Mountain Bike Ride To The Big Draw Near The Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness

Mountain Bike Ride To The "Big Draw" In The Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Canyon

This is a photograph of the Big Draw

Summary of a ride: This little-visited part of the Owyhee County, Idaho is called the Bruneau Desert and my mountain bike ride took me out next to the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness area. The true and official wilderness is literally two steps from my Giant Talon 2 bike (in the photo above) while the rest of the land is 100% publicly owned. During this October 18, 2017, ride, I gained a new appreciation for this part of our country. If you want a truly unique place to ride, this southern Idaho area would be one of the locations you should seek out.

More information about the Bruneau–Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness can be found at https://www.blm.gov/visit/bruneau-jarbidge-rivers-wilderness-area

The Story: Finding a place to park and use as a trailhead was a little difficult because almost the entire ride is on narrow two-track ranching roads. The chances of encountering another vehicle are pretty slim but one doesn't want to impede neither ranchers nor the occasional hunter on their way to fill a deer or elk tag. I found a spot.

The trailhead and parking area for the Big Draw Ride

I had the entire ride planned out and annotated on my 7.5-minute topo maps. It seemed like a pretty straightforward ride but I missed my first turn that would have taken me towards the deep river canyon. As it turned out, missing the turn wasn't a negative. It got me to the "Big Draw" portion of the canyon and it was spectacular. I would have come upon the Big Draw later in the ride but being fresh when coming upon such awe-inspiring scenery is better. Good for me.

The landscape when unable to view any of the deep river gorges in the area is actually quite unremarkable and dare I say, boring. It's also quite flat. The mountain biking couldn't ever be called technical by any means but there was still some dangerous bits to ride. Let's just say tumbleweeds cover many of the small draws and that dead vegetation tends to cover up large bolder and basketball sized rocks on the not-ever-maintained two-tracks. Just a fair warning.

The sagebrush steppe of the Bruneau Desert in Idaho. My lunch stop too.

On this Wednesday afternoon I was riding, two A-10 fighter aircraft were flying through the nearby canyon. Quite impressive to watch these weird looking aircraft flying, nap of the earth, 300 yards from the two track I was navigating. Very cool. Seeing those A-10 aircraft isn't unusual because the U.S. Air Force maintains a bombing range a few miles to the east.


The Ride Details
Date Of Hike / Ride: October 18, 2017
Name of Hike / Ride: Mountain Bike Ride To The Big Draw Near The Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness Canyon
Link To Photographs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fNfYsEAwyRMEjfld2
Total Biking Mileage: 13.8 miles
Vertical Feet: +669 feet / -689 feet
Average Slope: +1.7% / -1.5%
Elevation Ranges: 3,401 feet / 3,736 feet
Total Time On Trails: 2 hours 40 minutes
Facilities At Trailhead: None
Land Ownership: 100% BLM public lands
Gear Used: 2017 Giant Talon 2 Mountain Bike
Road Mileage from Boise, Idaho to Trailhead: 79.7 miles

Outdoor Concierge Service: If you would like more information about mountain biking, hiking, rockhounding or any type of outdoor adventures along the Bruneau-Jarbidge Rivers Wilderness or Bruneau Desert, I will be glad to discuss some outdoor options. Use the contact form on this site or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

In Decline Statement: If venturing to this area, please understand the local opinion is my hometown of Mountain Home, Idaho is a city in decline. There are some businesses thriving, but not many. Your best options are to avoid the place completely and stock up on food, supplies, and gas elsewhere. #MountainHomeIdaho #CityInDecline

This story was originally published on November 4, 2017.

Thanks,



Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka, "enemy of the American People!"

Teapot Dome Hike on October 19, 2017

A local hike in the southwestern Idaho's Bennett Mountain Hills in October 2017 is discussed in this post.

This was the path I took down the mountain. The summit is not visible in the photograph.

Summary of a local hike: This hike was more of a “get out and get some exercise” type of hike than an adventure. It can be done in short order so it’s a good “after work” or “just don’t want to sit around” activity for visitors to Mountain Home and Elmore County, Idaho.

This “canary in a mine” hike documents my physical fitness improvement in the last few years. In 2012, I could barely summit this local peak. I found this hike to still be a little strenuous but the biggest challenge was making sure I didn’t twist my ankle on the rocky ground.

The Hike Details
Date Of Hike: October 19, 2017
Name of Hike: Teapot Dome Canary in the Mine
Link To Photographs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yjb6UywmTQgAK8nL2
Total Hike Mileage: 2.56 miles
Vertical Feet: +1,098 feet / -1,098 feet
Average Slope: +15.9% / -15.9%
Elevation Ranges: 3,741 feet / 4,717 feet
Hike Time From Trailhead To Summit: 1 hour 30 minutes
Facilities At Trailhead: None
Land Ownership: 100% BLM public lands
Road Mileage from Boise, Idaho to Trailhead: 54 miles

If venturing to this area, please understand the small town of Mountain Home, Idaho is a city in decline. Your best options are to avoid the place completely and stock up on food, supplies, and gas elsewhere. #MountainHomeIdaho #CityInDecline

If you would like more information about mountain biking, hiking, rockhounding or any type of outdoor adventures along the Owyhee Front, I will be glad to discuss your options.

This story was originally published on October 24, 2017.

Thanks,



Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka, "enemy of the American People!"

Peak 5913 Oasis Hike In The Danskin Mtns

Last edited on May 27, 2017

This strenuous May 14, 2017, hike in Idaho's Danskin Mountains just south of the South Fork of the Boise River was spectacular for both its scenic beauty and sense of accomplishment. While the weather was cool, gray and windy, this ridge to ridge to ridge hike located just off National Forest System Road 131 was one of my favorites in the past few years.

Taken from the half-way point, Peak 5913 has a large rock formation on its summit.

Tim Bondy's Hike Commentary

I wasn't looking forward to this hike. I knew it was going to be steep, windy and pretty much atypical of the other hikes I did in this area. But the views, greenery, and scenery were special. With views extending miles into the high peaks of Boise Mountains and even out into the Snake River Plains and down into the South Fork of the Boise River Canyon, who could say no to all that? Not me.

The trailhead is located not far from the headwaters of Cow Creek and heads sharply up a ridge to the northwest. Land ownership on the earth I tread during this hike started off on Bureau of Land Management land and then quickly transitioning into National Forest Service lands as I followed one ridge line to the next. Private property would only come into play on this hike if I had decided to bail on the return leg to the south into the West Fork of Long Tom Creek to the south. I didn't.

My plan was to hike the ridgelines between eight different peaks. My GPS tracks indicated I came pretty darn close as I stepped foot on seven of the eight peaks. However, I don't remember referring to my map during any part of the hike up. Pretty simple route.

A Flats and Peak sitting on the north side of the Boise River

I'd have to say the best view was of the Irish green high prairies (or flats) to the north of Peak 5913. The distant snow-capped peaks in this record snow year certainly added to the views. There was one particular flat or prairie that I didn't recognize located about three miles to the northeast of my route. It may be part of "Sproule Flats" sitting on the north bank of the Boise River. The topo maps I have do not identify the flat but I will climb up there in the next few weeks.

Sitting on the peak was rather special but windy, windy, windy. When it was time to head back I already knew the route back would be close to the path I took up. I did deviate a little to avoid a particularly steep section but alas, that route was also quite steep or maybe steeper than the original tract. "The grass is rarely greener" when hiking.

The Map

The Hike Specifics And Other Information:

Total Hike Mileage: 4.42 miles
Time On Trail: 4:15 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: +/- 2,154 feet
Slope: Average =  17.3% Max =  +44.5% / -47.2%
Trailhead Coordinates: 43.339753, -115.569240
Facilities: None
Peak 5913 Coordinates: 43.354106, -115.596013
Link To More Photographs: https://goo.gl/photos/FhYuGaYTeYD4jTdi7
Road Miles From Downtown Boise, Idaho: 68 miles

"Elmore County Outdoor Concierge Services" Offer:

Newcomers Price: $35
If you are in the Elmore County area of Idaho and are in need of some guidance for where to go for a hike, mountain biking, fishing, rock hounding or ATV riding, I can help. I will personalize a trip for you, provide digital map(s) and offer some suggestions to make the trip a little easier to do.

If you are interested in one of my custom designed adventures, contact me through a comment on this story or call me at 208-598-0264. There is also a contact me form located in the side menu of this website.

Call To Action

If you liked this story, please consider sharing the post with your friends and family. You can also provide other feedback by simply clicking a "Reactions" checkbox at the bottom of this story or commenting. Go ahead ... do it.

Originally published on May 27, 2017.

Thanks,


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"
.
P.S. It is my opinion that Mountain Home, Idaho is a city in decline. While you could find goods and services in that town, I suggest you avoid Mountian Home completely.

Wilson Flats Ridgeline Hike in Boise National Forest

Last edited on May 14, 2017

This May 3, 2017, hike up a ridgeline above Wilson Flats on the north side of Anderson Ranch Reservoir was very enjoyable. The beauty, solitude, and geology made this area located about 40 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho a great place for a microadventure. My unrealistic but original goal was Peak 6355 that is just 2.5 miles south of the 7,700 tall House Mountain. I didn't make it that far. But I did make it to Peak 5675.

From an elevation of 5,396, or about 1,500 feet above the valley floor, the views to the north were spectacular.

My Wilson Flats Area History

I have a longish history with Wilson Flats. I first visited the area back in 2008, looking for a creek to fish. There were fish in the creek then, but things have changed. In 2013 the "Elk Complex" wildfire burned through the area and a flash flood later scoured Wilson Creek valley pretty much clean.

I ATV'd up to the flats a number of times before that fire and flash flood. In 2013, the trail from Anderson Dam Road up to the flats was officially closed to all activities and just in the last couple years, hikers were allowed back in. The trail is still closed to bikes and motorized vehicles. So hiking and horses are the only options. I hope it stays that way.

I've hiked up to the "flats" a number of times since 2014. But this hike was a little different. It was more about the climb and exploring off-trail.

This is the trails that heads up to Wilson Flats. Steep and the views over the side are incredible.

The Hike

In retrospect, I suppose there was an easier way to step foot on Peak 5675. That easier way would have been to stay on trail and head up the Little Wilson Creek drainage. But then I would have missed some pretty cool scenery and the exploration part of the hike. So instead, as I approach Wilson Flats, I veered into the steep and rugged untracked terrain and slogged my way up the ridgeline I would follow for the next few hours.

The ridgeline hike gave me outstanding views into both the Wilson Creek and Little Wison Creek valleys. Something that I have been missing (or not) since the spring hiking season kicked-off was the opportunity to hike in, over and through sagebrush and mountain bramble. There were a few places on the ridgeline that were near impenetrable. In a few years, this hike will be different when the brush and bramble grow up. The fires of 2013 knocked it down a lot.

I cannot resist creating a snow graffiti when I get the chance on a hike. 

The hike along the ridgeline got easier and easier as I climbed toward a peak I knew I'd never step foot on. But damn, it sure was pretty. I did encounter my first snowbank of the hike right near my turn-around point at Peak 5675.

I had some thoughts of taking an alternate route back to the trailhead. I didn't relish the thoughts of descending down an old road cut surrounded by still-standing yet quite dead and burned pine tree carcasses, especially as the winds started kicking up. They don't call it "deadfall" because it will keep you safe.

As of May 2017, to hike up to Wilson Flats, you will have two "boots-wet" stream crossing of Wilson Creek. I brought my sandals for those two crossings. I wanted to preserve my old New Balance 703 hiking boots as they have transitioned into a mountain biking boot. Plus I hate hiking with wet feet and at the time, there wasn't much hope they'd stay dry trying to hopscotch the creek.

I broke open one of these rocks but found only brownish/gray material from outside to inside. You may have better luck.

Rock Hounding Potential

I've hounded this area pretty thoroughly in the past. Damn, there is a lot of potential for smoky quartz and even thundereggs/geodes. But again, the rocks I found were just below the "really cool" level. I've found a few places in the area that contained rocks like those shown in the above photo. There has never been anything collectable about them.

The Hiking Map

Here is my GPX track of the hike ...

The Hike Stats

• Total Miles: 4.91
• Elevations: Min. = 4,227 / Avg. = 4,941 / Max. = 5,675
• Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,889/-1,866 feet
• Slope: Avg. = 12.9% / Max. = 45.6%
• Time on trail: 4:10 hours
• Trailhead coordinates: 43.380962, -115.436869
• Peak 5,675 coordinates: 43.394407, 115.459301
• Topo Map: House Mountain, Idaho
• Land Ownership: Hike was done 100% on public lands!
• Link to more photos: https://goo.gl/photos/EjA6oMtqhykK4duK6
• Geology of hike: Intrusive rocks: mostly Late Cretaceous granodioritic to granitic plutons of the Idaho batholithic assemblage, but including some Eocene intrusions; northern Idaho and Atlanta batholith.
• On-road Distance from Downtown Boise/Twin Falls: 70 miles / 110 miles

Originally published on May 12, 2017.

Thanks,


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"
.

P.S. The city of Mountain Home, Idaho is a town in decline. My opinion would be to avoid the town completely.

Peak 4702 And Teaser Ridge Hike

Last edited on May 1, 2017

April 29, 2017, was the first nice hiking day in the last ten days and I took advantage of it. My chosen route took me up a ridgeline just past some private property in the Syrup Creek area of southwestern Idaho. The hike took me along the self-named "Teaser Ridge," a ridge that overlooks a dirt road located on private property. I wanted to see what I was missing beyond those "Private Property" signs. Coolness and some good hiking and mountain biking possibilities are what I'm missing.

View from near Peak 4702 in the Danskin Mountains

The All Public Lands Hike

Peak 4702 is located in the Danskin Mountains about 35 as-the-crow-flies miles southeast of Boise, Idaho. The trailhead I parked at is mostly surrounded by private property. With a little careful research and determination, I completed the out-and-back hike completely on public lands, This included both State of Idaho and Bureau of Land Management lands.

Actually, most of the land seen in the above photograph is public land. The only private property is located on and near the valley floor. And even some of valley floor is also public property. I did the research and discovered those dirt roads seen in the photo cannot be legally accessed without the property owners permission. See my April 3, 2017, story on this specific issue at https://timbondy.blogspot.com/2017/04/researching-public-lands-access-can-be.html

GPS Track Of This April 29, 2017, Hike


Also see: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nNnsmwTdgV8V5R1S1DwnfasZjyE&usp=sharing

The Cross-Country Characteristics

This hike is mostly a cross-country hike. There were a few places where a trail or fenceline two-track road made the going a little easier. By far the most significant trait of the hike was the steepness of first 3/4 of a mile ascent and last 3/4 mile descent. Calf-burners on the way up and thigh burners on the way down. The rest of the hike was relatively mild and unremarkable.

The views were pretty spectacular with visibility easily stretching over 100 miles to the southeast with the snowcapped Jarbidge Mountains of Nevada clearly outlined on the horizon. The boots-on-the-ground environment was again slightly disappointing. Mainly short grasses and very little sagebrush steppe type vegetation growing on the ridges.

This is cattle country. Old cow patties plus big game droppings were plentiful. The many barbed wire fence lines out in the middle of "nowhere" still have me a little baffled. The private property fences seem to be right where I expected them. However, the border between the state and federal lands aren't fenced. But there are fences semi-close to those property lines. Grazing allotment? That's my guess as to why land management boundaries aren't well defined.

A fence line on my self-named "Teaser Ridge" extends off into the distance.

Geology and History Of The Range

As a recreationist rockhounder, I keep a pretty close eye on the ground and rocks I walk on and around. I also keep an eye on the rock faces looking for rock art or petroglyphs.

The USGS provides a detailed "Geologic Units and Structures" digital map of the western U.S. All the land I tread on during the hike is classified as:
"Rhyolite, quartz latite, and latite ignimbrites and flows; Miocene felsic volcanics; Owyhee Plateau."

From past experience, I knew that would mean I wouldn't be finding many cool or valuable rocks sitting on the surface. The map also indicated I walked along a fault line for about one-third of the outward bound portion of the hike. I saw no indications of this geologic feature.

Rock art is present in the Mount Bennett Hills area according to some literature I discovered. As of now, I have yet to discover any of that coolness during my off-road adventures but I hold out hope. One of these days...

The Statistics and Information

Trailhead coordinates: 43.287315, -115.679190
Peak 4702 coordinates:  43.305865, -115.694153
Hiking Mileage: 3.9 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,547/1,548 feet
Slope: Avg = 14.3% Max = 43.5%
Time on trail: 3:15 hours
Topo Map: Syrup Creek, Idaho
From Downtown Boise: 45 road miles
Link to photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/8it47htGry8PjKkR6

Call To Action

If you liked this story, please consider sharing the post with your friends and family. You can also provide other feedback by simply clicking a "Reactions" checkbox at the bottom of this story or commenting. Go ahead ... do it.

Originally published on May 1, 2017.

Thanks,


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"
.

Hiking Boot Review - New Balance 703

Last edited on April 17, 2017

I bought a pair of New Balance 703 lightweight hiking or walking boots a number of years ago. They got plenty of hard use over the years and I was and still am happy with them. As of my last hike, (https://timbondy.blogspot.com/2017/04/peak-4922-near-syrup-creek-steep-cold.html) the boots are showing signs of wear and tears that made me buy a new pair of New Balance hiking boots.

Tim Bondy's Retired New Balance 703 Hiking Boots

Mountain Tops To Owyhee Canyons and Everywhere In Between

To the best of my recollection, I believe I bought the New Balance 703s at Cabela's in Boise, Idaho during the spring of 2014 or about three years ago. They've taken me on fishing trips, gold panning adventures, many rockhounding outings and of course countless hikes and microadventures during that time. And they held up rather well.

The Pro's

• Comfort: The boots fit my fat feet. For the first time in my life, I found a boot that didn't squeeze my toes together and blister them up after a long hike. The size 11, Quad E width has a toe-box made for wide feet like mine.
• Weight: The 703s are light. As we should know by now, the lighter the shoe the less effort required to move them forward. There is a trade-off between light and longevity and New Balance seems to have done that balancing trick pretty well with this model.
• Longevity: I rode those boots hard and put them away wet quite often and they still lasted a full three years. 

The wavy shoe laces were not my favorite feature of the 703s

The Con's

• Shoe Laces: The "Sure Lace" reciprocating wave pattern shoe laces never impressed me and made me actually wonder if they were some kind of product defect. In any case, they wore out shortly before the boot finally gave up on me. I put traditional boot laces in them towards the end. Some things just can't be improved upon and traditional shoe laces are one of those items.
• The Tread: The tread was the first thing to start wearing out on the New Balance 703s. But right to the end of its hiking life, there were no holes on the bottoms. 

The New Balance 703: A 5-star product.

Calling All Manufacturers - A Complaint

The wilds of the western part of the U.S., especially the high desert and sagebrush steppe environment has a lot of cheatgrass on it. Those cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) seed pods have small barbs that allow them to automagically attach themselves to the inside lining of most hiking boots.

Idaho cheatgrass attaches to boot linings 

Those pods, once they get into the lining, then poke and itch the ankle and heel during the rest of the hike. Then the process of removing the pods begins. I try to remove them before heading home because once they get home, the chances of them dispersing into the wind increases exponentially. Yes, I have cheatgrass growing in my yard.

So hey ... bootmakers? Find a lining that doesn't automagically attract cheatgrass seed pods.

My New New Balance Boots

I wasted no time in ordering a pair of New Balance Men's MW1400 Trail Walking Boot. Hopefully, they will be just as comfortable as my 703s were.

Call To Action

If you liked this story, please consider sharing the post with your friends and family. You can also provide other feedback by simply clicking a "Reactions" checkbox at the bottom of this story or commenting. Go ahead ... do it.

Originally published on April 17, 2017.

Thanks,


Tim Bondy
Freelance Writer & Citizen Journalist

I am currently a proud citizen journalist, aka "enemy of the American People!"
.

P.S. There are no stores in Mountain Home, Idaho to buy quality hiking boots. Boise or Twin Falls are the closest locations to buy most of your outdoor equipment.