Today's ride was circumnavigation of Mt Spokane. It's a fun ride, but this had a dual purpose of a
mapping project that Craig (hubby ) is working on for the ski patrol. This ride follows the drainage
that clueless idiots drop into when they are going where they shouldn't, and he needs to get
specific coordinates going for the various gullies and so on. Today's crew is the two of us, our
son, and a buddy "Big Larry" who's got a rather new Rocky Mtn Slayer and just got clearance to ride
after breaking his arm.
My biggest worry is that there might be a lot of blow down but in 12 miles there were two trees.
These old fireroads double as snowmachine routes in the winter and they keep it very cleared. (
logs. not their beer cans ;-( ) The trail is really old fire access roads, not traveled much, damp
and soft with a duff surface. A mile up, a mile down, and a very gentle 6.5 miles climb wandering
through the cedar forest. Most of the creek are in culverts, with the occasional mucky crossing, and
beautiful small waterfalls. www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/waterfall.jpg
Every stream and gully had to be noted and mapped into the GPS. Earlier this year Craig had numbered
the gullies while still on skis, note the "4"
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/ben4.jpg www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/gpsman.jpg
The climb was wearing on some members of our group so we had a little break:
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/lunch.jpg
and then went on our merry way. The riding was very interesting, the trail surface was deceptive as
you knew it was soft and you were working, when you walked on it you could real tell. Then I see
Craig stopped up ahead, fussing with his bike. What ever could be the matter?
www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/craig1.jpg www.specialtyoutdoors.com/images/bike/uhoh.jpg
This brings the terms "chain suck" to a whole new level. Somehow the stick got picked right up and
didn't get spit out. What to do? Break time, tool time. The dealer hanger is removed and straighten
out by pounding on it with a rock. Silly me, I forgot I had the video option with the camera! Good
repair tho... pedals smooth as long as you don't change gears.
Finally we hit the part where we can say, really guys no more up. A quarter mile on the real road,
cut back off through the picnic area, and hit the cat track back around the mountain. This is the
fun part, the most technical part of the ride and I get a rush because it's been years since I've
done this and I can really feel the great difference.
as for the bike... new hanger, possbile new derailler, who knows what else...:-(
The old access roads, while not the same as riding single track were a lot of fun because they are
so untraveled. The most likely get more use for snomobiles in the winter than in the summer. Most
people take thier mtn bikes here to shuttle runs form the top, and they are missing out as there is
so much to explore.
Penny