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TR:Montana Sampler http://dirttreaders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=3450 |
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Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:51 am ] |
Post subject: | TR:Montana Sampler |
I had to cancel our July Salmon River (ID) float trip due to my sting ray sting infected foot. While laying on the couch with my foot elevated for weeks, I thought it might be nice to return to Montana and bike some of the trails that might get closed to mountain biking. Marla wasn't excited about another Montana vacation at first, but soon decided it would be an ok idea after I showed her all the fun trails I wanted to ride, reminded her how much she likes Montana beer, and mentioned that several of the trails might get closed to mt bikes. I was overly ambitious while planning the trip, but we still managed 11 rides in 11 different mountain ranges. Pretty good when you consider all the driving, family, drinking, and I wasn't in prime condition. This is just a small sample of rides in Montana and each area we visited has weeks or months of riding. Day 0: I-15 Drive 15 hours to the greater Dell-Lima metro area: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:52 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 1: Dell-Lima metro area trail status: possible will be closed trail encounters: 2 backpackers, ~10 elk. trail info: ~22 mile loop with 5k ft climbing over a 10k pass. Big Sky Country: Nice trail on the climb up: This was the first ride on my new bike. First part of the decent from the pass is all scree and was interesting. After the scree a few miles of nice flow: If I did this again I would do this as an out and back on the other side of the pass or just stick to the CDT, losing the trail on the downhill sucks: Unfortunately the Calf-A closed early on Sunday for the Labor day weekend: So we drove to Dillon and had some pulled pork sandwiches from the rodeo/fair. |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:53 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 2: Dillon trail status: might get closed to bikes trail encounters: 4 mt bikers trail info: 15 mile out and back with about 3000 ft of climbing to an alpine lake. Trail started as atv trail: Single track for the climb: Arrive at a very scenic lake: Goofing off at the lake: Very fun downhill: Clean bike and beer at the truck: View from the Grasshopper Inn and Restaurant: Very tasty steak from the cows down the road: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:54 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 3: Bozeman On the drive to Bozeman, we had lunch at: I was only up for a easy shuttle and Marla just wanted to hike a bit. So I popped my shuttle cherry on this insanely fun Bozeman ride. trail status: normal trail encounters: 1 mt biker trail info: 8 mile shuttle drops about 2500 ft, 500ft of climbing. Climbed up to a view point: Then it was time for a fast downhill: All smiles at the end: Had dinner with the cousins at Pickle barrel. |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:55 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 4: Bozeman I hadn't been to Bozeman in the summer in over 10 years and the place is no longer a sleepy cow town, and is full of trustfunders and angry locals. Downtown seemed busier than Missoula: More Wheat Montana for lunch: Took the cousin in law on her first mountain bike ride. Atv trail climb along a scenic ridge: The ladies with Lone Peak ( Big Sky Ski area ) in the background: Where is the single track downhill?: Found it: Most of the downhill has smooth and fast, but had a couple chunky sections: Down to the creek: Ending with a water fall: Our favorite, buffalo burgers from the Corral: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:56 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 5: Bozeman to Missoula trail status: will possible be closed to bikes trail encounters: 0 trail info: 10 mile out and back with about 1600 ft of climbing to an alpine lake. I had wanted to do an 'epic' ride in this mountain range, but was still recovering from day 1. This ride was really fun. Climbing up: Found a big area of slick rock that I played on for about half and hour: Enough of that, we got a lake to get to: The lake: Time for a fun downhill: Found a fun log: View from the drive out: Outside Missoula at 80 mph: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:57 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 6: Missoula Rest and visit family. Went to a geology banquet for two of my professors that retired recently. Great talk by the paleontologist Jack Horner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Horne ... ontologist) Did a bit of drinking: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:57 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 7: Missoula trail status: not sure, Bitterroot NF is revising travel plan trail encounters: 2 mt bikers trail info: Shuttle with 1500 climbing and 4500 drop. Where is the downhill single track: First part was through a burned area: The cuz: Next high scenic meadows: Some climbing, then more down: All down after getting into the trees: The mustache boys: Dinner at a burger joint in Hamilton ( forgot name ), it's huge: That night went to the annual geology kegger: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:58 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 8: Missoula Didn't have much time for a ride today. So decided to check out a trail that I considered my own personal trail growing up located near the parents house. I have encountered more black bears than people on this trail. Photos of the first section of trail I ever built...a bit too steep, but has lasted: Looked like someone had been using it, so I was surprised to find the upper part overgrown. Spur trail has several small fun jumps: Lots of creek crossings on the main trail: About half way up I got sick of climbing over downed trees and turned around for a fast downhill: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:58 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 9: Missoula trail status: Most likely will be closed to bikes, Lolo NF is revising travel plan trail encounters: 1 large black bear trail info: This trail is located near Missoula in an area that I call the mini-Missions and has over 100 miles of wild single track. I'm surprised more Missoula people don't bike this, I love the area and find the trails are fun. Didn't have a lot of time to ride, but did about 12 miles with little climbing. Had to cross a swinging bridge that was difficult to get the bike across and the dog refused to walk on: Trail: Creek: Fill the growler and slam some beers at Big Sky Brewery and then drive to Augusta. Don't move to Montana: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:59 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 10: Augusta View from camp: We had the campground to ourselves, other than the black bear and cub. View of camp: trail status: normal, Lewis and Clark NF travel plan is pretty bike friendly trail encounters: 0 trail info: Today's trail climbed a gulch adjacent to the Bob Marshal Wilderness. 16 mile out and back with about 1000 ft of climbing. Starting in aspen trees: To a large meadow: And up over the pass. While having a snack about half way up the pass I noticed that several areas of my rear tires sidewall were failing. Time to turn around and hope for the best. I did not want to hike out 8 miles in bike shoes. Very fast across the meadow: Glad the tire lasted: Dinner at: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:00 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 11: Great Falls Visit with grandpa and find new tire. Leaving the Rocky Mountain Front: Pronghorn: I was nervous that Great Falls wouldn't have any 29" tires and I would have to cancel more rides and drive to Bozeman for a tire. But I bought one of two at the one bike shop in Great Falls: Outside Great Falls: Stopped in Belt for $2 pints and a growler fill at the brewery: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:00 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 12: Lewistown trail status: normal, Lewis and Clark NF travel plan is pretty bike friendly trail encounters: 0 trail info: A ride to an ice cave in a mountain range surrounded by prairie. Can be a loop, but we did out and back. 12 miles with 2500 feet climb. Climbing up: To a nice view point: Good spot for a piss: More climbing to the tundra: Ice cave: Ride to the top for lunch: Downhill time: A scree section: Drive to Beartooths: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:01 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 13: Cooke City View from the RV in the morning: The Beartooths require your A game and we were on D game, so we decided against doing the abusive loop from the guide book or the huge shuttle that I found on the maps and did a nice scenic ~8 mile ride from camp that passed several lakes and had chunky and smooth sections of trail. Lots of rocks to play on: Cold swim back at camp: |
Author: | 406 [ Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:01 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: TR:Montana Sampler |
Day 14: Yellowstone Had planned to do a ride today, but everything hurt, so spent the day in the parks and drove to Salt Lake. Tatanka: Tatanka crossing the river: They swam the river because they knew I wanted to eat them: Yellowstone NP idea of a bike trail, we didn't bother unloading the bikes: Grand Teton NP: |
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