I have been (attempting to anyway) training for the Iditarod Trail Invitational, and had been feeling very under trained. This is sort of a long standing joke in my house hold – when ever I bring it up my daughters mock me unmercifully.
In an attempt to get a ride in with a fully loaded bike, I booked Moose Creek cabin in the White Mountains NRA for a friday night, and headed out mid morning from my house. The cabin is about 35 ish miles from my house via trails.
Tom joined me for the first bit, eventually peeling off to head back for other obligations.
The ride in was a bit of a slog, and I had issues keeping my legs and feet warm in the lower areas, where the temps were around –20f. Eventually I gave up, put the overboots on, and my feet were fine. I tried to manage my sweating like all the cool kids are doing, and it was mostly successful, tough it is hard for a big person like me not to overheat on the hills.
Last year I purchased some Wolfgars boots from 45n. They are a bit of a mixed bag – I like them while riding, but I have just about given up on them for the ITI, as they are pretty stiff in the upper, and walk not so well. After my 2012 scratch from the ITI, I have promised myself that I must always have footwear that I can push my bike in for long distances. As a replacement I used 2 sizes too large Keen winter boots, which seem to be a good compromise. At around -10f they get too cold to wear without overboots, but with overboots they appear to be fine. They walk much, much better than the Wolfgars.
About 10 miles from the cabin a musher passed me going up a big hill. Parts of my route are on regular training routes for some of the local mushers, and they generally keep the trails in great shape. On the way back down he stopped to chat a bit, and he told me the trail wasn’t in all the way. Oh, well, some pushing was going to be required. I hoped he just didn’t know the trails all that well, but alas, it turned out the musher was right.
I had two to three miles of pushing before reaching the cabin. I was a bit worked when I arrived, and was very happy to start a fire, have dinner, and hit the sack. In the morning I headed out, and back home.
The ride back was almost entirely in the daylight, which was fantastic.
I even stopped to get a few photos of the notes written on the pipeline..
The ride out was a bit faster, though it snowed a bit overnight, but this was made up much less climbing. It was around -20f for most of the ride out, and I dressed better, and had no issues.
Tags: biking, moose creek cabin, snow biking, training, white mountains
Thanks for writing about your trips! I’m too much of an armchair adventurer but you do inspire me to “Go play outside” sometimes.
Thanks!
OK, fine! Here I was trying to talk myself out of going on a run at 20 below. I thought I was doing a good job, too. Then I read this post. Sure, Jay, just guilt me into it!
Seriously, though, you are helping to motivate me to go out for a longer than I originally planned. Not sure if I’m grateful or not!
You and Corrine should totally do this trip from your house. It is a very fun bike ride, and a longer (but still fun) ski. Good luck in the whites!