Bog Frog Dawg

Had a nice walk along a Bitterroot tonight. The back channels are filling fast. These areas can be quite productive with large browns this time of year. No time to fish tonight, however. It was retriever time in the bog!

E-Mail from I.M.B.A.

"Montana Decision Could Shape Access Nationwide:


When is the last time you thought about Montana? Believe it or not, anti-bike policies originating in Big Sky Country could close trails in your home state. IMBA needs your help to fight a potential precedent that could ban bicycles from backcountry areas across the United States — maybe even your favorite singletrack. To prevent this looming threat, IMBA needs all the legal resources we can gather.

Please donate to the Legal Advocacy Fund today, so we can continue fighting on your behalf. The matter at hand is a policy from Montana-based Region One of the U.S. Forest Service. Their plan is to group mountain bikes with motorized users, and call bicycles an "incompatible use" for backcountry areas. The result? One thousand miles of the best trails (including sections of the Continental Divide Trail) in Montana could be lost to cyclists.Worse yet, this policy could spread across the nation.Without a robust Legal Advocacy Fund, we will not be adequately prepared to fight this crucial battle. IMBA is facing formidable opponents that command abundant resources and large professional staffs.Many Forest Service staffers embrace our quiet sport, and are willing to partner with mountain bikers to produce first-class trails. However, the decisions being made in Montana have the potential to damage the remarkably positive partnership we have worked so hard to establish. Since Forest Service plans control access for 15 years before they are reevaluated it is crucial that we take action now.

Will you stand up against Forest Service policy that does not include appropriate bicycling opportunities by making a donation today? We need all the help we can get to present the truth about mountain bikes, take legal action, if required, to maintain our right to ride and reinforce our strong ethic of conservation and stewardship.Thank you for your support!Sincerely,

Jenn Dice

IMBA Government Affairs Director

PS: We just learned of new opportunities for opening singletrack trails in Marin County, California. Once again, however, opposing groups are threatening to take legal action against us. The Legal Advocacy Fund is earmarked for exactly this kind of situation, so please contribute what you can. Learn More and Donate!


Free Gifts for Donors!
When you donate $25 or more, we'll send you a discount code good for 25 percent off of all IMBA merchandise, including items already marked down. Better yet -- donate $40 or more and get a limited-edition IMBA Advocate Speak T-shirt."

Gold Creek

Decided last night to go for a ride this morning at 6.30 out the Blackfoot. I did not want to miss the big game for the youngest Sheephead (below), so I left early. It was blowing flurries and I decided to take a detour at Johnsrud and head towards the Belmont (another favorite area) rather then the usual Lubrecht area ride. I took a quick shot of Gold Creek entering the Blackfoot. Gold Creek (top post photo) is clear but rising fast. The Blackfoot is up and chocolate soup. I rode up to the Thibodeou Rapids and turned around to head back to Missoula. Cold, but not a bad morning.

Sharing Curry With a Friend

Heading up the Curry Cabin Trail late today, I shared a moment with this young turkey. We had a brief conversation and then she wandered off the trail and let me go ahead. This bird may be a meal waiting to happen for a predator as she showed no fear what-so-ever of me, letting me get within a few yards. As previously written, turkeys abound in Missoula now.I managed to climb two thousand feet up the Stuart Trail until snow and a wet trail became an issue. Trails first. Although sometimes I like riding on snow. I turned around. I've been tinkering with how to have bear spray at the ready for the inevitable this year. It is not an easy thing to figure out. Finally, I put it on the back of the pack, within an exterior pocket. I'm pretty sure the bear, lion or wolf (all in the vicinity) will have the last say if the spray remains not readily accessible. Climbing is pretty slow business. Getting into an exterior pack pocket while something is attacking may not be the most practical situation. Having something at the ready on a front pack shoulder strap, however, is inconvenient to put it lightly. Ever do an endo onto a can of spray? Me neither - yet! The woods belong to the animals. It is a privilege having them here. I'll figure it out. The real question (maybe) is can I get to the camera fast enough before they bolt?

Hunter Ed

Today L.R. turned twelve and he also had a field test for Montana Hunter Education at the Deer Creek Shooting Range (W.M.F.G.). Safe handling of firearms begins with four basic rules. Do you know them?

1. Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction.
2. Always treat every firearm as if it were loaded.
3. Always be sure of your target and beyond.
4. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.

Reading and memorizing are one thing. Executing is another. Instructor Matt (one of many volunteers for F.W.P.) above indicated most shooting accidents occur around vehicles when first getting ready to go out or when returning from the field. Another interesting quote during one of the night sessions in the classroom by an instructor was "I have lots of friends, but I hunt with very few of them. Choose your hunting partner wisely." Any seasoned hunter recognizes the validity of both statements.

Tonight's Chow

Canyon Creek Trail, Lochsa

LR was peacefully sleeping as we were driving home following the morning race in Lewiston. Both of us were sunburned and I was looking for a cool place to take an evening hike as the sun was setting. I thought about the pack trail near the Knife's Edge campground, but decided I wanted the cool water. Canyon Creek would do. "If a bear were along the creek, how would he catch the fish?" I was asked. "He would wait and catch it as it bounds up the creek, perhaps at a spot the fish must leap out of the water." I replied. "But I have not seen a single fish, let alone leaping out of the water!" He said. "That's because most of the wild steelhead that once frequented this drainage, and would now be moving back down to the ocean after spawning, have been eliminated due to the dams on the Columbia and Snake." I stated finally. The cool dusk air felt wonderful. Little Gandalf and I had a most enjoyable hike into the mossy wilderness. This area reminded me a lot of Oregon and had me thinking of Westfir. There were lots of cedars and numerous Glacier Lillies here.I love the Lochsa area. Absolutely beautiful and still reasonably quiet. A person can get away from the world in here pretty quickly if he wants to. We did not, however, see any fish.

Devil's Slide '09

At the Devil's Slide this year we camped at the Hells Gate campground again. Bill and Ross (also Missoula racers) had a high end cabin on the Snake that we thought of poaching in on but later decided otherwise. We like tents. Another racer from Missoula came by and introduced himself, Kaleb, who camped also with us at our site. (below photos by Doug at Scott Trost photography in Lewiston)We had a nice pre-ride Saturday evening after our earlier activities (see below posts) of the day. I think Bill (training for the 24 solo worlds) did a 5 or 6 hour ride Saturday and caught up with us on our pre-ride. It went well with no significant goat heads (thorns in the area) in our tires. The race again started in Mr. 270's (Jack O'Connor) Heritage Center area. We had a nice visit there again Sunday after the race. O'Connor spent a lot of his life in Lewiston. We own and enjoy many of O'Connor's books.

The race for me went as follows. Felt great at the start. Held on to Bill (in first) for a good part of the first loop with my HR at 167 average. Legs felt great. Got to start area for second loop (experts did three of the above posted loop - about 6 miles) and my rear tire went down. Ok, no problem, pulled out a cartridge and fixed the tire and went to insert it back on and the disc would not go in between the break pads. The clip was crinkled and I could not get the pads separated properly. So, maintaining my composure, I hiked down to the truck and took my surgical pliers off of my fly vest and proceeded to somewhat fix the issue. In the meantime, while I fumbed with tools at the truck, I watched the guy with a Fat Cyclist jersey and a pink single speed (he got 2nd) ride through the area with a couple of other guys with him. I had complemented him on his bike on the course.At this point, I thought I should accept my first DNF, but decided to stay on the course anyway and make sure my teammate (son Todd) was getting his first race on clipless pedals done. I climbed the hill and down went my front tire. I used my last tube to fix this situation. So now I'm out of tubes and Bill rides by offering me one of his (he's running tubeless- of course) and I decline. I go down the slide (bike on map) a second time and get to the bottom area along the Snake cliffs and, yep, my front tire goes down again. Three flats with goat heads responsible for each. Sean does a good job alerting everyone to this issue and highly recommends tubeless, but some of us need to listen better! So, I rode in on the rim (it's a pretty sandy trail) and Todd was having a peanut butter sandwich on the back gate having completed the course and perfectly content indeed! "I heard you had a mechanical." He said. "My rear tire went down at the finish and my chain came off on the course but I fixed it." He continued. I did not go for a third lap, accepting defeat to the thorns. My SID's seals are toast too. Bill won the race by a country mile. Kaleb also had three flats. Ross completed the race. Twin River's gave away a lot of great swag to all attendees and had great volunteers. We went through five tubes as my rear tire was flat again when we got home after a hike up Canyon Creek Trail along the Lochsa.

Mouth of the Selway

Driving over to the race in Lewiston, LR and I decided to drive up the Selway and fish Finn Pond (a family fishery) near Finn Ranger Station. Trout season is not yet open on the streams in Idaho. It was a beautiful Saturday for a drive out 12. The kayakers will be in full wing any moment now as the snow is melting fast. Above is where the Selway flows into the Lochsa to form the upper Middle Fork of the Clearwater.The pond was murky and not producing, so we moved on to other activities in a different spot along the Lochsa. We then headed to the Hells Gate State Park along the Snake River in Lewiston, Idaho, to pre-ride the Devil's Slide course and then camp.

Elk below Elk Summit, Lochsa River

Did a double take Saturday afternoon while driving Highway 12 to Lewiston. I had just passed the Elk Summit turnoff and while driving looked through the trees at a little frozen lake and there upon in the middle stood a dozen elk in a tight circle looking all directions very concerned. I pulled over and attempted to take a photo but the camera focused on the foreground trees rather than the background elk. May have been some predators around, but we did not see any.

Last Run 08/09

The Romans and Avocados got us on the lift this afternoon at the Bowl. The season was extended one week due to late season snowfall and a great base. The place was hopping this Easter Sunday afternoon for sure and most attendees were wearing clown suits and wigs. Although quite a few were in shorts or swim suits as well. There were also a few fireworks going off. It was a great season up there this year! The three new runs are nice as well. Soon, it will be quiet weeknight rides to Point 6. It might be quite a while though!Our friend Neil and a colleague got the last toboggan detail of the year at around 4:00. We caught up with him just below Angel Face. She (the injured) was laughing and gave us a thumbs up. The Last Run crowd gave a cheer when they passed by to the lower patrol shack!

Easter Cheers!

LR's daffodils are springing forth!

William Wordsworth. 1770–1850

I Wander'd lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Latest Read

These young upstarts from Annapolis, not blue bloods from the great families of Harvard and Yale, but ordinary boys from across America, from Pasadena to Baltimore, groomed by a crusty old New England Salt named Richard Glendon, who himself just the ordinary son of a fisherman, had dared to climb the sacred slopes of Mount Olympus to defeat its rowing god. The British had been rowing competitively since 1715, and the Americans defeated their composite Leander crew - considered the best crew Britain ever boated, meaning the best crew the world had seen in two hundred years - and they did it in world record time in the Olympic Games.

When the U.S. Navel Academy's eight oared shell won the Olympic gold medal at Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920, rowing on two continents changed forever. Social prejudices were sliced through, class lines faltered, and the British were left to retreat-flattened back to the fluid surface like the tracings of blade puddles disappearing on still water. ~Saint Sing writes.

Using Glendon's technique, U.S. men won Olympic gold for 40 straight years. The longest streak in Olympic history. A very enjoyable read which encompasses both sport and history. [St. Martin's Press, 2008].

Patience

"That was the scariest thing since Space Mountain." So stated the LR after completing numerous ascents and descents above the University golf course. First day of clipless pedals up there. Went pretty well after all!

Bitterroot Regeneration

With all of the action below Buckhouse yesterday afternoon, I decided I had to go see what the commotion was all about. Just not at the bridge, however. Monday is usually off the bike day (regeneration day) and there was no soccer practice tonight, so my bud Nick (above) and I decided to go south of town to see what was flying around.

I caught a pretty nice brown trout hanging out in water not two feet deep right along the shore. He hit a semi-skwala dark green pattern, which was as close as I could get to whatever was hatching. Pretty sure he would have hit a black bird though if I had cast one. Not a bad start for the year, though he was the only fish of the evening. I pitched a lot of different patterns, including the usual parachute adams or the stimulator with a beadhead dropper. The fish had been pretty well schooled over the weekend I believe as they were very selective and we missed numerous nice rainbows. This week is Good Friday and everything is alive. Catching that perky brown on a 4 wt SP was a ball!

Sikum

I took another spin to Lolo Pass today and a couple of quick pics coming back of the Woodman School west of Lolo and of the Nez Perce Sikum interpretive sign which sits below Lolo Peak (opposite the school). I've ridden by these so many times I take them for granted. The Woodman School has to be one of the more picturesque schools in the country, sitting quietly in the Lolo valley among irrigation systems, cattle and often elk. Sikum is the Nez Perce word for horse. I do love the Lolo drainage. I think some of the snowmobile rigs are getting used to me too.

It turned out to be a warm and beautiful day for a ride. I actually noticed a couple of guys trolling (with motor) the Bitterroot in a drift boat while casting spinners into the bank just below the Buckhouse Bridge. There were many fisherman on the bank as well. I thought for a moment I was in Orofino!

Where did the Daffodils Go?

Where did my daffodils go? They were just there! I think Wen found them. This is unbelievable. Snow, snow and still yet more snow. Back to the Hill for sure. Then to the gym I guess.

Peter gave Todd (dba LR) a great deal yesterday on a Marlin. It's a little big, but he should get a few seasons out of it. It looks like this year it will be clipless for the little guy as we spent yesterday evening in the rain and snow practicing how to fall over sideways in slow motion along the Clark Fork Riverfront Trail System. He did well for his first day. I remember falling over on the asphalt at a stop sign and having drivers look at me like I was a complete fool. We then checked out the art scene during First Friday Missoula following a taco and burrito at Taco Del Sol.

Not sure though if we will put back on the flat pedals or no for the Devil's Slide if we make it over there again this year. Last year was a good time for sure. I don't imagine they are getting this snow along the Snake in the Lewiston area! There should still be a few steelhead around, though they are probably starting to get a little leathery by this time.

Thanks M.S.T.!

Thanks go out to Jarod, Logan, Peter, Ben, Toby and Tim with the M.S.T. Thanks also go out to Deb, Peg and all of the Little Griz coaches as well. You have enriched the lives of our children and created little ski monsters! Great Season (though everyone is still at the Bowl as it continues to dump snow for spring break)! The carpool door is open if anyone wants to tag along for a few mtb races this summer. Cheers, Garland et. al...