I clocked 185 miles across 2.5 days.
Two big rides on Thursday , Friday and a short ride on Saturday.
Spectacular colors and perfect riding weather .
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I met Chris in Mountain Home around noon on Wednesday and we convoyed
through Fairfield and Sun Valley .
Camp was established just north of the Pole Creek Ranger Station .
We had `15 riders at camp , rode in 2-3 groups .
Several came up for the day on Saturday.
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Thursday 9/29
Loop ~ 73 miles
Corral ATV / Chemeketan / Mule Creek / Chicken Creek /
West Fork Big Smoky /Snowslide / Ross Jeep Trail / Johnson Creek /
Alturas Creek / Hwy 75 two track
Trail Boss – Gerald
Sweep – Spode Daddy
10 riders
Summit of Chicken Creek , old mining road .
Scott and I met the miners on one of our misadventures 8-9 years ago.
West Fork Big Smoky drainage.
At the West Fork intersection , Scott said he had lost his clutch and was going to
loop back to camp. Dennis decided to join him , he wasn’t acclimated to
the altitude ( camp was ~ 7300 ft and we had just climbed 2000 ft ).
Snowslide Trail
Side hill on Snowslide
Me riding up Snowslide 
Snowslide Summit
Johnson Creek
Brian figured out he had a front flat .
I took a short break then rode ahead to tell the others .
Johnson Creek * NF Ross Fork * Alturas Creek intersection
It was about 5-6 mile drop into Alturas Lake , a fun easy trail.
We then had to book it to Smiley Creek before they closed a 6PM.
I had a Bacon Cheeseburger and Deschutes IPA !
We met 3 Canadians, one was driving he chase truck, riding the Tour of Idaho .
They had just ridden 180 miles from Arco .
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Friday 9/30
Loop ~ 78 miles
Frog Lake Loop
Germania Road / Germania Creek / East Fork Salmon River Road /
Boulder Creek / EF Salmon River Road / Grand Prize
Trail Boss – Scott , Gerald
12 total riders
Jon and Bob replacing brake pads
Dennis
Fantastic colors
Brent helping Dennis and I over a step up on a side hill above the creek.
Dennis dropped his bike in the first water crossing.
It wasn’t deep or swift but you couldn’t see the rocks because of the glare.
None of us had a 14MM wrench to drain the bowel .
Brent was able to open with pliers .
There were ~ 4 more water crossings. 
Gerald crossing Germania
Sarah dropped her bike in two of them !
Germania Trail Head on East Fork Road
Livingston Mine at Boulder Creek Trail Head
“TRUMP” signs painted everywhere even chalked out on the slag heap !
At the trail head some weather was moving in with enough rain to put on
my jacket and change to clear goggle lenses .
It showered most the way into Frog Lake .
Castle Peak
Frog Lake
Parking Frog Lake
We crossed paths with hunters packing in.
The guy’s were riding their horses while they had cute women leading the
pack horses !
Boulder Creek Trail Head on East Fork Road .
Grand Prize
Camp end of the day
Jon brought in a big pot of chili and cornbread to share that I heated up for
dinner !
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Saturday 10/1
Loop ~ 35 miles
Trail Boss – Gerald
It started raining off and on ~ 2-3 AM .
The skies still looked ominous in the morning.
Eric and Jon called it and decided to head back to Boise .
The rest of us decided to see if we would get a break in the weather.
I wanted to ride Big Smoky .
While we were discussing our plans , Gary noticed I had lost my axle
nut and spacer ! It must have happened on the road from Grand Prize
Friday afternoon .
Chris was headed home and offered the nut & spacer off his bike.
I passed on the offer and decided to ride the FreeRide.
Decided to back track on Grand Prize with the slim hope of finding my parts.
Gerald at the summit .
Brand new “Wilderness” on the other shore , just sends a shiver up your leg .
Bob was thinking about his 96 Husaberg 400 .
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Al and Gary decided to drive to Sun Beam and ride to Custer Lookout.
I wish I had joined them but I was too lazy to move camp .
It was a short Lazy Butt , only a couple of days , but I rode OK and had fun.
Jealous. Looks like a fantastic time.
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