This was recommended by JD and worth every bit of the five hours it took me. I can't say that I've been as exhausted as I was after this ride. I got back to my car and just wanted to sleep.
Probably the most awesome combination of up and down I've ever done. Trail was perfect as it had rained hard three days earlier and I was under nearly clear skies.
Total altitude gain was slightly over 5000' on the out and back of 27 miles, 22 or 23 of which are pure single track.
And only 2 sets of 2 riders did I come across, and no hikers until I got to the out where there happens to be a trail head into the wilderness area.
This was recommended by JD and worth every bit of the five hours it took me. I can't say that I've been as exhausted as I was after this ride. I got back to my car and just wanted to sleep.
Probably the most awesome combination of up and down I've ever done. Trail was perfect as it had rained hard three days earlier and I was under nearly clear skies.
Total altitude gain was slightly over 5000' on the out and back of 27 miles, 22 or 23 of which are pure single track.
And only 2 sets of 2 riders did I come across, and no hikers until I got to the out where there happens to be a trail head into the wilderness area.
Gary
what are the structures in photo #20... the two white pyramids ? Tipis? Penny
what are the structures in photo #20... the two white pyramids ? Tipis? Penny
Yes. I didn't see any activity around them. The old buildings and tipis are on an abandoned dairy farm on the 'out' end of the trail. I tried to stitch four pix together to get a panoramic view which included the tipis and the moon over the mountain but the damn software kept crashing on save......gggrrrr
what are the structures in photo #20... the two white pyramids ? Tipis? Penny
Yes. I didn't see any activity around them. The old buildings and tipis are on an abandoned dairy farm on the 'out' end of the trail. I tried to stitch four pix together to get a panoramic view which included the tipis and the moon over the mountain but the damn software kept crashing on save......gggrrrr
Gary
Cool.
I was hoping to get out for a N Idaho explore today, but I think I"m just going to try and link up a couple local loops for one really long loop. I was game to venture up into this one area solo, but Mr Adventure kiboshed that idea. I have no fear for my safety in the back country, however this one trail I wanted to check out is on a paved forest access road that has one bar, way in the middle of nowhere, that is known for the record number of DUI's and fights, and there's a lot ao long term psuedo- vagrant camping along the road... so we decided it was not the place for a solo female ride. He had to accompany a scout WW trip, so I'm up to my own devices today.
I went to the lbs to pick up my copy of Zinn ( and his bike, another story there) and was informed that the trail I was thinking of has 24+ creek crossings, up to 42 depending on what guide you read, and we are talking over the hubs-wanna swim crossings, not little ride throughs. So I'm just as happy I'm not off by myself swimming my bike across some lagoon in the N Idaho backcountry. penny
snip .. So I'm just as happy I'm not off by myself swimming my bike
Quoted message said:
across some lagoon in the N Idaho backcountry. penny
There have been a couple of times I've waded across water, wishing I had water shoes......I keep threatening to carry a pair but always forget when the critical time comes.
Did a 3 hour ride this a.m. Mostly flat along our local canal system but did enjoy the first 11 miles of single track through the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. It was starting to warm up but still in the low 90's and dry which is odd for this time of year. No water crossings unless you count the bridges over the canal.....
It's nice to ride 40 miles and not be on a road with cars for most of it.
Damn nice stuff -- looks like it was an idyllic day!
Bill "wire one of those shacks for cable and I'd move in" S.
Will satellite and solar work?
For an early August ride, the weather was incredible. Usually fighting the monsoon t-storms. I had a solid week of clear weather and did a little over 100 miles of riding with 15K feet of elevation gain. I cheated on one ride though and did the roady thing, still, 36 miles and 3600' of climbing...... and it was hot. Thermometer on the bike said 96 in direct sun while climbing up to the top of Dallas Divide and.....the wind was behind me so no cooling effect.
climbing up to the top of Dallas Divide and.....the wind was behind me so no cooling effect.
Can't wait to go back.
Gary
We rode from Durango to Ouray, Ouray to Telluride, Telluride to Dolores and back home the next day. That day up Dallas Divide was the toughest, that frickin hill goes on forever! Then you have the final short but steep climb into To-hell-u-ride.
Great pics BTW. -- Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado remove "mydebt" to reply
snip . So I'm just as happy I'm not off by myself swimming my bike
Quoted message said:
across some lagoon in the N Idaho backcountry. penny
There have been a couple of times I've waded across water, wishing I had water shoes......I keep threatening to carry a pair but always forget when the critical time comes.
I'm curious as heck about this trail, now. I looked it up in my updated hiking guide and evidently the trails was slated to be re routed. Strap my chacos to the camel back and away we go... fall would be the time, too.
climbing up to the top of Dallas Divide and.....the wind was behind me so no cooling effect.
Can't wait to go back.
Gary
We rode from Durango to Ouray, Ouray to Telluride, Telluride to Dolores and back home the next day. That day up Dallas Divide was the toughest, that frickin hill goes on forever! Then you have the final short but steep climb into To-hell-u-ride.
Great pics BTW.
Thanks. Yea that stretch from Placerville up to T-ride is a narrow, scary road and I've never actually done it. Not much shoulder in some areas, especially near the top. I always go over the mountain on Last Dollar Road when going to T-ride. It's a little further but no traffic. But then I wouldn't think you'd want to do that on a road bike either....... I figured climbing up Lizard Head would be tougher???
As a side note, I'm trying to buy a piece of property in La Plata Canyon so if all goes well I'll be coming to your neck of the woods more often.
snip . So I'm just as happy I'm not off by myself swimming my bike
Quoted message said:
across some lagoon in the N Idaho backcountry. penny
There have been a couple of times I've waded across water, wishing I had water shoes......I keep threatening to carry a pair but always forget when the critical time comes.
I'm curious as heck about this trail, now. I looked it up in my updated hiking guide and evidently the trails was slated to be re routed. Strap my chacos to the camel back and away we go... fall would be the time, too.
Penny
Haven't heard anything about re-routing. If you go in the fall remember the flame orange attire so as not to be mistaken for a deer.
snip . So I'm just as happy I'm not off by myself swimming my bike > across some lagoon in the N Idaho backcountry. > penny
There have been a couple of times I've waded across water, wishing I had water shoes......I keep threatening to carry a pair but always forget when the critical time comes.
I'm curious as heck about this trail, now. I looked it up in my updated hiking guide and evidently the trails was slated to be re routed. Strap my chacos to the camel back and away we go... fall would be the time, too.
Penny
Haven't heard anything about re-routing. If you go in the fall remember the flame orange attire so as not to be mistaken for a deer.
Gary
heh, I"m talking about the trail **I** was looking at in N Idaho...
GeeDubb wrote: > snip > . So I'm just as happy I'm not off by myself swimming my bike >> across some lagoon in the N Idaho backcountry. >> penny > > There have been a couple of times I've waded across water, wishing > I had water shoes......I keep threatening to carry a pair but > always forget when the critical time comes. >
I'm curious as heck about this trail, now. I looked it up in my updated hiking guide and evidently the trails was slated to be re routed. Strap my chacos to the camel back and away we go... fall would be the time, too.
Penny
Haven't heard anything about re-routing. If you go in the fall remember the flame orange attire so as not to be mistaken for a deer.
Gary
heh, I"m talking about the trail **I** was looking at in N Idaho...
DOH! Guess I should start reading more carefully. I was wondering why you would want to do a road trip all the way down to SW Colorado.....<(;-}
As a side note, I'm trying to buy a piece of property in La Plata Canyon so if all goes well I'll be coming to your neck of the woods more often.
Gary
I'm not too far from there, are you going to be neighbors with Charlie?
A little further up the mountain, about 4.5 miles after the pavement stops. Thirty-five acres with falls and the tail end of Tirbircio creek running into the La Plata. Unfortunately there's no winter access other than snow shoes, skis or snowmobile (or for those more fortunate, snow cat). But there is an awesome trail that the minors used on the east side of the river, it just needs to be cleaned up a bit and I'll have my own 1/2 mile or so of single track.
Good ol' Charlie....I fell asleep at one of his concerts. I still get ribbed about that. I was still working construction getting up at 3:30 a.m. I had a couple of beers and was out at 9:30 right after CDB came onto the stage.......
Not much has changed, I still fall asleep around 9:30 most nights and wake up around 4 a.m. Hard to change that internal clock.
Gary
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