Wandering the Countryside During Spring Snowstorm / Shoveling

 

Winter Storm @ Midnight

 

Winter Camp 2

November Snowstorm in Farm Country

New Goodyear Dura Trac tires are very good with the snow and towing the cargo trailer. I’ve got a 2018 F-150, went with the 275/70/18. They are a 33” tall tire. 

 

Stealth Camping in Farm Country

Furnace and 2 burner stove in my FWC.

 Fresh snow and about 24 degrees tonight. More snow tomorrow.

Furnace in my Four Wheel Camper is keeping it comfortable at about 65 degrees. I’m not gonna pop up the top tonight, it’s easier to keep warm with smaller space. 

Minnesota River Trail Winter Fat Tire Biking / Fresh Snow Morning

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 Wake up at 4:30am, arrive at trailhead and gear up with lights on bike. On bike before 6am. Fresh snow overnight is the reason for a early start.

With a powerful light beam from my NightRider Pro 1200 light it is a very cool start to the ride. This is a massive cottonwood tree on the bank of the Minnesota River.  

 The beauty of the fresh snow and early start is the animal sign in the snow. This is the fresh tracks and belly slide of an Otter. Cool because I crossed his tracks, I saw where the Otter left the river and bounded through the woods to access this creek. 

 As I rode along the river I came to this huge tree with a hollow trunk.

 Heading back to my truck at the trailhead it was a view of the river that I had to stop and soak it all in. It is very cool to enter the woods in the dark and feel the temps drop as the sun rises. I was on my bike at 6:00am and arrived back at the truck at 10:30am. This ride included several stops to observe, listen to the river bottoms wake up. 

Ride on!

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

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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!!

Rolling Along the Minnesota River the Night Before the Storm

10th Mountain Hut Trip / Colorado / Heading Home / Day 3

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I took one last look back and the hut was looking good with the snowfall.

 A stop for quick lunch and then Weez puts the hammer down out front breaking trail.

Semis chaining up after the Tunnel at the top of the mountain pass.

"On The Road Again" 1025 miles to get back home. Left Wednesday night in a snowstorm and drove through the night. Pulled over to a wayside rest area at 3:00am and got 3 hours sleep...Got rolling again and pushed through the final 650 miles.

Drive on!!