Bikepack Day 4 Green Creek to Lundy Creek

Up bright and early again in Green Creek I had to endure some cold on the way out of the canyon. A bit chilly at camp but the pockets of frigid air in the meadows were even colder. 

Once I reached the sun here I thawed out and continued on comfortably. Bridgeport Valley.

Dunderberg Meadows with Mt Dunderberg behind. Bliss!

I left the gravel "highway" at the meadow and headed up towards the Dunderberg Mill.

The fall colors up there were prime!

 

Back on the larger gravel road I dropped into Virginia Creek.

The home stretch! Down the steep power line road toward Mono Lake and Lundy Canyon.

Rolled right into our camp in Lundy Canyon. A truly perfect trip!

Bikepack Day 3 Masonic to Green Creek

I settled into the routine of waking around 4:30, packing up with the headlamp, and rolling out a little after 6:30. Sounds crazy but it worked!

Loaded and ready to go!

After the steep climb out of Masonic I was rewarded with these expansive views of the Bodie Hills.

Columnar Basalt? Maybe!

At last I got a view of the Sierra with Green Creek, my destination, the dark canyon in the center.

More color splash!

I flew down into Bridgeport and then down 395 a few miles to the Green Creek turnoff. The wide gravel road up was a little tedious but once I got up high and enjoyed the views I felt better.

The first glimpse of Green Creek. My first visit ever!

Dynamo Pond was formed by a dam built in the 1890s to supply water for the hydroelectric plant which provided electricity to Bodie.

I was impressed by the wide valley and abundant meadows.

Beaver pond.

Great fall colors too!

Green Creek at my camp. Took a refreshing dip here.

Camp.

The color looks like it was painted on the hillside!!

Glad I made it here to Green Creek!

Bodie Hills Bike Tour Day 2

I'm an early riser by nature and since I was asleep soon after dark each night I found myself awake quite early. First thing each morning I enjoyed my coffee and gruel and set about packing up camp. 

By 6:30 or so I was on the road. A fantastic time of day to be out!

I headed west on the dirt "highway", Forest Service Road 028, to Hawthorne. Fine riding and wide open scenery.

At The Elbow the road continues alongside the East Fork of the Walker River,

The Sweetwater Range rises behind meadows adjacent to the river.

A bit more than a mile before Rd 028 meets highway 338 I turned south up Rd 046 heading for the Masonic mining region.

Happily I found the road in good shape as the climb was long and steady.

Ruins in Masonic. Read the history here

After a little poking around I found this fantastic camp site.

It was tucked back in here.

Water was a concern, but fortunately I found a seep these bushes.

Mine and tailings pile near Middle Masonic.

After setting up camp and fetching water I went for a nice stroll.

Backcountry roller and stretching mat.

Another wonderful day!

Bodie Hills Bikepack Day 1

My latest bikepacking adventure started off into one of my favorite riding locales - the Bodie Hills.

Loaded and ready to go from Lundy Campground.

After a gentle spin along Highway 167 I headed up Cottonwood Canyon enjoying the views back toward the Sierra.

As well as the views down to Mono Lake.

Climbing up the well graded road was a pleasure.

To Bodie!

The toll house on the road from Bodie to Del Monte.

Looking back up along Bodie Creek. At this meadow I left the canyon and climbed up onto a plateau.

The climb was steep and eroded.

Loved the splashes of color in the hills!

The alkali lake and Beauty Peak were worth the climb.

On the plateau the road initially provided fine riding.

Once I began the descent the road became much rockier.

Then rocky and eroded. Difficult but not impossible to ride.

Hmm Impossible!

Happily the road improved down low and I rolled into Fletcher happy to have the first day behind me.

The spring in Fletcher feeds a genuine oasis in the sagebrush desert.

Nice views from camp of the Wassuk Range.