Los Tres Amigos
2014 has been a year of evolution for the Johnsons; so much has changed, most of it with me. A great reflection is Red Lodge: apart from my time cooking at the Pollard, I've spent more time in the Red Lodge area this year than I have in the previous six combined. Red Lodge has become a part of my life on a weekly basis.Last night I honored that by stringing together three of the standards of RL biking for one night ride.
Amigo Tres: Los Palisades
The newest section of RL singletrack, Palisades starts at a new TH a bit NW of RL. Four miles of new, well-built, flowy ST wind through aspen groves and pine forests to Palisades Campground, down below the ski area. It's very reminiscent of the best CO ST; I thought I was on Emerald MT in Steamboat.
I got my first KOM (King of the Mountain) on Strava, meaning that of all bikers that use Strava to chart their rides, I went the fastest on a section of the trail. :-)
Transition
Does anybody know how to get from Palisades Campground to the junction of Ski Area Rd and West Fork Rd? There's the obvious way to go through the housing development, but every road has at least one Private Road sign. I couldn't figure it out, and ended up tacking on a few miles on the roads. I don't mind that route, but it sucks for Kip. Locals? Red Rover? Anybody?Nichols Creek
Kip needed a breather after a long road section, so I popped up Nichols. First time in at least four years. There is something very unique about that little valley: it's so effing cold! Every time I've been there, it seems ten or fifteen degrees colder than the surrounding area. It is a tight, dark little valley with a lot of aspens, lots of shade, and lots of springs. It also seems to channel an icy wind down from the Beartooths.Froze last night going uphill on Nichols. Then, on the way down, I got blasted with a super cold wind as I rode by the mouth of the valley.
So, if you're every in RL and want to cool down quickly, head up to Nichols for a safety meeting.
Amigo Numero Uno, El Jefe, El Queso Fresco Grande: Silver Run
The Granddaddy of RL MTBiking, Silver Run is comprised of one really nice doubletrack uphill, with three choices of a DH to make it a loop: Green, Blue, or Black (it's also a XC ski trail system). I took the Blue last night, because it was getting late and I still had the big ski area climb coming, and Kip still had a big DH to deal with on West Fork Rd.The Blue loop rocks. It may be my favorite. The Black loop is much more advanced, techy, and more of a real ride; if you want a real ride though there are so many better ones so close by (Ingles, Nichols, and Basin Lakes are all within a mile or two). Last night was my first night ride there. Such a great DH. You're on this bench a couple meters above the creek, the ST is a couple feet wide, it's all very fast and steady.
Ski Area Rd
Great ride to get a read on your fitness. This is a three mile or so uphill, with a very consistent pitch. It's one of those rides when you feel great you cruise up it in the middle of your cogset, feel like it flies by. I've also been on it and resorted to my granny sometimes. I'll admit it.Last night I kept it smooth, didn't push it and felt great. I was in no hurry, and it did seem to take a while, but I was in the comfort zone the whole time, and that is a good feeling on a climb like this. Especially at night.
Amigo Dos: Willow Creek
Now (with the addition of Palisades) the Sophomore of the RL scene, Willow is a great DH. Last night I lost Kip in the early sections and ended up waiting a bunch and eventually riding back up to retrieve him. I think he chased a squirrel and lost the trail at night. But once I got him back I got to enjoy the bottom 2/3 of the run. It was my first time, and I love it. Pleasant surprise too as the creek had bridges at all the crossings.I used to love creek crossings. Then I started maintaining my own bike. Now I love bridges.
Two miles of world class ST DH. Then I met back up with Palisades, and enjoyed those four miles again.
There is nothing like doing a section of new ST. It can be new to you, or new to the world. Palisades, and pretty much Willow for that matter, are both. Doubly cool. Then, when you add to it that you do it for the first time at night, triply cool.
Plus, now I get to go back in the day, and it'll be like doing it for the first time again!
Updates
WTF Summer?!?! Where'd you go? Last night on the ride, I was cold! Really cold. This morning, cold in our house. Last night I put my lights on at 8:30. I used to come home without lights at 10.Don't go yet, please!! It's been such a great summer, I don't want it to end.
One reason: the Rocket Lodge and Save-a-Tree House projects.
Rocket Lodge
Experimenting with a lot of ideas in sustainable housing with our new sweat lodge. Our old sweat lodge was a great first try. It really made our last winter, and this spring. The only problems: it could have been smaller horizontally and bigger vertically. You could stand and stretch, but only one at a time. Also, the spiders. Big time spider hangout.So, with the rocket lodge, we're going to build an actual house. An Earthen house. Sunk down in the ground, with Earthship style tire walls and nice, thick roof, with mud plaster on the inside, it'll be like a little Adobe Hobbit hole.
In the middle, we're trying our first Rocket Mass Stove. I want one in the house, but we'll try it in the Sweat first so we can work out the kinks there.
Save-a-Tree House
We want a Tree House. No trees. Can't afford proper lumber. We have a deck that was poorly finished then destroyed in rain and has sat useless for four years.Solution: take pallets, widely available locally, and use them to create a funky, fun, organic structure that bridges the gap from the backyard up to the deck and turns the hot, exposed deck into a cool little playground treehouse.
Started both projects and trying to plug away before the winter gets here. Wish us luck.
Dakota 50
My last race of the year is coming. Been a long recovery from Maah Daah Hey, and I've been backpacking instead of biking for the past week, so it's been tricky to get a feel on my fitness. Judging by last night's ride, I think I'll be in a good spot at Dakota.One example of that is my prep for a 50 mile race. I've been going so big this year, it almost feels like a XC race of old, much more of a sprint than a marathon. I'm going with a fast, light, aggressive plan. Taking my lessons from Maah Daah Hey and Tatanka, I'm going to go out there and try to kick some ass on the uphills especially, put the hammer down, and try to mix it up towards the head of the race. Can't wait!!!
Homeschool
With Yokie's schedule a bit akimbo lately, our homeschool has suffered too. So, perfect time to put a bow on the summer quarter and get ready for the fall session. We'll start today.Summer Quarter Summary
We did a lot of math this summer. Rose has passed her competency exam for second grade math. We haven't finished all second grade curriculum yet, but almost.We read a lot, and did a lot of creative story telling. She has an imagination that is frankly nothing short of frightening.
Frisbee, biking, hiking, and gymnastics. What summer session wouldn't have tons of PE? Rose rocks the house at PE.
Fall Quarter Plan
Continue hiking and outdoor lessons. During the summer her casting, hiking, biking, camping, and general outdoors knowledge and skills took a huge leap forward. The fall is my favorite season to be out there, and I want to go on a lot of big day hikes and keep working biology and the above subjects.Language. We've been terrible this summer. Non existent. Since I can't work in the bike business for at least five years or so, it's time to refocus on French, and get Rose ready for our Paris trip.
Reading. Time to get back to reading.
Oops, time for breakfast is what it is. . . .