Sunday July 31st 2022
Sunday, July 31st, 2022The last day of the month and we are hoping cooler weather will start us into August. - Although we have had these very hot weeks in previous years, it seems to be worse for us with advancing years, - I have always said that September is my favorite month ( except that this also brings another birthday!!)
This would seem to apply to me as well as other old farts.
Definitely one of the best times for riding in the woods, but of course if you are planning on any Mountain rides, be prepared for snow !! - We have experienced this quite a few times and I was always glad to be on a Beta, which had lots of torque and could pull 4th gear. ( I think I surprised Stan one time when he asked the question)
Here are a couple of shots from 2007 up on Joss in August !! - top is of Taff - below is myself. having a banana break - not sure what Bob Clark is having. -
I remember chatting to our guide Mark Thompson in 2003 during our first time up the Mountain, when he told me that there was a very narrow window, when it was possible to reach the Summit, because of the snow. — We got lucky with the weather some years but not always..  -    ( Also remember that I was 66 years old that first time I went up Joss - and It was likely the toughest as we had to go up around some avalanches and it was so overgrown on some of the trails it was a case of putting your head down and bashing your way through - we also had to traverse some pretty deep snow drifts that year)
Below is a pic of Mark and myself at the Lookout in 2008 - You will notice that my right hand is taped up with electrical tape as I caught a branch on the narrow pack horse trail. — However I still managed to hold my cold beer which I had packed along. -Â The message here is Always be prepared, if you go riding in the Mountains, and NEVER go alone.
On top of the World - what a great feeling. ( And a good commercial for Coors Lite!!)
Note : Looking back at these photographs I find it hard to believe that I was able to do this in my declining years.. - As perhaps I have mentioned before , the Forestry people put a new roof on the Lookout in 2007 and also installed windows - plus a visitors book -Â all of this I think because of the huge Mountain bike influx into the area ( not good IMHO)Â -
Anyway - the Mountain is now closed to “Motorized Vehicles” - ( At least I know I have got my name in the Visitors book as the oldest Trials rider to make that climb up to the clouds) - ( My last trip up the Mountain was on my 75th birthday with Stan Bakgaard and yes it was likely the most difficult for me out of all the trips.) - Thanks Stan for making me do this and for the help along the way.
It should be noted that this lookout trail was built using pack horses  in 1920 - but the actual Lookout was never used because they found a better one ( Sounds like a government decision similar to what happens these days)
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This old pic cropped up from when Sammy first came over from OZ and I took him to Silver Creek for some practice as it was bloody hot!! we found this neat waterfall to cool off.
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Saturday we watched the last day of the Red Bull Romaniacs on You Tube - this showed a lot of the difficult terrain that the riders had to tackle on the final day - As mentioned Graham Jarvis took the win and our own Cannuck Trystan Hart finished 4th - the weather was hot and dusty so not easy. ( likely impossible for many)
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