Minnesota Mountain Bike Race / Bluff Riders Charge

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The start of the mud bath @ 9:00am, with rain all night. Jeff and Owen lined up and headed up the hill into the woods. Jeff raced the marathon and Owen raced the kids comp.

 Owen rocked the course in 35 minutes and a 4th place, he was on his rigid Salsa running a set of knobbied 1.85 tires. He said it was fun and he stayed upright the whole race.

 The young guns slayed the mud course and cleaned up for the awards. 

 Hangn' with the youngster is a good time, wearing a few of my items, hat and vest watching for his dad.

 Jeff coming out of the woods after the rain stopped, the clay, mud was thick. At the beginning of the race with the rain, the trail was in good condition with the wet conditions. Lap times were about 20 minutes, 3rd lap was about 30 minutes and the 4th lap was about 40 minutes. Got a bit thicker and sticker as it dried out. Then with a brief rain shower, the trails improved and the laptimes dropped to about 30 minutes, then once again slowed as the mud thickened. Jeff and Heath were together on the last 2 laps. Heath edged Jeff by about a minute.  

 OK...it was a mudder this day.

 The race tent camp. Nice to have a roof over your head in this weather.

Back Roads...Ride On!!

A Week in the Life of a Snowboard Patrolin' / Mudder Mountain Biker in the Spring Time

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It was about 2 months ago that I was at this sign post. That night it was -7 degrees and over a foot of snow. Now with the Spring thaw in full swing the trail has a bit of different look and feel to it.

On the way out from the trailhead I encountered extreme mud and ice. There were sections that I had to slog through mud and water and push the Pugsley. I still have the studded tires on the bike. There were also sections of ice that were rideable and the studs were required. Once again the ride started out in the late sun of the afternoon and ended with the headlamps and dark ride back to the truck. Good Times!!

 I never get tired of witnessing a sundown in the country.

This is a section of the river valley that I have been riding and exploring for the past 35 years. Back in the late 70's it was on my enduro motorcycles. Then as they closed sections to summer motorized travel, the river valley is still open to snowmobiles in the winter, I began riding mountain bikes. I have been drawn to the banks of the river because of the diversity of the terrain and as the seasons change the challenges of the travel.

 As we pedaled along the river a pair of Bald Eagles flew past us and headed up river. It was then that I noticed the Eagle nest across the river high in a tree. Always something new to observe.

 Yours truly, hammering the Spring mud on the Surly Pugsley with the full pack.

 Navigating a water crossing in the dark under an old railroad bridge, it was a deep one. 2 1/2 - 3 feet deep. The best part of this crossing was that the bottom was solid and I just powered through it. I've seen it deeper here in the past.

 Back at the truck after a very good mountain bike ride. Mud and weeds hangin' from the Pug, it was an adventure. It wasn't easy, that was the good part.

With a Spring ride like this, it had a bit of everything. Mud, ice and water. Each ride along the river provides a challenge depending on the season and the weather conditions. That is what keeps me coming back for over 30 years. One has to at times look around and realize that there are opportunities to have an adventure close to home.

 Studs

Ride On!!

 Snowboarding Season Continues in Minnesota

 With a 2 day week-end, I have been splitting between mountain biking and snowboarding. With a good old time winter here in Minnesota the snow is still here on the ski resorts hills.

As I was riding the chairlift, I saw what the gold chair was all about. It had the date of the first year for Afton Alps December 1963, 50 years ago...Wow!

 With temps in the 50's the snow was good the carve around in. Many people can't wait for the next season, Spring to happen. I don't wish my life away. It is best to live in the moment and make the most of the weather and conditions that are happening in front of me.

Tomorrow looks like a day on the slopes, snowboarding and enjoying the warm weather on soft Spring snow.

Carve ON!!

Timber Wolf / Mountain Biking Adventure

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A good day to be in the woods. With all the rain the past week it made for my kind of Fall riding adventure, mud and water. I like having a day off on the mid week days, it is quiet and I have the woods to myself for the most part. Was up in an area about 50 miles northwest of Lake Mille Lacs. I was traveling stealth in the woods this week, mountain bike and on foot.

The past 4 weeks have been exciting getting back on an enduro motorcycle, the 400 Suzuki DRZ. I am able to cover many miles in a single day. Traveling on-road to an area and exploring off-road, then moving to another area.

I always check out the mud holes and soft sand for signs of animals that have been in the area. In 2 trips to this area I had seen signs of wolves and 1 set of tracks that I believe were a Bobcat. My objective this trip was to catch sight of a wolf... 

Hunting the Timber Wolf...

Logging roads turned into swamp roads as I rode deeper into the forest. I was now into the area that I had observed the 3 sets of wolf tracks 2 weeks earlier. Since that time the area had received rain, the trails were flooded and I felt in my element.

I had traveled several miles to get this deep into the forest, keeping my senses keen on my surroundings. Checking all the mud holes as I pedaled through and around them for tracks or signs of wildlife.

I pulled off the trail to eat a snack bar and hydrate. I was hunckered down behind some bushes and I sensed some movement down the trail. It was surreal...I watched in amazement as a wolf sauntered down the trail towards me. Unaware that I was there, the wolf slowed and turned broadside to me and I saw the distinct shape of it. Long legs, a large head and the bushy tail. I slowly unhooked my camera and waited. The wolf turned and headed towards me still unaware. Then it froze, lowered it's head and stared in my direction. I knew I had been had...With just a instant I snapped a picture hoping that I had captured an image. Then the creature disappeared into the thick woods. I was pumped, not knowing where the wolf would go to, I stayed as quiet and still as I could for the next 40 minutes. Thinking that maybe I could catch another glimpse of that wolf or maybe another one. Then I moved forward to check for the tracks in the mud.   

The fresh tracks from wolf were exciting to observe, knowing that I had accomplished what I had set out to do...shoot a wolf in the wild with my camera.

Goal accomplished!!

 A break in the deep woods to grab a snack and soak in the late afternoon before the ride out.

 It is great to be out in the forest during the Fall, listening and observing wildlife and gettin' down and muddy.

Good Times!!

Me and my shadow livin' life.

Dang, it was a good day on the mud bike...earned a cold one today.

Later...Ride On.

Minnesota North Woods Mountain/Swamp Biking

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The first section of the fire road was washed out. With a mountain bike it just means a bit of hike a bike action.

 A bit of over-flow swamp.

 A larger bit of over-flow swamp. 

 I stayed in the right lane because of the high speed fire road speed limit. Good humor to see a speed limit sign 3 miles deep in the woods.

 Hiking through another swamp.

Back at the truck after a good day of north woods adventure mountain biking.

Mountain Mud Biking

Mountain Mud Biking 2