Loop ~ 72 miles | 15 MPH AVG
Ditto Flats > Drive Way> Dollarhide >MF Warm Springs > Warm Springs Road> SF Warm Springs>
Lick Creek> NF Deer Creek> Red Warrior > Warfield >Red Warrior> Lodge Pole> Mahoney >
Mars Ridge > NF Deer Creek> Lick Creek>SF Warm Springs> Willow Creek
Riders – John , Chris
Photos – John, Chris
Had to get another fix of the Warm Spring trails . Chris was the only taker. We agreed to met in
Mountain Home at 8 AM. Just as I was about to leave the house I couldn’t find my wallet .
After 10-15 minutes I found I had packed with my street clothes !
Views from Dollarhide Ridge. It was hazy with smoke so the views weren’t as spectacular.
Near the bottom of Middle Fork we passed by a fellow setting up a tent just off the trail.
His truck was parked at the trail head – another illegal alien ……….
After the Middle Fork I had plans to ride Castle Rock , Alpine and Placer .
The trail was marked closed for bikes 8/29. As we were evaluating our options a local rode up.
He talked us out of it said it wasn’t worth the risk even though the trail was really buffed out.
It’s marked open 5/1-8/29, but the snow usually doesn’t clear until after the 4th of July.
So it’s a short window of 6-8 weeks.
[ Monday I called the Ketchum FS office to asked about the dates .
Zach returned my call . In government speak he told me “your fucked” - should of provided those inputs back in 2006 and now the dates
will never be changed. Outside chance an act of congress might change it. They are protecting the wildlife during hunting season by
keeping out the motorcycles . Go figure. ]
Chris and I backed tracked to the SF/MF trail head.
There was a fellow on a KTM500 - North Carolina Plates tentatively crossing the creek. He was wearing adventure helmet and jacket.
Spoke with him a bit, sounded Dutch with a British accent but he never answered were he was from.
He said he was a with the GPSKEVIN group doing a loop out of Ketchum following a GPS route.
He showed me a map but it didn’t have trail names or numbers.
I told him he shouldn’t ride up the South Fork trail alone. He was welcome to go with us, he declined.
I don’t know how he would get to Ketchum w/o riding single track or atv trails unless he would ride the roads
all the way through Fairfield.
We stopped for a lunch break on the South Fork just past the Warfield intersection.
While eating lunch I was able to think through a new route.
Poison Flats- more foreigners
Chris had stopped just below Poison Flats to the let the dust settle and the lead rider of five blew by him.
I was waiting at Poison Flats when they all gathered up.
I asked them where they were from , what trails were they headed down . They pretty much grunted “we’re going to Ketchum”.
They appeared to be more concerned about being loud and fast.
At the Deer Creek intersection I waited for Chris . Deer Creek is marked closed .
They couldn’t tell which trail was which , didn’t seem interested in the names and didn’t want any help pulling out their unlabeled
map. Chris & I moved own.
Chris began brake sliding and roosting to stir up more dust to make them back off our tails.
I found the page for the I'm going to Ketchum Ride .
Not only did Kevin bring a bunch of dick heads to Idaho he poached one of my photo’s !
IdaSpode on the Willow Creek Connector.,Ross Peak in the background.
The dick heads didn’t bother me , Kevin using my photo didn’t bother me but the combination was grating .
Entrance to Red Warrior
Red Warrior –Warfield Connector
Me ridding down Mars Ridge. I was starting to get fatigued , mainly my hands , backed off a gear.
Mars Ridge
Starting back on North Deer Creek to Poison Flats , then the South Fork to Willow Creek and the truck.
Chris packed some wraps & jalapeño chips for an after ride picnic at the truck !
PS:
The Map Guy tells me the Forest Service is required to review the Travel Plan annually.
Send in a written request for the closure change also ask for supporting evidence for the trail closure of 8/29.
No comments:
Post a Comment