But she did make it through.

by Paul Bardis

Later on at camp I sat in my new hammock and played on my laptop. Not that I was doing anything productive by today’s standards. I had no email and probably did not know what a that even was. Blogging, forget it … I didn’t even know what “online” meant. I didn’t even have or believe in taking photos. No I was probably working on a 3d program I used to like called Bryce.

Nowadays Marcy is not around any more so I guess in a way she is a goner. And I don’t fancy being on my computer without a internet connection. But I still have my friend which plans a adventure with me every so often. And look at all the cool stuff we can do on the internet.

I am thankful that I have a flexible job to allow me to et my work day hours. I have been going into work at 7 lately for the specific reason to get out early.  The theory goes that I would have more time to play after work. So that is what I have been doing.  And I have pulled off the getting to work early part. But have failed at the play part. I know … insane.

I have been going home with the complete understanding that once there I would launch into a feirce core workout. And then the next day amybe get out on the bike for some burst training. And the next day maybe run a mountain.  But when I get there I am greeted with Mr. couch. and Mrs. dinner. And Dr. relaxation.

The best part of life is that you can change things and that is the part I am most grateful. So today I plan to get out on the bike and even do some core when I get home. Today’s carrot project is the continuing effort to find gravel.

The bitch is that life must end and it is up to us to do shit before it does. So I need to plan to do stuff. I have to do stuff. I must do stuff.

Hmmm … what to do on a sleepy Tuesday afternoon. I know. Lets go down to World market and buy all the brands that have 80% or better cacao content. Then eat it all. A dark chocolate shootout.

Lindt

Mo – second favorite bar of the race and tastes like “sticky vanilla”. The texture a 2.5 out of 5.

Bill – favorite bar of the shootout and is bitter in a “good way”.  This bar has a porter like taste that is buttery and silky. “What I want a dark bar to taste like”. The texture a 4.5 out of 5.

Score (out of 5):
Texture – 3.5
Taste – 4.5
Ingredients – (almost healthy) One of the only to NOT contain soy lecithin it IS processed with alkali. Bummer because it would of been the healthiest of the contest.

World Market

Mo – Least favorite bar of the shootout and tastes like “weird bitter” and “rotten vegetables or broccoli”. The texture a 2.5 out of 5.

Bill – Least favorite bar of the shootout and is bitter in a “good coco but flavorless” and “like chocolate powder”.  The texture a 2.5 out of 5.

Score (out of 5):
Texture – 2.5
Taste – 1
Ingredients – (healthy) The healthiest of the bunch.

Ghirardelli

Mo – Tastes “lemony” and “bitter citrus”. The texture a 4 out of 5.

Bill – Third favorite bar of the shootout.  Taste is “a flavorful fruity sweet” and “has a familiar berry like fruity taste”.  The texture a 4.5 out of 5.

Score (out of 5):
Texture – 4.25
Taste – 2.5
Ingredients – (unhealthy) The unhealthiest of the bunch.  Contains dairy, soy lecithin, and a mysterious “natural flavor” which should be a real big flag.

Divine

Mo – The favorite bar of the contest. Tastes “hint of raspberry” and “fruity”. The texture a 4 out of 5.

Bill – Second favorite bar of the shootout.  Taste is “a balanced chocolate” and “has a fudge like quality that holds up to the bite” and “dense good structure while being very smooth”.  The texture a 4 out of 5.

Score (out of 5):
Texture – 4
Taste – 4.5
Ingredients – (almost healthy) Lots of chocolate in this bar with the only caveat soy lecithin.

Godiva

Mo – Third favorite bar of the contest. Tastes “coffee bitter cacao”. The texture a 3.5 out of 5.

Bill – Not favorite bar of the contest, but not the worse. Tastes “sour sharp”. The texture a 2 out of 5.

Score (out of 5):
Texture – 2.75
Taste – 2.5
Ingredients – (almost healthy) Lots of chocolate in this bar with the only caveats are more sugar and soy lecithin.

Conclusion

The winner of the bunch has to go to Divine because it had the highest texture score and tied for best flavor. It was also Mo’s favorite bar. But it’s easy to win when you have the highest sugar content … right?

The runner up and my favorite bar of the bunch goes to Lindt just barely edged out by Divine. And if you look at it from the fact that it is 90% you have to say that this bar is pretty amazing.

The healthiest bar is the World Market bar. And that is because it was the darkest at 99%. This is it’s downfall as well because it was the yuckiest one in the race.

Special mention goes out to Godiva for being an OK bar. It is kind of healthy but has no stand out qualities. Just another good dark chocolate bar.

Ghirardelli was a big disappointment because it’s brand name is synonymous with quality. Also it is way to hard to spell and is the unhealthiest bar of the night.

The forecast called for a rainy mix. Kind of miserable for riding the cross bike and way to mucky for the fat bike. The trails around these parts are no where near open yet for mountain biking. I hit the zoom link on the weather site and zoomed out. Ah ha!

Pipestone was sunny and 60. Perfect. So we loaded up the bikes and headed out. Within 30 minutes we were parked and I was charging up trail 9.

Soon my partner charged by me beating me to the top. She on her really light mountain bike and I on my “fatty”. Still though I almost caught her. After taking in the view we rode to the Ringing Rocks and off the other side of the ridge. I took the lead and showed off some of Pipestone’s gems and then stopped at a old cabin to enjoy some sunshine. Near the end of the ride I gave a pretty bad school on broken chain repair but all attendees got the gist.

So after a such a great time what would any great ride planner try to squeeze in? A soak in some natural hot springs, of course. After some long dirt road adventures we found a secluded spot along the Jefferson River. And then caught the sunset before returning back home.

A LOT better then “rainy mix”.

I was sick on my birthday so the entire event was rescheduled. And since I was sick I did not get the email about when it was rescheduled to. Then one day I got ambushed by the entire clan. I knew something was up when an art project irrupted in the spare bedroom in which I was banned from.

Mr Bear presented me with a round gift which was wrapped in a custom gift wrap. My total haul was a sweet Kali bike helmet and a very cool custom picture frame with all our memories in it. Very sweet of all our gang to put all this effort into a day in which I turn 48 … or is it 49. I cant remember.

I found a Gravel Roads Needing Pavement document online and it sparked my fancy. Now I cant stop thinking about “gravel projects“. My goal is to put together gravel loops here at home for this time of year, spring. Or at the very least a quick reference for after work as I put together that night’s “long way home”.  Which, if I may add, is my favorite thing to do.  What better way to de-stress from work then to go on a adventure … right?

It’s Friday and still have not read my performance evaluation that I received a week ago. Last week I was “bitching” about my job  so we are all up to date with my situation. This part of work life seems like fat biking in deep snow after a blizzard. The terrain is undulating and sweeps from crusty hard snow banks to knee deep powder. All pushing a heavy bike.

So why am I bitching about fat biking? I do it all the time. To clairify I am not griping, at least I don’t think I am. Even though it is tough it is also enduring in a moderately extreme environment. It’s pretty tough at times. But in the end you make it to the destination. Along the way you learn, adapt, and grow. Otherwise you wouldn’t of made it to the end. You are forced to hit the obstacles head on and push through.

My performance review said “Meets Standards”. Hard to believe even after working in the extreme. Like being hired for one thing and then told to do something totally uncomfortable and new. I must of adapted. Or I have learned “the system”? I don’t know. Just trying to spin it positive. Problem is that I don’t feel I meet standards. I feel like a total failure. Others have adapted and now are productive. I still just sit there and say, “Duh???”.

So where does this leave me? It is like I set out in a blizzard anticipating a fun and challenging time. Then the sun comes out and I end up doing a road ride or something easy. I a TOTALLY uncomfortable with it being to easy.

The weekend is closely approaching and I lay in bed starring at the ceiling. I can not help but feel like a failure. My thoughts keep me awake. Kind of like a skyscraper in the sunset. I know that when the sun sets then the lights will just come on. I prefer to recharge at night. So I have to get to sleep. I haven’t yet brushed my teeth or done any bedtime chores tonight. This entire week I have slacked. I have not done cores this week at all. I have not even done my EMWave or N-Back training. I start to think, “what’s the point”. I am, or was, at a dangerous juncture.

Tomorrow is a new day and I make some promises to myself. I fall asleep.

Morning now I think back to the derailment last night. Like canoes out of water. I am not accustom to resolving or even thinking for that matter after 6. Bottom line, don’t think at night. Just go to bed.