RR The divide again

This week, Brian, my favorite LBS guy invited me to go up the Id/MT divide , when I inquired about a
trail I had heard about. Mr. Adventure was tied up with ski patrol training but I was not so what
the heck. Brian mentions that it's a bunch of guys, and luck would have it that I can't scare up a
single female to go with. Carl the ti-man is available and it's a good thing because I won't know
anyone on this ride.

As we approach the mountains on our drive ink, first it's misty, then sprinkly. WE get to the lower
trailhead, and dang, if it's isn't big fat raindrops mixed with snow. The group is unanimous...we
got this far, we might as well ride. Instead of a 12 mile ride up the road to the upper trailhead,
we decide to shuttle it as we aren't THAT masochistic. We park about 8 miles up, in the gloppy
precipitation. The good old boys are out with their pickup trucks presumably hunting and they all
comments to make as we are gearing up in Gore-Tex, tights and whatever else we each are carrying.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek1.jpg

Four miles along the divide on a logging road, and then we drop onto the trail, after we wait for
Dave to come back, his dog had decided to hang out with some hunters that had food and fire
going...I think fondly on the AMB-UK photos from last week, minus the smokes.
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek2.jpg Yes, that is mist and fog, not a
lousy photo.

Oh, my god... how to wax eloquent here. Even tho it's wet, a bit soft, we have ice chunks on our
coats, this has got to be one of the finer pieces of single track I've been on. A perfect grade,
with enough climbs interspersed that you don't feel you've cheated by shuttling a portion. The
trail rolls along the ridgeline, swoopy, turny, great strait line runs mixed up with twisty
through mossy pines and multi color undergrowth. No one is really flying: the wet trail is not a
familiar surface for most of us, so the pace is low-key. There's one hike a bike spot across an
old land slide:

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg But other than that it's sweet sweet
forest riding. Occasionally there is what would most likely be a view spot, but there's so much fog
and clouds who knows. As we lose elevation, it warms up a bit, and the rain stops, but it's still
damp in the forest. There are a few spots on the trail with perfect outcrops with little ledges on
theme to break up the hideous monotony of buff forest trail.... puts big smiles on our faces.

Nine miles of this... who could ask for more? If the weather is better next weekend, I"m going back
and taking the gang.

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek4.jpg
http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek5.jpg

penny

Nice RR Penny.

How do you protect your digicam when riding from mud and wet stuff ?

--
Tony

6828@FISHinameFISH.comFISH

Remove the fish to reply --= This is a fish anti-spam device =--

`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com...
> This week, Brian, my favorite LBS guy invited me to go up the Id/MT divide , when I inquired about
> a trail I had heard about. Mr. Adventure was tied up with ski patrol training but I was not so
> what the heck.
Brian
> mentions that it's a bunch of guys, and luck would have it that I can't scare up a single female
> to go with. Carl the ti-man is available and it's
a
> good thing because I won't know anyone on this ride.
>
> As we approach the mountains on our drive ink, first it's misty, then sprinkly. WE get to the
> lower trailhead, and dang, if it's isn't big fat raindrops mixed with snow. The group is
> unanimous...we got this far, we might as well ride. Instead of a 12 mile ride up the road to the
> upper trailhead, we decide to shuttle it as we aren't THAT masochistic. We park about 8 miles up,
> in the gloppy precipitation. The good old boys are out with their pickup trucks presumably hunting
> and they all comments to make
as
> we are gearing up in Gore-Tex, tights and whatever else we each are carrying.
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek1.jpg
>
> Four miles along the divide on a logging road, and then we drop onto the trail, after we wait for
> Dave to come back, his dog had decided to hang
out
> with some hunters that had food and fire going...I think fondly on the AMB-UK photos from last
> week, minus the smokes. http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek2.jpg Yes, that
is
> mist and fog, not a lousy photo.
>
> Oh, my god... how to wax eloquent here. Even tho it's wet, a bit soft,
we
> have ice chunks on our coats, this has got to be one of the finer pieces
of
> single track I've been on. A perfect grade, with enough climbs
interspersed
> that you don't feel you've cheated by shuttling a portion. The trail
rolls
> along the ridgeline, swoopy, turny, great strait line runs mixed up with twisty through mossy
> pines and multi color undergrowth. No one is really flying: the wet trail is not a familiar
> surface for most of us, so the
pace
> is low-key. There's one hike a bike spot across an old land slide:
>
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg But other than that it's sweet
> sweet forest riding. Occasionally there is what would most likely be a view spot, but there's so
> much fog and clouds who knows.
As
> we lose elevation, it warms up a bit, and the rain stops, but it's still damp in the forest. There
> are a few spots on the trail with perfect outcrops with little ledges on theme to break up the
> hideous monotony of buff forest trail.... puts big smiles on our faces.
>
> Nine miles of this... who could ask for more? If the weather is better
next
> weekend, I"m going back and taking the gang.
>
>
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek4.jpg
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek5.jpg
>
>
> penny

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...
> This week, Brian, my favorite LBS guy invited me to go up the Id/MT divide , when I inquired about
> a trail I had heard about. Mr. Adventure was tied up with ski patrol training but I was not so
> what the heck. Brian mentions that it's a bunch of guys, and luck would have it that I can't scare
> up a single female to go with. Carl the ti-man is available and it's a good thing because I won't
> know anyone on this ride.
>
> Nine miles of this... who could ask for more? If the weather is better next weekend, I"m going
> back and taking the gang.
>
>
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek4.jpg
> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek5.jpg
>
>
> penny

Good stuff. That slide area looks like a good spot to test the Freak and GMan on their SS's.

Paladin

> Nice RR Penny.
>
> How do you protect your digicam when riding from mud and wet stuff ?

I have your standard soft case, and its' almost always inside my pack. Yesterday I did two things
different... my Goretex shell had a good chest pocket so it was easier to get to, and I had it
inside a ziplock ( exceept when shooting) for extra protection.

I"m wanting to make a weather resistant shoulder strap carrier for it.

Penny

"><((((º>" <6828FISH@FISHinameFISH.comFISH> wrote in message
news:bmf2p4$2s8d$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
> Nice RR Penny.
>
> How do you protect your digicam when riding from mud and wet stuff ?

OK, I definitely need glasses.

Bill "thought it said 'diaphragm" S.

Ah, sounds like it's pretty well secured from the nasties.

Nice shots by the way.

Pentax just released a new weather resistant model Optio 33WR but it's too much like a brick to
carry around in a jersey pocket. I'm going to have to look at other models now, maybe a little
Minolta X20 or Canon IXUS II would do the job, they aren't weather resistant but they are
pretty tiny.

--
Tony

6828@FISHinameFISH.comFISH

Remove the fish to reply --= This is a fish anti-spam device =--

`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:vom43kodsucaab@corp.supernews.com...
> > Nice RR Penny.
> >
> > How do you protect your digicam when riding from mud and wet stuff ?
>
> I have your standard soft case, and its' almost always inside my pack. Yesterday I did two things
> different... my Goretex shell had a good chest pocket so it was easier to get to, and I had it
> inside a ziplock ( exceept when shooting) for extra protection.
>
> I"m wanting to make a weather resistant shoulder strap carrier for it.
>
> Penny

Sorni wrote:
> "><((((º>" <6828FISH@FISHinameFISH.comFISH> wrote in message
> news:bmf2p4$2s8d$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
>
>>Nice RR Penny.
>>
>>How do you protect your digicam when riding from mud and wet stuff ?
>
>
> OK, I definitely need glasses.
>
> Bill "thought it said 'diaphragm" S.

That's how I read it the first time, too.

Kathleen <split second boggle

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...

> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg

How come nobody's riding up that?

JD

JD scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...
>
>> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg
>
> How come nobody's riding up that?
>
> JD

because you weren't there. ;-)

I"m wondering if hike a bike with wet rocks and cleats wouldn't be harder....

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message news:vom43kodsucaab@corp.supernews.com...
> > Nice RR Penny.
<snip>

I concur.

>
> I"m wanting to make a weather resistant shoulder strap carrier for it.
>

Let me know if/when you come up with something. I never managed to find anything like that for my
camera. I just got a nice soft (with some hard bits) case and keep it in my pack and in a baggie of
the weather looks threatening or there's stream crossings. I'd like something better and I bet
others out there would too!

> Penny
>
>

Matt

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message news:vomams5293pl12@corp.supernews.com...
> JD scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> > "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> > news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...
> >
> >> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg
> >
> > How come nobody's riding up that?
> >
> > JD
>
> because you weren't there. ;-)
>
> I"m wondering if hike a bike with wet rocks and cleats wouldn't be harder....
>
Penny,

How steep is that section? It looks somewhat rideable but ya never know with photos.

cg

Chris Glidden scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> news:vomams5293pl12@corp.supernews.com...
>> JD scrawled in bright red lipstick:
>>> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
>>> news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...
>>>
>>>> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg
>>>
>>> How come nobody's riding up that?
>>>
>>> JD
>>
>> because you weren't there. ;-)
>>
>> I"m wondering if hike a bike with wet rocks and cleats wouldn't be harder....
>>
> Penny,
>
> How steep is that section? It looks somewhat rideable but ya never know with photos.
>
> cg

it was not steep at all, just a traverse.. it was just a big jumble of rocks in an old slide/talus
slope. Whoever built the trail made some attempts to move them around for a "path" but ...let's just
no one in our group would attempt to ride it.

btw... this is right in the CDA mountains. Are you bringing your bike next summer?

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> said:
> Chris Glidden scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> > "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> > news:vomams5293pl12@corp.supernews.com...
> >> JD scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> >>> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> >>> news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...
> >>>
> >>>> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg
> >>>
> >>> How come nobody's riding up that?
> >>>
> >>> JD
> >>
> >> because you weren't there. ;-)
> >>
> >> I"m wondering if hike a bike with wet rocks and cleats wouldn't be harder....
> >>
> > Penny,
> >
> > How steep is that section? It looks somewhat rideable but ya never know with photos.
> >
> > cg
>
> it was not steep at all, just a traverse.. it was just a big jumble of
rocks
> in an old slide/talus slope. Whoever built the trail made some attempts to move them around for a
> "path" but ...let's just no one in our group would attempt to ride it.

It certainly does not look like the terrain I would care to take a spill on...

>
> btw... this is right in the CDA mountains. Are you bringing your bike next summer?
>
Absolutely. My bike is the reason for the trip. I used to spend my summers in Sandpoint back in
highschool. Friends of the family owned a horse ranch. This was pre-MTB days so I wasn't able to
take advantage of the awesome trails. I sure would enjoy a guided tour of some of your favorites.

cg

"Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
news:<vomblg6e2ocve7@corp.supernews.com>...
> Chris Glidden scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> > "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> > news:vomams5293pl12@corp.supernews.com...
> >> JD scrawled in bright red lipstick:
> >>> "Penny S" <pennysinvalid@cetinvalid.com> wrote in message
> >>> news:<voln6j517a7t77@corp.supernews.com>...
> >>>
> >>>> http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/ima...lostcreek3.jpg
> >>>
> >>> How come nobody's riding up that?
> >>>
> >>> JD
> >>
> >> because you weren't there. ;-)
> >>
> >> I"m wondering if hike a bike with wet rocks and cleats wouldn't be harder....
> >>
> > Penny,
> >
> > How steep is that section? It looks somewhat rideable but ya never know with photos.
> >
> > cg
>
> it was not steep at all, just a traverse.. it was just a big jumble of rocks in an old slide/talus
> slope. Whoever built the trail made some attempts to move them around for a "path" but ...let's
> just no one in our group would attempt to ride it.

I saw a lot of those talus fields this Summer in the CO high country and had pretty good luck
with them, which is why I asked. Key to those is to stay loose, out of the saddle and "stay
with" the bike.

JD

Penny S wrote:
>
> This week, Brian, my favorite LBS guy invited me to go up the Id/MT divide , when I inquired about
> a trail I had heard about. Mr. Adventure was tied up with ski patrol training but I was not so
> what the heck. Brian mentions that it's a bunch of guys, and luck would have it that I can't scare
> up a single female to go with. Carl the ti-man is available and it's a good thing because I won't
> know anyone on this ride.
>
[snip RR & good photos]

Those look like fine mountains - how far do you have to drive to get to them?

Phil