MIKE HALL, Adventure Sports, Travel, Overlanding, Backcountry, Avalanche, Snowmobile, Snowmobiling, Snowboard, Snowboarding, Sledboarding, Winter Fat Tire Mountain Biking, Mountain Biking, Ski Patrol, Motorcycle, BMW Adventure Motorcycling, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Jackman, Maine

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Spring Flinging the Fat Bikes / Tale of 2 Springs / Mud and Snow

 CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE!!
Good clean fun is to be had in the Minnesota River Bottoms during the Spring thaw... Still running the studded tires in February, plenty of ice along with the river mud. Compared to the old days of the 90s, these fat tire bikes are in their element. Mud, water, ice, snow, it is a joy to have this big fat tire to churn through.

Back in the day with the 2.1 x 26 tires it was a real slog through the conditions that I encountered this day in February.  
 It is a good day when you are getting back to the trailhead after dark.
 Bright color in the drab Spring.
 With the warm temps in February I was able to experience different conditions and access some secluded swamps by following the deer trails. Cool to take in the solitude of the area.

 Mud is the color of choice in the Spring...
 Gotta have a good pack. This is a 16 year old Burton Snowboard Pack that has seen used as a mountain backcountry snowboard, snowmobile pack. Carried a snowboard as we explored the mountains.

The only backpacks that I use for my activities are Snowboard Packs. Dakine and Burton, are the 2 brands. They are tough as an ole oak tree, water resistant and have good exterior straps that I can use to strap on snowboards and any thing else I might need.  

More recently the old Burton pack has become my mountain bike / off-road motorcycle pack. It is loaded with gear for the woods... A light weight vest, a wind jacket, headlamp, rain pants, extra gloves, small am/fm radio, packet of tools, crescent wrench, allen wrenches, pliers, fire starting kit, cliff bars, 2 bike lights, foldable wood saw, small hatchet, bug spray, zip ties, knife, a multi-tool, first aid splint and cravat, ibuprofen, extra bottle water, thermos of Rock Star and a few other items I happen to throw in at the last minute.     
 Another sunset over the Minnesota River.

Back into Winter Mode in March
 Spring means snow in this State. March brought a couple sweet snow storms that I was able to be out during the storms. Making fresh tracks a couple times is a real treat. 

 The Geese just take the weather in stride and don't get too rattled.

 Living for the adventure...
 Spring also brings the barges back up the River for the new season.
 A Gal has to have a big tire bike...for her adventure.
This is 6 years ago with Jeff Hall and his kids, my Grandkids...Ride On!!

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