190+/- Miles*
20,000 +/- vertical*
*As estimated by Google Earth
Day 1: Boise to Crouch: 55 miles, 5500 vertical; Shaw Mtn Road to Aldape, Robie Crk Summit, Clear Crk Summit, Grimes Crk, Placerville to Crouch.
Day 2: Crouch to Warm Lake: 70 miles, 7500 vertical; Middle Fk Rd to FR 600, FR 417B to Clear Crk Rd 409 to Clear Crk Summit, Curtis Crk Summit to Warm Lake.
Day 3: Warm Lake to McCall: 65 miles, 7000 vertical; S. Fk Rd to Lick Crk Rd, Lick Crk Summit to McCall.
For a few years now, I've wanted to bikepack from our house in Boise to our cabin in McCall. By the time I got the proper gear together (bikepack-specific bags) last year, the smoke from the typical Idaho August fires was unbearable for any outdoor activities. Most of August and September 2012 was reduced visibility, unhealthy air, oh, and the route I wanted to ride was up in flames.
Enter 2013. Things were coming together nicely for a September 5th departure. My longtime friend, Chris, was available and willing to take on the challenge. He's bikepacked and toured around most of the world on his bike, so his experience was indispensable. We emailed a few times to make sure the plan was a "go," and we called it good. At one point he asked if I had maps of the route, and I said, "absolutely, I looked at Google Earth a few times and it's now all upstairs in my head!" I knew about 60% of the route, and that we had to take a left on either forest road 600 or 418 (not really sure), and that we would need to find forest road 417 (we thought). No maps and no cyclometer = more adventure. With that, we were definitely good to go.
We departed from my house in the east end of Boise on September 5th. The original goal was to leave at 8am, but due to monsoonal hurricane type storms passing through the region and crazy downpours, we had a slight delay. We got antsy and left in a slight rain anyway at 9:15am.
Here's Chris ready to roll with a drizzle and wet roads
Looking clean and ready to go from the house
Our route took us along the Boise greenbelt to Warm Springs Avenue and then up Shaw Mountain Road. This is the same route as the Double Robie, Aldape Challenge, and Race to Robie Creek running races. The climbing was steady with a nice kicker at the top of Aldape Summit. Nice warm-up! We then road down to the junction with Robie Creek, and turned left and up to the top of Robie Creek Summit, down again, then up to the top of Clear Creek Summit. Things to think about at this point:
1. Chris was riding a 16 year old titanium Kona 3x9 rigid mtn bike with 26" wheels. He was able to spin up each climb with ease, and of course, due to his vast experience, he was not wearing any water on his back. Total weight with gear was approximately 50 pounds. Hmmm...
2. I was riding a brand new Rocky Mtn full-suspension carbon 29er mtn bike with 2x10 gearing. As is, the bike weighs 21.8 pounds, so I added in 22 pounds more of gear and water for 43.8 pounds. I quickly learned that putting anything on your back for a long distance bikepack is foolish. I also quickly learned that a 2x10 is not optimum for a long distance bikepack when compared to a triple crankset. I felt like I was riding a single-speed on some of the steeper climbs!
We ended up having a great dinner at the Longhorn Saloon. By the time we were toast and ready to call it a night, the rain had eased up, but was still coming down. Hmmm...tents and bags, or cheap cabin? No question, cheap cabin.
1. Chris was riding a 16 year old titanium Kona 3x9 rigid mtn bike with 26" wheels. He was able to spin up each climb with ease, and of course, due to his vast experience, he was not wearing any water on his back. Total weight with gear was approximately 50 pounds. Hmmm...
2. I was riding a brand new Rocky Mtn full-suspension carbon 29er mtn bike with 2x10 gearing. As is, the bike weighs 21.8 pounds, so I added in 22 pounds more of gear and water for 43.8 pounds. I quickly learned that putting anything on your back for a long distance bikepack is foolish. I also quickly learned that a 2x10 is not optimum for a long distance bikepack when compared to a triple crankset. I felt like I was riding a single-speed on some of the steeper climbs!
Having a bean burrito at a mail station by Clear Creek
Snacks in Placerville - clouds in the distance starting to form...we didn't notice!
By the time we left Placerville, the clouds were forming quickly, and we had another 17 miles to ride to Crouch. We kept thinking, "naw, those won't get us!" By the time we were pulling into Crouch, the first raindrops were hitting us. Then the torrential downpour hit, then the inland hurricane hit like no other storm I've experienced, ever.
This is the beginning, the next moment, the chairs went sailing across
the patio and we couldn't see across the street of Crouch.
We ended up having a great dinner at the Longhorn Saloon. By the time we were toast and ready to call it a night, the rain had eased up, but was still coming down. Hmmm...tents and bags, or cheap cabin? No question, cheap cabin.
The only place to stay on a soggy night in Crouch!
Breakfast at Wild Bills Coffee House. A must-stop place whether on bike or car. Home cooked food, big portions and they are like everyone's favorite grandpa and grandma.
Here's Bill and his wife, who kept him in-line and cooking. He would have preferred to spend the entire time chatting with us while we ate. We had locals giving us beta on our route, which only added to the suspense. "I thought that road was closed." "Hmmm, never heard of anyone going that way to Warm Lake." "Why don't you just go to the end of the road and go up the horse trail to Stolle Meadows?" "Never been to Warm Lake, heard of it, never been."
The next morning was moist, cool and perfect for riding!
Comfy looking, eh?
Yeah, it may be full-suspension, but with 10 pounds of crap on your back, it doesn't matter.
Middle Fork of the Payette River, which we rode along for 20 miles.
And...the turn up West Fork Road (FR600). Get ready to climb!
The previous nights hurricane left three serious tree crossings.
Lunch view half way up FR600 looking East.
Over the top of the climb and looking down toward Cascade Lake.
Here's Chris beginning up Clear Crk Rd. Another incredible road to ride!
Lunch and water filtering stop. We're 45 miles in, another 30 to go for the day.
Arrival in Warm Lake at the North Shore Lodge for a beer. Then we noticed the sign...
Evening at Warm Lake. After a greasy dinner and long day, we called it good.
Things we learned in Warm Lake: That really weird neighbor you had growing up lives in Warm Lake. If you can't handle a fifth of tequila each night (by yourself), you shouldn't go to Warm Lake. If you think being healthy means cutting down to a half-pack of cigs and light beer, you shouldn't go near Warm Lake. If you have accommodations dating back to the mid-19th century, they're probably better than what you'll find in Warm Lake. "Kurt makes the best club sandwiches!" Please don't ask about that last one.
Starting out the morning riding along the S. Fk of the Salmon Road.
Here's Chris just realizing we have about 25 miles of rolling and mostly downhill riding this morning. We actually didn't consult the map about this part of the trip and finally looked at the river that was flowing WITH us, not against us. What a nice surprise, although, what goes down, must go up!
The beginning of the climb up Lick Crk Summit
It kept climbing and climbing, and then the climbing started.
In the zone: breathe, drink, look around and be grateful, repeat...
Where we came from.
Where we're going.
Chris, rallying that middle chain ring to the summit...stud!
Incredible scenery on Lick Creek
The summit, nothing but downhill to the cabin in McCall 17 miles out.
Done and psyched.
Done, psyched and poser-picture.
Important lessons learned on this trip:
1. Set a goal and make it happen.
2. Reason is just another excuse for not doing something.
3. When you think you're near the summit, you're not. You have at least another 5 miles and 1500 feet to climb...no matter what!
4. The slower you go, the better you feel, the happier you are.
5. Filling your cup of happiness, whenever possible, is what makes life incredible.
6. Chris is a freak of nature. Anyone who knows him says the same thing. He's the guy you want with you on any adventure, and together, we've had many. Thanks for the good times, and here's to many more!
Other options for this bikepack:
1. Day 1: From Boise ride to Bogus Basin, down the ridge road to Harris Creek Summit and in to Placerville.
2. Day 2: Ride to the end of Middle Fork Road (up from Crouch) to Boiling Springs (Boise Nat'l Forest). There is a horse-trail from there to Stolle Meadows, which would cut off 25+/- miles, but may be a hike-a-bike, or...
3. From the top of West Fork Road, there is an ATV trail along East Mountain for 18.8 miles to Clear Creek Summit.
4. Day 3: From S. Fk. Salmon River Rd, you can take a single-track up and over the mountains into the E. Fk of Lick Crk basin. It's hike-a-bike over the summit, but do-able, that is until the mid-summer wind storm in the region. Check with USFS (Payette Nat'l Forest) on whether or not the trail has been cleared.
