Category: Blog Posts

I have a wheezing sound coming from my lungs and if I take a deep breath I start coughing. I blame the “Performance Review” season. Why? Because my supervisor has kids. And last week he was out with a cold … pretty bad one in fact. Then two days ago we had my performance review. And now … chest cold symptoms. Time to call in sick. This is the problem with society … other people. I want to be out in my backyard. Alone. With no one else around.

I wonder how the mountains kick a cold. When clouds congest their rocky cliffs and summits. The winds suggest they are coughing and one realizes they have a cold. And indeed … it is cold out.

Well, most likely they do what we do. Wait it out. Eventually the offending moister and storms subside and the remnants flow to the sea. The sun comes out and spring begins again. We all notice it and go to visit them … to see how they faired.

And they are still there, no matter what. Through stormy weather and sunshine. Always there. Just like I try to be … just have to break free from society.

Been stuck at Window Rock Cabin since last weekend. Stranded with no hope of rescue. Sure, I am writing this blog from the comforts of my home. But my mind seems trapped up in Hyalite Canyon. The week is going by just like it has always done. Work, sleep, work, and sleep. And the future is the same. Travel … blah blah blah. But first I have to get my mind out of Hyalite. Maybe I will go up there this weekend looking for it.

I dream of having nothing to do but to go for a walk. I dream that the most important events of the day are taking a photo and trying to figure out what kind of bird just landed on the rail outside. Nothing to do. Just the cabin and I.

Last weekend was my first stay at Window Rock. It is so close to a main road that it is almost impossible to rent. As luck would have it the road is closed 12 miles down the valley from April 1st for a month or so. Perfect for someone who is willing to travel without a car. Perfect for me. And the cabin felt perfect.

Sitting there sipping my coffee on the front porch in the mornings is my favorite thing to do at Window Rock. As the wind swooshes through the pines and the clouds roll over the cliffs my caffeine beverage takes hold and the world seems a perfect place.

And in a perfect world I am on an endless adventure. And so I set down my cup and head off into the woods.

Some say there is a thing called sleep momentum. Yea! It’s an real thing … I think. I may have the term wrong but that is not my point of mentioning it. My point is that I went right back to sleep and the dream I had continued. I know this because it started out with the same scene. The mountains at dusk from the Hyalite road.

Some say spring is a glorious time. Others disagree because just as temps get into the 70s a huge snow storm and cold snap hit. Disappointed people wonder when summer will arrive. Me? I am not shocked when its cold out, even in summer. Snow is not un-expected as well. Maybe it is because I meet up with so much. Not from spring and summer storms. From encountering it out on an adventure. On hot and nice days I am not in town BBQ-ing and soaking up rays. No! I have bike packed out-of-town and climbed until I find snow. And diversity. I feel drawn to it. So when it is time to leave the road and push my bike through three feet of snow I am actually giddy.

Some say that two is better than one. I am not going to argue with that I guess. Sometimes when I am alone on an adventure I could swear I have company. Sometimes I even break out in conversation. Some call this talking to oneself. And in my dream as I stumbled over the snow bank my friend came rolling up and dismounted.

Some say sharing an adventure makes it more fulfilling. I think that is true. Either it a spot tracking device linking you to onlookers via the inter-webs or simply having a buddy along I believe it very rewarding. Maybe that is why I share my experiences in my blog even though I tout that is an outlet.

And as my dream became more fulfilling the sunlight of a new day broke through the cabin window and woke me up.

The dream was going well. Actually it was not a dream but a “re-do” of the ride the previous evening  Gosh, it was so beautiful when the sun started to set.

I woke up with a headache. As I laid there trying to decide on weather to get up and take an aspirin I used my keen recollection of the night’s festivities. Let’s see. I came in and tried to build a fire. The cabin filled with smoke due to an unfamiliarity with an “old time oven” instead of the usual Forest Service Blaze King Stove. And then even more smoke poured into the small space when it became time to roast up an entire bag of brats.  And then the slow reaction time to the smoke due to a couple downed Porters.

I decided upon the aspirin and went back to sleep.

It is dark, I know. But it always gets dark. And I am not scared. In fact maybe I am afraid of the light. In any case I found the cabin at the end of a snow packed road. And when I say snow packed I mean like 3 feet fo snow packed upon a double track.

The walk in wasn’t long and most of my time spent while I could still ride. Riding along the Hyalite Road which had not yet turned to snow. The sheer beauty at the end of my street … 19th to Hyalite Canyon Road. I stopped often to just take it in. Visually as well as digitally.

I have stuff to think about. To put into perspective. To blog about. But first I yank my bag out of the pack and spread it on the bed. I fell asleep before my head hot the pillow.

It just came to me. Here in Bozeman they close a local road on April 1st. This opens up opportunities for cyclists because the road starts on the edge of town and ends 12 miles into the mountains, big mountains, 2,000 vertical feet later. I went to recreation.gov and found my suspicions true. All the forest service cabins up there are open for rent. Usually booked up but only because people normally can drive to them. Close the road and all the couch campers bail. An opportunity!

For me an opportunity to go backpacking. Last night I had some intervals to do so went up scouting the area. Dry roads and so much skiable powder. So I am packing my snowshoes and sleeping bag. Transferring my bags from the fatty to the skinny.

A closed road leads to opportunity.

Kenyon Noble and then Lowes. And I knew deep down I would never find it. A spacer. A simple 9mm spacer for my new crank spider. Why? Well because the stupid bashgaurd that comes with the new spider and chainrings weighs about 3.2 tons. No way I am going to add weight to my bike.  But I do want to spin up hills instead of walking and grunting a big ring. Why oh why does Salsa spec such a large gear on their 29ers.  And don’t call me a weenie. I will rip your legs off and beat you over the head with them.

One last-ditch effort I decided to try Home Depot. Nothing … but wait.  What about these fibre washers.  yea, that will work for now. About an hour later i had the entire thing together and tightened down. the fibre washers showed signs of my tightening efforts. the edges curled under the pressure.  That will work, right?

Why the rush. Well the next day forecast is in the 60s and I want to ride.

This morning I found something I need, but I had to search all over for it. The only thing I could find is a metal bolt setup for downhill bikes that may or may not have a single ring. Thus the spacer to replace that other ring.  And … to replace my 3.2 ton bash guard.  Now I can go fast.

Heading out to Lewis and Clark Caverns to rip some trail …o/o

I am agent ‘Snuggles’. Of course that is not my real name but my code name for operation ‘ambush’. My duty was simple … to deliver ‘a package’. But what happened was the package delivered me. And like all good agents I adapted and came through. I am laying in bed now recovering while the ‘ambush’ is going on upstairs.

It started early this morning with an ultra ride and ended, almost, with me laying on the trail in the Rattelsnake.

“Just give it up, forget the 5 hour time limit. LETS JUST GO HOME. Your sick. Can’t you see”

And I couldn’t see. My head was splitting open. “No no, we must wait until 1pm to return”.

I had been through hell riding Jumbo Saddle, Kim Williams, Town, Grant Creek, and finally up and over Ravine. And now I could barely move.

Then riding back home with what seemed borrowed energy I delivered the ‘package’. Actually the ‘package’ leading me, swirling with pain, … home.

“S U P R I S E”

I like trails. I like the way they look. I like the curves. When I take photos of them what I do is zoom in so that the background looks big. Trails promise to lead somewhere and if it is one’s first time they feel optimistic. Optimistic that were one is going is larger and more beautiful then the origin. Sometimes one will go over a ridge and run into the end so there is a hesitation as well. Last weekend the trail was tough but the elements alongside it were worth it. Except for maybe being deathly ill and trying to go on a endurance ride. Now I continue over the ridge. I have some hurtles this week … I will see what happens.

In the wake of a great dry and “warmer” adventure at Lewis and Clark Caverns I sit at a coffee shop with drizzling rain outside. I need not say exactly where I am, that part is obvious. And after just also receiving word that our adventure tomorrow has been canceled I have to report a relief.

Now there is opportunity to go on an adventure of my own. That is more exciting than a well planned, “psycho wake up plan for 6 am”, and controlled group outing. Not that there is anything wrong with posh well planned outings. Then there is that pesky 90% chance of snow and rain in the forecast.

I will be going to work soon. The entire week’s plans seem are slipping away. Like going on a group hike up Trapper Peak. Visiting my friend Chad at Red Barn Bikes, which I have moved into priority position. Ride my bike. Selling my Turner. But the only thing I can do is the best I can … and not get caught up in what I can’t.  What I can do is pack the bike in the car and head out to either Lewis and Clark or Pipestone for a fun ride. So after work that is my plan. And that is my only plan so far. Who knows what is in store after that. Continue on to Missoula to hand over Turner?  We will see. No use feeling sorry for myself and what I can’t do.

I am tired and the two day starvation has taken it’s toll. I am grouchy and behind in chores. I just cleaned up a good friend. One that I wil had over to a new owner this weekend. I deliver Turner tomorrow to Missoula. IT is fitting that this was posted today.

For once I am horrified that work was over. I have to leave. So I reluctantly put on my workout gear and slowly walked out the door. Head hung low. I shivered and cursed the cold weather.  I almost quit so many times riding out to where I wanted to do a trail run. The slush sprayed my face and cars whizzed by inches from killing me. I hated it outside. I just wanted to go home. The intervals up the trail were not much better. But slowly one by one they improved my attitude. Sure they were killing me and resting I could barely stand.  But as I done the last one I did not have the same dreaded feelings as before. I was out here and I endured. Endured enough to finally come to terms. And to enjoy the sights on the way down.  Another successful workout.

As I stepped upon the stainless steel foot pads I held my breath. Would I be successful? When I learned of a new visitor a week ago I had anxiety that I would appear fat and “out of shape”. So I made a goal. Loose 10 pounds in 5 days. Well the day has finally arrived and the week was hard work. My body fat has dropped from 19.4% to 17% … still work to do but progress right? I glanced down to see my weight on the scale … 182.2. Missed my goal by 2.2 … back to work.