Tuesday, September 5, 2006

LEADORE

Friday morning I was still undecided about camping at Summit Creek above Howe or over by Leadore.

Friday (as well as Monday on the way back) the drainage above Howe looked to be socked in with smoke so we headed over to Leadore. The Lemhi Valley was clear of smoke although the Lemhi Range looked to have a bit in the high canyons.

 

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Ended up camping at a BLM CG- Smokey Cub- at the base of the Beaverhead Mts just off HWY29. It worked out ok, wasn't crowed and no one was obnoxious.

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When we rode up into the Beaverhead's along Hawley Creek every flat spot was packed with 3-4 rigs, the larger flats looked like RV lots.

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LUNCH BREAK

LEADORE RIDE0018 2 MILES TO Continental Divide  ! LEADORE RIDE0023_1 SCOTT Continental Di DIVIDE SCOTT AT CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

 

 

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MORRISON LAKE MONTANA

Scott did ~ 50 miles Saturday riding two tracks, FS road & ATV trails.

Eventually found our way to the Continental Divide and Montana. Probably could have made a loop if it wasn't for the no motorized signs & Scott reaching his limit.

The terrain reminded me of the Owyhee's- sage, grasses, junipers, few pines. Lots of two tracks, would be easy to put in single tracks. Didn't see any other bikes or atv's- just a couple of groups on horses while we were riding.

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YEARIAN CEMETERY

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LEADORE RIDE0039 LEADORE RIDE0040 LEADORE RIDE0042 LEADVILLE MINE LEAD MINE

 

Sunday did a shorter ride along the valley floor thru some mining areas and in/out 2-3 box canyons.

I would like to go back and explore 3-4 days on my dual sport & dirt bike.

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Wickahoney Creek

 

“Wickahoney Creek “Camp Out 3/30- 4/1.

Good beginners riding - roads and two tracks with lots of destinations.

Great dual sporting terrian.

We left Friday morning just before 8 and had breakfast at the Boise Stage Stop again.

Decided to setup camp about 2 miles off the Hwy51 on Battle Creek Road. There are a couple of spots near the corrals but decided I didn’t want to listen to the dishes rattling any longer than I had to.

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“Friday loop” ~ 50 miles / 2.5 hrs rolling time + hiking

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After getting set up we were able to head out on the bikes around 11. I decided to ride the 300EXC after getting it re-sprung. What a fun ride! Start out trying to follow some cow trails then some two tracks but as you can see we got turned around by some fence lines. On a ranch road heading north we saw coyotes and a heard of elk.

Stopped for lunch at Parker Trail Head. Scott was in charge of sandwiches.

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Then followed a two track to the junction of Wickahoney and Big Jack’s Creeks.

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We poked around the corrals a little bit, then headed west on two track just past the next cattle guard. One leg turned north and petered out near a dry lake bed. It was rocky and no trail so I didn’t try to take Scott into it.

Back tracked and followed a jeep trail down into the Duncan Creek Canyon.clip_image006

Looked around Buncel Place a little bit.

Don’t know the history, looks to be a homestead or cattle station.

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We then followed the road across the creek in search of Holeman Cabin (took a wrong turn but looks like an interesting dual sport loop into Wickahoney).

Holeman Cabin is on Big Jack’s Creek. We parked our bikes and started the hike to the bottom.

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Made it to the bottom, but no cabin. Looked and looked but could not find it. What a gyp!

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Started the long climb back up.

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Got back to camp around 4PM.

Saturday Loop ~ 60 miles

Rolling time ~ 3.5 hours + hiking

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Saturday we headed south to Wickahoney and the Little Blue Table. It was cloudy and cooler so we started out in our jackets. I rode the 400.

Wickahoney was 10-12 miles away.

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Headstone: Joshua Dunning

1824- 1907

Margareta Dunning

1863-1913

Baby Dunning 1894

Unknown Miner 1910

From the stage stop we crossed the damn on the pond then followed the two track up the bluff (this is the track that intersects Battle Creek Road on top).

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Went back down the hill in search of the Little Blue Table Calendar (Indian Carvings) .

On the prairie south of Wickahoney we saw the horses.

Road past the secret barn up toward the Little Blue Table. Followed a track into Crab Creek where we had lunch.

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After lunch we explored more two tracks that ran up to the base of the cliffs that ring the basin. Hiked up from the end of several in search of trails to the carvings but no luck. May not have been in the right basin or was looking on the wrong end and there was still snow pack at cliff bases even if we found the trail.

Scott was about out of water and we already had clocked 40 miles so we called it a day and headed back down the Table. Scott was on my tail coming down the hill, then at the turn to Wickahoney he wasn’t there. Found him back on the hill trying to straiten his hand guards. Looked as if he got crossways in a rut. Gave him some trail mix while I got his bike back together. On the two track cutting across the prairie he was up on his foot pegs much of the way. At Wickahoney we followed a two track lower down that intersected Battle Creek road closer to the corrals.  Saw a few antelope.

At camp Scott took a shower while I tried to teach myself wheelies. Found I could lift the 300 easier than the 400. Scott wouldn't comment on how  "good" I looked. Also looks like the 400's water pump seal is leaking. I need to get more counseling from Bob.

Sunday we packed up and started toward home around 9:30 AM.

In Brunuea, I thought I saw Sam Stone at the One Stop. Turned around to say hi , but he was heading out

( those KLR riders hardley ever wave ).

 
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