BackBone Grande - Even More Grassland!

Gonna keep on tryin'

Till I reach my highest ground

Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder (1973)

Road 7045, for much of its 15 miles on the BackBone Grande route.

Last month, I added to the BackBone Grande a new 12 mile stretch of rugged two track. See, BackBone Grande - More Grassland! Combined with the original 14 miles of rugged two track and a few short connectors, the route crosses almost 30 miles of stunning prairie across Buffalo Gap National Grassland. It really is something unique to experience. 

I love the vastness of those rolling hills, with seemingly endless waves of grass in every direction. And it's so empty of development and so remote, reminiscent of the Continental Divide Great Basin in Wyoming. I half expect to dodge a herd of wild mustangs thundering over a ridge. 

Road 7045 entering Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

Since then, I can not stop looking at maps and satellite images of the area. Could there be more to add before turning west into the Black Hills?

I start looking even further North and East into Buffalo Gap National Grassland. Maybe I can connect Smithwick Road (County 1E), where the existing route leaves the Grassland, with Riverside Road (County 656), the next solid county gravel road to the north. Hard copy maps, digital maps, and satellite images offer promise, but all cross pockets of private land. Maybe. Maybe not. Time to get back out there.

Newly added 15 miles of rugged two track in Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

During July, I drove and rode throughout this area. There must be a way through. A fun ride through. 

The hard copy maps give a reasonably good outline to start, with Road 7045 providing entry into the Grassland from the South at Smithwick Road and from the North at Riverside Road. Once into it, however, the other numbered roads that spin off Road 7045 either loop back to Road 7045 or dead-end at private property. To add to the confusion, many unnumbered two tracks scatter into a spider web of possibilities, none of which appear to lead to a public road out.

Eventually, I find a couple of paths through. Surprisingly, I like best the most direct way, which is simply Road 7045 all the way across. Relatively well defined tracks wind up and down ridge lines featuring big views. Along the way, a solitary sign, half buried in the grass, marks the way. Granted, it's not much, but it's one sign, nonetheless. Since Road 7045 parallels the Eastern boundary of the Grassland for a stretch, at least that stretch has fewer spin-offs that could cause one to ride off-route. This is definitely going into the BackBone Grande.

Now about 45 miles through Buffalo Gap National Grassland.

Shazam! That adds another 15 miles of rugged two track, totaling almost 45 miles into and through Buffalo Gap National Grassland. At the end of that stretch, about 77 route miles from the Nebraska border, the BackBone Grande finally turns due West on solid county gravel roads to climb directly into the Black Hills. The adventure then dramatically shifts.

This will be the last stretch of rugged two track through Buffalo Gap National Grassland. Venturing any further north would bypass Buffalo Gap, the ancient migratory path into the Black Hills that climbs to Wind Cave National Park and Custer State Park on one of my favorite gravel roads anywhere. I'm not missing that. Moreover, open prairie of a different sort awaits another 150 miles or so to the North.

I love the original BackBone Grande route, but it's even better with the addition this year of over 30 miles of Grassland. I'll be riding it again, soon. 

RideWithGPS file - BackBone Grande (7/23/34 Update). 

Links to all BackBone Grande posts - BackBone Grande Page.

Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder (1973).

2024 Black Hills Bounty - Still Aint Worried

I don't know what you've been told,

But time is running out, no need to take it slow.

I'm stepping to you toe to toe,

I should be scared, honey, maybe so.

But I aint worried 'bout it right now (right now)

Keeping dreams alive, 1999 heroes.

I aint worried 'bout it right now (right now)

Swimming in the floods, dancing on the clouds below.

I aint worried 'bout it. 

I Aint Worried, Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Tyler Spry, John Eriksson, Peter Moren & Bjorn Yttling (2022).

After a couple of days, the reality of another Black Hills Bounty sets in.

The 2024 Black Hills Bounty approaches.

Since becoming the first official finisher of the challenging Cloud Peak 500 in 2020, Paul Brasby has enthusiastically herded friends from Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado to join annual, week long bikepacking group rides through the Central Black Hills (2021), the Southern Black Hills (2022), and the Northern Black Hills/Bear Lodge Mountains (2023). See, Black Hills Bounty Page (2021-present). This year, they chose to start in Nebraska and then follow my BackBone Grande route from the South Dakota border to Spearfish, with a couple of unique twists along the way.

It's all coming up soon. And, as Yogi Berra would say, "It's deja vu all over again."

Every year, in the weeks leading up to the ride, these Bounty-riding friends ask very few questions, about any of it. Same thing this year. And I never quite know how to interpret that.

Maybe by now they know what to expect. Maybe the route is too easy. Maybe they're thoroughly prepared. Maybe.

Nah. This group is like the Top Gun fighter pilots playing Dog Fight Football before their improbable mission. They aint worried 'bout it right now.

The Official Theme Song for the Black Hills Bounty.

I Aint Worried, New Republic (2022).

End Of Summer BHBH Overnighter

In June, Black Hills Bike Hub hosted "Bikepacking 101," a gathering of local cyclists looking to learn more about bike packing, remove barriers for newcomers, and build our bikepacking community. The enthusiastic audience engaged a moderated panel addressing a variety of topics. A palpable buzz filled the air. See, Bikepacking 101 Social and Bikepacking 101 - A Brief Report. 

USFS Low Standard Road 160.2A winds through the Bald Hills.
This will be on Day 2 of the Rough Road route on BHBH Overnighter #3.

A few weeks later, nine bikepackers, including four intrepid first-timers, rode the BHBH Overnighter #1 out of Sturgis on roads and trails around the Bear Butte area to camp at USFS Alkali Springs campground. The group set up camp, cooked dinner, and chattered well into the night around a roaring campfire. The next morning, and the morning ride home, flew by far too fast.

A month later, six bikepackers rode out of Spearfish on the BHBH Overnighter #2 on their choice of two routes - primarily single track or primarily rough roads - to camp at USFS Timon campground along Roughlock Falls Road. That group included two more first-time bikepackers and featured a surprise visit from legendary bike packer Jason Thorman. Great to see you, Jason, and thanks for the treats and refreshments!

USFS Trail 1601 of the Rough Road route will be on Day 1 of BHBH Overnighter #3.

There's still time to join the summer fun. BHBH Overnighter #3 is set for next weekend, Saturday August 24 and Sunday August 25. For details, go to the Events page on the Black Hills Bike Hub website or their FaceBook Event - Overnighter Stop #3. 

Once again, each day will offer a Single Track route and a Rough Road route. Both start Saturday afternoon at the Big Sheep Management Area parking area off Victoria Lake Road, both camp at the Sheridan Lake North Unit Group Campground, and both return to vehicles the following morning. That's a short, fun get-away in less than 24 hours total.

Check out the routes. You may find something you haven't ridden in a while, maybe never. And you may find some interesting people.

Endurance Racing of Another Sort

I love remote routes with long sight lines, but this is ridiculous.

Long time cycling buddy Dan Cook, sailing out of the Santa Cruz Yacht Club, recently finished the 2024 Pacific Cup with his son Mackenzie. Yeah, so what?

That's a 2,070 nautical mile race from San Francisco to Hawaii, in which they chose to race in the smallest boat allowed - a 24 foot double hander. My pickup is almost that long.

And people think bikepacking is crazy.

MacKenzie and Dan Cook finishing the 2024 Pacific Cup in Hawaii.
(image by Kelli Cook)

One of my best cycling buddies in Colorado during the 1990's was Dan Cook, a mechanical engineer by education who developed into a financial planner. A man of many interests, Dan would annually dust off a mountain bike to crank out impossibly fast times, day and night, on a slew of 24 hour mountain bike relay race teams with me. We finally ended our run in 2003 with a Duo Team at the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, which was my impetus for returning this year. See, 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo - Back At It and subsequent posts.

Unfortunately for me, Dan then moved to Northern California and we moved to South Dakota. It didn't take long for Dan to return to his love of sailing, which he had enjoyed as a young engineer in the Houston area years before. The physical and mental challenges of sailing connected with his inquisitive, problem-solving, engineering mind. Of course, he regularly took along Mackenzie, his then grade school aged son.

According to mom Kelli, Mackenzie surpassed his dad in sailing knowledge and skill at about age 14. He sailed competitively through high school, college, and now into his own career as an engineer. Among many big races on many big boats, Mackenzie has sailed from the mainland USA to Hawaii five times. So, why not race the 2024 Pacific Cup in a 2 person, 24 foot boat? Dad, how about it? 

Mackenzie and Dan Cook ready to start the 2024 Pacific Cup from San Francisco.
(image by Kelli Cook)

So, they did. Skipper Mackenzie Cook and crew Dan Cook sailed "Nobody's Girl," a 24 foot double hander, for 15 days over 2,000+ miles of Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Hawaii. 

Amazing. And nuts.

I can't wait to hear their stories.

A younger Mackenzie Cook - How He Started Sailing A-Cats (2013).

Seize The Moment Squirrel

Don't come around here no more

Don't come around here no more

Whatever you're looking for

Hey! Don't come around here no more

Don't Come Around Here No More, Tom Petty & Dave A. Stewart (1985).

What's left of my water bottle and lid.

With my Jones bike still pretty well loaded from last weekend's Black Hills Bike Hub Overnighter Series group ride, I hop on it for a morning spin around town. As is becoming a habit, I stop at a park to make coffee and breakfast. And to just watch the world wake up. It's a nice start to the day, much like my early morning commutes in the past, but without actually going into work.

In addition to coffee, oatmeal, and various bars, I often carry a water bottle filled with trail mix in the Mountain Feed Bag attached to the handle bars. Mess-free, on-the-fly access. Always right there.

I eventually ride home and absent-mindedly lean my bike against a mature linden tree in our front yard. Three hours later, I glance outside to see a squirrel excitedly dancing on top of my bike. Oh, no! There's food in that top tube bag! He better not be eating through that spendy bag!

Dashing out there, I find the bag undamaged, but the water bottle with trail mix is eaten. Yes, the bottle. Large chunks of both the water bottle and lid are gone, and only a handful of trail mix remains. Tiny, squirrel bite-sized pieces of clear and orange plastic lie scattered like confetti. 

Squirrel's view of the loaded bike leaning against her tree.

In all my nights of bikepacking, I've only lost food to critters once. On Day 6 of my Cloud Peak 500 Wyoming in 2020, I mistakenly left my bike laying on the ground overnight with some food in that top tube bag. A critter, presumably a ground rodent of some kind, enjoyed a sample of every bit of food therein. But that's it. And I've never lost food when leaning a bike upright.

Lesson learned, at the price of a vintage water bottle. Secure food. Protect gear.

Don't Come Around Here No More, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers live, with Stevie Nicks (2009).