Last day in Missoula

Last day in Missoula and we are at the city waterpark(2nd time). Hannah tried to butter up daddy by getting cookies-n-cream dippin dots. It worked.

Tuesday's ride up Pattee Canyon

Tuesday's plan was to ride up Pattee Canyon for 1.5hrs to see if I could find the new (to me) trail that the others rode on their hundy. After 1hr of climbing to the top of Mt. Sentinel I called Holly to see about a lunch meet-up with the family. Lucky for me they we already eating and I could add more miles. I rolled around looking for more of the past favorites and then finally down the new singletrack. 23.5 miles and another 3-4000 ft of climbing (haven't checked the GPS yet).
These posts are backwards, but the same trail that I rode down on Tuesday was where the fire started on Wednesday. As I write this post at 10:30pm, I'll be surprised if the whole frontside of Mt. Sentinel isn't charred by the morning.

GPS file: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6210248

I was close with my estimate. 3500 in climbing. Check out the first climb and the 1st part of the last descent (in the graph).

Fire on the mountain

Everytime that we have returned to Montana in the past few years there have been forest fires very close. This year is no exception. After we finished dinner tonight we saw this fire. It apparently started low on Mt. Sentinel and was burning it's way up the hill. It was burning just above the U of M campus. You might be able to see the helicopter that was making water drops. Hopefully they can contain it.

Sunny Sunday Hundy (attempt)

I met up with 4 others to attempt a Missoula Hundy. I had bailed on my original plans of a gravel road hundy as I was sure that I'd get lost. Instead we tried a local option of some of my old favorites. I knew it would be hard. 1st 18 miles, up and over a ridge with about 2000ft of climbing. Next 10 miles was a repeat of yesterday's ride (10miles, 2000ft). Then 30 miles up and back in the snake corrider. I ran out of water at mile 9 but pressed on (sealing my fate). I limped back to town with 63miles and around 7hrs of riding. No problems it was some great trails with some fun guys. 3 of them continue on to complete their 1st gravel hundy. I think they finished near 8:30(we started at 6:30).

Update: I still haven't talked to the others to see how they feel. After drinking about 2 gallons of H20, I felt fine the next morning. Here is the link to the GPS stats. Check out the climbing profile. No wonder, my flatlanders body was feeling it. Keep in mind that the guys did about 20 miles of rollers after this and then did a 1500+ climb for the last 20miles.

Some good pics in Flickr.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6194871

Saturday-Stuart Peak Trail

A pic from the start of the 5 mile, 2000ft downhill, almost 100% singletrack. For more info and pic go to the Flickr link on the right.

Lunch in Yellowstone

Lunch on the deck of the Old Faithful Lodge. A great day, sunny and around 70 degrees.

Greetings from Jackson Hole

I found these cute cowgirls at the town square. We arrived just in time to walk around and get a steak dinner. Tomorrow we head north through Teton Natl. Park and Yellowstone Park to Missoula.