Category: Galleries

We are gearing up for a week-long vacation to southern Utah. Hopefully to ride our bikes. For some reason, I can not revel in that or look forward to it. One must understand how I work. I am a planner. I can’t just do stuff last-minute. And I am used to swallowing this outlook as we prepare for a vacation. Where we don’t start packing until the last day and it’s super stressful … for at least myself.

But, I am used to that and I know we will eventually get going. Sometimes late, but we pull it off… always. This time, however, I am freaking out that once we get back the goal was to downsize and move into a poverty situation so I can pay off my student loan.

The hope is that without overhanging dept we can just start vagabonding and will eventually be free. Free from the shackles of working for others and the burden of doing that to buy crap. Just to have to manage it all. Working. Sleeping, Paying the bills just to warehouse crap. Then buy more.

No, I think freedom is to have a bike, food, and a place to sleep. To do a passion that others will find valuable. Do what we want.  Freedom.

First though we have to start downsizing. And it seems silly to me that we are going on a vacation, a lavish vacation when we havent prepared for the work we need to do when we return.

“Breath”, snuggles says, “Breath”. And as the oxygen saturates my brain it unfreezes. Yes, we need to be free from this. And in time we will get there. It’s an adventure. Don’t they always work out? Wow, am I thankful for an adventure partner.

The holiday season is just about over. In a week we jet off to St George.  And now I finish up the Thanksgiving photos. Let’s reflect. Lots of seasonably warm weather with bouts of winter snow storms. Fat bikes filling in the gaps of course.  This all capping off 2017  and our Bozeman adventures. In 2018 we sell everything and move. For now a ride from Twin Lakes Cabin back to the car for the lengthy drive home. Anyone want some furniture?

Twin Lakes

Breakfast anyone … so we don’t have to curry it out 🙂

The cabin, woodshed, and outhouse

FatBike Packing Family portrait

Almost back to the car it was better to ride in the mud then on the ice

We just got back from Billings and holidays with mom and dad. We attempted a traditional feast. Big turkey complete with stuffing and a rather stressful winter travel to and fro. This morning I am thinking about the contrast. Our, meaning team MoBill Thanksgiving, and the one we enjoyed yesterday. We did pull off the same sourdough stuffing but instead of turkey, we bike-packed up a set of big juicy pork chops. So which day of the feast was better. Don’t know. I guess we will have to cook up some chops today, check out the photos from Twin Lakes, and get more data.

Morning on the lake

Contrasts

Forest

The past … preserved … for now

Interesting suspension

Woodie

Protrude

Above it all

The traditional prove that I am not as keen as I promote game ending in the belief that I am a sourpuss.

Today we are cooking the turkey for our annual holiday at mom and dads. But first I want to give thanks for being able to do things like fatbiking into twin lakes for Thanksgiving and going into the desert on christmas. Thanks to mom and dad for understanding as we combine these two dates into one Billings visit. And now onto the show.

Morning scene

Cold morning

Probably the driest conditions ever but fat biking must go on

Photo by Mo … who has a good eye for all things cool

The Quake of 1840

Story board

The next day it was cold enough to set up the snow and we could get out to explore

Mo’s senior portrait

Not totally frozen this year

Senior portrait

The first thing I did when I moved into the transit hut with Mo is requesting to be shown around. She knew how to translate that … let’s adventure.

The first thing we did when I moved in with Mo is to start exploring.

An open meadow behind the employee village sports a eagle retreating in the distance.

Sun shining through the trees as clouds roll in over the peak.

The road climbs some switchbacks and bends around to the southwest to expose the canyon and Osprey Falls.

The road back down has Monmouth Hot Spring in the backdrop.

Mo climbing out of the drainage and heading back to the transit hut.

Also found a pond behind the maintenance building.

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

Rode when we could

Nearing the top

Sacajawea Peak

Cruzie on the saddle

Cruzie taking a breather

Years Ago On This Day

2012 – https://bikeadventure.co/2012/12/6/

2009 – https://bikeadventure.co/2009/12/06/ultimate-urban-cycling-loop/

2013 – https://bikeadventure.co/2013/12/06/pizza/

2012 – https://bikeadventure.co/2012/12/6/

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.

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.

At the top of stage one, photo by Brian Wood

First stage of the second day

Rippin down

Sidewinder

Some of the trails are so cool

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.

Our camp

Finishing up run 1

Concentration

Stage 1 complete

After stage one

Waiting in line for run 2

Lining up for stage 2

Brian Wood

The Grand … right?

The largest scree deposit I have ever seen

Looking at the backside of the ski resort

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

For 3 days I have been wondering how we were going to fare climbing up to Indian Ridge which starts at Beacon Point at a little over 10,000 feet. “They,” say, a pack over 30 pounds is not good for extended backpacking trips. Try for ultralight 25-pound loads. Mine was around the mid-40s.  Mo’s was around 25 and she fared well. I did too but really if I had the choice I would go as light s possible.  I was REAL happy to make it up to Beacon Point, even with a little scrambling. I thought that the day would be a piece of cake from there. But the hike down Indian Ridge, in the end, turned out to be the brutal part. Maybe because of length, don’t know, but was really glad to reach Arrow Lake. Funny how when one is exhausted they have enough energy to put up camp and still play around the rest of the evening. Usually normal days back at home, after a day of work, I blackout on the couch. Interesting.

Day 3 sunrise

Sunrise over North Fork Creek

Leaving Thompson Lake below

Beacon Point at 10,224 feet

Finally topping out on Beacon Point

Wide open

Mo looking for a long overdue break

Beacon Point with Gallatin Peak to the left

Indian Ridge

I love ridges

Leaving the past looking into the future

Coming off of Beacon Point hiking down Indian Ridge

Grayling Rocks complete with Mountain Goats

After multiple hours of hiking the ridge we were looking forward to our next camp spot

Thompson Lake sits at about 8,000 feet. A day off at 8,000 feet is a great idea. And to explore the surroundings. Some elements to note were White Bark Pine and Mountain Goats on the side of Gallatin Peak. And then there is an after dinner hike up 1,000 feet to some lakes with the name Chilled. Obviously, since they are still frozen in the middle of summer.  Right? A breath of fresh air. All our life elements were left behind. Jobs and society. Forgotten in the cool mountain air. After a nap a bark-surf back to camp on a snow field. We need to make this our life. Simple.

Morning Coffee

Weirdo

Summer bloom

Pulsatilla patens

Chilled Lakes

Chilled Lakes and Chilled Lakes Peak

Looking into the North Fork of Hell Roaring Creek

Chilled Lake

Break

Gallatin Peak

Chilled Lakes high country

Boarding on a piece of bark

Mo watches the goats on Gallatin Peak

In case you are wondering. Day 1 will not be posted because it was just a boring hike up an alpine valley in order to camp at the base of a climb to Thompson Lake. I never even took any images. I think we all know why too. I mean the reason day 1 is missing. After we get used to working. Brain-numbing soul-crushing work where we are reduced to a brain-dead state. It takes a day or two to come out of the post work blues. Once you do everything becomes worth taking note.

Takin er easy for all you sinners

First night’s camp

Packing up camp after night number one.

Solitude Creek

Hiking on day 2

Arduous hike over the last pass

Mirror Lake

Mo hiking towards an eventual walk in snow.

A chilly creek crossing

After a snack we left Mirror Lake

South Fork Spanish Creek

The trail alongside the South Fork of Spanish Creek

Gallatin Peak

South Fork of Spanish Creek with Gallatin Peak in the distance.

Checking out Summit Lake

Icy Form

Reflections on Summit Lake

Descending from Summit Lake Pass

Finally found Thompson Lake

Mo tries to get a glimpse of Thompson Lake

Taking a load off after a big day of hiking

One of our best adventures this summer was an epic ride around Ross Peak. This entailed climbing up and over Sacajawea Pass from Fairy Lake. Then we traversed the Bridge Foothills Trail. Once around Ross Peak, we headed back via some sweet single and double track to Fairy Lake.

Mo pushes some roots.

Attacking the climb.

After some brief rooty and muddy sections we approached another big obstacle … snow.

Pushing up the big snowbank.

Snuggles coming down Sacajawea Pass

Bill heading down the trail from Sacagawea Pass.

Looking back up towards Sacajawea Pass.

Making a move around a pedal banger.

Some technical switchbacks.

The trail to Ross Pass

The view from Sacagawea Pass.

Mo descends.

Ross Peak

Approaching the intersection to head back up to Fairy Lake.

Made it back to Fairy Lake early afternoon.