Yvon Chouinard, founder of the companies Black Diamond and Patagonia is quoted as saying "It's not an adventure until something goes wrong." I've quoted this to the Scouts of our patrol on numerous occasions, mostly trying to lighten the mood when someone realizes they've forgotten their rain jacket or mess kit utensil. The saying's meaning is deepened by another of Yvon's famous quotes which reads, "Real adventure is defined best as a journey from which you may not come back alive, and certainly not as the same person." And now enter the Ice Age Bacon Patrol's journey to War Eagle Mountain.
Not to allude that anyone was in real danger of losing their life, but this was certainly a trip of high adventure. The Scouts had been working on their cycling merit badge over the past months and performed multiple 2, 5, and 8 mile rides on varying terrain. The culminating event of the merit badge is a 22 mile bike ride (if you are using mountain bikes on dirt roads and trails) completed within a certain time frame. Our group decided to travel to the Silver City area in September on a camp out and spend our Saturday completing this ride. Our purpose in traveling to this part of Idaho was to begin our ride at the top of one of the high mountains in the area and to take advantage of the downhill as much as possible.
We met Friday afternoon and loaded bikes and bags. We had a good group so we took two vehicles and rolled off to Silver City. Once into the mountains we arrived at a good downhill stretch and decided to unload the bikes for a shakedown ride, which proved to be fairly uneventful. We reloaded the bikes at the bottom of the hill and traveled on to Silver City. For most on the trip it was their first time to visit the old mining town and we spent the last light of day exploring the town. As dusk fell we loaded the bikes again and headed up the mountain to find a camp site. The evening was filled with pitching tents, an MRE dinner and a few rounds of the night game Fugitive. Then we bedded down for the night.
The following morning we had a quick breakfast and broke camp. We traveled the rest of the way up the mountain and finally arrived at the top. We unloaded the bikes, made final adjustments and safety checks, and began our descent. Not a mile into the ride we had our first crash and first blood was drawn. We checked wounds, did a bike swap, and continued down the mountain. The views were excellent and the weather was perfect. We found, however, that speed was our enemy and after two other crashes, one that was quite a close call, we had to implement a "no one rides faster than the leader in the front" rule. The rest of the ride continued without significant disturbance and the Ice Age Bacon Patrol finished their 22 mile bike ride. Well done to the Scouts, they had earned every mile. And for a few, it was certainly a journey from which they came back a changed person.
The following morning we had a quick breakfast and broke camp. We traveled the rest of the way up the mountain and finally arrived at the top. We unloaded the bikes, made final adjustments and safety checks, and began our descent. Not a mile into the ride we had our first crash and first blood was drawn. We checked wounds, did a bike swap, and continued down the mountain. The views were excellent and the weather was perfect. We found, however, that speed was our enemy and after two other crashes, one that was quite a close call, we had to implement a "no one rides faster than the leader in the front" rule. The rest of the ride continued without significant disturbance and the Ice Age Bacon Patrol finished their 22 mile bike ride. Well done to the Scouts, they had earned every mile. And for a few, it was certainly a journey from which they came back a changed person.
Loading up bikes.
Practicing their square knots.
Eating a quick breakfast before hitting the road.
Nothing like honey in the morning.
This is why they call it breaking camp.
This group in high spirits...for now.
Camping in one of War Eagle Mountain's many saddles.
Leave no trace...or cow pie.
Loaded and ready to go.
The view from the top.
Our fearless leader taking one for the team with the first crash of the day.
Racking up the miles.
Some beautiful views.
Taking a breather.
Checking bikes (again) before a steep section.
Our historian, recording history.
Oh how the road rash burns.
Made it! 22 miles (actually 23.2) completed!
Loaded for home.
Pointing to War Eagle Mountain's peak, where they just rode from.
The butcher's bill. What a price to pay for a merit badge!
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