2023 Black Hills Bounty (Day 3) - Active Recovery

Day 3 of the 2023 Black Hills Bounty backs off for a day of active recovery after our challenging two day start. A surprisingly chilly descent past Roughlock Falls drops us to Savoy for hot coffee and breakfast at the Latch String Restaurant. After the sun starts to work its way into the canyon, we welcome a relaxed warmup climb up Spearfish Canyon to Cheyenne Crossing.

With the sun now fully present, we shed layers and meander back toward Roubaix Lake, spinning lightly on well surfaced, moderately inclined roads and paths. Downright civilized. A final pitch reaches a ridge line with 360 degree views along a rollicking, rocky two-track that delightfully drops us into camp. After all, even on an "active recovery" day, it's still the Black Hills Bounty.

Here are a selection of images from Day 3, as captured by our riders. For prior photo galleries of the 2023 Black Hills Bounty, go to Day 0 - Gathering At Roubaix Lake; Day 1 - Mining Camp Ghosts Lead To Deadwood; Day 2 - Up Ski Trails & Down Rock Chutes.

Chilly start to the day on Roughlock Falls Road (USFS 222). (image by Paul Brasby)

OK, Paul, you're in the start picture, too. (image by Paul Brasby)

Cold early morning descent on Roughlock Falls Road. (image by Paul Brasby)

Down hoodies on for chilly Roughlock Falls Road. (image by Paul Brasby)

Some sunlight starts to reach into the valley on Roughlock Falls Road. (image by Paul Brasby)

After breakfast view from Spearfish Canyon Road. (image by Kevin Fox)

View from Spearfish Canyon Road. (image by Kevin Fox)

Re-grouping at Cheyenne Crossing, which was closed on a Wednesday. (image by Paul Brasby)

Jeff Bloom lightly spins up the Mickelson Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

The Mickelson Trail provides a welcomed break from rocks, ruts, and steeps. (image by Paul Brasby)

Soaking in the view from Mickelson Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Stoked to finally find some dirty two track on USFS Low Standard Road 256.1A. (image by Paul Brasby)

Relaxing at USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Ben Cooper)

USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Reuter Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)

2023 Black Hills Bounty (Day 2) - Up Ski Trails and Down Rock Chutes

Day 2 of the 2023 Black Hills Bounty climbs most of the day on a variety of rough roads through the Northern Black Hills, culminating in a sweet climb up grassy cross-country ski trails, a relaxing spin on ridge line gravel, and a raggedy rock plunge down a cliff-lined canyon that (finally!) bottoms out at an idyllic campground. Once again, the payoffs today are high, and hard-earned.

Here are a selection of images from Day 2, as captured by our riders. For prior photo galleries of the 2023 Black Hills Bounty, go to Day 0 - Gathering At Roubaix Lake; Day 1 - Mining Camp Ghosts Lead To Deadwood.

Packing up after breakfast. (image by Paul Brasby)

Warming up on USFS Primary Road 227. (image by Paul Brasby)

Spinning up USFS Secondary Road 209 before the morning sun hits. (image by Paul Brasby)

View along USFS Secondary Road 209. (image by Kevin Fox)

Now we're cruising up USFS Secondary Road 209. (image by Paul Brasby)

View along USFS Secondary Road 209. (image by Paul Brasby)

Switching to dirt, now climbing on USFS Low Standard Road 209.3C. (image by Paul Brasby)

We rode uphill most of the day. USFS Low Standard Road 209.3C. (image by Paul Brasby)

Still up. USFS Low Standard Road 209.3C. (image by Paul Brasby)

Ben Cooper opens an old school cattle gate along USFS Low Standard Road 209.3D.
Jon Naaf engineers appropriate supervision. (image by Paul Brasby)

A brief break of the gradient along USFS Low Standard Road 209.3D. (image by Paul Brasby)

Remote meadow accessed only by USFS Low Standard Road 209.3D. (image by Paul Brasby)

Lunch break along USFS Low Standard Road 117.7. (image by Paul Brasby)

Back to climbing. USFS Low Standard Road 117.7. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Low Standard Road 117.7. (image by Paul Brasby)

Jeff Caldwell, Ben Cooper & Jon Naaf lead the charge up USFS Low Standard Road 117.7. 
(image by Paul Brasby)

Jeff Bloom and Craig Groseth churn up USFS Low Standard Road 117.7. (image by Paul Brasby)

Climbing up Bratwurst Trail in the Eagle Cliff Trail Ski Area. (image by Paul Brasby)

More up on Bratwurst Trail in the Eagle Cliff Trail Ski Area. (image by Craig Groseth)

Paul Brasby and Jon Naaf power up Bratwurst Trail, as Jeff Bloom pleads for lower gears.
(image by Ben Cooper)

Rolling along the Intake Meadows Trail in the Eagle Cliff Trail Ski Area.
Ahead loom Eagle Cliffs. (image by Paul Brasby)

Here it is. The Eagle Cliff Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Keep your eye on the Eagle Cliff Trail. (image by Craig Groseth)

Cattle maintain the Eagle Cliff Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Eagle Cliff Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Eagle Cliff Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

Working our way up the Eagle Cliff Trail. (image by Paul Brasby)

It doesn't get easier on Toni's Trail in the Eagle Cliff Trail Ski Area. (image by Paul Brasby)

Finally rolling along a ridge line on USFS Low Standard Road 733.1A. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Low Standard Road 223 starts off innocently enough. (image by Paul Brasby)

USFS Low Standard Road 223 narrows. (image by Craig Groseth)

Imposing cliffs portend more rocks ahead on USFS Low Standard Road 223. (image by Paul Brasby)

A glimpse of the start of the rock infestation on USFS Low Standard Road 223. 
The road demanded two hands, so we have few pictures here. (image by Paul Brasby)

We're all ready to relax at USFS Rod & Gun Campground. (image by Paul Brasby)