Boneshakerbike

Tag: GVQ

  • Gallatin Vision Quest Day 5

    Gallatin Vision Quest Day 5

    Today was all about getting back home. We left out of the Little Bear Cabin access routes and trailhead. After one of the biggest downhills ever we set off to and crossed the valley floor, on pavement. Long hot day down at 6,000 ft. We arrived in town, grabbed some groceries, and went home to host a huge celibration dinner. Our first real food for 5 days. We fell asleep under a roof to sounds of the city. Not good to be home. I dreamed of being back out THERE. Although the shower was NICE.

    I set up my hammock to watch the sun come up.
    Looking off towards the Gallatin Gateway from camp.
    My morning view.
    We had to nivigate some FS roads, some closed, some not closed, to find our way back to the road down to Little Bear.
    Emergin onto the road to Little Bear Cabin
    We woke up without water so we gathered up camp and stopped at the first stream to have our coffees.
    The long decent to the valley floor we just aimed out bikes at the “M”
    After 4 days we found pavement again.
    We left adventure behind
    The trouble with pavement is that yo must share it with people that want to just run your ass over.
    Stopping off at Town and Country for some comfort food.
  • Gallatin Vision Quest Day 4

    Gallatin Vision Quest Day 4

    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
  • Gallatin Vision Quest Day 3

    Gallatin Vision Quest Day 3

    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
  • Gallatin Vision Quest Day 2

    Gallatin Vision Quest Day 2

    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
  • Gallatin Vision Quest Day 1

    Gallatin Vision Quest Day 1

    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!