motoscotch: A chronicle of activities

Arrowhead, the real Countdown.....T-minus 1 day and counting

2012-01-29T20:11:00.003-06:00

Today, Sunday was quite uneventful. Heard about a pancake breakfast down at the local Catholic Church, so went and checked that out. Ran into a couple folks I know from the papermill in town, a guy that is doing the bike race tomorrow, some folks for WI and a few locals...all very friendly and encouraging.
Went out for 30 minute ski on part of the trial...it was pretty rough, but indications from the trail crews that marked the trail are that conditions should be pretty good overall considering....it's that word "considering" that has me a little concerned.
Temps were in the single digits today with a forecast for the start of the race at 7 AM at 12 degrees coming up from a low of 6....I'm anal about this as I need to predict snow temps to try to wax my skis accordingly. Going with the Swix LFG4 for temps between 14F/-26. Low Fluorocarbon for good endurance and glide a very hard wax for cold conditions and the graphite works well for old or dirty snow. Seems to fit the description of what I'll be starting with.

I should hit the first checkpoint 35 miles out within 6 hours so at that time I can reassess temps and re-wax.
Had a good racers meeting, won some handle bar mitts for winter riding, for a road bike, so I gave them away to a friend as I don't own a road bike. The sponsors of the race were very generous, frames, forks, locally made winter mitts and tons more...check it out!
So far it's been a real smooth affair. Race is very well organized and everyone even remotely involved is very friendly.
Last post till after the end of the race....sometime.

Arrowhead, the real Countdown.....T-minus 2 days and counting

2012-01-28T20:38:00.001-06:00

Spent the night in Cook, MN last night....brought back a lot of memories. My wife and I stayed here back in Dec. of 1982.

We came back to WI/MN from OR for Christmas and a job interview just south of Cook after sending out 100 or more resumes in WI and MN looking for work that would bring us back to the midwest. We were 5-6 years into our family and had 2 sons and wanted to move back closer to family. This was the only positive reply I got back from all of the resumes we had sent out.
The interview went terrible. As I was not from the area, it was setup that I would meet with a number of Managers on this one day for a job at a new plant that was going to be producing OSB (Oriented Stand Board)...a somewhat new building material that would compete with plywood. The plant had been ready for over a year, but with the bad economy and poor housing starts, it was being idled until it was decided that housing was turning the corner. Now was the time. I learned later that over 10,000 people had applied for just over 100 positions. The MN Iron Range was only 30-40 miles south of the plant and by and large, the iron ore mining industry was shut-down, so there were thousands out of work. The Plant didn't want to hire these unemployed miners because when the mines fired back up, they'd most probably go back to the mines. Unemployment was around 20% or higher in this area in the early 1980's.
When I showed up for the interview, only 1-2 people could meet with me. I was disgusted with this. We went to the motel after the short day at the plant, spent the night and I woke up madder than hell after stewing all night. So, of course, being that we had to drive right by the plant on our way south to MPLS, I decided to pull in and tell them what I thought....27 is great age for some, you have no fear....plus, from working as a logger in OR for the past 9 years, diplomacy, tact and sensitivity were not my strong points (some may say they still aren't!).
In any case, I found the HR Manager and told him what I thought. He apologized that things didn't go off the way he or I had hoped they would have and told me they'd get back to me. I said fine, but if I didn't hear back from them in a week don't bother contacting me at all and that I was going to look at another opportunity I was considering. (which was a lie....back in the early '80's nothing was happening for work anywhere)
In reality, I was just pissed and didn't want to be bothered with them after a week of wondering yes or no. I still had a job in OR, so it wasn't critical to me that I land this job. Lynn, on the other hand, was not impressed with my approach.
She was the one that had sent out all the resumes, she had the real desire to head back east. The winter before she didn't see the sun for over 30-40 days for all the rain, if I recall. All I had to do was to show up, do the best I could and not do anything stupid, and it appeared I couldn't even do that properly. We had flown into MPLS and borrowed her sister and BIL's car. It was a tense drive back to their house, a longer plane ride back to OR and even a longer week.
The HR guy called me back within the week and offered me the position. I accepted and we moved to MN. Sometimes one just has to go with one's gut.

I met an friend that worked with me back then last night and we caught up on old times.

Anyway, on to International Falls for the Arrowhead.
Stopped at the first check point from the start of the race, Gatewaty Store, for a short ski.
The snow was soft and not enough of it to make a nice flat ski surface, but it's going to be the same for everyone. Still plenty of dirt/small stones in the snow in many places, so the rock ski decision hasn't changed.

Got checked in and looking to get some decent sleep.

Arrowhead, the real Countdown.....T-minus 3 days and counting

2012-01-27T22:33:00.002-06:00

Friday late afternoon got to check point 3 just north of Cook, MN and took a reconnaissance night ski up Wakemup Hill, a fairly steep, long slog. Wakemup Hill is the last obstacle before the last 27.5 mile flat run-out to the finish. Hill wasn't too bad, but I'll hold my final opinion until after getting there with 110 miles under my belt.
Snow depth on the trail was decent, 3" of new snow today in the Cook area for 7-8" total....maybe. Northern lights visible for 15 minutes right after sun set.

Skied about an hr. Once the sun went down temps started dropping fast.....but only in the swamps/low areas. I could tell a difference in my glide and actual body temp, I'd guess 10 degree difference in 50-60 feet/6-8 foot elevation differences. Snow condition was good, but dirty. I'm leaning towards my rock skis....if I used a good pair I think I'd end up with 2 sets of rock skis.
Vapor below was just from my breathing, kinda gives it an eerie effect.

Arrowhead, the real Countdown

2012-01-26T22:04:00.001-06:00

Well, got all my gear packed in the Heep, waxed 3 pair of skis and have enough food packed to feed a small family for a few days seeking residence working their way across our southern border.

I'll be driving up to Cook, MN about a 7 hr. drive tomorrow. Hopefully will arrive in time to check over the last hill/obstacle before the final 20 miles or so mad dash on the flats to Fortune Bay in Tower, MN and the finish line, 135 miles from the start in International Falls, MN.
Luckily, the northland got a decent dump of snow earlier this week, so there will be snow. How setup and ski-able it'll be is a crap shoot.
Saturday is check-in and more reconnaissance of the trail at different key locations. Logging operations on the trail need a look see to check out what skiing conditions will be like. A couple stops along the way just to see general trail/snow/grooming conditions.
Then, finally Sunday, which will determine the weapon I pick from the arsenal to strap to my feet to take off in the sub-zero temps that are in the forecast for early Monday morning. Ski options are:
- Short, stiff skis if the trail width is constricted due to deep snow on the edges but packed hard enough to stay buoyant (I weight 205-210 lbs. then add 20-25 lbs of gear).
- Normal length stiff skis if everything is "normal".
- Normal length rock skis, if the trail is tore up due to snowmobiles or just a lack of snow.

Cactus blossoms, sure sign of spring?

2012-01-22T16:36:00.001-06:00

I "rescued" this cactus from MT 6-7 years ago when out there mtn biking. I wanted to bring something back to remember the trip, but the usual trinkets just don't cut it. There was some road work being done and many cacti had been bulldozed out of the ground to widen the road. I scooped up a few plants and brought them home.
I almost killed it when I noticed that there were small fruit fly kinda things nesting in it a year or so after I got it home, so I sprayed it with an bug killer material and it just about killed the plants.
Since then, I only use some plant food now and then and it came back strong....no insects, either.
Every spring now it pushes through new growth. I'm waiting for it to blossom like what I've seen in the wild out west. Pretty sure it's a Prickly Pear cactus.

Taken last summer in WY.

Arrowhead 135 training and pre-race thoughts

2012-01-18T21:40:00.002-06:00

With less than 2 weeks to go, the Arrowhead Ultra 135 is always lurking close in my mind. I thought I'd toss down some pre-race thoughts. The race started for me well over 2 years ago when I came across a race in northern WI called the Tuscobia 75. I thought my son, Chris, would find it interesting so we emailed back and forth a bit on it. I let it drop out of my mind when we discovered that each racer had to to carry about 25 lbs of winter survival gear with them...that just didn't sound like fun, or necessary, plus I didn't want to spend more money on specialized gear for another activity.
Chris didn't let it die and he decided to look into it and did the race in 2010...only by then it was 75 or 150 miles, he decided to do 150. I was stuck in an airport in Paris when he did the race, so wasn't able to witness his 60 some hr. slog. But, 6 weeks later I went up to International Falls, MN. to observe the ARU that he had signed up for.
Over the past year, after I went up to watch my son in the Arrowhead 135 foot division, I've been scheming, planning and training for it. Maybe I'm figuring all wrong, but I think it's entirely possible to xc-skate ski it without it being a death march...and freezing to death.
The big, SUPER big variable is the weather. Temps can be severe. Skiing is impossible if one can't wax skis correctly to temperatures. The trail is a snowmobile trial, so it's not groomed for skiing. What if 6" of snow falls, what if it's -20, -30, -40 degrees F, what if there is all of this and a 30-40 mile northwind?

Based on my past 10 years plus of xc-skiing and the way the course is laid out, I think a person can ski to the first check point, 35 miles from the start, and wax his/her skis. This is tricky, as one has to carry ALL the gear needed, so that would mean ski wax and source of heat to work the wax into the skis. I believe I have this figured out...more on that after the race.
Then, saddle up and ski another 35 miles to the 2nd check point. How long will this take? Conditions will dictate that, but I would hope to be there in 12-15 hrs. I'd wax up again and catch some sleep. How much will be determined by the temperatures. If it's too cold to ski somewhat efficiently that would mean till morning sometime. If the temps are agreeable (as well as my body), less time at this check point would be needed.
Day 2 is a repeat of the first day.
Some training shots from a 3 hr. ski. Flambeau Hills. A 3 hour out and back. Around 15 miles.

Took the backpack with most of the gear I'd be using in the race.

Do's and Don't for Women riding bike- cira 1895

2012-01-14T10:26:00.000-06:00

Too Funny.

Unbelievable Charity

2012-01-12T07:25:00.001-06:00

There has been a lot of talk lately how the rich don't pay their fair share or how they just don't get it. Well, that's not the case all the time:
Thank You Ken and Carolyn.

January 2012

2012-01-10T23:21:00.026-06:00

Random shots.

Bees seem to be doing will, mild winter is good for something!

Been getting as much xc skiing in as possible, getting ready for the big dance which is the Arrowhead 135. Ski conditions have been marginal, but still able to get out there. Glad I have some old rock skis, though.

Pugsley snow bike leaning against a snowmibile groomer.....can't we all just get alone?

Snowbike ride. Borrowed bike. Getting some bike time in in case I need to bike the Arrowhead 135 instead of the plan to ski it. Borrowing the snowmobile trails in north central WI.

Waxed xc skis at a local pub, after a great WI fish fry and a couple beers.

Chillicothe, OH. Mtn bike ride. Seal State Park. Just before sunset. Work trip.

Bees and Surly

2011-12-29T21:19:00.001-06:00

The temps were up in the 40's a couple of days ago....the Bees got out and got some fresh air. All 3 hives had activity, so they've made it this far.

A friend let me use her Surly Pugsley...not a lot of snow to get the full effect of the fat guy, but still good to get our and get some exercise myself.
Got around a 3 hr. ride in. Fun time.

Tuscobia Ultra 2011.2

2011-12-19T17:34:00.000-06:00

Some more pics that came through from other folks.
Me coming into 1st checkpoint, Birchwood, WI. Mile 12.

Chris and I at the Rice Lake turn-around (for the 150 milers) and the start for the 75 milers.

Compare my bike setup with a classic snowbike setup.

Chris, Helen and Cooper at the Rice Lake trailhead.

Tuscobia Ultra 2011

2011-12-18T18:53:00.013-06:00

Race is over. Myself and one other racer, Matt Maxwell from Iowa, tried the 150 mile ski. After 40 miles we decided to hang it up due to rather poor conditions and save ourselves for the 75 mile bike race the next day.
Things were very difficult due to the random snow conditions. The NE (start/finish) had snow, but was very tore up due to melting, freezing and random vehicles running up and down the trail, which meant a lot of rocks to avoid. The SW (start/turnaround) had no snow. Temps were warm so cold was not a huge issue.
The 40 mile ski took me around 8 hrs with rest stops.
The 75 bike took me 15.5 hrs. That included 17-18 miles of walking the bike as I was not using a wide tire snow bike and sunk too far to move at times. Both events I was carrying about 20lbs of water, food and winter survival gear.
The distances were nothing new really, the conditions were. It was a test of mental toughness, smart pacing and nutrition to complete the race.
Results:
150-mile run: Chris Scotch 56:02 (CR!) (5 starters, 1 finisher, 1 still on the course)
150-mile bike: Charly Tri 21:07 (8 starters, 5 finishers)
150-mile ski: (2 starters, 0 finishers)
75-mile bike: Dan Jansen 6:44 (CR!), Leah Gruhn 13:53 (18 starters, 15 finishers*)
75-mile run: Tim Neckar 21:27, Lynn Saari 25:23 (5 starters, 3 finishers)
50-km bike: Marc Steele 3:31 (CR!) (2 starters, 1 finisher)
50-km run: Brandon Purdeu 5:13 (CR!), Alicia Hudelson 6:14 (CR!) (15 starters, 15 finishers)

Thursday evening before the race went scouting the trail. Was able to witness 2 wolves crossing the road next to the trail about 4-5 miles west of Park Falls.

My size 10.

Mile 25.5 looking north.

Mile 25.5 looking south, RR tracks.

Chippewa River crossing.

Slightly different view.

Local Algonquins sending off the racers with a Travel Blessing before the race.

Mile 4 of the bike race...local spectators came up to the trail to say hi.

Son Chris, 150 mile runner winner....56 hours.

Matt Maxwell and Tim Bowers.

Finish line at the Chequamegon Canoe Club who were the major sponsors of the race.

An idea of the ski conditions, Matt and I both skate/freestyle skied.

Tim Bowers, mile 15 or so.

It was impressive the volunteers that came to support the event from all over the midwest. Some of the participents even took turns at the aid stations on the day their event wasn't going on.
Greg and Michelle at the CCC Bistro were unbelievably supportive.
The local community did a fantastic job as well, supporting the event from volunteering on race day to cooking, baking goods, setting up a nice start/finish area and even making a trophy for place finishers and general finishers.

Chris' trophy.

Maybe next year if conditions cooperate.

Jason, pre Christmas visit 2011

2011-12-14T05:05:00.002-06:00

Took care of grandson, Jason, while his parents went to Milwaukee for a work party. Had to get the bike down (now a snow bike!) for a few quick rides. First thing he did was head to the lawn and the little bit of snow we had to see how it would work riding in it....

Once we got his thumbs to go in the correct place inside his mitts, he had a much better time of it.

Then with Grandma, went looking for a tree. We so love taking care of Jason...he's such a joy to us!

Ghost Bike

2011-12-03T18:06:00.000-06:00

Ghost Bike....a Memorial to someone who died on a bike, normally a vehicle accident. This I noticed in the Upper Peninsula, MI.

Winter 2011 Training update

2011-11-17T09:05:00.001-06:00

Been roller skiing as much as possible. A few 1-2 hr sessions, one in the dark that was a little hairy, won't to that again unless necessary, although I didn't crash it was sketchy. Was able to get a nice. 3.5 cruise in....about 16-17 miles. Was a great workout.
Got our first snowfall a week ago, but it didn't stick and it was spotty. Mostly central/south WI. All it did around home was keep the trail soaked that we roller ski on so had to switch over to the bike.

Been out as much as possible with the bike...2-3-4 hr, rides. Mileage isn't all that impressive as I'm using my mtn. bike on crushed limestone trials that are a little soft or on the road and many times I ride far right of the pavement to avoid any vehicle issues. After all, I'm out there to train and I can get the same workout on dirt as I can on pavement. Time is the saddle and heart rate is the key, not how many miles I put in.
That being said I put in 48 miles yesterday in 30 degree temps, on a sunny, windy day. Headwinds that when I turned cross to it sung through my spokes.

Besides the training, getting my equipment ready....the bag on the right is the bag I'll be using. Both rated -20 degrees, but right bag much lighter and smaller. A friend snagged it for me on a return at a large sporting goods outlet store....the price was almost too good to believe, as well.

Gotta love headwinds!

yep, ice, ice baby!

At mile 15 or so I stopped at gas station to try to block the wind whistling through my sandals. Only my feet were showing any signs of discomfort. Even with nice wool socks on my feet got cold. Wind combined with mph of the bike, plus 30 degree temps were too much I guess.
I wear sandals as they are wider and flex width wise than my mtn. bike shoes and allow for much more blood flow so my feet stay much more comfortable and warm with them and don't go numb as with the shoes. Have some cold weather booties coming that will go over the sandals, that will help.

Training for a new adventure

2011-11-06T16:19:00.003-06:00

Will be pounding out as many hours as possible to get ready for 2 winter races that should prove to be the toughest I've ever done.
The Tuscobia 150 in December and the Arrowhead 135 late January.
Similar but unique, both could be totally uncompromising depending on weather conditions...I have a strategy we'll see how it plays out.
Dry land ski training.....

Rolling skiing, Duluth, MN

2011-10-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

Honey Delivery

2011-10-14T23:15:00.001-05:00

Been delivering honey with my bike. 20 miles round trip Monday (somewhat sunny in the 60's), 30 plus today. (strong headwinds, overcast and in the low 50's)

Bartered a quart for a farm raised chicken.

Working on a custom label. Chuck was the Dad of my best bud since grade school. He died 11 years ago. Chuck got me started in bee keeping 30 years ago. I only did it for a year or 2, then picked it up again this summer.

Tried out a backpack I will be using for a couple ski races this winter. Worked out well.

Yellowstone, Cody and Beartooth Mountains

2011-10-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

We left Driggs after a checkup on my elbow. Headed to the West Entrance to Yellowstone, through the Park and out the steep, steep East Entrance.

Got Cody late afternoon and had dinner at the Irma Hotel, which was built by Buffalo Bill Cody and named after his daughter.
The next morning, we visited the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum. My Grandfather worked for Cody when he was just a teenager. I tried to find if they had any records of his employment (they have a lot of Cody's records and a research library) but nothing popped up.

We then took off for the Beartooth mtns. This was an amazing loop up to Red Lodge and back. Want to go back when we can spend more time up there.

Took off when we got back and got a couple hours down the road....vacation 2011 over. A fun 2 weeks. Different than what we've done in the past and will be doing more of the same in the future.

Sutures Out

2011-09-27T15:10:00.000-05:00

Lis said have the sutures taken out in 10 days. My DIL (RN) pulled out a couple but we felt maybe they weren't ready....the next day I thought they were, plus I was heading out of town...so I took them out, 2 were already grown over, had to tug and pull them around to get under them.
Job done.

Sharpened up the fillet knife.

Job done.

Driggs, ID Day 9. Mahogany Creek.

2011-09-24T20:45:00.005-05:00

For the last day of riding, Jeff and I went up to Mahogany Creek. It's basically at the same trail head as the Horseshoe Loops we did a couple of days earlier, but we rode south instead of north.
It has an almost 1400 foot climb in a little less than 5 miles. The local TVTAP (Teton Valley Trail and Pathways) Crew and USFS have combined to make a really nice switchbacked trail to avoid the old fall line trail. We had a nice climb to the top with a final short hike a bike. Most of these pics are Jeff's, thanks for letting me use them, bud.

Steep creek crossing.

We got to the top and regrouped.

The book said there was a steep down hill coming up that can be loose and dry and advanced riders will like it but intermediate riders might want to walk it...well, I headed on down. The HiFi seemed out matched for the conditions, but I had the chance to brake hard a few times and kept my speed under control. It was all of loose and dry, baseball, softball and bowling ball sized loose rocks littered the trail. Dirt motorcycles use the trail as well as horses and it was pretty tore up. Near the bottom I spotted the left turn we needed to take...that glance off the trail is all it took, my bike slide out from under me and I went down and started sliding down the trail on my right side....17 stitches worth of sliding.

By the time I got myself back up and somewhat checked myself out, Jeff started down. He only went a short distance (rigid frame) and decided better than trying to ride down. By the time he got to where I was and saw the blood, my inventory revealed I would need stitches and without a lot of kibitzing, we took off. Luckily, the rest was 99% downhill, but we were still 5 miles from the parking lot.

We met hikers, runners and trail workers coming up the trail, not to mention the horse pack train bringing up the tools. The old boy wanted to mention the blood running down my arm, I could see him looking at it, but he just tipped his cap and asked how it was going. I said I had a little spill...he said riding those things it probably wasn't my first time, I could only chuckle in agreement.

About a mile from the end we had a short, steep uphill and maybe it was the adrenaline or maybe the bike got messed up some in the crash as it was the right side, where the shifting takes place, but in any case, on a hard pump the chain broke. Jeff was right on it and broke the link while I found a quick link and we were on our way in a couple minutes. Riding through the creek bottom was fun, but I had to hang way left as the tall, close vegetation was rather painful slapping at the flap of meat hanging from my arm. Besides a lot of the Teton Valley, they dug out blades of grass from the wound.

We got back to the TH and as we had dropped off my motorcycle as the shuttle vehicle, Jeff decided to ride the 10 road miles back to his Element, so I could load up and bike the 10-15 miles to the hospital asap. After trying to call Lynn to meet me, I took off. The people with the horses, from Iowa, told us there was a hospital in Driggs.

When I rolled in the EMT's wanted to know if I had a camera...they took the pics above. The PA that was in charge and the EMT's seemed to be somewhat impressed with BOB. Chris and John, the EMT's and Lis, the Physicians Assistant, were really great. It was fun spending the afternoon with them even if it was under these conditions.
John is mtn biker and knew right where I crashed. He spent an hour or so squirting saline solution into the cut and talked to me about his move from the New York City area to ID and some of his rock climbing experiences.
Lis was really open and fun. She and her husband have 2 boys (we have 3), raise bees and she xc skis and had been to Norway to ski the actual official, Birkebeiner using the traditional (stride method) at 54k. I've done the American Birkie, 7 times, I think, 52k, using the skating method. Lis skates, as well. She also climbs.
When she was checking out my arm she had me squeeze her fingers to see if I had any tendon damage and she noticed the end of my little finger was missing...that got us into a discussion about canoeing and come to find out as a 19 year old she canoed one of the same river we've done, the Missinaibi in Ontario that dumps into Jame Bay.
I guess she might have been letting me jabber on about all this, to keep my mind occupied as she cleaned and then sutured the wound, but I got the feeling she enjoyed the conversation, as well. The next morning I had to come in to the clinic and she was there, as well. (did she ever go home?) So we got to continue the conversation. The nurse that prepped me at the clinic gave a glowing report on Lis, but Lynn and I really didn't need it to see she really enjoyed her profession and was excellent at her work.
Lynn was great as well all through this....she's getting quite used to it, I guess.
I have to say, the pain was never all that bad. It happen so fast on the trail and it numbed up quick so that was not an issue. Having it whipped by the vegetation along the trail felt like bee stings, but I've been through all that before. In the hour or so it took to finish the bike and motorcycle ride and get to the hospital it was starting to tingle some. When I got the hospital, knowing how the cleaning can be somewhat painful from the crash in PA 4 years ago, they hooked me up to an IV and shot in some pain killer and of course Lis did some localized pain control with a long needle (I really didn't look at it) at the wound.
All and all, the afternoon was good time, something we'd never had experienced without the crash. What do they say, when you're handed lemons make lemonade?

Heading out from the trail head.

Jeff, bear bells and all, following me out on the rough wash-boarded dirt road.

4 years ago in PA...same arm, more stitches, same type of accident. Jeff was there for this one, too.

click on to enlarge!!!

After an OTB incident 5 years ago during a race at Blue Mounds park, WI. Another rocky trail. Dislocated, not broken.

Driggs, ID Day 8. Mill Creek Trail.

2011-09-23T23:51:00.000-05:00

With Jeff spending the night at Yellowstone, did a solo trip on a trail very near the condo. Mill Creek. This trail starts just past Alta and heads up, over and down to the Grand Targhee ski complex. Out and back, lots of climbing to get to the top, some pretty steep when you hit the ski area and cat trails/double track.
Jeff actually biked to the same destination on the road a couple days before when Lynn when I were taking a motorcyle ride on the same road.

Jeff's shots:

Pics from my ride:

Driggs, ID Day 7. Kayak trip down the Snake River

2011-09-21T23:45:00.002-05:00

About 10 years ago, Lynn and I did some canoeing on the Snake River in Teton Park. It was beautiful. We then did a family whitewater rafting trip. This week, I connected the 2 trips with a 25-30 kayak trip that started just outside the Park at Wilson Bridge in WY to Elbow boat landing, a few miles above where the whitewater rafting starts.
I also scouted the Hoback River 10 miles or so up from it's confluence with the Snake, but the water was a little too low and with the cool, rainy day, decided to do the Snake.
This was mostly fast water, 7-8 mph, with strainers so one had to pay attention. The river braided a lot and getting into a side channel with no water or being blocked was a real possibility. There were a number of rafters out mainly for fishing so, at least in the beginning (fewer rafts downstream) one could kind of follow or see where they went.
The run is Class I or II all that way at the levels I was on it. It had a wave train almost at the end that was really fun. 8-10 waves with a 4-5 foot drop from crest to bottom of the trough. The Yukon Expedition was at 35 degrees pointing up and then 35 degrees pointing down for a fun run.
There were also a few whirlpool type bubbling up boils from the bottom crazy water spots that were really cool.
All and all, this river, with the mountains, is probably the most scenic river I've ever paddled on the 20 some years I've been out on the water. I hope to get back out there and start a little above Jackson Lake, in Teton Park and do the complete run through the Park. 40-50 miles.
Also, to do a nice 15-20 mile section of the Hoback and also a few miles after Palisades Reservoir.
Until I return.....

Driggs, ID Day 6. Horseshoe Loop

2011-09-18T22:02:00.005-05:00

Acting on advice from a local I saw on the Aspen Trail yesterday, I went to the local bike store, The Habitat, and picked up a trail guide book. Jeff, a buddy from PA, pulled in late yesterday as well. Based on the guide book, we went out and tried the Horseshoe Loop. The Loop is described in the local mtb book as the trail made specifically for mtn bikes. The series of loops were a lot of fun...climbing, of course to start out, but well worth the getting to the top. Southbound was great.
Jeff took a ton of pics, so I didn't have to!! He also had his bear bells on...listen for them on the videos.

Jeff getting the route put together:
Jeff coming down Prohibition Loop:

Jeff on the top of Southbound.

oops...fell off the skinny! Back tire didn't make it on, actually.

These were the best trails of the 4 ridden in the Driggs area.

Driggs, ID Day 5. Aspen Trail

2011-09-16T00:07:00.000-05:00

We rolled into our condo after midnight following the run up from Dillon, CO. I got up and reviewed Trailfu and found a trial only 2 miles from bed, the Aspen Trail, although it's really in WY. It was a nice climb up, about 2.5 miles, some rolling flats then a dash down, turn around, repeat. Around 8 miles in all. I'd skip the road trip to make a loop, just do it as an out and back. Some nice views on top looking west over Driggs.