Sure honey, I am ready to go!

How many times have you said that to your significant other before heading out on a long bike ride? How many times have you said that with enthusiasm and excitement sort of knowing in the back of your head that your mental state might be fragile and that in a short time you might be bonking and weeping? Yeah…I know your pain!

This past weekend was a good lesson on weighing your mental exhaustion against your stubbornness! I had a crazy, crazy work week last week and I should have been more cautious when I agreed to wake up Saturday and venture out on a back-country mountain bike ride where I knew things could get a bit hectic . But I was adamant about getting a great ride in! I should of been adamant about doing some extreme hammocking instead!

We have had our eye on this particular route in the Snake River Range that would wind us through some amazing country along Big Elk Creek. We wanted to ride and fish along the route. We knew we would be dealing with a bunch of hike-a-biking and overgrown weeds and such…but, hey, how bad could it be. It was only about 20 miles and we had a friend who had fished it before.

SO…off we go with fly rods attached to our packs, some dry italian salami, water, sportlegs and some other necessities. The beginning of the ride is a great climb out of Mosquito Creek. At this point I was feeling strong, happy it is the weekend, and just enjoying life. We then turned off the main trail and started into the unknown. We descended down into the creek drainage…a great trail. Still having a blast, amazed that the trail is in such great condition…smiling at this point.

THEN…just as you would suspect…we hit the weeds…literally. We were faced with a decision…decisions are hard to make when you are in the weeds. Ends up we make the wrong decision and proceed to pull our bikes and ourselves through 3 miles of weeds, stinging nettles, rocks, and to top it off we are on the side of a steep embankment. SWEET!! At one point we headed down into the creek and with our bikes over our shoulders we walked through the water. It was a different sort of hell, but at least no stinging nettles.

Just when you are at the point of breaking down things usually get better…and yes they did. With tears in my eyes and Scott giving me the “keep it together” speech we look around the corner and FINALLY we are out of the weeds. We actually were treated to some amazing single track for the next 8-10 miles.

Unfortunately night was coming upon us and we were unable to stop and fish. Very sad considering the beautiful holes that we saw packed with trout. Tired, beat up, and thirsty we made it out…and yes, we are still engaged. Next the fish will not be so lucky…that is if I actually want a next time.

MY ADVICE:

• Before you head out on an adventure that may turn into an epic, especially if it is an idea of your significant others, be sure to examine the fragility of your mental state first. Epicing requires all of your strength and emotion to keep it together. If you think you might not be in the right mental state for an epic you might want to consider attempting it some other time. OTHERWISE, if you end up losing it, try to pick yourself up and keep going. You will feel way better in the end.

• NOTE: Found out later that our friend let Scott know that along the trail there is a section where a land slide occurred and there was a solid trail that detoured across the creek and headed up the hillside to avoid the pinch of the slide. This was a major detail that Scott just happened to forget…this detail would have kept us out of the weeds and saved us 2.5 hours of hell. THEREFORE LADIES, before an epic be sure that YOU know the details before heading out. Yes, we love those boys!