The bike tour headed to potato country this past week to....bike. And sweat just a bit as the temps were up there so morning rides were on the docket (my brain was still on eastern time so early was not a problem). Boise, Idaho did not disappoint.
Downtown Boise more or less sits a little above sea level but is surrounded by hills/mountains/rivers. The foothill trailhead access is only a short drive/pedal from downtown and found that a great start to dabbling my feet into these incredible trails. A local mountain bike patroller gave me the lay of the land and where to park so thank you to the riding gods for having this individual present while I was looking lost finding the trailhead.
The second day's ride was no dabbling of the feet. A 16+ mile drive up (way up, about 6,000 feet of zig-zagging at 20-25 MPH until you park) Bogus Basin Road to Bogus Basin Ski Resort. The main trail's name is "Around the Mountain" and that is literally what are doing on the ride. Some manageable climbs to get you to the berms that run on the side of the mountain while you look off onto some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the distance. The mountain bike gods were again looking after me as I ran into a few riders to show me where to start as the internet's recommended path start no longer existed (the internet was wrong??? - shocker)
As noted, the drive up to the ski lodge was 16+ miles and while the drive was crazy enough, I saw about 30 road cyclists slowly plodding up the mountain on their 10 speeds. That didn't look fun to me but am guessing it's quite a feeling of accomplishment and there is always the fun of going down the hill once getting to the top. One word of warning for those attempting the task in that bicycles share the road with vehicles and must obey the same local speed limits. Friend Gus back in the day pedaled down Brockway Drive in the U.P. and we clocked him at 45. While that is hauling, a Boise local advised me he was pulled over by the police coming down the mountain via bicycle and was clocked at 60. The cop gave him a warning but that is hauling some back side and would be quite a tumble if a rock were to grab your front tire.
There are no 60 MPH views in the video below as I was dragging ass most of the time but hopefully it captures some of the beauty this great state possesses.
Trail Head
(put quality settings to 1080hd for best picture quality)
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| downtown Boise |
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| foothill ride |
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| downtown Boise |
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| downtown Boise |
