March 01, 2016

The Caribou City Loop

Dean's List

Caribou City Loop




A good day ride or a great overnight bikepacking adventure. The route combines several backcountry trails inside the 80,000 acre Caribou City Roadless Area of Eastern Idaho.  Moderately challenging at times, this loop offers a remote wilderness-like experience as you ride along trout rich streams, over two divides, and past the historic gold mining ghost town of Caribou City.

The Important Stuff


Distance: 34 miles (22.5mi of singletrack)

Elevation Gain: 3,749'

The Good Stuff: 3,777' (downhill)



The Route:

"A backcountry exploratory adventure ride"

Begin at the confluence of Squaw Creek and Jackknife Creek. The route is best done counterclockwise. Expect some hike-a-bike in the upper reaches of Squaw Creek. You'll get your feet wet in Fish Creek. The gravel road along McCoy Creek is both up and down. It's a good climb from Iowa Creek to Caribou City as you pedal past open sage and wildflower covered hillsides, through Apsen groves into pine forests, and over cascading streams of clear and cold water. A few short hike-a-bike sections from Caribou City to Taylor Creek/Trail Creek Divide. Enjoy downhill singletrack alongside Trail Creek and Jackknife Creek!

Notes:
- Mosquito alert. Spring and early summer can be horrific! Be prepared. Or, wait until later in the summer.
- Trail tread can be rough from hooves at times and hard to find other times. Intersecting game trails can be misleading.
- Bring your route finding and deductive reasoning skills!
- Many creek crossings. You will get wet.
-  Go ride this loop please!

The Fly Fishing:

Small stream characteristics with a mix of beaver ponds and meadow meandering. We caught fish in McCoy Creek, Fish Creek, Iowa Creek, Trail Creek, and Jackknife Creek. Sneak attack stealth tactics are extremely helpful.
Stimulators, Parachute Adams, hoppers, ants, Wooly Buggers, leaches (for the beaver ponds). The fish are eager if you're stealthy.

 

May 29, 2015

Fall Creek Loop


Despite having a head cold and fever, we managed to pull off a great loop in the Fall Creek basin southwest of Swan Valley in the Caribou Mountains. It has been a wet and rainy month of May and the trails were a mix of tacky dirt and slick mud. Out of the 25 miles, i'd guess only about 3 or 4 miles were just too muddy to enjoy. Not a bad ratio for trail riding in my opinion. The descent down Horse Creek was exciting and fast!

Heather climbing through wildflowers in the upper reaches of the S. Fork Fall Creek.
Single track with a view. Deadhorse Ridge
Plenty of hike-a-bike!
Sunshine and stormy skies on Deadhorse Ridge
The race is on. Incoming storm on Deadhorse Ridge.
Adventuring buddies back at the car. 

May 07, 2015

A Gamble With Threatening Skies


The forecast called for a 20% chance of a stray afternoon thunderstorm. We rolled the dice and pedaled away from the car as sinister looking clouds congregated over the Fall Creek Basin. Our intended ride would take us through a network of ATV trails and single track southeast of Fall Creek in the Caribou Mountains. The highlight would be ending with the mega-long downhill of Deadhorse Ridge back to the car.

On the Rash Canyon Saddle looking toward Deadhorse Ridge.
Occasional rain and hail accompanied us up Rash Canyon. These short-lived bouts barely dampened the soil and seemed to end before really getting started. Once at the saddle it was evident that a recent localized storm had just dumped large amounts of rain and hail into the South Fork of Fall Creek drainage. Lightening and black clouds quickly circled around and began to race up Rash Canyon toward us. 


Nature-made race slicks. Wet shorts. Mud butt. And a brief moment of sunshine!
It became pretty obvious that plans to continue along 4th of July Ridge and around to Deadhorse Ridge were not in the cards for this ride. We played the escape card and headed down into the South Fork of Fall Creek as the next wave of showers pushed their way up the canyon we had just ascended.

Mud. Mud. Mud. Heather clearing clay mud from her drivetrain and rear triangle.
At first, the trail into the South Fork was only slightly damp, but soon enough we crossed into where the previous storm had poured down rain and hail. The mud was slimy slick and clay-like. On a strait-away and with some speed, Heather slid out in the mud,  sending her crashing head first into a stand of trees. Excitement quickly turned to white-knuckle riding and frustration caused by mud-filled rear triangles and dropped chains.


Our escape route down the South Fork of Fall Creek.
Despite stopping often to clear mud and re-attach our chains to the chainring, we managed to stay ahead of the next storm. The lower end of the S Fork trail was only damp and managed to salvage some enjoyment by riding fast and playing on small trail features and rocks to pop off of and jump over. 


We rode out of that storm! It followed us down Fall Creek. 
Once down and onto the Fall Creek road, we sped toward the car as the next wave of rain and hail gave chase. The sky was spectacular and full of springtime glory. We reached the parking lot just as the storm engulfed us. Safe and sheltered from rain and hail!


Shelter from the storm. Those puddles weren't there when we started our ride.
There are many out-and-back and loop options in the Fall Creek area. Most will offer great mountain biking i'm sure. Despite the adverse trail conditions and poor weather, we still had a great time on our ride. I am even more excited now to go back and complete the loop we had intended to ride!



September 08, 2014

September 02, 2014

Small Streams, Dry Flies, and Big Fish



Heather and her Tenkara USA Rhodo Rod fishing small streams along the Yellowstone Caldera
#14 BWO
#14 PMD