Thursday Night Ride(Oct 1)

When: Thursday Oct 1 @ 6:00PM

Where: Meet above Norm's house.

Ride: What better way to start October than with a wee car drop. Ride up Malde Creek to Tamarac then down Tamarac down Dukabor to a truck waiting in Paterson. Bring your lights.

I will need someone to pick me up from Paterson after dropping the truck off. Email me or phone me and let me know when it is convenient for you.

Greener will probably be out of town but we will be able to pick up the beer fund from Sue Greene after the ride.

Still No Rain Out

Tuesday, Sept 29 was one of the coldest rides this fall and it looked like it was going to snow or rain but still no rain out. Seven riders warmed up on the Monte Cristo climb and stayed warm through Coyote Swamp on our way to the KC Saddle and then down the other side looking for a new piece of single track near the bottom of Pale Ale. We found a sweet little piece of single track that fed us out into the big field at the bottom. It was a little dusty because it is new but has some nice berms on the corners and a big log ride. Scared that we might cool off too much, we rode back up into the saddle and down into Iron Colt just for a change of pace. Refreshments were had in Greener's basement, it was even too cold for a fire.

Tuesday Night Ride (Sept 29)

When: Tuesday Sept 29, @ 6:00PM

Where: Rick Greene's House

Ride: I have found a new piece of single track at the bottom of Pale Ale. We need to try it, Darrel Fry says there are berms on the corners. Let's ride Technogrind to the saddle down to mining school flats down top part of Milky Way check out new trail then back up the road to the KC saddle again and home via the water tower.

Refreshments from the fund at Greener's. DON'T FORGET YOUR LIGHTS or your shoes or your pack.

Milky Way Was A Brake Rutted Dust Bowl

Seven hearty souls ventured out into the night on Thursday Sept 24. We found bumps and dust. Milky Way has been pounded a lot in the last little while. In spite of the dust, a good time was has by all and the fire and refreshments at Greener's were superb.

Those of us that attended the pow wow after the ride got a special presentation on the Six String Nation(six string guitar made from 64 artifacts from all around Canada). The guy who is touring with this guitar made from Pierre Trudeau's paddle, Wayne Gretzkey's hockey stick, Rocket Richard's stanley cup ring, Nancy Greene's ski and 60 more items, was staying at Sue and Rick's place. Pretty neat guitar.

Thur Night Ride (Sept 24)

When: Thursday Sept 24 @ 6:00 PM

Where: Rick Greene's House

Ride: Indian Summer Ride. Ride to the Top of KC down the backside to Mining School Flats to Milky Way to Warfield where the truck will be waiting.

Refreshments from the beer fund at Rick's after the ride.

Saturday in SV Fox Chocolate Loop

Saturday morning we awoke to the usual smells of coffee being made in the kitchen. Today we were going to ride a shorter loop and then perhaps car droop another shorter ride. As it turned out we only rode the Fox Chocolate Loop which turned out to be longer than we thought. It was a very neat trail with great climbs and smooth single track followed by some high speed swoopy downhill. Another great ride in Sun Valley.

We enjoyed a couple of cold ones in the parking area, went back to the shack for a shower, and set out to do some sight seeing in Ketchum and Sun Valley, before returning for steak dinner and the AGM of the HOLY WOW GANG.

Friday in SV Fisher Williams Creek

We got up early because we had to drive about 50 miles to get to Fisher-Williams Creek trailhead just south of Stanley Idaho. It was a crisp clear morning once again and the day promised to be another warm one. This trail is epic (about 30 km) and swickedly fast, what a blast, worth every minute spent in the truck getting to Sun Valley. If it looks like it went through the middle of a burned out forest, it did. This made for a very weird wonderful landscape. Checkout the video and then the slide show.

Every trail teaches you a different lesson if you listen carefully. Fisher Creek taught one of the Holy Wow Gang a very important lesson, one that all of us will have to take to heart as we get older. Fisher Creek lesson: When you take off your pack for a rest stop, don't be fooled into believing that the rest has made you feel lively and lighter when you get back on your bike, it just means you left your pack back at the rest stop and you get to tire yourself out going back to get it.

Thursday in SV Ride Mahoney Greenhorn

This was the longest ride that we did on the trip. We rode straight from the house down the highway towards Ketchum and turned left at Greenhorn Road. Then rode along a lovely road with some really big houses until we came to the trail head. This is where the work started. It was quite warm (80° F) and we did some really heinous (sp) climbs, according to Bob the guide, where the trail surface was loose, rocky and rutted, but as usual you get what you earn, and we had earned a magnificent downhill.Total ride distance was in the 40 km range by the time we got back to the shack. Check out the video slide show below.

Needless to say the cold beer tasted great after this ride. Crash and the boys prepared the now famous haystack meal for dinner. After dinner we relaxed and watched pictures and video from the day.

We Are Back, Sun Valley was Great, Holy Wow Made It Better!!!

The Holy Wow Gang descended upon Sun Valley and put a Kootenay licken on the trails in the area. We had a great guide (Bob Bechaud), super accommodations (The Prez), fantastic weather, good food, and superb riding. Sun Valley is a really good place to ride, even though it takes a while to drive there. Anybody want to go back next weekend.

I will post something on each ride and the AGM when time permits(I have o go to work???).

Here is a picture of our most inspirational rider. He was a little tired after trying to keep up with his new young lime green steed affectionately known as "Snot". Snot was a handful and never liked to sleep, he just partied and tried to take advantage of all the other bikes.

Stay tuned for more.

We are Here and We Brought Our Lawyer

Well, we finally made it to Sun Valley. After many GPS malfunctions and numerous 100 mph sprints we arrived in Hailey and took occupancy of a really nice home away from home. As you can see from the picture, we brought our own lawyer, John Sullinstien, with us. So far we haven't had to use him but he is on tap for breakfast in the morning.

One More Sleep Til Sun Valley

Only one more sleep and we are on our way. Just a couple of reminders for the trip.

1. Don't forget passports and/or ID.

2. You DO NOT need to bring any bike tools just spare parts specific to your bike(derailleur hangers etc.). The Doctor will bring tools, stand, and a pump(shock and tire pumps).

3. You DO NEED spare tubes and on trail tools.

4. If you have not arranged to share a bed you need enough bedding to make your sleep on the floor or couch comfortable.

See you early Wednesday morning. Estimated time of departure is between 8 and 9 AM. It is going to take some time to pack the vehicles so be earlier if possible.

Thursday Night Ride Report

Another great ride and a totally different route. About 8 of us rode out to Red Mt. and up the Red Top Single Track until it hit Dale's Trail and then up Dale's Trail(not a bad climb, thought it would be worse) until it intersected with Red Top. At this point we headed down the old Red Head route and narrowly out distanced the oncoming darkness. I think lights are going to be the order of the day for Tuesday and Thursday rides when we return from Sun Valley.

Thursday Night Ride(Sept 10)

When: Thursday Sept 10 @ 6:00 PM

Where: Rick Greene's House

Ride: Circle Ride

Bring your lights if you have them. It gets dark real fast these days. Also, bring your forms and money for Kim.

Tuesday Night Improves Fitness of All But Norm

A whole wack of guys showed up for the Tuesday night training ride. It was a real sprint festival. Good workout for Holy Wow 18. Unfortunately we had one of the boys injure himself on a very slippery root. Norm has a quad (just one ) that looks like he stole it from Super Man. It is not normal, deep bruise, I think they call it a hematoma. He is going to be sore for a few days. If you get a chance, call him (362-7390) and check on his condition and wish him well.

Besides that Dario put on a fantastic feast for us. A great treat. Thanks Dario.

Tuesday Night Ride(Sept 8)

When: 6:00 PM Tuesday Sept 8

Where: Dario Cescon's House

Ride: Monte Cristo to Technogrind to Top of KC down Pale Ale back up to the KC Saddle and down the bottom of Snake to Dario's house.

Dario is putting on the Ritz for us after the ride so be prepare to be fed and watered. Thanks Dario.

Labor Day Excursion

Eight of us ventured out in the questionable weather to ride Tamarac and Dukabor Draw. The skies cleared, just as they have done this whole riding season, and we labored our way up Malde Creek and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on our way down Tamarac and Dukabor , to my truck waiting in Paterson. Putting all eight bikes on the rack was a challenge but we succeeded. Great ride. Tacky trail conditions.

Murray's Delight

Wow, what a good pedal on Thursday night . Murray Gilchrist took us on a great training route and it was definitely something we had never done before. Eight of us took off from Greener's and did a familiar route along the Old Red Mt. Road to the Top of the T-Bar up the Red Mt. haul road to the first switch-back down the Gertrude Mine Trail and(here is where it got different) then back up to the start of Old Red Head and down Red Head in the almost dark to cold beers at my place. Good ride, good times, good friends. Look out Sun Valley here we come!!!!

Thursday Night Ride(Sept 3)

When: Thursday Sept 3 @ 6:00 PM

Where: Rick Greene's house

Ride: Murray Gilchrist's training ride for Sun Valley. Come and check it out. We have never done this before.

Holy Wow 18 Sun Valley Planning Meeting

The Prez called the meeting to order @ about 8:30PM after a couple of cold ones had already graced our tonsils.(this always makes for a spirited meeting) I am going to try and give you some highlights even though nobody took any notes.(strictly from memory)
1. Attendees

The following people have signed up for HW 18
Don Bowie
Bob Bechaud(rookie)
Craig Campbell
Dario Cescon
Rick Folger
Murray Gilchrist
Rick Greene
Kim Mercer
Ron Nutini
Dave Nutini
Al Santano
John Sullivan
Dave Shannon(rookie)
Mike Tench

2. Departure

We will be departing from Rick Greene's house @ 8:00 AM September 16, 2009. This way we should arrive in Haily sometime around 10:00PM Hailey time (one hour later than us).

3. Fees and forms

The treasurer would like payment of $450 total($150deposit + $300) as soon as possible. This seems a little high but after last years experience we decided it was easier to give money back than ask for more. The treasurer would also like to remind you to check for your documents (passports etc) and to make sure you have good extra medical coverage. Please fill out the form I emailed to you and at least bring it with you on Wednesday preferably earlier.

4. Drivers

This years drivers will be Dario Cescon(Big Red Chevy)+Greener's Trailer, Murray Gilchrist(Blazing Bazer) and Dave Shannon(Burban-Yukon). There are 13 of us leaving from Rossland. There should be plenty of room for baggage and passengers. Bob Bechaud will meet us in Hailey, he has a truck which will be useful for shuttles etc.

5. Speaking of Baggage

Limit yourself to 1 bag (hockey bag size). No coolers, we will bring a couple bigger ones for beer and what not. Prepare your bike however you would like for the trip on the Greener trailer.

6. Route

We will be going the Spokane- Missoula-Salmon route(or Kennewick Boise City route) approximate travel time 12 hours. Kim will be paying for all gas out of HW account so we will all gas up together at each stop. We will probably make a major stop in Missoula(La Grande) to pick up sausages for our arrival snack and fixins for breakfast Thursday morning.

7. Accommodations

We have rented a large house(4000 sq ft 1200sq ft garage) with 5 bedrooms. Each of 4 bedrooms have queen size beds and 1 room has a King Size bed. There is lots of other room in the house.
The beds will be allocated as follows. The Prez gets a bed (he booked the house), each of the three drivers gets a bed, that leaves the King Size(2 guys) which we will draw cards for before we leave(we'll have to have a meeting) the rest of us will either agree to bunk with a driver or have to bring there own sleeping ware(cots, sleeping bags, mats etc). We will make room for this , doesn't have to be in hockey bag(but it might fit)

8. Groceries and Meals

Meals provided-
Wed arrival
Thursday breakfast(rookies cook)
Thursday dinner(Mex Night)
Friday dinner(Italian Night)
Saturday (steak night AGM)

Cooking groups will be established and each group will shop for the meal on the afternoon of the meal. This will also give us time to shop for ourselves and enjoy the area. Thursday shop will be when you can pick up food to look after yourself for the other meals. Please try and bring food for the Thursday ride lunch, we will not be taking too much time to shop on our way there.

9. Refreshments

This category covers beer, wine and any other hallucinatory beverage that might be required. Laast year seemed to work quite well. Most just bucked up and we bought refreshments, when they were gone we bucked up again. We really did not make a decision on this but I propose that we do this again. If you want to do your own thing then your welcome to look after yourself. We can discuss this further perhaps at the card drawing ceremony.

10. RIDES SCHEDULE
Wed
arrive 10:00PM libation and sausage feed
Thur
7:00AM-9:00AM bacon, eggs, pancake breakfast
9:30AM leave for first ride Imperial Gulch 1500-2000 ft of climbing 10-12 miles great single track decent
4:00PM shop for dinner
6:00PM Mexican Night

Fri
7:00AM get your own breakfast and get ready for ride
9:00AM leave for Fisher Creek ride (50 miles toward Stanley) 2000 ft climbing 18 mile ride sweet single track.
4:00PM shop for dinner
6:00PM Italian Night

Sat
7:00AM get your own breakfast and get ready for ride
9:00AM leave for Fox-Chocolate 500-700 ft climbing 7 mile ride great single track decent.
12:00PM lunch
1:00 PM leave for Corral Creek shuttle ride 3-4 miles
4:00PM shop for dinner
6:00PM Italian Night
7:00PM AGM

All these times are approximate and DEFINITELY subject to change.

Hope this gives us a good starting point. Let me know about different ideas or suggestions that you might have. Ideas are certainly welcome.

Illegal Building Inspection

Made it back for the Tuesday September 1 ride. Montana was great. You need to go if you have not been there. Anyway, about 14 building inspectors on mountain bikes turned out for the ride which took us up to Red Mountain to see the illegal cabin that has been built just off of Alladar's alley. We seemed to take a variety of routes to get there but we all made it. The building was inspected everybody had a different opinion. It was great. We sprinted back trying to outrun a coming storm, again, a variety of routes were used. Crash said that Curly's was really curly in the dark. Cold refreshment were had on my deck while the lightening lit up the sky all around us. Holy Wow!!!!!!
Speaking of Holy Wow, we had close to all the members out for the ride so we decided to have a planning meeting right then and there. I will post the highlights in the next blog entry.