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.

Pine Creek Road Ride

I haven't done much road riding this year and with the Vuelta Espana happening now I got motivated to go for a nice long spin.

We are blessed to have a multitude of great climbs here in the Eastern Sierra and one of my favorites is Pine Creek. 

Incredible crags!

Looking back towards the mouth of Pine Creek Canyon. The sunflowers are popping!

Pine Creek is quiet, beautiful, challenging but not brutal and I can even ride from my house. A fine day in  the saddle!

Upper Summers Meadow

Sunday it was back on the bike! Fat bike that is and for this ride I was very happy to have the wide tires. I rode from the campground out to Doc & Al's resort and then on up to Upper Summers Meadow.

Instead of riding on the main road out to Doc & Al's, I dropped down to a nice two track. Turned out to be on private property but it sure was pleasant riding.

A bit further along the zone for the day came into view.

After a short bit of climbing on a very sandy road I took a break at a spot with a fine view of the Sawtooth Range over Twin Lakes.

The steep sandy road led to an even steeper and sandier trail! Hike a bike time.

The hike a bike was totally worth it leading to a fine, although fairly sandy, trail with superb views of the Bridgeport Valley.

The trail eventually led to this two track. Yep. Sandy.

More views of the stunning Sawtooth Range.

More sandy two track.

and another view of Twin Lakes.

Alas I arrived at Upper Summers Meadow.

So pretty!

After a bit of interesting "poking around" I found the trail leading down to Twin Lakes Campground and from there took the quite sandy power line road on down to Honeymoon Flat.

Exploring by bike! Good one.

Eagle Creek

Buckeye Campground did get busy over the Labor Day weekend but not completely full. It's a great layout with plenty of space between the sites. Our spot had good views and a sweet trail down to the creek where there's a splendid "swimming" hole.

Scenes from the campground.

The swimming hole.

The activity du jour was a hike up nearby Eagle Creek. Ann, Mary, Jim and sweet doggie Olive head out from the campground.

The first mile or so of the trail is above the creek in a beautiful gorge.

The trail climbs fairly steeply here.

The hiking experience was a bit hampered higher up by a lot of cattle activity which had made the trail soft, dusty and uneven.

The culprits!

We still very much enjoyed the valley scenery.

 Ann and Olive stroll a short meadow section.

Motorin' Mary!

We turned around here at a pretty but well grazed streamside locale.

Ollie in her element!

Love the big Jeffery Pines in this area.

Although it was unfortunate to find all of the cattle activity - well into the Wilderness area (??) - it was great to hike right from the campground. Plus we saw no one else all day! 

By Day Creek

For my birthday we packed up the Scamp and headed up to Buckeye Campground. When I arrived on Thursday no one else was camping in our favorite loop, but by the weekend it was almost full. I mapped out a few adventures right from the campground I thought were off the beaten path.

The first was a ride up By Day Creek a few miles north of the campground. The road starts off steep and was recently eroded by heavy rains.

After reaching the Ecological Preserve and the locked gate the riding improved.

Remote, secluded and beautiful - just how I like it.

The fat bike was nice for the steep, loose, and soft initial sections but not required.

The two track road gradually faded and at this point began a long steep haul up toward Rickey Peak, I elected to save my energy and go exploring.

I wound my way over a shallow pass to Log Cabin Creek and these fine meadows.

I parked the bike and hiked up to a nice view point.

Then stumbled upon this neat stock pond. Never did find the log cabin. Gives me an excuse to go up there again!

Finally I enjoyed the nice views of Bridgeport Valley and the Bodie Hills on the way back home.

Beautiful ride!